Apparatuses and methods for adjusting coefficients using dead zones

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for adjusting coefficients for use in video encoding are described. An example apparatus may include an encoder that may be configured to receive transform coefficients and adjust selected ones of the transform coefficients (e.g. reset the selected ones to zero) based on a comparison with a threshold. The adjusted coefficients may then be quantized, which may result in effectively increasing a QP range of the encoder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An encoder, comprising:
 a transform configured to transform a portion of a video signal into a plurality of coefficients;   a coefficient adjustment block configured to adjust certain coefficients of the plurality of coefficients based on a comparison with a threshold, wherein a number of bits available to encode the portion of the video signal is based at least in part on a number of the certain coefficients that are adjusted; and   a quantization block configured to receive adjusted coefficients from the coefficient adjustment block and quantize the coefficients.   
     
     
         2 . The encoder of  claim 1 , wherein the coefficient adjust block is configured to adjust the certain coefficients by eliminating the certain coefficients, reducing the value of the certain coefficients, or setting to zero the certain coefficients. 
     
     
         3 . The encoder of  claim 1 , wherein the coefficient adjustment block is configured to compare the coefficients with the threshold. 
     
     
         4 . The encoder of  claim 1 , wherein the coefficient adjustment block is configured to compare weighted coefficients with the threshold. 
     
     
         5 . The encoder of  claim 1 , wherein the coefficient adjustment block is configured to compare weighted, offset coefficients with the threshold. 
     
     
         6 . The encoder of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold is selected based on a desired increase in quantization parameter (QP) range. 
     
     
         7 . The encoder of  claim 6 , wherein the threshold is a same threshold for all coefficients of a macroblock of the video signal. 
     
     
         8 . The encoder of  claim 7 , wherein a threshold of Quant/8 corresponds with an increase of one in quantization parameter (QP) range. 
     
     
         9 . The encoder of  claim 1 , wherein the coefficient adjustment block is configured to separately adjust coefficients for luma and chroma components of a video signal. 
     
     
         10 . The encoder of  claim 1 , wherein the coefficient adjustment block is configured to retrieve the threshold from threshold storage. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 receiving a video signal;   transforming at least a portion of the video signal to generate a plurality of coefficients;   adjusting certain coefficients of the plurality of coefficients based on a comparison with a threshold;   quantizing the adjusted coefficients; and   encoding the portion of the video signal, wherein a number of bits available to encode the portion of the video signal is based at least in part on a number of the certain coefficients that are adjusted.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein adjusting certain coefficients comprises eliminating, reducing the value of, or setting to zero the certain coefficients. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the comparison with the threshold comprises a comparison of the plurality of coefficients with the threshold. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising weighting the coefficients to provide weighted coefficients and wherein the comparison with the threshold comprises a comparison of the weighted coefficients with the threshold. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising weighting and offsetting the coefficients to provide weighted offset coefficients and wherein the comparison with the threshold comprises comparison of the weighted offset coefficients with the threshold. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the coefficients correspond with chroma components of a video signal, and wherein the threshold is a first threshold, the method further comprising adjusting additional selected coefficients corresponding with luma components of the video signal based on a comparison with a second threshold, wherein the second threshold is different than the first threshold. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of coefficients correspond to a macroblock of the video signal. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising selecting the threshold based on a desired increase in quantization parameter (QP) range of an encoder. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein setting to zero the certain coefficients effectively extends a quantization parameter (QP) range of a video encoder. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the threshold is specified per macroblock, per block, or per coefficient of the plurality of coefficients.