Abstract: Embodiments feature families of rate allocation and rate control methods that utilize advanced processing of past and future frame/field picture statistics and are designed to operate with one or more coding passes. At least two method families include: a family of methods for a rate allocation with picture look-ahead; and a family of methods for average bit rate (ABR) control methods. At least two other methods for each method family are described. For the first family of methods, some methods may involve intra rate control. For the second family of methods, some methods may involve high complexity ABR control and/or low complexity ABR control. These and other embodiments can involve any of the following: spatial coding parameter adaptation, coding prediction, complexity processing, complexity estimation, complexity filtering, bit rate considerations, quality considerations, coding parameter allocation, and/or hierarchical prediction structures, among others.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operational efficiency of a video encoding system used to encode image data are provided. In embodiments, the video encoding system includes a low resolution pipeline that includes a low resolution motion estimation block, which generates downscaled image data by reducing resolution of the image data and performs a motion estimation search using the downscaled image data and previously downscaled image data. The video encoding system also includes a main encoding pipeline in parallel with the low resolution pipeline that includes a motion estimation block, which determines a global motion vector based on data from the low resolution motion estimation block. The main encoding pipeline may utilize the global motion vector in determining a candidate inter prediction mode.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operational efficiency of a video encoding system used to encode image data are provided. In embodiments, a video encoding system includes image processing circuitry configured to receive source image data and derive full-resolution image data and low-resolution image data from the source image data. The video encoding system also includes a low resolution pipeline configured to receive the low-resolution image data and determine one or more low resolution inter prediction modes based on the low-resolution image data. Furthermore, the video encoding system includes a main pipeline configured to encode the full-resolution image data based on the one or more low resolution inter prediction modes.

Abstract: Sampled data is packaged in checkerboard format for encoding and decoding. The sampled data may be quincunx sampled multi-image video data (e.g., 3D video or a multi-program stream), and the data may also be divided into sub-images of each image which are then multiplexed, or interleaved, in frames of a video stream to be encoded and then decoded using a standardized video encoder. A system for viewing may utilize a standard video decoder and a formatting device that de-interleaves the decoded sub-images of each frame reformats the images for a display device. A 3D video may be encoded using a most advantageous interleaving format such that a preferred quality and compression ratio is reached. In one embodiment, the invention includes a display device that accepts data in multiple formats.

Abstract: Video coding schemes may include one or more filters to reduce coding artifacts and improve video quality. These filters may be applied to decode video data in a predetermined sequence. The output from one or more of these filters may be selected for different images, blocks, or sets of video data and then copied and/or routed to a display or a buffer storing reference data that is used to decode other video data in a data stream. Providing the ability to select which filter output is used for display and as a reference may result in better video quality for multiple types of video data. The filters that are selected for display and for reference may be different and may vary for different images, blocks, and data sets.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a video encoding pipeline configured to encode source image data. The video encoding pipeline includes a first transcode engine and a second transcode engine. The electronic device also includes processing circuitry configured to determine a target throughput for a bin stream and determine whether to encode the bin stream using only the first transcode engine or both the first and second transcode engines based on the target throughput. The processing circuitry is also configured to cause only the first transcode engine to encode the bin stream or both the first and second transcode engines to encode the bin stream based on determining whether to encode the bin stream using only the first transcode engine or both the first and second transcode engines.

Abstract: Sampled data is packaged in checkerboard format for encoding and decoding. The sampled data may be quincunx sampled multi-image video data (e.g., 3D video or a multi-program stream), and the data may also be divided into sub-images of each image which are then multiplexed, or interleaved, in frames of a video stream to be encoded and then decoded using a standardized video encoder. A system for viewing may utilize a standard video decoder and a formatting device that de-interleaves the decoded sub-images of each frame reformats the images for a display device. A 3D video may be encoded using a most advantageous interleaving format such that a preferred quality and compression ratio is reached. In one embodiment, the invention includes a display device that accepts data in multiple formats.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operational efficiency of a video encoding system used to encode image data are provided. In embodiments, a video encoding system includes image processing circuitry configured to receive source image data and derive full-resolution image data and low-resolution image data from the source image data. The video encoding system also includes a low resolution pipeline configured to receive the low-resolution image data and determine one or more low resolution inter prediction modes based on the low-resolution image data. Furthermore, the video encoding system includes a main pipeline configured to encode the full-resolution image data based on the one or more low resolution inter prediction modes.

Abstract: Rate control techniques are provided for encoding an input video sequence into a compressed coded bitstream with multiple coding passes. The final coding pass may comprise final splices with non-overlapping frames that do not extend into neighboring final splices. A final splice in the final coding pass may correspond to at least one non-final splice in a non-final coding pass. A non-final splice may have overlapping frames that extend into neighboring final splices in the final coding pass. The overlapping frames in the non-final splice may be used to derive complexity information about the neighboring final splices. The complexity information about the neighboring final splices, as derived from the overlapping frames, may be used to allocate or improve rate control related budgets in encoding the final splice into the compressed coded bitstream in the final coding pass.

