Reducing/Eliminating visual artifacts in HEVC by Deblocking filter final report

Reducing/Eliminating visual artifacts in HEVC by Deblocking

filter final reportSubmitted By: Harshal Shah

Under the guidance ofDr. K. R. Rao

04/19/2023 EE-5359 : Final Project Presentation

HEVC Overview [2]

HEVC–Most recent standard in video compression technology. Also known as H.265.

Provides around 50% bit-rate reduction while maintaining the same subjective video quality relative to its predecessor H.264

Developed by the ISO and ITU-T


HEVC Encoder Block Diagram [1]


Each picture is split into block-shaped regions, with the exact block partitioning being conveyed to the decoder.

The first picture of a video sequence (and the first picture at each clean random access point into a video sequence) is coded using only intrapicture prediction

For all remaining pictures of a sequence or between random access points, interpicture temporally predictive coding modes are typically used for most blocks.

The encoding process for interpicture prediction consists of choosing motion data comprising the selected reference picture and motion vector (MV) to be applied for predicting the samples of each block.


HEVC Decoder Block Diagram [1]


Why HEVC ?

To ensure the highest level of compression efficiency, and support for parallel processing, some parts of HEVC have been significantly modified compared with previous generations of hybrid block-based codecs. [3]

For most of the previous MPEG-x and H.26x codecs, the largest entity that could be independently encoded was a macro block (16 × 16 pixels) [10]. For HEVC, the picture is split into coding-tree units (CTUs) with a maximum size of 64 × 64 pixels. [3]


Blocking Artifacts [10]

Discontinuities can occur in the reconstructed signal at the block boundaries. Visible discontinuities at the block boundaries are blocking artifacts.

Degrades the quality of video and imageMost annoying artifacts in video and image compression

coding.


Example of block boundary with blocking artifact [11]


Deblocking filter [12]

Detects artifacts at the coded block boundaries and attenuates them by applying a selected filter.

The deblocking filter in HEVC has been designed to improve the subjective quality while reducing the complexity.

The HEVC deblocking filter is less complex as compared to the H.264/AVC deblocking filter, while still having the capability to improve the subjective and objective quality.


Processing flow of deblocking filter [13]

Firstly, the decision should be made that whether the current boundary is a boundary of CU, PU or TU. If not, the filtering processing should be not applied to the current boundary.

Boundary strength (BS) reflects how strong the filtering is needed for the boundary.

Threshold values β and tc which are used for filter on/off decision, strong/weak filter selection.


Sample Adaptive Offset (SAO) in HEVC :

• SAO is a process that modifies the decoded samples by conditionally adding an offset value to each sample after the application of the deblocking filter, based on values in look-up tables transmitted by the encoder.

• The key idea of SAO is to reduce sample distortion by first classifying reconstructed samples into different categories, obtaining an offset for each category, and then adding the offset to each sample of the category.


Block Diagram of Deblocking filter

• As shown in Fig. 1, SAO is located after DF and also belongs to in-loop filtering. • The concept of SAO is to reduce

mean sample distortion of a region by first classifying the region samples into multiple categories with a selected classifier, obtaining an offset for each category, and then adding the offset to each sample of the category, where the classifier index and the offsets of the region are coded in the bit stream


Sample Processing in SAO

• SAO may use different offsets sample by sample in a region depending on the sample classification, and SAO parameters are adapted from region to region. • • Two SAO types that can satisfy the

requirements of low complexity are adopted in HEVC: edge offset (EO) and band offset (BO). For EO, the sample classification is based on comparison between current samples and neighboring samples. For BO, the sample classification is based on sample values.

• Figure is of Four 1-D directional patterns for EO sample classification: horizontal (EO class = 0), vertical (EO class = 1), 135° diagonal (EO class = 2), and 45° diagonal (EO class = 3).


Proposed Work

Study and implementation of Deblocking filters to reduce the visual artifacts in HEVC.

study the working and performance analysis of deblocking filter algorithm in HEVC and compare it with H.264.

Implementing it on HM13.0 reference software.


1. Bus.qcif

encoder_intra_main.cfg with DB off and DB ON for bus.qcif ( QP=32 ) and 10 frames

INTRA

TIME (Sec) bitrate (KbPS) PSNR(dB)

DB On 52.368 633.2 32.4029

DB Off 52.071 633.1 32.1937

DB On DB Off51.9

52

52.1

52.2

52.3

52.4 52.368

52.071

INTRA

Tim

e(Se

c)


DB On DB Off633.04633.06633.08

633.1633.12633.14633.16633.18

633.2633.22 633.2

633.1

INTRA

bitr

ate

(KbP

S)

DB On DB Off32.05

32.132.15

32.232.25

32.332.35

32.432.45 32.4029

32.1937

INTRA

PSN

R(dB

)


encoder_lowdelay_main.cfg with Default and DB ON for bus.qcif ( QP=32 ) and 10 frames

Low Delay TIME (Sec) bitrate (KbPS) PSNR(dB)

DB On 121.656 213.24 29.5969

DB Off 120.47 212.96 29.4825

DB On DB Off119.5

120

120.5

121

121.5

122 121.656

120.47

Low Delay

Tim

e(Se

c)


