Method for eliminating blocking effect in compressed video signal

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for eliminating a blocking effect in a compressed video signal signal. The method of the invention includes: the encoding step of eliminating a blocking effect by compensating the motion of a signal compressed in block unit to be transmitted; the decoding step of restoring the motion compensated video signal to the original video signal by reducing the prediction residual between the motion compensated video signal and the original video signal and the blocking effect; and the post-filtering step of performing post-filtering in a blocking elimination filter in order to eliminate a blocking effect and ring effect remained in the compensated signal. The equation for obtaining the original pixel is made simple by eliminating the remaining blocking effect and ring effect using a loop/post filter. In addition, normalization parameters can be stored in the look-up table and can be detected according to the difference between pixels adjacent to the original pixel and the size of quantizaiton, whereby the equation for restoring the compressed moving video signal, resulting in excessive smoothing, becomes simpler, and filtering control is made possible by a simple equation, thus making a high speed real time video signal processing possible.

1. A method for reducing a blocking effect in a compressed video signal, comprising:
 the decoding step of restoring a motion compensated video signal to an original video signal by reducing the prediction residual between the motion compensated video signal and the original video signal and the blocking effect; and 
 the post-filtering step of performing post-filtering in a blocking elimination filter to reduce a blocking effect and ring effect remained in the compensated signal, wherein the decoding step comprises,
 considering the direction of a pixel adjacent to the original pixel of the video signal to be restored, 
 defining an additional function of the reliability and degree of smoothing of each pixel adjacent to the original pixel, 
 obtaining a normalization parameter α that gives a weight value to the reliability and degree of smoothing of the original video signal using the additional function, 
 calculating a pixel to be restored according to the normalization parameter α, compressed video signal, and size of quantization using a function, and 
 designating values of the normalization parameter α by differently setting the degree of smoothing based on the position of the pixel to be restored in response to the position of the reference pixel. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the decoding step comprises:
 designating constant values of the normalization parameter α that differently setting the degree of smoothing based on the position of the pixel to be restored in response to the position of the reference pixel and the form of a filter; 
 applying a 8-bit value to the function for calculating the pixel to be processed; and 
 performing loop filtering of the pixel positioned in block margins encoded to intra macroblock in a decoding unit. 
 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the pixel to be restored is calculated by:
   f(i,j)=[(4−α TOT g(i,j)+α L (f(i,j))g(i,j−1)+α R (f(i,j))g(i,j+1)+α U (f(i,j))g(i−1,j)+α D f(i,j))g(i+1,j)]/4
 
   α TOT (f(i,j))=α L (f(i,j))+α R (f(i,j)+α U (f(i,j))+α D f(i,j)),
 
 
       in which f(I, j) is a pixel to be restored, α TOT  is the sum of parameters for each pixel, α L  is a normalization parameter that determines the degree of smoothing of a pixel in the left direction from the pixel of the compressed video signal positioned at (i, j), α R  is a normalization parameter that determines the degree of smoothing of a pixel in the right direction from the pixel of the compressed video signal positioned at (i, j), α U  is a normalization parameter that determines the degree of smoothing of a pixel in the upper direction from the pixel of the compressed video signal positioned at (i, j), and α D  is a normalization parameter that determines the degree of smoothing of a pixel in the downward direction from the pixel of the compressed video signal positioned at (i, j). 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the normalization parameter for each pixel is obtained by:
   α L (f(i,j)=[K L QP 2 (f(i,j))]/[[g(i,j)−g(i,j−1)] 2 +K L QP 2 (f,(i,j))]
 
   α R (f(i,j)=[K R QP 2 (f(i,j))]/[[g(i,j)−g(i,j+1)] 2 +K R QP 2 (f,(i,j))]
 
   α U (f(i,j)=[K U QP 2 (f(i,j))]/[[g(i,j)−g(i−1,j)] 2 +K U QP 2 (f,(i,j))]
 
   α D (f(i,j)=[K D QP 2 (f(i,j))]/[[g(i,j)−g(i+1,j)] 2 +K D QP 2 (f(i,j))]
 
 
       in which K is a constant value of normalization parameter α for each pixel, and QP(f(i, j)) is the size of quantization of pixel encoded to intra macroblock, the normalization parameter, e.g., a weight value representing the ratio of reliability of a pixel with respect to the original pixel, having a higher degree of smoothing as it grows. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the size of quantization of the pixel positioned at (i, j) encoded to intra macroblocks is obtained by QP(f(i,j))=[676]/[A(f(i, j))], in which A is a quantizer, and QP(f(i, j)) is calculated by the quantizer defined in the H.26L compression method. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the constant value K of the normalization parameter is obtained by experimental values by:
   K L (f(i,j))=[2, if j mod 4=0; 0, otherwise] 
   K R (f(i,j))=[2, if j mod 4=3; 0, otherwise] 
   K U (f(i,j))=[2, if i mod 4=0; 0, otherwise] 
   K D (f(i,j))=[2, if i mod 4=3; 0, otherwise]. 
 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a pixel to be processed is expressed by applying a 8-bit value by:
   f(i, j)=[(2 10 −β TOT )g(i, j)+β L (f(i, j))g(i, j−1)+β R (f(i, j))g(i, j+1)+β U (f(i, j))g(i−1, j)+β D (f(i, j))g(i+1, j)]/(2 10 ) β TOT (f(i, j))=β L (f(i, j))+β R (f(i, j))+β U (f(i, j))+β D (f(i, j))
 
