Virtual pipeline for video encoding and decoding

Abstract

Encoding or decoding video information can involve, for example, partitioning a coding unit of the video information using a partitioning based on a modification of a constraint on partitioning that is associated with a pipeline configuration for reconstruction of the coding unit, where the modification is based on an information dependency between two or more pipeline units associated with the pipeline configuration, and encoding or decoding the video information based on the partitioning.

1 . Apparatus for encoding video information, comprising:
 one or more processors configured to   partition a coding unit of the video information using a partitioning based on a modification of a constraint on partitioning, wherein the constraint is associated with a pipeline configuration for reconstruction of the coding unit, and the modification is based on an information dependency between two or more pipeline units associated with the pipeline configuration; and   encode the video information based on the partitioning.   
     
     
         2 . Apparatus for decoding video information, comprising:
 one or more processors configured to   obtain an indication of a partitioning of a coding unit of the video information, wherein the partitioning is based on a modification of a constraint on partitioning, the constraint is associated with a pipeline configuration for decoding, and the modification is based on an information dependency between two or more pipeline units associated with the pipeline configuration; and   decoding the video information based on the partitioning and using the pipeline configuration.   
     
     
         3 . A method for encoding video information, comprising:
 partitioning a coding unit of the video information using a partitioning based on a modification of a constraint on partitioning, wherein the constraint is associated with a pipeline configuration for reconstruction of the coding unit, and the modification is based on an information dependency between two or more pipeline units associated with the pipeline configuration; and   encoding the video information based on the partitioning.   
     
     
         4 . A method for decoding video information, comprising:
 obtaining an indication of a partitioning of a coding unit of the video information, wherein the partitioning is based on a modification of a constraint on partitioning, the constraint is associated with a pipeline configuration for decoding, and the modification is based on an information dependency between two or more pipeline units associated with the pipeline configuration; and   decoding the video information based on the partitioning and using the pipeline configuration.   
     
     
         5 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the constraint prevents selection of the partitioning during a coding mode. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the modification of the constraint comprises relaxing the constraint to enable selection of the partitioning during the coding mode. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the coding mode involves use of one or more of a plurality of coding tools, each of the plurality of coding tools being associated with one of a plurality of sets of coding tools, wherein the one or more coding tools in a set have a common information dependency characteristic based on the information dependency between the two or more pipeline units,   the constraint comprises limiting use of the one or more of the plurality of coding tools during the coding mode to only coding tools included in a first subset of the plurality of sets of coding tools, and   the modification of the constraint comprises limiting use of coding tools to only those included in a second subset of the plurality of sets of coding tools during the coding mode, wherein the second subset differs from the first subset.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the two or more pipeline units are virtual pipeline decoding units and the information dependency comprises the coding unit spanning over two or more of the virtual pipeline decoding units. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the constraint comprises:
 [C1] for a virtual pipeline decoding unit containing one or multiple coding units, the coding units are completely contained in the virtual pipeline decoding unit;   [C2] for a coding unit containing one or more virtual pipeline decoding units, the virtual pipeline decoding units are completely contained in the coding unit; and   [C3] the processing order of coding units shall not leave a virtual pipeline decoding unit and re-visit it later; and wherein   the modification of the constraint comprises modifying [C1] to:   if a coding unit (CU) is not completely contained in one VPDU, then its reconstruction can be done independently on each subpart.   
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer readable medium containing data content generated by the apparatus of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing program instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, performs the method of  claim 3 . 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one of (i) an antenna configured to receive a signal, the signal including data representative of the video information, (ii) a band limiter configured to limit the received signal to a band of frequencies that includes the data representative of the video data, and (iii) a display configured to display an image from the video data. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the apparatus is included in one of a television signal receiver, a set-top box, a gateway device, a mobile device, or other electronic device. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the constraint prevents selection of the partitioning during a coding mode. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the modification of the constraint comprises relaxing the constraint to enable selection of the partitioning during the coding mode. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the coding mode involves use of one or more of a plurality of coding tools, each of the plurality of coding tools being associated with one of a plurality of sets of coding tools, wherein the one or more coding tools in a set have a common information dependency characteristic based on the information dependency between the two or more pipeline units,   the constraint comprises limiting use of the one or more of the plurality of coding tools during the coding mode to only coding tools included in a first subset of the plurality of sets of coding tools, and   the modification of the constraint comprises limiting use of coding tools to only those included in a second subset of the plurality of sets of coding tools during the coding mode, wherein the second subset differs from the first subset.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the two or more pipeline units are virtual pipeline decoding units and the information dependency comprises the coding unit spanning over two or more of the virtual pipeline decoding units. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the constraint comprises:
 [C1] for a virtual pipeline decoding unit containing one or multiple coding units, the coding units are completely contained in the virtual pipeline decoding unit;   [C2] for a coding unit containing one or more virtual pipeline decoding units, the virtual pipeline decoding units are completely contained in the coding unit; and   [C3] the processing order of coding units shall not leave a virtual pipeline decoding unit and re-visit it later; and wherein   the modification of the constraint comprises modifying [C1] to:   if a coding unit (CU) is not completely contained in one VPDU, then its reconstruction can be done independently on each subpart.   
     
     
         26 . A non-transitory computer readable medium containing data content generated by the method of  claim 3 . 
     
     
         27 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing program instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, performs the method of  claim 4 .