Patents by Inventor Philipp Merkle

Philipp Merkle has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230036509
    Abstract: Apparatus for decoding a predetermined block (18) of a picture using intra-prediction, configured to read, from the data stream (12), a mode index (200), the mode index pointing to one out of a list (204) of matrix-based intra-prediction modes. Additionally, the apparatus is configured to predict samples (108) of the predetermined block (18) by computing a matrix-vector product (206) between an input vector (102) derived from reference samples (17) in a neighborhood of the predetermined block (18) and a prediction matrix (19) associated with the matrix-based intra-prediction mode (k) pointed to by the mode index (200) and associating components (210) of an output vector (208) obtained by the matrix vector product (206) onto sample positions (104) of the predetermined block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Jonathan PFAFF, Tobias HINZ, Philipp HELLE, Philipp MERKLE, Björn STALLENBERGER, Michael SCHÄFER, Benjamin BROSS, Martin WINKEN, Mischa SIEKMANN, Heiko SCHWARZ, Detlev MARPE, Thomas WIEGAND
  • Publication number: 20230025784
    Abstract: Block-based coding of a picture is done by providing an intra-prediction coding concept according to which a certain block of the picture is intra-prediction coded using a certain intra-coding mode by partitioning the predetermined block into partitions which are, for reconstruction purposes, sequentially subject to spatial prediction using the intra-prediction coding mode signaled for the certain block followed by correcting the thus obtained predictor using a prediction residual so that for preceding partitions a reconstruction of the samples is available to the decoder at the time of processing the next, then current, partition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Santiago De Luxán Hernández, Philipp Merkle, Heiko Schwarz, Detlev Marpe, Thomas Wiegand
  • Patent number: 11553207
    Abstract: A video decoder and method for supporting a prediction mode for predicting blocks of a video is configured to predict each of the blocks by extrapolating a neighborhood of the respective block into the block along a direction which varies across the respective block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FÖRDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.
    Inventors: Philipp Merkle, Heiko Schwarz, Detlev Marpe, Thomas Wiegand
  • Patent number: 11503339
    Abstract: Techniques for encoding/decoding of video signals are described, e.g. implemented in decoders, encoder, methods and non-transitory storage units storing instructions to perform the methods. A decoder or encoder may be configured to predict a predetermined block of the picture using a plurality of neighbouring samples by reducing the plurality of neighbouring samples to obtain a reduced set of samples values lower, in number of samples, than compared to the plurality of neighbouring samples, subjecting the reduced set of sample values to a linear or affine linear transformation to obtain predicted values for predetermined samples of the predetermined block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Jonathan Pfaff, Philipp Helle, Michael Schaefer, Roman Rischke, Tobias Hinz, Philipp Merkle, Bjoern Stallenberger, Martin Winken, Mischa Siekmann, Heiko Schwarz, Detlev Marpe, Thomas Wiegand
  • Patent number: 11463694
    Abstract: Block-based coding of a picture is done by providing an intra-prediction coding concept according to which a certain block of the picture is intra-prediction coded using a certain intra-coding mode by partitioning the predetermined block into partitions which are, for reconstruction purposes, sequentially subject to spatial prediction using the intra-prediction coding mode signaled for the certain block followed by correcting the thus obtained predictor using a prediction residual so that for preceding partitions a reconstruction of the samples is available to the decoder at the time of processing the next, then current, partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Fraumhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Santiago De Luxán Hernández, Philipp Merkle, Heiko Schwarz, Detlev Marpe, Thomas Wiegand
  • Publication number: 20220303519
    Abstract: Embodiments are described which exploit a finding, according to which a higher compression rate or better rate/distortion ratio may be achieved by adopting or predicting second coding parameters used for encoding a second view of the multi-view signal from first coding parameters used in encoding a first view of the multi-view signal. In other words, the inventors found out that the redundancies between views of a multi-view signal are not restricted to the views themselves, such as the video information thereof, but that the coding parameters in parallelly encoding these views show similarities which may be exploited in order to further improve the coding rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas WIEGAND, Detlev MARPE, Karsten MUELLER, Philipp MERKLE, Gerhard TECH, Hunn RHEE, Heiko SCHWARZ
