Perceptually-Driven Video Coding with the Daala Video Codec

The Daala project is a royalty-free video codec that attempts to compete with the best patent-encumbered codecs. Part of our strategy is to replace core tools of traditional video codecs with alternative approaches, many of them designed to take perceptual aspects into account, rather than optimizing for simple metrics like PSNR. This paper documents some of our experiences with these tools, which ones worked and which did not. We evaluate which tools are easy to integrate into a more traditional codec design, and show results in the context of the codec being developed by the Alliance for Open Media.Comment: 19 pages, Proceedings of SPIE Workshop on Applications of Digital Image Processing (ADIP), 201

Low computational complexity variable block size (VBS) partitioning for motion estimation using the Walsh Hadamard transform (WHT)

Variable Block Size (VBS) based motion estimation has been adapted in state of the art video coding, such as H.264/AVC, VC-1. However, a low complexity H.264/AVC encoder cannot take advantage of VBS due to its power consumption requirements. In this paper, we present a VBS partition algorithm based on a binary motion edge map without either initial motion estimation or Rate-Distortion (R-D) optimization for selecting modes. The proposed algorithm uses the Walsh Hadamard Transform (WHT) to create a binary edge map, which provides a computational complexity cost effectiveness compared to other light segmentation methods typically used to detect the required region

Data compression techniques applied to high resolution high frame rate video technology

An investigation is presented of video data compression applied to microgravity space experiments using High Resolution High Frame Rate Video Technology (HHVT). An extensive survey of methods of video data compression, described in the open literature, was conducted. The survey examines compression methods employing digital computing. The results of the survey are presented. They include a description of each method and assessment of image degradation and video data parameters. An assessment is made of present and near term future technology for implementation of video data compression in high speed imaging system. Results of the assessment are discussed and summarized. The results of a study of a baseline HHVT video system, and approaches for implementation of video data compression, are presented. Case studies of three microgravity experiments are presented and specific compression techniques and implementations are recommended

Design of a digital compression technique for shuttle television

The determination of the performance and hardware complexity of data compression algorithms applicable to color television signals, were studied to assess the feasibility of digital compression techniques for shuttle communications applications. For return link communications, it is shown that a nonadaptive two dimensional DPCM technique compresses the bandwidth of field-sequential color TV to about 13 MBPS and requires less than 60 watts of secondary power. For forward link communications, a facsimile coding technique is recommended which provides high resolution slow scan television on a 144 KBPS channel. The onboard decoder requires about 19 watts of secondary power

Measurements, Models, Systems and Design

531 s.

Study and simulation of low rate video coding schemes

The semiannual report is included. Topics covered include communication, information science, data compression, remote sensing, color mapped images, robust coding scheme for packet video, recursively indexed differential pulse code modulation, image compression technique for use on token ring networks, and joint source/channel coder design

Vector Quantization Video Encoder Using Hierarchical Cache Memory Scheme

A system compresses image blocks via successive hierarchical stages and motion encoders which employ caches updated by stack replacement algorithms. Initially, a background detector compares the present image block with a corresponding previously encoded image block and if similar, the background detector terminates the encoding procedure by setting a flag bit. Otherwise, the image block is decomposed into smaller present image subblocks. The smaller present image subblocks are each compared with a corresponding previously encoded image subblock of comparable size within the present image block. When a present image subblock is similar to a corresponding previously encoded image subblock, then the procedure is terminated by setting a flag bit. Alternatively, the present image subblock is forwarded to a motion encoder where it is compared with displaced image subblocks, which are formed by displacing previously encoded image subblocks by motion vectors that are stored in a cache, to derive a first distortion vector. When the first distortion vector is below a first threshold TM, the procedure is terminated and the present image subblock is encoded by setting flag bit and a cache index corresponding to the first distortion vector. Alternatively, the present image subblock is passed to a block matching encoder where it is compared with other previously encoded image subblocks to derive a second distortion vector. When the second distortion vector is below a second threshold Tm, the procedure is terminated by setting a flag bit, by generating the second distortion vector, and by updating the cache.Georgia Tech Research Corporatio