 
       in which, β TOT (f(i, j)) is the sum of normalization parameters that determine the degree of smoothing of a pixel adjacent to the pixel of the compressed video signal positioned at (i, j), β L (f(i, j)) is a normalization parameter that determine the degree of smoothing of a pixel in the left direction from the pixel of the compressed video signal positioned at (i, j), β R (f(i, j)) is a normalization parameters that determine the degree of smoothing of a pixel in the right direction from the pixel of the compressed video signal positioned at (i, j), β U (f(i, j)) is a normalization parameters that determine the degree of smoothing of a pixel in the upper direction from the pixel of the compressed video signal positioned at (i, j), and β D (f(i, j)) is the sum of normalization parameters that determine the degree of smoothing of a pixel in the downward direction from the pixel of the compressed video signal positioned at (i, j), and in which the equation is made simpler by performing loop filtering by multiplying the denominator and the numerator by a 8-bit value. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 7  wherein each of the normalization parameters is obtained by:
   β L (f(i,j))=2 8 α L (f(i,j))=2 8 [K L (f(i,j))QP 2 (f(i,j))]/[[g(i,j)−g(i,j−1)] 2 +K L (f(i,j))QP 2 (f(i,j))]
 
   β R (f(i,j))=2 8 α R (f(i,j))=2 8 [K R (f(i,j))QP 2 (f(i,j))]/[[g(i,j)−g(i,j−1)] 2 +K R (f(i,j))QP 2 (f(i,j))]
 
   β U (f(i,j))=2 8 α U (f(i,j))=2 8 [K U (f(i,j))QP 2 (f(i,j))]/[[g(i,j)−g(i,j−1)] 2 +K U (f(i,j))QP 2 (f(i,j))]
 
   β D (f(i,j))=2 8 α D (f(i,j))=2 8 [K D (f(i,j))QP 2 (f(i,j))]/[[g(i,j)−g(i,j−1)] 2 +K D (f(i,j))QP 2 (f(i,j))],
 
 
       in which the degree of smoothing is determined by the normalization parameters. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the post-filtering step comprises the steps of:
 defining an additional function of a pixel to be restored of a signal decoded by means of loop-filtering of the video signal decoding unit; 
 determining the constant value of the normalization parameter that differently sets the reliability and degree of smoothing of all pixels with respect to the original video signal; and 
 performing post-filtering by the function for calculating the pixel to be restored containing the determined constant value. 
 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the constant value of the normalization parameter that differently sets the reliability and degree of smoothing of all pixels with respect to the original video signal is determined by experimental values, and is calculated by:
   K L (f(i,j))=[2, if j mod 4=0; ½, otherwise]
 
   K R (f(i,j))=[2, if j mod 4=3; ½, otherwise]
 
   K U (f(i,j))=[2, if i mod 4=0; ½, otherwise]
 
   K D (f(i,j))=[2, if i mod 4=3; ½, otherwise]
 
 
       whereby the degree of non-uniformity of each pixel is improved. 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the normalization parameters is obtained by:
   β L (f(i,j))=2 8 α L (f(i,j))=2 8 [K L (f(i,j))QP 2 (f(i,j))]/[[g(i,j)−g(i,j−1)] 2 +K L (f(i,j))QP 2 (f(i,j))]
 
   β R (f(i,j))=2 8 α R (f(i,j))=2 8 [K R (f(i,j))QP 2 (f(i,j))]/[[g(i,j)−g(i,j−1)] 2 +K R (f(i,j))QP 2 (f(i,j))]
 
   β U (f(i,j))=2 8 α U (f(i,j))=2 8 [K U (f(i,j))QP 2 (f(i,j))]/[[g(i,j)−g(i,j−1)] 2 +K U (f(i,j))QP 2 (f(i,j))]
 
   β D (f(i,j))=2 8 α D (f(i,j))=2 8 [K D (f(i,j))QP 2 (f(i,j))]/[[g(i,j)−g(i,j−1)] 2 +K D (f(i,j))QP 2 (f(i,j))],
 
 
       in which the degree of smoothing is determined by the normalization parameters. 
     
