Macroblock Level Adaptive Frame/Field Coding for Digital Video Content

Abstract

A method and system of encoding and decoding digital video content. The digital video content comprises a stream of pictures which can each be intra, predicted, or bi-predicted pictures. Each of the pictures comprises macroblocks that can be further divided into smaller blocks. The method entails encoding and decoding each of the smaller blocks in each picture in said stream of pictures in either frame mode or in field mode.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method of encoding a picture in an image sequence, comprising:
 dividing said picture into a plurality of smaller portions;   selectively encoding at least one of said plurality of smaller portions in frame coding mode and at least one of said plurality of smaller portions in field coding mode; and   deriving at least two motion vectors and two associated reference pictures or fields pointed by said two motion vectors for at least one current block of said at least one of said plurality of smaller portions if said picture is a bi-predictive coded picture.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said at least two motion vectors are computed from a co-located block in one of said two associated reference pictures or fields. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for encoding a picture in an image sequence, comprising:
 an encoder which divides said picture into a plurality of smaller portions; derives at least two motion vectors and two associated reference pictures or fields pointed by said two motion vectors for at least one current block of said at least one of said plurality of smaller portions if said picture is a bi-predictive coded picture; and selectively encodes at least one of said plurality of smaller portions in frame coding mode and at least one of said plurality of smaller portions in field coding mode.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said at least two motion vectors are computed from a co-located block in one of said two associated reference pictures or fields. 
     
     
         20 . A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of a method for encoding a picture in an image sequence, comprising of:
 dividing said picture into a plurality of smaller portions;   selectively encoding at least one of said plurality of smaller portions in frame coding mode and at least one of said plurality of smaller portions in field coding mode; and   deriving at least two motion vectors and two associated reference pictures or fields pointed by said two motion vectors for at least one current block of said at least one of said plurality of smaller portions if said picture is a bi-predictive coded picture.   
     
     
         21 . A method of decoding an encoded picture having a plurality of smaller portions from a bitstream, comprising:
 decoding at least one of a plurality of smaller portions in frame coding mode and at least one of said plurality of smaller portions in field coding mode;   obtaining at least two motion vectors and two associated reference pictures or fields for at least one current block of said plurality of smaller portions if said picture is a bi-predictive coded picture; and   using said plurality of decoded smaller portions and said at least two motion vectors for at least one current block of said plurality of smaller portions to construct a decoded picture.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said at least two motion vectors are computed from a co-located block in one of said two associated reference pictures or fields. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said at least two reference pictures or fields are deriving from a co-located block. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said co-located block in one of said two associated reference pictures or fields is encoding in said frame coding mode or said field coding mode. 
     
     
         25 . An apparatus of decoding an encoded picture having a plurality of smaller portions from a bitstream, comprising:
 a decoder which decodes at least one of a plurality of smaller portions in frame coding mode and at least one of said plurality of smaller portions in field coding mode; obtains at least two motion vectors and two associated reference pictures or fields for at least one current block of said plurality of smaller portions if said picture is a bi-predictive coded picture; and utilizes said plurality of decoded smaller portions and said at least two motion vectors for at least one current block of said plurality of smaller portions to construct a decoded picture.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein said at least two motion vectors are computed from a co-located block in one of said two associated reference pictures or fields. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein said at least two reference pictures or fields are deriving from a co-located block. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein said co-located block in one of said two associated reference pictures or fields is encoding in said frame coding mode or said field coding mode. 
     
     
         29 . A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of a method of decoding an encoded picture having a plurality of smaller portions from a bitstream, comprising:
 decoding at least one of a plurality of smaller portions in frame coding mode and at least one of said plurality of smaller portions in field coding mode;   obtaining at least two motion vectors and two associated reference pictures or fields for at least one current block of said plurality of smaller portions if said picture is a bi-predictive coded picture; and   using said plurality of decoded smaller portions and said at least two motion vectors for at least one current block of said plurality of smaller portions to construct a decoded picture.