Abstract: Methods and apparatus encode image frames using intra-frame prediction by predicting pixels for a block of current pixels, based on a detected spatial pattern of pixel intensity differences among a plurality of neighboring reconstructed pixels to the block of current pixels, and encode a block of pixels of the image frame using the predicted block of reconstructed pixels. Inter-frame prediction is provided by determining whether blocks of pixels in temporally neighboring reconstructed frames corresponding to a candidate motion vector have a pattern of pixel intensity differences among the blocks from temporally neighboring frames. Predicted blocks are produced for a reconstructed frame based on the determined pattern of pixel intensity difference among temporally neighboring frames.

Abstract: Adaptive digital content preprocessing techniques based on a bitrate are described. In an implementation, a parameter of a preprocessing module is set based on a target bitrate. The parameter specifies an amount of preprocessing to be performed in preprocessing digital content. Preprocessed digital content is generated by preprocessing the digital content by the specified amount using the preprocessing module. Encoded digital content is generated by compressing the preprocessed digital content using a compression technique by an encoder. The encoded digital content is then transmitted for communication at the target bitrate.

Abstract: Adaptive decoder-drive encoder reconfiguration techniques are described. In one example, techniques include detecting an operational condition at a consumer using a sensor, the consumer receiving a communication of digital content from an encoder; generating an adaptation instruction by the decoder based on the detecting; transmitting the adaptation instruction by the decoder for receipt by the encoder; and receiving an adapted communication of the digital content generated by the encoder, the adapted communication caused by reconfiguration of the encoder based on the adaptation instruction received from the decoder.

Abstract: A feedback processing module includes a memory configured to store feedback received from an encoder. The feedback includes parameters associated with encoded graphics content generated by a graphics engine. The feedback processing module also includes a processor configured to generate configuration information for the graphics engine based on the feedback. The graphics engine is configured to execute a workload based on the configuration information. In some cases, the feedback processing module is also configured to receive feedback from a decoder that is used to decode the graphics content that is encoded by the encoder and generate the configuration information based on the feedback received from the decoder.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus encode image frames using intra-frame prediction by predicting pixels for a block of current pixels, based on a detected spatial pattern of pixel intensity differences among a plurality of neighboring reconstructed pixels to the block of current pixels, and encode a block of pixels of the image frame using the predicted block of reconstructed pixels. Inter-frame prediction is provided by determining whether blocks of pixels in temporally neighboring reconstructed frames corresponding to a candidate motion vector have a pattern of pixel intensity differences among the blocks from temporally neighboring frames. Predicted blocks are produced for a reconstructed frame based on the determined pattern of pixel intensity difference among temporally neighboring frames.

Abstract: Reference frame detection using sensor metadata, including: storing a plurality of first frames each corresponding to first metadata, wherein the first metadata for each first frame of the plurality of first frames is based on first sensor data from one or more sensors; generating a second frame corresponding to second metadata based on the one or more sensors; identifying, based on the first metadata of the plurality of first frames and the second metadata, a reference frame of the plurality of first frames; and encoding the second frame based on the reference frame.

Abstract: A server offloads graphics effects processing to a client device with graphics processing resources by determining a modification to a graphics effects operation, generating a portion of a rendered video stream using the modification to the graphics effects operation, and providing an encoded representation of the portion of the rendered video stream to the client device, along with metadata representing the modification implemented. The client device decodes the encoded representation to recover the portion of the rendered video stream and selectively performs a graphics effects operation on the recovered portion to at least partially revert the resulting graphics effects for the portion to the intended effects without the modification implemented by the server.

Abstract: Calculating, for each frame of a plurality of frames, a corresponding quality value; calculating, for each frame of the plurality of frames, based on one or more visual attributes of a frame, a weight for the corresponding quality value of the frame; calculating an aggregate quality value for the plurality of frames based on the weight and the corresponding quality value for each frame of the plurality of frames; and providing an assessment of the plurality of frames based on the aggregate quality value for the plurality of frames.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide cloud-based video encoding that generates encoded video data by one or more encoders in a cloud platform for a plurality of cloud encoding sessions. The methods and apparatus generate operational improvement tradeoff data in response to operational encoding metrics associated with the one or more encoders and change operational characteristics of the one or more encoders for at least one of the cloud encoding sessions based on the operational improvement tradeoff data.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus encode image frames using intra-frame prediction by predicting pixels for a block of current pixels, based on a detected spatial pattern of pixel intensity differences among a plurality of neighboring reconstructed pixels to the block of current pixels, and encode a block of pixels of the image frame using the predicted block of reconstructed pixels. Inter-frame prediction is provided by determining whether blocks of pixels in temporally neighboring reconstructed frames corresponding to a candidate motion vector have a pattern of pixel intensity differences among the blocks from temporally neighboring frames. Predicted blocks are produced for a reconstructed frame based on the determined pattern of pixel intensity difference among temporally neighboring frames.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide cloud-based video encoding that generates encoded video data by one or more encoders in a cloud platform for a plurality of cloud encoding sessions. The methods and apparatus generate operational improvement tradeoff data in response to operational encoding metrics associated with the one or more encoders and change operational characteristics of the one or more encoders for at least one of the cloud encoding sessions based on the operational improvement tradeoff data.

