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US6005622A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Video coder providing implicit or explicit prediction for image coding and intra coding of video

Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP
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Filing: 1997-08-11
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Granted: 1999-12-21
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Expires: 2017-08-11
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Abstract

Abstract A predictive video coder performs gradient prediction based on previous blocks of image data. For a new block of image data, the prediction determines a horizontal gradient and a vertical gradient from a block diagonally above the new block (vertically above a previous horizontally adjacent block). Based on these gradients, the encoder predicts image information based on image information of either the horizontally adjacent block or a block vertically adjacent to the new block. The encoder determines a residual that is transmitted in an output bitstream. The decoder performs the identical gradient prediction and predicts image information without need for overhead information. The decoder computes the actual information based on the predicted information and the residual from the bitstream.

Inventors

  • 👤 Barin Geoffry Haskell
  • 👤 Atul Puri
  • 👤 Robert Louis Schmidt

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 13:51
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N19/00; H04N19/10; H04N19/169; H04N19/18; H04N19/102; H04N19/103; H04N19/105; H04N19/124; H04N19/126; H04N19/129; H04N19/50; H04N19/593; H04N19/60; H04N19/13; H04N19/61; H04N19/63; H04N19/90; H04N19/91

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim 157 words
A video coder for coding coefficients representing blocks of video information, comprising, a gradient prediction circuit that generates first prediction signals from the coefficients, the gradient prediction circuit comprising: horizontal gradient estimator that determines a horizontal gradient of coefficients from a first block above and adjacent to the given block to a second block above the given block, vertical gradient estimator that determines a vertical gradient from the first block to a third block below the first block, and gradient predictor that codes the coefficients of the given block with reference to one of the second or third blocks as determined by the relative magnitudes of the horizontal and vertical gradients, a second prediction circuit that generates second prediction signals from the coefficients according to a second prediction scheme, and a prediction analyzer coupled to the gradient prediction circuit and the second prediction circuit and selecting one of said prediction circuits based on relative efficiencies between them.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 157 words
A video coder for coding coefficients representing blocks of video information, comprising, a gradient prediction circuit that generates first prediction signals from the coefficients, the gradient prediction circuit comprising: horizontal gradient estimator that determines a horizontal gradient of coefficients from a first block above and adjacent to the given block to a second block above the given block, vertical gradient estimator that determines a vertical gradient from the first block to a third block below the first block, and gradient predictor that codes the coefficients of the given block with reference to one of the second or third blocks as determined by the relative magnitudes of the horizontal and vertical gradients, a second prediction circuit that generates second prediction signals from the coefficients according to a second prediction scheme, and a prediction analyzer coupled to the gradient prediction circuit and the second prediction circuit and selecting one of said prediction circuits based on relative efficiencies between them.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 15 words
The coder of claim 1, wherein the second prediction circuit employs an explicit prediction circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 32 words
The coder of claim 1, wherein the second prediction signals include an overhead signal identifying a mode of operation of the prediction circuit and predicted video signals representative of the video information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 14 words
The coder of claim 1, wherein the second prediction circuit employs Annex I prediction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 26 words
The coder of claim 1, the prediction analyzer generates a selection signal identifying which of the gradient prediction circuit and the second prediction circuit is selected.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 164 words
A video decoder, for decoding coded blocks of video information, comprising a gradient prediction circuit that reconstructs coefficients of a given block, comprising: horizontal gradient estimator that determines a horizontal gradient of coefficients from a first block of reconstructed coefficients above and adjacent to the given block to a second block of reconstructed coefficients above the given block, vertical gradient estimator that determines a vertical gradient from the first block to a third block below the first block, and gradient predictor that decodes the coefficients of the given block with reference to reconstructed coefficients of one of the second or third blocks as determined by the relative magnitudes of the horizontal and vertical gradients, a second prediction circuit for reconstruction of scaled coefficients from second prediction signals, a prediction analyzer for identifying one of the gradient prediction signals or second prediction signals in the coded video information and selecting one of the gradient prediction circuit or the second prediction circuit response to the identification.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 164 words
A video decoder, for decoding coded blocks of video information, comprising a gradient prediction circuit that reconstructs coefficients of a given block, comprising: horizontal gradient estimator that determines a horizontal gradient of coefficients from a first block of reconstructed coefficients above and adjacent to the given block to a second block of reconstructed coefficients above the given block, vertical gradient estimator that determines a vertical gradient from the first block to a third block below the first block, and gradient predictor that decodes the coefficients of the given block with reference to reconstructed coefficients of one of the second or third blocks as determined by the relative magnitudes of the horizontal and vertical gradients, a second prediction circuit for reconstruction of scaled coefficients from second prediction signals, a prediction analyzer for identifying one of the gradient prediction signals or second prediction signals in the coded video information and selecting one of the gradient prediction circuit or the second prediction circuit response to the identification.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 39 words
The video decoder of claim 6, wherein the prediction analyzer identifies prediction signals in the coded video information by identifying a selection signal in the coded video information representing the type of prediction signals in the coded video information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 15 words
The decoder of claim 6, wherein the second prediction circuit employs an explicit prediction scheme.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 16 words
The decoder of claim 6, wherein the second prediction circuit employs an Annex I prediction scheme.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 143 words
