CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present disclosure claims priority to U.S. Provisional App. No. 61/900,332, entitled "Modification of Weighted Prediction Syntax and Semantics for HEVC Range Extension", filed November 5, 2013, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The High Efficiency Video Coding ("HEVC") coding standard (also called H.265) is a coding standard promulgated by the ISO/IEC MPEG standardization organizations. HEVC supports resolutions higher than "high definition," which means pixels may be represented by a larger number of bits than the high definition pictures. For example, 4K resolutions may include images that are 4,000 pixels wide compared to high definition images that are 1920 pixels wide.

[0003] Temporal motion prediction is an effective method to increase the coding efficiency and provides high compression. HEVC uses a translational model for temporal motion prediction. According to the translational model, a prediction signal for a given current unit in a current picture is generated from a corresponding reference unit in a reference picture. The coordinates of the reference unit are given by a motion vector that describes the translational motion along horizontal (x) and vertical (y) directions that would be added/subtracted to/from the coordinates of the current unit. A decoder needs the motion vector to decode the compressed video.

[0004] HEVC may use single prediction using one reference pictures or bi- prediction using two reference pictures. The pixels in reference units of the reference pictures are used as the prediction. In some conditions, such as when fading occurs, pixels of one of the reference units in bi-prediction may not yield the most accurate prediction. To compensate for this, HEVC may use weighted prediction when performing the motion estimation process. Weighted prediction may weight the pixels in one or both of the reference units used as the prediction differently.

SUMMARY

[0005] Embodiments of the present invention provide a variable, BitDepth, that may be set at a value based on a number of bits used to represent pixels in pictures of a video. The variable may be used in syntax elements in HEVC, such as the HEVC range extension, but other coding standards may be used. By using the variable, different resolutions for the video may be accommodated during the encoding and decoding process. For example, the number of pixels in the pictures may be represented by 8 bits, 10 bits, 12 bits, or another number of bits depending on the resolution. Using the BitDepth variable in the syntax provides flexibility in the motion estimation and motion compensation process. For example, syntax elements used in the weighted prediction process may take into account different numbers of bits used to represent the pictures.

[0006] More particularly, a method of an embodiment of the present invention includes the following steps: (1) setting a first value for a variable associated with a bit depth based on a number of bits associated with pixels of pictures in a video; (2) determining a first weighting factor for performing weighted prediction for a current unit of a current picture; (3) using the first weighting factor to weight pixels of a first reference unit of a first reference picture when performing motion compensation for the current unit; and (4) setting a second value for a weighted prediction syntax element associated with the weighting factor, wherein the second value for the weighted prediction syntax element is based on the first value.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 depicts a simplified system for encoding and decoding video according to one embodiment.

[0008] FIG. 2 depicts an example of the motion estimation and compensation process according to one embodiment.

[0009] FIG. 3 depicts a table of syntax elements that are used for weighted prediction according to one embodiment.

[0010] FIG. 4 depicts a simplified flowchart of a method for using the variable BitDepth in the encoding process according to one embodiment.

[0011] FIG. 5 depicts a simplified flowchart for decoding an encoded bitstream using the variable BitDepth according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] Described herein are techniques for performing weighted prediction. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous examples and specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of particular embodiments. Particular embodiments as defined by the claims may include some or all of the features in these examples alone or in combination with other features described below, and may further include modifications and equivalents of the features and concepts described herein.

[0013] Particular embodiments provide a variable, BitDepth, that may be set at a value based on a number of bits used to represent pixels in pictures of a video. The variable may be used in syntax elements in HEVC, such as the HEVC range extension, but other coding standards may be used. By using the variable, different resolutions for the video may be accommodated during the encoding and decoding process. For example, the number of pixels in the pictures may be represented by 8 bits, 10 bits, 12 bits, or another number of bits depending on the resolution. Using the BitDepth variable in the syntax provides flexibility in the motion estimation and motion compensation process. For example, syntax elements used in the weighted prediction process may take into account different numbers of bits used to represent the pictures.

