Abstract: A method for reducing a computational load in high efficiency video coding includes generating a full rate distortion calculation list of selected intra coding modes where the intra coding modes including intra prediction modes and depth modeling modes. A rate distortion cost is determined, with a segment-wise depth coding mode being disabled, for each intra prediction mode in the full rate distortion calculation list and a smallest rate distortion cost intra prediction mode is selected. A rate distortion cost for a particular intra prediction mode is calculated with the segment-wise depth coding mode enabled. After comparison, one of the particular intra prediction mode and the smallest rate distortion cost intra prediction mode having the smallest rate distortion cost is applied to a prediction unit.

Abstract: Depth based block partitioning in high efficiency video coding is provided by partitioning a video image block into different partitions using a binary segmentation mask. A determination is made whether to filter pixels at a boundary between the partitions. A particular pixel is not filtered in response to each adjacent pixel in vertical and horizontal planes in relation to the particular pixel having a same value. The particular pixel is filtered in response to any adjacent pixel in the vertical and horizontal planes in relation to the particular pixel having a different value than any other adjacent pixel in the vertical and horizontal planes in relation to the particular pixel. Pixels are filtered pursuant to a filtering process in response to a filtering determination.

Abstract: A method of decoding a bitstream comprising decoding the bitstream into color values and metadata items indicating information about adaptive post-processing operations performed by a decoder, performing high dynamic range (HDR) adaptation operations on the color values based on the metadata items, and performing fixed post-processing operations to reconstruct an HDR video from the color values, wherein the HDR adaptation operations convert color values into a format expected by the fixed post-processing operations.

Abstract: A method of decoding a bitstream comprising decoding the bitstream into color values and metadata items indicating information about adaptive post-processing operations performed by a decoder, performing high dynamic range (HDR) adaptation operations on the color values based on the metadata items, and performing fixed post-processing operations to reconstruct an HDR video from the color values, wherein the HDR adaptation operations convert color values into a format expected by the fixed post-processing operations.

Abstract: A method is provided for encoding an intra predicted residual block of an image for use in image or video compression. The intra predicted residual block is associated with an intra prediction coding mode. The method includes generating a set of residual error blocks including residual data with different statistical characteristics from the residual data in the intra predicted residual block. Each of the residual error blocks is scanned and entropy coded to produce a first set of bit streams. The lengths of each of the first set of bit streams are recorded. The intra predicted residual block is also scanned and entropy coded to produce a second bit stream. The length of the second bit stream is recorded. Selecting the minimum length bit stream from the first set of bit streams and the second bit stream as the output coded bit stream of the intra predicted residual block.

Abstract: System and method embodiments are provided for achieving improved View Synthesis Distortion (VSD) calculation and more accurate distortion estimation of encoded video frames. An embodiment method includes obtaining a depth map value for a video frame and determining a weighting factor for depth distortion in accordance with the depth map value. The weighting factor maps a pixel range of the depth map value to an output function having higher values for closer image objects and lower values for farther image objects. The VSD for the video frame is then calculated as a function of absolute horizontal texture gradients weighted by a depth distortion value and the weighting factor determined in accordance with the depth map value.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method, device and computer-readable storage medium for decoding video data. The method includes: obtaining a reference sample array of a video block; obtaining a sum of the reference sample array; calculating a threshold by performing arithmetic right shift to the sum, a shift value of the arithmetic right shift being determined according to size information of the video block; and determining the binary partition pattern by comparing the reference sample array with the threshold.

Abstract: System and method embodiments are provided for achieving improved View Synthesis Distortion (VSD) calculation and more accurate distortion estimation of encoded video frames. An embodiment method includes obtaining a depth map value for a video frame and determining a weighting factor for depth distortion in accordance with the depth map value. The weighting factor maps a pixel range of the depth map value to an output function having higher values for closer image objects and lower values for farther image objects. The VSD for the video frame is then calculated as a function of absolute horizontal texture gradients weighted by a depth distortion value and the weighting factor determined in accordance with the depth map value.