Abstract: Video coding schemes may include one or more filters to reduce coding artifacts and improve video quality. These filters may be applied to decode video data in a predetermined sequence. The output from one or more of these filters may be selected for different images, blocks, or sets of video data and then copied and/or routed to a display or a buffer storing reference data that is used to decode other video data in a data stream. Providing the ability to select which filter output is used for display and as a reference may result in better video quality for multiple types of video data. The filters that are selected for display and for reference may be different and may vary for different images, blocks, and data sets.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a video encoding pipeline configured to encode source image data. The video encoding pipeline includes a first transcode engine and a second transcode engine. The electronic device also includes processing circuitry configured to determine a target throughput for a bin stream and determine whether to encode the bin stream using only the first transcode engine or both the first and second transcode engines based on the target throughput. The processing circuitry is also configured to cause only the first transcode engine to encode the bin stream or both the first and second transcode engines to encode the bin stream based on determining whether to encode the bin stream using only the first transcode engine or both the first and second transcode engines.

Abstract: Sampled data is packaged in checkerboard format for encoding and decoding. The sampled data may be quincunx sampled multi-image video data (e.g., 3D video or a multi-program stream), and the data may also be divided into sub-images of each image which are then multiplexed, or interleaved, in frames of a video stream to be encoded and then decoded using a standardized video encoder. A system for viewing may utilize a standard video decoder and a formatting device that de-interleaves the decoded sub-images of each frame reformats the images for a display device. A 3D video may be encoded using a most advantageous interleaving format such that a preferred quality and compression ratio is reached. In one embodiment, the invention includes a display device that accepts data in multiple formats.

Abstract: Stereoscopic images are subsampled and placed in a “checkerboard” pattern in an image. The image is encoded in a monoscopic video format. The monoscopic video is transmitted to a device where the “checkerboard” is decoded. Portions of the checkerboard (e.g., “black” portions) are used to reconstruct one of the stereoscopic images and the other portion of the checkerboard (e.g., “white” portions) are used to reconstruct the other image. The subsamples are, for example, taken from the image in a location coincident to the checkerboard position in which the subsamples are encoded.

Abstract: Overlapped block disparity estimation and compensation is described. Compensating for images with overlapped block disparity compensation (OBDC) involves determining if OBDC is enabled in a video bit stream, and determining if OBDC is enabled for one or more macroblocks that neighbor a first macroblock within the video bit stream. The neighboring macroblocks may be transform coded. If OBDC is enabled in the video bit stream and for the one or more neighboring macroblocks, predictions may be made for a region of the first macroblock that has an edge adjacent with the neighboring macroblocks. OBDC can be causally applied. Disparity compensation parameters or modes may be shared amongst views or layers. A variety of predictions may be used with causally-applied OBDC.

Abstract: Multi-layered frame-compatible video delivery is described. Multi-layered encoding and decoding methods, comprising a base layer and at least one enhancement layer with reference processing, are provided. In addition, multi-layered encoding and decoding methods with inter-layer dependencies are described. Encoding and decoding methods that are capable of frame-compatible 3D video delivery are also described.

Abstract: Overlapped block disparity estimation and compensation is described. Compensating for images with overlapped block disparity compensation (OBDC) involves determining if OBDC is enabled in a video bit stream, and determining if OBDC is enabled for one or more macroblocks that neighbor a first macroblock within the video bit stream. The neighboring macroblocks may be transform coded. If OBDC is enabled in the video bit stream and for the one or more neighboring macroblocks, predictions may be made for a region of the first macroblock that has an edge adjacent with the neighboring macroblocks. OBDC can be causally applied. Disparity compensation parameters or modes may be shared amongst views or layers. A variety of predictions may be used with causally-applied OBDC.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operational efficiency of a video encoding system used to encode image data are provided. In embodiments, the video encoding system includes a low resolution pipeline that includes a low resolution motion estimation block, which generates downscaled image data by reducing resolution of the image data, performs a motion estimation search to determine motion vector candidates that are each indicative of location of a downscaled reference sample, and prunes one or more of the motion vector candidates. The video encoding system also includes a main pipeline that determines encoding parameters to be used to encode image data based at least partially the remaining motion vector candidates.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operational efficiency of a video encoding system used to encode image data are provided. In embodiments, the video encoding system includes a low resolution pipeline that includes a low resolution motion estimation block, which generates downscaled image data by reducing resolution of the image data and performs a motion estimation search using the downscaled image data and previously downscaled image data. The video encoding system also includes a main encoding pipeline in parallel with the low resolution pipeline that includes a motion estimation block, which determines a global motion vector based on data from the low resolution motion estimation block. The main encoding pipeline may utilize the global motion vector in determining a candidate inter prediction mode.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operational efficiency of a video encoding system used to encode image data are provided. In embodiments, the video encoding system includes a low resolution pipeline that includes a low resolution motion estimation block, which generates downscaled image data by reducing resolution of the image data and performs a motion estimation search using the downscaled image data and previously downscaled image data. The video encoding system also includes a main encoding pipeline in parallel with the low resolution pipeline that includes a motion estimation block, which determines a global motion vector based on data from the low resolution motion estimation block. The main encoding pipeline may utilize the global motion vector in determining a candidate inter prediction mode.

Abstract: Sampled data is packaged in checkerboard format for encoding and decoding. The sampled data may be quincunx sampled multi-image video data (e.g., 3D video or a multi-program stream), and the data may also be divided into sub-images of each image which are then multiplexed, or interleaved, in frames of a video stream to be encoded and then decoded using a standardized video encoder. A system for viewing may utilize a standard video decoder and a formatting device that de-interleaves the decoded sub-images of each frame reformats the images for a display device. A 3D video may be encoded using a most advantageous interleaving format such that a preferred quality and compression ratio is reached. In one embodiment, the invention includes a display device that accepts data in multiple formats.