[0014] FIG. 1 depicts a simplified system 100 for encoding and decoding video according to one embodiment. System 100 includes an encoder 102 and a decoder 104. Encoder 102 and decoder 104 may use a video coding standard to encode and decode video, such as HEVC. Specifically, encoder 102 and decoder 104 may use syntax elements from the HEVC range extension. Also, other elements of encoder 102 and decoder 104 may be appreciated.

[0015] Encoder 102 and decoder 104 perform temporal prediction through motion estimation and motion compensation. Motion estimation is a process of determining a motion vector (MV) for a current unit of video. For example, the motion estimation process searches for a best match prediction for a current unit of video (e.g., a prediction unit (PU)) over reference pictures. The best match prediction is described by the motion vector and associated reference picture ID. Also, a reference unit in a B picture may have up to two motion vectors that point to a previous reference unit in a previous picture and a subsequent reference unit in a subsequent reference picture in the picture order. Motion compensation is then performed by subtracting a reference unit pointed to by the motion vector from the current unit of video to determine a residual error that can be encoded. In the case of bi-prediction, the two motion vectors point to two reference units, which can be combined to form a combined bidirectional reference unit. The combined bi-directional reference unit can be subtracted from the current unit to determine the residual error.

[0016] To perform motion estimation and compensation, encoder 102 and decoder 104 include motion estimation and compensation blocks 104-1 and 104-2, respectively. In motion compensation, B and P pictures may exploit the temporal redundancy by using weighted prediction. Weighted prediction applies weighting factors to one or both of the reference pictures. In P pictures, the reference unit may be weighted before being used as a prediction for the current unit. In B pictures, the reference units are weighted before combining the reference pictures into the combined bi-directional reference unit. Conventionally, an average of the reference units from which the B picture is predicted may be used. However, using weighted prediction, a weighted average (or other weighted calculation) of the reference units may be used to predict the current unit. That is, the pixels of reference units may be weighted by weighting factors before combining. The following may be discussed with respect to B pictures, but the discussion will also apply to P pictures except that the combined bi-directional reference unit is replaced by one weighted reference unit. The use of weighted prediction may be useful when certain conditions happen in the video, such as when one scene fades into another or where there is a gradual variation in luminance, such as when fading to or from black or in cross-fades. For example, when fading occurs, the picture associated with the fading may not be as accurate to use as a prediction than a picture that does not include the fading. Weighting the picture that does not include the fading higher may create a better prediction for the current unit. That is, the pixels of the reference unit that does not include the fading effect may have a higher correlation to the current unit. The weighting may reduce the residual error and also reduce the bitrate.

[0017] The weighting factors may be provided for the luma and/or chroma components of reference units 202. Also, the weighting factors may be different based on the reference list used. That is, the bi-prediction may select a reference picture from a listO and a listl. Reference pictures in listO may be weighted with a weighting factor wo and reference pictures in listl may be weighted with a weighting factor wi. Also, only one of the reference pictures may be weighted. The weighting factors may be information that adjusts the pixel values differently in the reference units. In one embodiment, the weighting factors may be percentages.

[0018] The weighted prediction process may use syntax elements that define parameters that encoder 102 and decoder 104 use to perform the weighted prediction. By setting the values of these parameters, a weighted prediction manager 106-1 in encoder 102 and a weighted prediction manager 106-2 in decoder 104 can perform the weighted prediction process. In a simple example, the weighting factors may weight pixels in different reference pictures differently. Then, weighted prediction managers 106-1 and 106-2 take the weighted average of the reference units to use as a combined bi-directional reference unit. Motion estimation and compensation blocks 104-1 and 104-2 then use this combined bi-directional reference unit in the motion compensation process for the current unit. The syntax elements will be described in more detail below after describing the weighted prediction process in more detail.

[0019] FIG. 2 depicts an example of the motion estimation and compensation process according to one embodiment. The video includes a number of pictures 200- 1 - 200- 5. A current picture is shown at 200-3 and includes a current unit of video 202-1. Current unit 202-1 may be bi-predicted using reference units from reference pictures in other pictures 200, such as a previous picture 200-1 in the picture order and a subsequent picture 200-5 in the picture order. Picture 200-1 includes a reference unit 202-2 and picture 200-5 includes a reference unit 202-3, both of which can be used to predict current unit 202-1.