Abstract: A method is provided for encoding a digital video to improve perceptual quality. The method includes receiving a digital video at a video encoder, providing a perceptual quantizer function defined by PQ ? ( L ) = ( c 1 + c 2 ? L m 1 1 + c 3 ? L m 1 ) m 2 , wherein L is a luminance value, c1, c2, c3, and m1 are parameters with fixed values, and m2 is a parameter with a variable value, adapting the perceptual quantizer function by adjusting the value of the m2 parameter based on different luminance value ranges found within a coding level of the digital video, encoding the digital video into a bitstream using, in part, the perceptual quantizer function, transmitting the bitstream to a decoder, and transmitting the value of the m2 parameter to the decoder for each luminance value range in the coding level.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method, device and computer-readable storage medium for decoding video data. The method includes: obtaining a reference sample array of a video block; obtaining a sum of the reference sample array; calculating a threshold by performing arithmetic right shift to the sum, a shift value of the arithmetic right shift being determined according to size information of the video block; and determining the binary partition pattern by comparing the reference sample array with the threshold.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus and a decoder for decoding a block of a depth map are provided. An ordered list of decoding modes is obtained, wherein the ordered list of decoding modes comprises a plurality of decoding modes each of which is capable of being used for decoding of the block. A plurality of depth modeling modes (DMMs) each of which is capable of being used for decoding of the block are obtained. And whether a DMM of the plurality of DMMs is to be added into the ordered list of decoding modes in accordance with a decision condition is determined.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method, apparatus and computer program product for prediction mode selection for coding a block of a depth map. An ordered list of coding modes is obtained, wherein the ordered list of coding modes comprises a plurality of coding modes. And whether a depth modeling mode and/or a region boundary chain mode is to be added into the ordered list of coding modes in accordance with a decision condition is determined.

Abstract: A system and method for regenerating high dynamic range (HDR) video data from encoded video data, extracts, from the encoded video data, a self-referential metadata structure specifying a video data reshaping transfer function. The video data reshaping transfer function is regenerated using data from the metadata structure and the extracted reshaping transfer function is used to generate the HDR video data by applying decoded video data values to the reshaping transfer function.

Abstract: A method for transforming high dynamic range (HDR) video data into standard dynamic range (SDR) video data and encoding the SDR video data so that the HDR video data may be recovered at the decoder includes generating a tone map describing a transformation applied to the HDR video data to generate the SDR video data. The generated tone map describes the transformation as the multiplication of each HDR pixel in the HDR video data by a scalar to generate the SDR video data. The tone map is then modeled as a reshaping transfer function and the HDR video data is processed by the reshaping transfer function to generate the SDR video data. The reshaping transfer function is then inverted and described in a self-referential metadata structure. The SDR video data is then encoded including the metadata structure defining the inverse reshaping transfer function.

Abstract: A video data encoder generates a first metadata structure to describe one or more transfer functions to be applied by a decoder to reshape decoded video data into video data. The encoder segments a transfer function relative to P pivot points. It then allocates P cells in the metadata structure for storing the P pivot points. Each transfer function segment is fitted to a respective equation having N coefficients based on the order of the equation. The encoder allocates N+1 cells for each pivot point except for the Pth pivot point and stores the number N in the first cell and the N coefficients in the remaining cells. The encoder generates a second metadata structure, associated with a video data set, that includes data identifying the transfer function to be applied to the video data set. The encoder encodes the video data including the first and second metadata structures.

Abstract: A method of decoding a bitstream comprising decoding the bitstream into color values and metadata items indicating information about adaptive post-processing operations performed by a decoder, performing high dynamic range (HDR) adaptation operations on the color values based on the metadata items, and performing fixed post-processing operations to reconstruct an HDR video from the color values, wherein the HDR adaptation operations convert color values into a format expected by the fixed post-processing operations.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method, device and computer-readable storage medium for decoding video data. The method includes: obtaining a reference sample array of a video block; obtaining a sum of the reference sample array; calculating a threshold by performing arithmetic right shift to the sum, a shift value of the arithmetic right shift being determined according to size information of the video block; and determining the binary partition pattern by comparing the reference sample array with the threshold.

Abstract: A method of encoding a digital video data applies adaptive pre-processing to data representing high dynamic range (HDR) and/or wide color gamut (WCG) image data prior to encoding and complementary post-processing to the data after decoding in order to allow at least partial reproduction of the HDR and/or WCG data. The example methods apply one or more color space conversions, and a perceptual transfer functions to the data prior to quantization. The example methods apply inverse perceptual transfer functions and inverse color space conversions after decoding to recover the HDR and/or WCG data. The transfer functions are adaptive so that different transfer functions may be applied to video data sets including different groups of frames, frames or processing windows in a single frame. Information on the data set and information on the applied transfer function is passed as metadata from the encoder to the decoder.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method, apparatus and computer program product for prediction mode selection for coding a block of a depth map. An ordered list of coding modes is obtained, wherein the ordered list of coding modes comprises a plurality of coding modes each of which is capable of being used for coding of the block. A plurality of depth modeling modes (DMMs) each of which is capable of being used for coding of the block are obtained. And whether a DMM of the plurality of DMMs is to be added into the ordered list of coding modes in accordance with a decision condition is determined.

Abstract: A method is provided for encoding a digital video to provide for improved color mapping.