Patents by Inventor Tobias Hinz

Tobias Hinz 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).

  • Patent number: 11659169
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    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
  • Patent number: 11589062
    Abstract: A subblock-based coding of transform coefficient blocks of the enhancement layer is rendered more efficient. To this end, the subblock subdivision of the respective transform coefficient block is controlled on the basis of the base layer residual signal or the base layer signal. In particular, by exploiting the respective base layer hint, the subblocks may be made longer along a spatial frequency axis transverse to edge extensions observable from the base layer residual signal or the base layer signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: GE Video Compression, LLC
    Inventors: Tobias Hinz, Haricharan Lakshman, Jan Stegemann, Philipp Helle, Mischa Siekmann, Karsten Suehring, Detlev Marpe, Heiko Schwarz, Christian Bartnik, Ali Atef Ibrahim Khairat Abdelhamid, Heiner Kirchhoffer, Thomas Wiegand
  • Publication number: 20230039672
    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: October 7, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Jonathan Pfaff, Philipp Helle, Michael Schaefer, Roman Rischke, Philipp Merkle, Tobias Hinz, Bjoern Stallenberger, Martin Winken, Mischa Siekmann, Heiko Schwarz, Detlev Marpe, Thomas Wiegand
  • Patent number: 11575921
    Abstract: The coding efficiency of scalable video coding is increased by substituting missing spatial intra prediction parameter candidates in a spatial neighborhood of a current block of the enhancement layer by use of intra prediction parameters of a co-located block of the base layer signal. By this measure, the coding efficiency for coding the spatial intra prediction parameters is increased due to the improved prediction quality of the set of intra prediction parameters of the enhancement layer, or, more precisely stated, the increased likelihood, that appropriate predictors for the intra prediction parameters for an intra predicted block of the enhancement layer are available thereby increasing the likelihood that the signaling of the intra prediction parameter of the respective enhancement layer block may be performed, on average, with less bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: GE Video Compression, LLC
    Inventors: Tobias Hinz, Haricharan Lakshman, Jan Stegemann, Philipp Helle, Mischa Siekmann, Karsten Suehring, Detlev Marpe, Heiko Schwarz, Christian Bartnik, Ali Atef Ibrahim Khairat Abdelhamid, Heiner Kirchhoffer, Thomas Wiegand
  • 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: 20230027719
    Abstract: A proposed intermediate way of handling the renderable portion of the first view results in more efficient coding. Instead of omitting the coding of the renderable portion completely, even more efficient coding of multi-view signals entails merely suppressing the coding of the residual signal within the renderable portion, whereas the prediction parameter coding still takes place from the non-renderable portion of the multi-view signal across the renderable portion so that prediction parameters for the renderable portion may be exploited for predicting parameters for the non-renderable portion. The additional coding rate for transmitting the prediction parameters for the renderable portion may be kept low as this merely aims at forming a continuation of the parameter history across the renderable portion to serve as a basis for prediction parameters of other portions of the multi-view signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Sebastian BOSSE, Heiko SCHWARZ, Thomas WIEGAND, Tobias HINZ
  • Publication number: 20220400271
    Abstract: Scalable video coding is rendered more efficient by deriving/selecting a subblock subdivision to be used for enhancement layer prediction, among a set of possible subblock subdivisions of an enhancement layer block by evaluating the spatial variation of the base layer coding parameters over the base layer signal. By this measure, less of the signalization overhead has to be spent on signaling this subblock subdivision within the enhancement layer data stream, if any. The subblock subdivision thus selected may be used in predictively coding/decoding the enhancement layer signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventors: Tobias HINZ, Haricharan LAKSHMAN, Jan STEGEMANN, Philipp HELLE, Mischa SIEKMANN, Karsten SUEHRING, Detlev MARPE, Heiko SCHWARZ, Christian BARTNIK, Ali Atef Ibrahim KHAIRAT ABDELHAMID, Heiner KIRCHHOFFER, 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: 11477467
    Abstract: Scalable video coding is rendered more efficient by deriving/selecting a subblock subdivision to be used for enhancement layer prediction, among a set of possible subblock subdivisions of an enhancement layer block by evaluating the spatial variation of the base layer coding parameters over the base layer signal. By this measure, less of the signalization overhead has to be spent on signaling this subblock subdivision within the enhancement layer data stream, if any. The subblock subdivision thus selected may be used in predictively coding/decoding the enhancement layer signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: GE Video Compression, LLC
    Inventors: Tobias Hinz, Haricharan Lakshman, Jan Stegemann, Philipp Helle, Mischa Siekmann, Karsten Suehring, Detlev Marpe, Heiko Schwarz, Christian Bartnik, Ali Atef Ibrahim Khairat Abdelhamid, Heiner Kirchhoffer, Thomas Wiegand
  • Publication number: 20220248010
    Abstract: A video decoder for decoding an encoded video signal including encoded picture data and indication data of a picture of a video to reconstruct the picture of the video is provided. The video decoder includes an interface configured for receiving the encoded video signal, and a data decoder configured for reconstructing the picture of the video by decoding the encoded picture data using the indication data. The picture is partitioned into a plurality of coding areas. One or more coding areas of the plurality of coding areas include two or more coding tree units of the plurality of coding tree units, wherein each coding area of the one or more coding areas which includes two or more coding tree units exhibits a coding order for the two or more coding tree units of the coding area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Valeri George, Tobias Hinz, Jackie Ma, Yago Sánchez De La Fuente, Robert Skupin, Thomas Schierl, Jens Brandenburg, Christian Lehmann, Adam Wieckowski, Heiko Schwarz, Detlev Marpe, Thomas Wiegand