  • Patent number: 11425367
    Abstract: Wedgelet separation lines of neighboring blocks are predicted from each other by aligning the wedgelet separation lines of such neighboring blocks to each other, thereby reducing the side information coding rate that may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: GE Video Compression, LLC
    Inventors: Philipp Merkle, Christian Bartnik, Haricharan Lakshman, Detlev Marpe, Karsten Mueller, Thomas Wiegand, Gerhard Tech
  • Patent number: 11330242
    Abstract: Embodiments are described which exploit a finding, according to which a higher compression rate or better rate/distortion ratio may be achieved by adopting or predicting second coding parameters used for encoding a second view of the multi-view signal from first coding parameters used in encoding a first view of the multi-view signal. In other words, the inventors found out that the redundancies between views of a multi-view signal are not restricted to the views themselves, such as the video information thereof, but that the coding parameters in parallely encoding these views show similarities which may be exploited in order to further improve the coding rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: GE Video Compression, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Wiegand, Detlev Marpe, Karsten Mueller, Philipp Merkle, Gerhard Tech, Hunn Rhee, Heiko Schwarz
  • Publication number: 20220116606
    Abstract: An apparatus configured to select a predetermined intra prediction mode out of a plurality of intra-prediction modes which includes a first set of intra-prediction modes and a second set of matrix-based intra-prediction modes. The apparatus is configured to select a subset of one or more secondary transforms dependent on the predetermined intra prediction mode so that the subset is nonempty in case of the predetermined intra prediction mode being contained in the first set of intra-prediction modes or in the second set of matrix-based intra-prediction modes. The apparatus is configured to derive a transformed version of a prediction residual for a predetermined block, which is related to a spatial domain version of the prediction residual of the predetermined block via a transform defined by a concatenation of a primary transform and a predetermined secondary transform out of the subset of secondary transforms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Jonathan PFAFF, Tobias HINZ, Philipp HELLE, Philipp MERKLE, Björn STALLENBERGER, Michael SCHÄFER, Benjamin BROSS, Martin WINKEN, Mischa SIEKMANN, Heiko SCHWARZ, Detlev MARPE, Thomas WIEGAND
  • Publication number: 20220109842
    Abstract: Wedgelet-based coding for coding blocks of varying size is rendered more efficient by the usage of a variable length coded syntax element having a prefix and a suffix, wherein the size of the suffix is dependent on the prefix and the size of the current coding block. By this measure, it is feasible to efficiently adapt the length of the variable-length coded syntax element which controls the bi-partitioning of the current coding block to the actual needs, namely the size, of the current coding block, and the variability of the bi-partitioning by varying the wedglet separation line, respectively. The greater the current coding block is, the longer the variable-length coded syntax element may be. This length dependency may even be sufficiently effective in terms of coding efficiency so that the variable length coded syntax element may be coded without context-adaptive entropy coding, but directly or using fixed-equal-probability binary entropy coding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Philipp MERKLE, Detlev MARPE, Karsten Mueller
  • Publication number: 20220103813
    Abstract: Apparatus configured to derive a set-selective syntax element indicating whether the predetermined block is to be predicted using one of a first set of intra-prediction modes comprising a DC intra prediction mode and angular prediction modes. If the set-selective syntax element indicates that the predetermined block is to be predicted using one of the first set of intra-prediction modes, the apparatus is configured to use a list of most probable intra-prediction modes. If the set-selective syntax element indicates that the predetermined block is not to be predicted using one of the first set of intra-prediction modes, the apparatus is configured to use a matrix-based intra-prediction mode. The list of most probable intra-prediction modes is formed such that the list of most probable intra-prediction modes is free of the DC intra prediction mode in case of the neighbouring blocks being predicted by any of the angular intra prediction modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Jonathan PFAFF, Tobias HINZ, Philipp HELLE, Philipp MERKLE, Bjoern STALLENBERGER, Michael SCHAEFER, Benjamin BROSS, Martin WINKEN, Mischa SIEKMANN, Heiko SCHWARZ, Detlev MARPE, Thomas WIEGAND