     
       12. A method for reducing a blocking effect in a compressed video signal, comprising:
 the decoding step of restoring a motion compensated video signal to an original video signal by reducing the prediction residual between the motion compensated video signal and the original video signal and the blocking effect; and 
 the post-filtering step of performing post-filtering in a blocking elimination filter to reduce a blocking effect and ring effect remained in the compensated signal, wherein a pixel to be processed is expressed by applying a 8-bit value by:
   f(i,j)=[(2 10 −β TOT )g(i,j)+β L (f(i,j))g(i,j−1)+β R (f(i,j))g(i,j+1)+β U (f(i,j))g(i−1,j)+β D f(i,j))g(i+1,j)]/2 10  
 
   β TOT (f(i,j))=β L (f(i,j))+β R (f(i,j))+β U (f(i,j))+β U (f(i,j))
 
 
 
       in which, β TOT (f(i, j)) is the sum of normalization parameters that determine the degree of smoothing of a pixel adjacent to the pixel of the compressed video signal positioned at (i, j), β L (f(i, j)) is a normalization parameter that determine the degree of smoothing of a pixel in the left direction from the pixel of the compressed video signal positioned at (i, j), β R (f(i, j)) is a normalization parameters that determine the degree of smoothing of a pixel in the right direction from the pixel of the compressed video signal positioned at (i, j), β U (f(i, j)) is a normalization parameters that determine the degree of smoothing of a pixel in the upper direction from the pixel of the compressed video signal positioned at (i, j), and β D (f(i, j)) is the sum of normalization parameters that determine the degree of smoothing of a pixel in the downward direction from the pixel of the compressed video signal positioned at (i, j), and in which the equation is made simpler by performing loop filtering by multiplying the denominator and the numerator by a 8-bit value. 
     
     
       13. A method for reducing a blocking effect in a video signal, the method comprising:
 receiving a compressed video signal; and   generating a reconstructed video signal from the compressed video signal;   wherein generating the reconstructed video signal comprises:
 determining degree of smoothing information for a pixel to be filtered using a look-up table based on quantization information of a region including the pixel to be filtered, and 
 obtaining a value of the pixel to be filtered based on the degree of smoothing information, information regarding a first adjacent pixel, and information regarding a second opposing adjacent pixel. 
   
     
     
       14. The method of claim 13, wherein determining the degree of smoothing information comprises retrieving pre-determined normalization parameters from the look-up table. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first and second adjacent pixels are located in a horizontal direction with respect to the pixel to be filtered. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 13, wherein the first and second adjacent pixels are located in a vertical direction with respect to the pixel to be filtered. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim 13, wherein the information regarding the first adjacent pixel and the information regarding the second adjacent pixel comprises a difference between the pixel to be filtered and the first adjacent pixel and a difference between the pixel to be filtered and the second adjacent pixel. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining the degree of smoothing information based on constant values, the constant values being determined by experimentally-determined values obtained by a loop filter. 
     
     
       19. An apparatus for reducing a blocking effect in a video signal, the apparatus comprising a deblocking filter connected for use in generating a reconstructed video signal from a compressed video signal, wherein the deblocking filter is configured to determine degree of smoothing information for a pixel to be filtered using a look-up table based on quantization information of a region including the pixel to be filtered and to obtain a value of the pixel to be filtered based on the degree of smoothing information, information regarding a first adjacent pixel, and information regarding a second opposing adjacent pixel. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the deblocking filter is configured to retrieve pre-determined normalization parameters from the look-up table. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first and second adjacent pixels are located in a horizontal direction with respect to the pixel to be filtered. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first and second adjacent pixels are located in a vertical direction with respect to the pixel to be filtered. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the information regarding the first adjacent pixel and the information regarding the second adjacent pixel comprises a difference between the pixel to be filtered and the first adjacent pixel and a difference between the pixel to be filtered and the second adjacent pixel. 
     
     
       24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the deblocking filter is configured to determine the degree of smoothing information based on constant values, the constant values being determined by experimentally-determined values obtained by a loop filter. 
     
     
       25. A method for reducing a blocking effect in a video signal, the method comprising:
 receiving a compressed video signal; and   generating, by one or more processors, a reconstructed video signal from the compressed video signal;   wherein generating the reconstructed video signal comprises:
 determining degree of smoothing information for a pixel to be filtered using a look-up table based on quantization information of a region including the pixel to be filtered, and 
 obtaining a value of the pixel to be filtered based on the degree of smoothing information, information regarding a first adjacent pixel, and information regarding a second opposing adjacent pixel. 
   
     
     
       26. A method for reducing a blocking effect in a video signal, the method comprising:
 receiving a compressed video signal;   identifying a pixel to be filtered;   determining quantization information of a region including the pixel to be filtered;   accessing a look-up table;   determining, based on information identified from within the look-up table, a degree of smoothing information for the pixel to be filtered;   accessing information regarding a first adjacent pixel;   accessing information regarding a second opposing adjacent pixel;   obtaining a value of the pixel to be filtered based on the degree of smoothing information determined, the information regarding the first adjacent pixel, and the information regarding the second opposing adjacent pixel; and   generating a reconstructed video signal based at least in part on the value obtained for the pixel to be filtered.