[0020] In weighted prediction, the pixels of reference units 202-2 and 202-3 may be weighted differently. For example, the pixels of reference units may be weighted by the weighting factors. In a simple example, the weighting factors may be percentages, such as the pixels of reference unit 202-2 may be weighted with a weighting factor wo of 0.25 and the pixels of reference unit 202-3 may be weighted with a weighting factor wi of 0.75. These weighting factors may then be used to calculate the pixel values used as the combined bi-directional reference unit for current unit 202-1.

[0021] Once the reference units are determined, motion estimation and compensation block 104-1 can determine motion vectors that represent the location of reference units 202-2 and 202-3 with respect to current unit 202-1. Then, motion estimation and compensation block 104-1 calculates a difference between the combined bi-directional reference unit and the current unit 202-1 as a residual error.

[0022] Once determining the residual error, encoder 102 encodes the residual error, the motion vectors, and also the weighting factors used to determine the combined bidirectional reference unit. Encoder 102 includes the encoded residual error, the motion vectors, and the weighting factors in an encoded bitstream that is sent to decoder 104. The term weighting factors is used for discussion purposes to represent information that is encoded that allows the weighted prediction process to be performed and the weighting factors to be determined. The syntax elements used to determine which information for the weighting factors that are encoded in the encoded bitstream are described in more detail below.

[0023] Decoder 104 receives the encoded bitstream and can reconstruct the pictures of the video. Decoder 104 may reconstruct reference units 202-2 and 202-3 from the encoded bitstream prior to decoding current unit 202-1. Also, decoder 104 decodes the residual error for current unit 202-1, the motion vectors for current unit 202-1, and the weighting factors. Then, in decoder 104, motion estimation and compensation block 104-2 may then use the residual error to reconstruct the current unit 202-1. For example, motion estimation and compensation block 104-2 may use the motion vectors to locate reconstructed reference units 202-2 and 202-3. Then, weighted prediction manager 106-2 applies the weighting factors to the reconstructed units 202- 2 and 202-3 to form the reconstructed combined bi-directional reference unit. The reconstructed residual error is then added to the reconstructed combined bi-directional predicted unit to form a reconstructed current unit.

[0024] As mentioned above, syntax elements for weighted prediction may use a variable BitDepth in the weighted prediction process. The variable BitDepth may represent a number of bits used to represent a pixel in a picture. The following will describe syntax elements that use the bit depth variable.

[0025] FIG. 3 depicts a table 300 of syntax elements that are used for weighted prediction according to one embodiment. There are syntax elements for the luma and chroma components of the video, and also for listO and listl . The combined bidirectional reference unit may be determined by applying the weighting factors in an averaging operation. In an example to illustrate the calculation, the weighting factor wo is multiplied by the previous reference unit 202-2 (e.g., the luma and chroma components of the pixels) and the weighting factor wi is multiplied by the subsequent reference unit 202-3 (e.g., the luma and chroma components of the pixels). Then, the two values are added together and divided by the added weighting factors (e.g., normalization). The above example may not be exactly how encoder 102 and decoder 104 perform the calculation to determine the combined bi-directional reference unit. Various methods may be used, but performing a division operation may be an expensive computational operation. One method of deriving the weighting factors is to use bit shifting. The weighting factors can be derived with a common denominator and the division is represented by a right shift of the combined weighted prediction of a number of bits based on a base 2 logarithm of the denominator. That is, the weighting factor, such as the luma weighting factor, may be bit shifted by the base 2 logarithm of the denominator.

[0026] The following syntax elements encode parameter values that can be used to perform the weighted prediction process. The syntax elements in Table 300 of luma_log2_weight_denom at 302, delta_chroma_log2_weight_denom at 304, delta_luma_weight_10[ i ] at 306, delta_chroma_weight_10[ i ][ j ] at 308, delta_luma_weight_ll [ i ] at 310, and delta_chroma_weight_ll [ i ][ j ] at 312 may use a BitDepth variable for the number of bits that represent a pixel. This allows these syntax elements to be used for video that may represent pixels with a different number of bits, such as 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, etc., bits. The syntax elements can thus handle high precision data, which may represent pixels with more than 8 bits.