  • Publication number: 20220058239
    Abstract: Apparatus for predicting a predetermined block of a picture using a plurality of reference samples The apparatus is configured to form a sample value vector out of the plurality of reference samples, derive from the sample value vector a further vector onto which the sample value vector is mapped by a predetermined invertible linear transform, compute a matrix-vector product between the further vector and a predetermined prediction matrix so as to obtain a prediction vector, and predict samples of the predetermined block on the basis of the prediction vector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Jonathan PFAFF, Tobias HINZ, Philipp HELLE, Philipp MERKLE, Björn STALLENBERGER, Michael SCHÄFER, Benjamin BROSS, Martin WINKEN, Mischa SIEKMANN, Heiko SCHWARZ, Detlev MARPE, Thomas WIEGAND
  • Publication number: 20220021904
    Abstract: Hybrid video decoder supporting intermediate view synthesis of an intermediate view video from a first- and a second-view video which are predictively coded into a multi-view data signal with frames of the second-view video being spatially subdivided into sub-regions and the multi-view data signal having a prediction mode is provided, having: an extractor configured to respectively extract, from the multi-view data signal, for sub-regions of the frames of the second-view video, a disparity vector and a prediction residual; a predictive reconstructor configured to reconstruct the sub-regions of the frames of the second-view video, by generating a prediction from a reconstructed version of a portion of frames of the first-view video using the disparity vectors and a prediction residual for the respective sub-regions; and an intermediate view synthesizer configured to reconstruct first portions of the intermediate view video.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas WIEGAND, Karsten MUELLER, Philipp MERKLE
  • Publication number: 20210392331
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an encoder, which receives image or video data, encodes the data and provides a bitstream representing the data. The encoder includes a CABAC encoder, which receives a binary valued syntax element associated with a block of the data to be encoded, and encodes, using a selected context model, the syntax element into coded bits for the bitstream. The syntax element includes a tool flag indicating whether or not certain coding tool, like linear weighted intra prediction, is employed when encoding a block of the data. For a block of the data which exhibits an aspect ratio larger than 2 and for a block of the data which exhibits an aspect ratio less than or equal to 2, and to which blocks the certain coding tool is applicable, first and second context models for encoding the tool flag are selected from a group of one or more first and second context models, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Jonathan PFAFF, Philipp HELLE, Michael SCHÄFER, Tobias HINZ, Björn STALLENBERGER, Philipp MERKLE, Heiko SCHWARZ, Detlev MARPE, Thomas WIEGAND
  • Publication number: 20210314618
    Abstract: Techniques for encoding/decoding of video signals are described, e.g. implemented in decoders, encoder, methods and non-transitory storage units storing instructions to perform the methods. A decoder or encoder may be configured to predict a predetermined block of the picture using a plurality of neighbouring samples by reducing the plurality of neighbouring samples to obtain a reduced set of samples values lower, in number of samples, than compared to the plurality of neighbouring samples, subjecting the reduced set of sample values to a linear or affine linear transformation to obtain predicted values for predetermined samples of the predetermined block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Jonathan PFAFF, Philipp HELLE, Michael SCHAEFER, Roman RISCHKE, Tobias HINZ, Philipp MERKLE, Bjoern STALLENBERGER, Martin WINKEN, Mischa SIEKMANN, Heiko SCHWARZ, Detlev MARPE, Thomas WIEGAND
  • Patent number: 11128865
    Abstract: Wedgelet-based coding for coding blocks of varying size is rendered more efficient by the usage of a variable length coded syntax element having a prefix and a suffix, wherein the size of the suffix is dependent on the prefix and the size of the current coding block. By this measure, it is feasible to efficiently adapt the length of the variable-length coded syntax element which controls the bi-partitioning of the current coding block to the actual needs, namely the size, of the current coding block, and the variability of the bi-partitioning by varying the wedglet separation line, respectively. The greater the current coding block is, the longer the variable-length coded syntax element may be. This length dependency may even be sufficiently effective in terms of coding efficiency so that the variable length coded syntax element may be coded without context-adaptive entropy coding, but directly or using fixed-equal-probability binary entropy coding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: GE Video Compression, LLC