Abstract: Mapping machine learning activation data to a representative value palette, including: selecting, from a plurality of activation values of a model execution, a plurality of representative values; identifying, for each activation value of the plurality of activation values, a representative value of the plurality of representative values; calculating, for each activation value of the plurality of activation values, a corresponding residual value as a difference between an activation value and a corresponding representative value; and storing, for each activation value of the plurality of activation values, the corresponding residual value and an index of the corresponding representative value.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for generating a model for determining a quantization strength to use when encoding video frames are disclosed. A pre-encoder performs multiple encoding passes using different quantization strengths on a portion or the entirety of one or more pre-processed video frames. The pre-encoder captures the bit-size of the encoded output for each of the multiple encoding passes. Then, based on the multiple encoding passes, the pre-encoder generates a model for mapping bit-size to quantization strength for encoding video frames or portion(s) thereof. When the encoder begins the final encoding pass for one or more given video frames or any portion(s) thereof, the encoder uses the model to map a preferred bit-size to a given quantization strength. The encoder uses the given quantization strength when encoding the given video frame(s) or frame portion(s) to meet a specified bit-rate for the encoded bitstream.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for reducing latency when consuming an encoded video bitstream in real-time are disclosed. A video encoder encodes a video bitstream and writes chunks of the encoded bitstream to a bitstream buffer. Prior to the encoder completing the encoding of an entire frame, or an entire slice of a frame, a consumer module consumes encoded chunks of the bitstream. In one implementation, to enable pipelining of the consumption with the encoding, the encoder updates a buffer write pointer with an indication of the amount of data that has been written to the bitstream buffer. The consumer module retrieves encoded data from the bitstream buffer up to the location indicated by the buffer write pointer. In this way, the consumer module is able to access and consume encoded video data prior to the encoder finishing encoding an entire frame or an entire slice of the frame.

Abstract: Reference frame detection using sensor metadata, including: storing a plurality of first frames each corresponding to first metadata, wherein the first metadata for each first frame of the plurality of first frames is based on first sensor data from one or more sensors; generating a second frame corresponding to second metadata based on the one or more sensors; identifying, based on the first metadata of the plurality of first frames and the second metadata, a reference frame of the plurality of first frames; and encoding the second frame based on the reference frame.

Abstract: An encoder encodes an image portion by recursively partitioning the portion into a partitioning hierarchy of levels. The top level has a single block representing the entire portion and each lower level has four smaller blocks representing a corresponding larger block at a higher level. A palette table is generated for each bottom-level block based on the pixels of the associated block. For each successively higher level, the encoder generates a palette table for each current-level block by selecting palette colors based on the palette colors from the four palette tables for the associated four blocks at the next-lowest level. A color index map is then generated based on a final palette table selected from the palette tables generated for the partitioning hierarchy. A representation of the portion is then encoded using the final palette table and the color index map to generate a corresponding segment of an encoded bitstream.

Abstract: Calculating, for each frame of a plurality of frames, a corresponding quality value; calculating, for each frame of the plurality of frames, based on one or more visual attributes of a frame, a weight for the corresponding quality value of the frame; calculating an aggregate quality value for the plurality of frames based on the weight and the corresponding quality value for each frame of the plurality of frames; and providing an assessment of the plurality of frames based on the aggregate quality value for the plurality of frames.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed a system and method for exploiting camera and depth information associated with rendered video frames, such as those rendered by a server operating as part of a cloud gaming service, to more efficiently encode the rendered video frames for transmission over a network. The method and system of the present disclosure can be used in a server operating in a cloud gaming service to improve, for example, the amount of latency, downstream bandwidth, and/or computational processing power associated with playing a video game over its service. The method and system of the present disclosure can be further used in other applications where camera and depth information of a rendered or captured video frame is available.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for reducing latency when consuming an encoded video bitstream in real-time are disclosed. A video encoder encodes a video bitstream and writes chunks of the encoded bitstream to a bitstream buffer. Prior to the encoder completing the encoding of an entire frame, or an entire slice of a frame, a consumer module consumes encoded chunks of the bitstream. In one implementation, to enable pipelining of the consumption with the encoding, the encoder updates a buffer write pointer with an indication of the amount of data that has been written to the bitstream buffer. The consumer module retrieves encoded data from the bitstream buffer up to the location indicated by the buffer write pointer. In this way, the consumer module is able to access and consume encoded video data prior to the encoder finishing encoding an entire frame or an entire slice of the frame.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for performing parallel histogram calculation with application to palette table derivation are disclosed. An encoder calculates a first histogram for a first portion of pixel component value bits of a block of pixels. Then, the encoder selects a first number of the highest pixel count bins from the first histogram. Also, the encoder calculates a second histogram for a second portion of pixel component value bits of the block. The encoder selects a second number of the highest pixel count bins from the second histogram. A third histogram is calculated from the concatenation of bits assigned to the first and second number of bins, and the highest pixel count bins are selected from the third histogram. A palette table is derived based on these highest pixel count bins selected from the third histogram, and the block of pixels is encoded using the palette table.