[0027] The syntax element luma_log2_weight_denom is the base 2 logarithm of the denominator for all luma weighting factors. The value of luma_log2_weight_denom shall be in the range of 0 to BitDepthy, inclusive, where BitDepthy is the bit depth of the luma component of the reference picture. By including the range to be dependent on the variable BitDepthy, the value can represent different numbers of bits for the pixels. The syntax element luma_log2_weight_denom is used to calculate the luma weighting factor (e.g., the delta luma weighting factor of the syntax element delta_luma_weight_10[ i ] and delta_luma_weight_ll [ i ] described below).

[0028] The syntax element delta_chroma_log2_weight_denom is the difference of the base 2 logarithm of the denominator for all chroma weighting factors. The variable ChromaLog2WeightDenom, which is the log 2 denominator of the chroma weighting factor, is derived to be equal to luma_log2_weight_denom + delta_chroma_log2_weight_denom, and the value shall be in the range of 0 to BitDepthc, inclusive, where the variable BitDepthc is the bit depth of the chroma component of the reference picture. By including the range to be dependent on the variable BitDepthc, the chroma weighting factor value can represent different numbers of bits for the pixels.

[0029] The syntax element luma_weight_10_flag[ i ], when equal to 1, specifies that weighting factors for the luma component of list 0 prediction using RefPicListO[ i ] are present. The syntax element luma_weight_10_flag[ i ], when equal to 0, specifies that these weighting factors are not present.

[0030] The syntax element chroma_weight_10_flag[ i ], when equal to 1, specifies that weighting factors for the chroma prediction values of list 0 prediction using RefPicListO[ i ] are present. The syntax element chroma_weight_10_flag[ i ], when equal to 0, specifies that the chroma weighting factors are not present. When chroma_weight_10_flag[ i ] is not present, it is inferred to be equal to 0.

[0031] The syntax element delta_luma_weight_10[ i ] is the difference of the weighting factor applied to the luma prediction value for list 0 prediction using RefPicListO[ i ]. The variable LumaWeightL0[ i ] may be the luma weighting factor for listO and is derived to be equal to ( 1 « luma_log2_weight_denom ) + delta_luma_weight_10[ i ]. That is, the luma weighting factor is a right shift of the variable luma_log2_weight_denom plus the value of delta_luma_weight_10[ i ]. When luma_weight_10_flag[ i ] is equal to 1, the value of delta_luma_weight_10[ i ] shall be in the range of -(1 « (BitDepth _Y - 1)), (1 « (BitDepth _Y - 1)) -1, inclusive, where BitDepthy is the bit depth for the luma component of the reference picture. This sets the range of the weighting factor to be based on the variable BitDepthy. When luma_weight_10_flag[ i ] is equal to 0, LumaWeightL0[ i ] is inferred to be equal to

2 luma_log2_weight_denom

[0032] The syntax element luma_offset_10[ i ] is the additive offset applied to the luma prediction value for list 0 prediction using RefPicListO[ i ]. The value of luma_offset_10[ i ] shall be in the range of -128 to 127, inclusive, or -(1 « (BitDepthy - 1) to (1 « (BitDepthy - 1) - 1, inclusive. When luma_weight_10_flag[ i ] is equal to 0, luma_offset_10[ i ] is inferred as equal to 0. [0033] The syntax element delta_chroma_weight_10[ i ][ j ] is the difference of the weighting factor applied to the chroma prediction values for list 0 prediction using RefPicListO[ i ] with j equal to 0 for Cb and j equal to 1 for Cr. The variable

ChromaWeightLO[ i ][ j ] may be the chroma weighting factor for listO and is derived to be equal to ( 1 « ChromaLog2WeightDenom ) +

delta_chroma_weight_10[ i ][ j ]. That is, the chroma weighting factor is a right shift of the variable ChromaLog2WeightDenom plus the value of

delta_chroma_weight_10[ i ][ j ]. When chroma_weight_10_flag[ i ] is equal to 1, the value of delta_chroma_weight_10[ i ][ j ] shall be in the range of -(l « (BitDepthc - 1)), (1 « (BitDepthc - 1)) -1, inclusive, where BitDepthc is the bit depth for the chroma component of the reference picture. This sets the range of the weighting factor to be based on the variable BitDepthc. When chroma_weight_10_flag[ i ] is equal to 0, ChromaWeightL0[ i ][ j ] is inferred to be equal to ₂ ^chromaL °g ^2Wei g ^htDenom .