    Inventors: Philipp Merkle, Detlev Marpe, Karsten Mueller
  • Patent number: 11115681
    Abstract: Hybrid video decoder supporting intermediate view synthesis of an intermediate view video from a first- and a second- view video which are predictively coded into a multi-view data signal with frames of the second-view video being spatially subdivided into sub-regions and the multi-view data signal having a prediction mode is provided, having: an extractor configured to respectively extract, from the multi-view data signal, for sub-regions of the frames of the second-view video, a disparity vector and a prediction residual; a predictive reconstructor configured to reconstruct the sub-regions of the frames of the second-view video, by generating a prediction from a reconstructed version of a portion of frames of the first-view video using the disparity vectors and a prediction residual for the respective sub-regions; and an intermediate view synthesizer configured to reconstruct first portions of the intermediate view video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: GE Video Compression, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Wiegand, Karsten Mueller, Philipp Merkle
  • Publication number: 20210218960
    Abstract: There are disclosed techniques for block wise encoding and decoding. The techniques may be applied to encoders, decoders, and methods for encoding and/or decoding. In one example, there is provided a technique to decode (resp. decode) a predetermined block of the picture by assigning, based on a first signalization in the data stream, the predetermined block to the first set or the second set, sorting the assigned set of intra-prediction modes according to intra-prediction modes used for neighboring blocks, neighboring the predetermined block, to obtain a list of intra prediction modes, deriving, for the predetermined block, from the data stream, an index into the list of intra prediction modes, predicting the predetermined block using an intra prediction mode onto which the index points. The decoder (resp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Jonathan PFAFF, Heiko SCHWARZ, Philipp HELLE, Michael SCHÄFER, Roman RISCHKE, Tobias HINZ, Philipp MERKLE, Björn STALLENBERGER, Martin WINKEN, Mischa SIEKMANN, Detlev MARPE, Thomas WIEGAND
  • Publication number: 20210185329
    Abstract: Although wedgelet-based partitioning seems to represent a better tradeoff between side information rate on the one hand and achievable variety in partitioning possibilities on the other hand, compared to contour partitioning, the ability to alleviate the constraints of the partitioning to the extent that the partitions have to be wedgelet partitions, enables applying relatively uncomplex statistical analysis onto overlaid spatially sampled texture information in order to derive a good predictor for the bi-segmentation in a depth/disparity map. Thus, in accordance with a first aspect it is exactly the increase of the freedom which alleviates the signaling overhead provided that co-located texture information in form of a picture is present. Another aspect pertains the possibility to save side information rate involved with signaling a respective coding mode supporting irregular partitioning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Philipp MERKLE, Christian BARTNIK, Haricharan LAKSHMAN, Detlev MARPE, Karsten MUELLER, Thomas WIEGAND, Gerhard TECH
  • Patent number: 11032562
    Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect, the intra prediction direction of a neighboring, intra-predicted block is used in order to predict the extension direction of the wedgelet separation line of a current block, thereby reducing the side information rate necessitated in order to convey the partitioning information. In accordance with a second aspect, the idea is that previously reconstructed samples, i.e. reconstructed values of blocks preceding the current block in accordance with the coding/decoding order allow for at least a prediction of a correct placement of a starting point of the wedgelet separation line, namely by placing the starting point of the wedgelet separation line at a position of a maximum change between consecutive ones of a sequence of reconstructed values of samples of a line of samples extending adjacent to the current block along a circumference thereof. Both aspects may be used individually or in combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: GE Video Compression, LLC
    Inventors: Philipp Merkle, Christian Bartnik, Haricharan Lakshman, Detlev Marpe, Karsten Mueller, Thomas Wiegand, Gerhard Tech