Methods and apparatus for signaling intra prediction for large blocks for video encoders and decoders

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for signaling intra prediction for large blocks for video encoders and decoders. An apparatus includes a video encoder for encoding picture data for at least one large block in a picture by signaling intra prediction for the at least one large block. The intra prediction is signaled by selecting a basic coding unit size and assigning a single spatial intra partition type for the basic coding unit size. The single spatial intra partition type is selectable from among a plurality of spatial intra partition types. The at least one large block has a large block size greater than a block size of the basic coding unit. The intra prediction is hierarchical layer intra prediction and is performed for the at least one large block by at least one of splitting from the large block size to the basic coding unit size and merging from the basic coding unit size to the large block size.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a video encoder for encoding picture data for at least one large block in a picture by signaling intra prediction for the at least one large block, wherein the intra prediction is signaled by selecting a basic coding unit size and assigning a single spatial intra partition type for the basic coding unit size, the single spatial intra partition type being selectable from among a plurality of spatial intra partition types, the at least one large block having a large block size greater than a block size of the basic coding unit,   wherein the intra prediction is hierarchical layer intra prediction and is performed for the at least one large block by at least one of splitting from the large block size to the basic coding unit size and merging from the basic coding unit size to the large block size.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein for each of the plurality of spatial intra partition types, a higher priority is assigned to a particular intra prediction mode that is most frequently used from among a plurality of available intra prediction modes. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the large block size is adaptively selected. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the signaling is performed using one or more high level syntax elements. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of a spatial intra partition type table and an intra prediction mode table is pre-stored and used by said video encoder to encode the at least one large block, and wherein the at least one of the spatial intra partition type table and the intra prediction mode table is arranged to be pre-stored and used by a corresponding video decoder to decode the at least one large block. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of a spatial intra partition type table and an intra prediction mode table, is used by said video encoder to encode the at least one large block, and is transmitted by said video encoder using one or more high level syntax elements. 
     
     
         7 . In a video encoder, a method, comprising:
 encoding picture data for at least one large block in a picture by signaling intra prediction for the at least one large block, wherein the intra prediction is signaled by selecting a basic coding unit size and assigning a single spatial intra partition type for the basic coding unit size, the single spatial intra partition type being selectable from among a plurality of spatial intra partition types, the at least one large block having a large block size greater than a block size of the basic coding unit,   wherein the intra prediction is hierarchical layer intra prediction and is performed for the at least one large block by at least one of splitting from the large block size to the basic coding unit size and merging from the basic coding unit size to the large block size.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein for each of the plurality of spatial intra partition types, a higher priority is assigned to a particular intra prediction mode that is most frequently used from among a plurality of available intra prediction modes. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the large block size is adaptively selected. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the signaling is performed using one or more high level syntax elements. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of a spatial intra partition type table and an intra prediction mode table is pre-stored and used by the video encoder to encode the at least one large block, and wherein the at least one of the spatial intra partition type table and the intra prediction mode table is arranged to be pre-stored and used by a corresponding video decoder to decode the at least one large block. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of a spatial intra partition type table and an intra prediction mode table, is used by the video encoder to encode the at least one large block, and is transmitted by the video encoder using one or more high level syntax elements. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a video decoder for decoding picture data for at least one large block in a picture by determining that intra prediction is to be performed for the at least one large block, wherein the intra prediction is determined by determining a basic coding unit size and determining a single spatial intra partition type for the basic coding unit size, the single spatial intra partition type being determinable from among a plurality of spatial intra partition types, the at least one large block having a large block size greater than a block size of the basic coding unit,   wherein the intra prediction is hierarchical layer intra prediction and is performed for the at least one large block by at least one of splitting from the large block size to the basic coding unit size and merging from the basic coding unit size to the large block size.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein for each of the plurality of spatial intra partition types, a higher priority is assigned to a particular intra prediction mode that is most frequently used from among a plurality of available intra prediction modes. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the large block size is adaptively determined. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the intra prediction is determined using one or more high level syntax elements. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of a spatial intra partition type table and an intra prediction mode table is pre-stored and used by said video decoder to decode the at least one large block, and wherein the at least one large block was previously encoded by a corresponding encoder using the at least one of the spatial intra partition type table and the intra prediction mode table pre-stored thereat. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of a spatial intra partition type table and an intra prediction mode table is received by said video decoder using one or more high level syntax elements and is used by said video decoder to decode the at least one large block. 
     
     
         19 . In a video decoder, a method, comprising:
 decoding picture data for at least one large block in a picture by determining that intra prediction is to be performed for the at least one large block, wherein the intra prediction is determined by determining a basic coding unit size and determining a single spatial intra partition type for the basic coding unit size, the single spatial intra partition type being determinable from among a plurality of spatial intra partition types, the at least one large block having a large block size greater than a block size of the basic coding unit,   wherein the intra prediction is hierarchical layer intra prediction and is performed for the at least one large block by at least one of splitting from the large block size to the basic coding unit size and merging from the basic coding unit size to the large block size.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein for each of the plurality of spatial intra partition types, a higher priority is assigned to a particular intra prediction mode that is most frequently used from among a plurality of available intra prediction modes. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the large block size is adaptively determined. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the intra prediction is determined using one or more high level syntax elements. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of a spatial intra partition type table and an intra prediction mode table is pre-stored and used by the video decoder to decode the at least one large block, and wherein the at least one large block was previously encoded by a corresponding encoder using the at least one of the spatial intra partition type table and the intra prediction mode table pre-stored thereat. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of a spatial intra partition type table and an intra prediction mode table is received by said video decoder using one or more high level syntax elements and is used by the video decoder to decode the at least one large block. 
     
     
         25 . A storage media having video signal data encoded thereupon, comprising:
 picture data for at least one large block in a picture encoded by signaling intra prediction for the at least one large block, wherein the intra prediction is signaled by selecting a basic coding unit size and assigning a single spatial intra partition type for the basic coding unit size, the single spatial intra partition type being selectable from among a plurality of spatial intra partition types, the at least one large block having a large block size being greater than a block size of the basic coding unit,   wherein the intra prediction is hierarchical layer intra prediction and is performed for the at least one large block by at least one of splitting from the large block size to the basic coding unit size and merging from the basic coding unit size to the large block size.