  • Patent number: 11405635
    Abstract: A proposed intermediate way of handling the renderable portion of the first view results in more efficient coding. Instead of omitting the coding of the renderable portion completely, even more efficient coding of multi-view signals entails merely suppressing the coding of the residual signal within the renderable portion, whereas the prediction parameter coding still takes place from the non-renderable portion of the multi-view signal across the renderable portion so that prediction parameters for the renderable portion may be exploited for predicting parameters for the non-renderable portion. The additional coding rate for transmitting the prediction parameters for the renderable portion may be kept low as this merely aims at forming a continuation of the parameter history across the renderable portion to serve as a basis for prediction parameters of other portions of the multi-view signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: GE Video Compression, LLC
    Inventors: Sebastian Bosse, Heiko Schwarz, Thomas Wiegand, Tobias Hinz
  • Patent number: 11336890
    Abstract: A video decoder for decoding an encoded video signal including encoded picture data and indication data of a picture of a video to reconstruct the picture of the video is provided. The video decoder includes an interface configured for receiving the encoded video signal, and a data decoder configured for reconstructing the picture of the video by decoding the encoded picture data using the indication data. The picture is partitioned into a plurality of coding areas. One or more coding areas of the plurality of coding areas include two or more coding tree units of the plurality of coding tree units, wherein each coding area of the one or more coding areas which includes two or more coding tree units exhibits a coding order for the two or more coding tree units of the coding area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Valeri George, Tobias Hinz, Jackie Ma, Yago Sánchez De La Fuente, Robert Skupin, Thomas Schierl, Jens Brandenburg, Christian Lehmann, Adam Wieckowski, Heiko Schwarz, Detlev Marpe, Thomas Wiegand
  • Publication number: 20220132108
    Abstract: Video codec for supporting temporal inter-prediction, configured to perform padding of an area of a referenced portion of a reference picture which extends beyond a border of the reference picture, which referenced portion is referenced by an inter predicted block of a current picture by selecting one of a plurality of intra-prediction modes, and padding the area using the selected intra-prediction mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Jens BRANDENBURG, Tobias HINZ, Adam WIECKOWSKI, Jackie MA, Valeri GEORGE, Christian LEHMANN, Heiko SCHWARZ, Detlev MARPE, Thomas WIEGAND, Robert SKUPIN, Yago SÁNCHEZ DE LA FUENTE, Thomas SCHIERL
  • 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: 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: 20220078421
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an apparatus configured to partition a picture into leaf blocks using recursive multi-tree partitioning, block-based encode the picture into a data stream using the partitioning of the picture into the leaf blocks, wherein the apparatus is configured to, in partitioning the picture into the leaf blocks, for a predetermined block which extends beyond a boundary of the picture, reduce an available set of split modes depending on a position at which the boundary of the picture crosses the predetermined block in order to obtain a reduced set of one or more split modes, wherein the apparatus is configured to signal a selected split mode in the data stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Adam WIECKOWSKI, Valeri GEORGE, Tobias HINZ, Heiko SCHWARZ, Detlev MARPE, Thomas WIEGAND, Jackie MA, Jens BRANDENBURG
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11233989
    Abstract: Video codec for supporting temporal inter-prediction, configured to perform padding of an area of a referenced portion of a reference picture which extends beyond a border of the reference picture, which referenced portion is referenced by an inter predicted block of a current picture by selecting one of a plurality of intra-prediction modes, and padding the area using the selected intra-prediction mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Jens Brandenburg, Tobias Hinz, Adam Wieckowski, Jackie Ma, Valeri George, Christian Lehmann, Heiko Schwarz, Detlev Marpe, Thomas Wiegand, Robert Skupin, Yago Sánchez De La Fuente, Thomas Schierl
  • Publication number: 20210409739
    Abstract: A scalable video decoder is described which is configured to reconstruct a base layer signal from a coded data stream to obtain a reconstructed base layer signal; and reconstruct an enhancement layer signal including spatially or temporally predicting a portion of an enhancement layer signal, currently to be reconstructed, from an already reconstructed portion of the enhancement layer signal to obtain an enhancement layer internal prediction signal; forming, at the portion currently to be reconstructed, a weighted average of an inter-layer prediction signal obtained from the reconstructed base layer signal, and the enhancement layer internal prediction signal to obtain an enhancement layer prediction signal such that a weighting between the inter-layer prediction signal and the enhancement layer internal prediction signal varies over different spatial frequency components; and predictively reconstructing the enhancement layer signal using the enhancement layer prediction signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Tobias HINZ, Haricharan LAKSHMAN, Jan STEGEMANN, Philipp HELLE, Mischa SIEKMANN, Karsten SUEHRING, Detlev MARPE, Heiko SCHWARZ, Christian BARTNIK, Ali Atef Ibrahim KHAIRAT ABDELHAMID, Heiner KIRCHHOFFER, Thomas WIEGAND
  • 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