[0034] The syntax element delta_chroma_offset_10[ i ][ j ] is the difference of the additive offset applied to the chroma prediction values for list 0 prediction using RefPicListO[ i ] with j equal to 0 for Cb and j equal to 1 for Cr.

The variable ChromaOffsetL0[ i ][ j ] is derived as follows:

ChromaOffsetL0[ i ][ j ]

Clip3( -128, 127, ( delta_chroma_offset_10[ i ][ j ] - ( ( 128 * ChromaWeight L0[ i ][ j ] ) » ChromaLog2WeightDenom ) + 128 ) )

[0035] The value of delta_chroma_offset_10[ i ][ j ] shall be in the range of -512 to 511, inclusive. Also, variable ChromaOffsetL0[ i ][ j ] is derived as follows:

ChromaOffsetL0[i][j] = Clip3( -(1 « (BitDepthc - 1), (1 « (BitDepthc - 1) -1, (delta_chroma_offset_10[i][j] - (((1 « (BitDepthc - 1)) * ChromaWeightL0[i][j] ) » ChromaLog2WeightDenom ) + (1 « (BitDepthc - 1))).

The value of delta_chroma_offset_10[ i ][ j ] shall be in the range of -(1 « (BitDepthc + 1) to (1 « (BitDepthc + 1) -1, inclusive. When chroma_weight_10_flag[ i ] is equal to 0, ChromaOffsetL0[ i ][ j ] is inferred to be equal to 0.

[0036] The syntax elements luma_weight_ll_flag[ i ], chroma_weight_ll_flag[ i ], delta_luma_weight_ll [ i ], luma_offset_ll [ i ], delta_chroma_weight_ll [ i ][ j ], and delta_chroma_offset_ll [ i ][ j ] have the same semantics as luma_weight_10_flag[ i ], chroma_weight_10_flag[ i ], delta_luma_weight_10[ i ], luma_offset_10[ i ], delta_chroma_weight_10[ i ][ j ], and delta_chroma_offset_10[ i ][ j ], respectively, with 10, L0, list 0, and ListO replaced by 11, LI, list 1, and Listl, respectively. That is, these are the same syntax elements for listl instead of listO.

[0037] The variable sumWeightLOFlags is derived to be equal to the sum of luma_weight_10_flag[ i ] + 2 * chroma_weight_10_flag[ i ], for

i = 0..num_ref_idx_10_active_minus l. When slicejype is equal to B, the variable sumWeightLl Flags is derived to be equal to the sum of

luma_weight_ll_flag[ i ] + 2 * chroma_weight_ll_flag[ i ], for i =

0..num_ref idx ll active minusl . It is a requirement of bitstream conformance that, when slicejype is equal to P, sumWeightLOFlags shall be less than or equal to 24, and when slicejype is equal to B, the sum of sumWeightLOFlags and

sumWeightLl Flags shall be less than or equal to 24.

[0038] The above syntax elements luma offset 10, luma offset 11, ChromaOffsetLO, ChromaOffsetLl are modified when the pixels of reference pictures may include higher precision, such as when the syntax element extended_precision_processing_flag is equal to 1.

[0039] Accordingly, by using the variable BitDepth for the luma and chroma components, encoder 102 may change the number of bits that is used for weighted prediction based on the number of bits that represent pixels in the pictures of the video. In one embodiment, encoder 102 knows the BitDepth for the pictures of a video and can set the variable BitDepth to the value of the number of bits that represent the pixels of pictures. [0040] FIG. 4 depicts a simplified flowchart 400 of a method for using the variable BitDepth in the encoding process according to one embodiment. At 402, encoder 102 determines a value for the variable BitDepth for the luma and chroma components. The value may be based on the precision of the video, such as a number of bits that represent the pixels in pictures of a video. Encoder 102 may determine the value based on analyzing characteristics of the video. Also, the number of bits that represent the pixels may be input or included in metadata associated with the video.