A method of coding blocks of coefficients representing video information, comprising steps of: performing gradient prediction on the coefficients according to, for a given block: determining a horizontal gradient of coefficients from a first block above and adjacent to the given block to a second block above the given block, determining a vertical gradient from the first block to a third block below the first block, and coding gradient prediction signals of the coefficients of the given block with reference to one of the second or third blocks as determined by the relative magnitudes of the horizontal and vertical gradients, performing a second prediction on the block to obtain second prediction signals representative of the coefficients of that block, and outputting either the gradient prediction signals or the second prediction signals based on relative efficiencies of the gradient prediction and the second prediction.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 143 words
A method of coding blocks of coefficients representing video information, comprising steps of: performing gradient prediction on the coefficients according to, for a given block: determining a horizontal gradient of coefficients from a first block above and adjacent to the given block to a second block above the given block, determining a vertical gradient from the first block to a third block below the first block, and coding gradient prediction signals of the coefficients of the given block with reference to one of the second or third blocks as determined by the relative magnitudes of the horizontal and vertical gradients, performing a second prediction on the block to obtain second prediction signals representative of the coefficients of that block, and outputting either the gradient prediction signals or the second prediction signals based on relative efficiencies of the gradient prediction and the second prediction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 14 words
The coding method of claim 10, wherein the second prediction comprises an explicit prediction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 33 words
The coding method of claim 10, wherein the second prediction signals include an overhead signal identifying a mode of operation of the second prediction and predicted video signals representative of the video information.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 14 words
The coding method of claim 10, wherein the second prediction employs Annex I prediction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 29 words
The coding method of claim 10, further comprising a step of generating a selection signal identifying which of the gradient prediction signals and the second prediction signals are coded.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 155 words
A method of decoding coded video information, the coded video information containing one of gradient prediction signals and second prediction signals associated with a block of video data, comprising the steps of: identifying a type of prediction signals contained in the coded video information, when the prediction signals are gradient prediction signals, reconstructing video information according to the method of: determining a horizontal gradient of coefficients from a first block of reconstructed coefficients above and adjacent to the given block to a second block of reconstructed coefficients above the given block, determining a vertical gradient from the first block to a third block below the first block, and decoding the gradient prediction signals with reference to reconstructed coefficients of one of the second or third blocks as determined by the relative magnitudes of the horizontal and vertical gradients, and when the prediction signals are second prediction signals, reconstructing video information from the second prediction signals.
Claim 19
Independent Claim 155 words
A method of decoding coded video information, the coded video information containing one of gradient prediction signals and second prediction signals associated with a block of video data, comprising the steps of: identifying a type of prediction signals contained in the coded video information, when the prediction signals are gradient prediction signals, reconstructing video information according to the method of: determining a horizontal gradient of coefficients from a first block of reconstructed coefficients above and adjacent to the given block to a second block of reconstructed coefficients above the given block, determining a vertical gradient from the first block to a third block below the first block, and decoding the gradient prediction signals with reference to reconstructed coefficients of one of the second or third blocks as determined by the relative magnitudes of the horizontal and vertical gradients, and when the prediction signals are second prediction signals, reconstructing video information from the second prediction signals.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 35 words
The decoding method of claim 15, wherein the identifying step includes a step of identifying a selection signal in the coded video information representing the type of prediction signals contained in the coded video information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 21 words
The decoding method of claim 15, wherein the step of reconstructing from second prediction signals includes reconstruction according to explicit prediction.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 23 words
The decoding method of claim 17, wherein the second prediction signals include overhead signals identifying a mode of operation of the explicit prediction.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 22 words
The decoding method of claim 15, wherein the step of reconstructing from second prediction signals includes reconstruction according to Annex I prediction.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 164 words
A bitstream representing video information created according to the method of: receiving coefficients representative of a given block of video information, performing gradient prediction on the coefficients to obtain gradient prediction signals representative of the coefficients, the gradient prediction performed according to the method of: determining a horizontal gradient of coefficients from a first block above and adjacent to the given block to a second block above the given block, determining a vertical gradient from the first block to a third block below the first block, and coding gradient prediction signals representative of the coefficients of the given block with reference to one of the second or third blocks as determined by the relative magnitudes of the horizontal and vertical gradients, performing a second prediction on the coefficients to obtain second prediction signals representative of the coefficients, and outputting digital data representing either the gradient prediction signals or the second prediction signals based on relative efficiencies of the gradient prediction and the second prediction.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 164 words
A bitstream representing video information created according to the method of: receiving coefficients representative of a given block of video information, performing gradient prediction on the coefficients to obtain gradient prediction signals representative of the coefficients, the gradient prediction performed according to the method of: determining a horizontal gradient of coefficients from a first block above and adjacent to the given block to a second block above the given block, determining a vertical gradient from the first block to a third block below the first block, and coding gradient prediction signals representative of the coefficients of the given block with reference to one of the second or third blocks as determined by the relative magnitudes of the horizontal and vertical gradients, performing a second prediction on the coefficients to obtain second prediction signals representative of the coefficients, and outputting digital data representing either the gradient prediction signals or the second prediction signals based on relative efficiencies of the gradient prediction and the second prediction.

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2002-12-20 2003-06-21 2003-12-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
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