[0041] At 404, motion estimation and compensation block 104-1 determines when weighted prediction is enabled. For example, weighted prediction flags, luma_weight_10_flag[ i] and chroma_weight_10_flag[ i ], may be set to indicate that weighted prediction is enabled for the luma and chroma components.

[0042] At 406, weighted prediction manager 106-1 determines motion vectors for reference units 202-2 and 202-3 and weighting factors for the luma and chroma components for reference units 202-2 and 202-3 (e.g., listO and listl). The weighting factors may be assigned to the pictures (e.g., listO and listl) that are being used as reference pictures for a current picture.

[0043] At 408, weighted prediction manager 106-1 then calculates the combined bidirectional reference unit to use in motion compensation based on the weighting factors and pixels of reference units 202-2 and 202-3. As described above, the weighting factors weight pixels differently in reference units 202-2 and 202-3. At 410, motion estimation and compensation block 104-1 determines the residual error using current unit 202-1 and the combined bi-directional reference unit.

[0044] At 412, encoder 102 calculates the values for the applicable syntax elements used in the weighted prediction process. For example, the values for the syntax elements luma_log2_weight_denom, delta_chroma_log2_weight_denom,

delta_luma_weight_10[ i ], delta_chroma_weight_10[ i ][ j ], delta_luma_weight_ll [ i ], and delta_chroma_weight_ll [ i ][ j ] using the variable BitDepth are calculated.

[0045] At 414, encoder 102 encodes the parameters for the syntax elements for the weighted prediction process in an encoded bitstream along with the motion vectors and residual error for current unit 202-1. For example, encoder 102 encodes the values calculated for the syntax elements shown in Table 300 in FIG. 3. At 416, encoder 102 sends the encoded bitstream to decoder 104.

[0046] FIG. 5 depicts a simplified flowchart 500 for decoding an encoded bitstream using the variable BitDepth according to one embodiment. At 502, decoder 104 receives the encoded bitstream. At 504, decoder 104 then determines a current unit 202-1 in a current picture to decode. At 506, decoder 104 decodes the encoded motion vectors from the encoded bitstream for current unit 202-1 and uses these motion vectors to locate the reconstructed reference units 202-2 and 202-3. Also, at 508, decoder 104 determines the residual error for current unit 202-1 from the encoded bitstream.

[0047] At 510, weighted prediction manager 106-2 may determine the values for the syntax elements in Table 300 for weighted prediction. This may allow weighted prediction manager 106-2 to determine the weighting factors. At 512, weighted prediction manager 106-2 may then apply the weighting factors to reference units 202-2 and 202-3 to determine the combined bi-directional reference unit. At 514, motion estimation and compensation block 104-2 can then add the residual error for current unit 202-1 to the combined weighted prediction unit to form a reconstructed current unit.

[0048] Accordingly, particular embodiments use a variable BitDepth for syntax elements in the weighted prediction process. For example, the syntax elements luma_log2_weight_denom, delta_chroma_log2_weight_denom, delta_luma_weight_10[ i ], delta_chroma_weight_10[ i ][ j ], delta_luma_weight_ll [ i ], and delta_chroma_weight_ll [ i ][ j ] use the variable BitDepth.

[0049] Particular embodiments may be implemented in a non-transitory computer- readable storage medium for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, system, or machine. The computer-readable storage medium contains instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method described by particular embodiments. The computer system may include one or more computing devices. The instructions, when executed by one or more computer processors, may be configured to perform that which is described in particular embodiments.

[0050] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, "a", "an", and "the" includes plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0051] The above description illustrates various embodiments along with examples of how aspects of particular embodiments may be implemented. The above examples and embodiments should not be deemed to be the only embodiments, and are presented to illustrate the flexibility and advantages of particular embodiments as defined by the following claims. Based on the above disclosure and the following claims, other arrangements, embodiments, implementations and equivalents may be employed without departing from the scope hereof as defined by the claims.