DB On DB Off212.8

212.85212.9

212.95213

213.05213.1

213.15213.2

213.25213.3 213.24

212.96

Low Delaybi

trat

e (K

bPS)

DB On DB Off29.42

29.46

29.5

29.54

29.58

29.62 29.5969

29.4825

Low Delay

PSN

R(dB

)


2.BQSquare_416x240_60.yuv

INTRA

TIME (Sec) Bitrate (KbPS) PSNR(dB)

QP=32 QP=20 QP=32 QP=20 QP=32 QP=20

DB ON 213.419 278.004 5296.752 14769.88 34.77686 43.73686

DB OFF 197.646 261.401 5281.824 14756.26 34.86604 43.74926

TIME measurement for BQSquare.yuv test sequence in encoder_intra_main.cfg with DB Off and DB ON and 10 frames

encoder_intra_main.cfg with DB OFF and DB ON for BQSquare.yuv ( QP=32 and QP=20) and 10 frames


PSNR measurement for BQSquare.yuv test sequence in encoder_intra_main.cfg with DB Off and DB ON and 10 frames

Bitrate measurement for BQSquare.yuv test sequence in encoder_intra_main.cfg with DB Off and DB ON and 10 frames


LOW DELAY


QP=32 QP=20 QP=32 QP=20 QP=32 QP=20

DB ON 294.794 641.729 785.796 3950.688 35.4889 43.6787

DB OFF 282.598 621.546 782.186 3942.984 34.5674 42.1586

TIME measurement for BQSquare.yuv test sequence in encoder_lowdelay_main.cfg with DB Off and DB ON and 10 frames

encoder_lowdelay_main.cfg with DB OFF and DB ON for BQSquare.yuv ( QP=32 and QP=20) and 10 frames


PSNR measurement for BQSquare.yuv test sequence in encoder_lowdelay_main.cfg with DB Off and DB ON and 10 frames

Bitrate measurement for BQSquare.yuv test sequence in encoder_lowdelay_main.cfg with DB Off and DB ON and 10 frames


3.BasketballDrill_832x480_50.yuv

INTRA TIME (Sec) Bitrate (KbPS) PSNR(dB)

QP=32 QP=20 QP=32 QP=20 QP=32 QP=20

DB ON 719.672 958.173 5716.04 25444.24 34.888604 43.74926

DB OFF 709.556 954.182 5708.52 25367.04 34.7786 43.7386

TIME measurement for BasketballDrill.yuv test sequence in encoder_intra_main.cfg with DB Off and DB ON and 10 frames

encoder_intra_main.cfg with DB OFF and DB ON for BasketballDrill.yuv ( QP=32 and QP=20) and 10 frames


PSNR measurement for BasketballDrill.yuv test sequence in encoder_intra_main.cfg with DB Off and DB ON and 10 frames

Bitrate measurement for BasketballDrill.yuv test sequence in encoder_intra_main.cfg with DB Off and DB ON and 10 frames


LOW DELAY


QP=32 QP=20 QP=32 QP=20 QP=32 QP=20

DB ON 1389.84 2492.081 1111.8 5847.28 35.6782 43.1986

DB OFF 1359.666 2486.895 1089.8 5840.56 34.9347 42.3458

TIME measurement for BasketballDrill.yuv test sequence in encoder_lowdelay_main.cfg with DB Off and DB ON and 10 frames

encoder_lowdelay_main.cfg with DB OFF and DB ON for BasketballDrill.yuv ( QP=32 and QP=20) and 10 frames


PSNR measurement for BasketballDrill.yuv test sequence in encoder_lowdelay_main.cfg with DB Off and DB ON and 10 frames

Bitrate measurement for BasketballDrill.yuv test sequence in encoder_lowdelay_main.cfg with DB Off and DB ON and 10 frames


CONCLUSION

So from the results shown in the figure there is significant change in encoding time, PSNR and bitrate when deblcoking filter is on/off.

Hence, the benefits of applying the deblocking filter is that it will help remove the blocking artifacts from the reconstructed image. The performance can also be improved by including the Quantization Parameter (QP) effect on the deblocking filter parameters.


List of ACRONYMS

• CU: Coding unit.• CABAC: Context adaptive binary arithmetic coding • CTUs: Coding tree units.• DSPs : Digital signal processors • FDCT: Fast discrete cosine transform. HDTV: High definition television • HEVC: High Efficiency Video Coding. • ITU: International Telecommunication Union• ITU-TITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector• JVT - VT: Joint collaborative team on video coding• MSE: Mean square error.• MPEG: Moving picture experts group. PU: Prediction unit• PSNR: Peak signal to noise ratio.• QVGA: Quarter Video Graphics Array.• QCIF: Quarter common intermediate format.• QP: Quantization parameter• VCEG: Video Coding Experts Group


References[1] G.J. Sullivan, et al “Overview of the high efficiency video coding (HEVC) standard” , IEEE Trans. circuits and systems for video technology, vol. 22, no.12, pp. 1649 – 1668, Dec 2012.

[2] P.Topiwala et al , “Performance comparison of JPEG2000 and H.264/AVC high profile intra-frame coding on HD video sequences”, SPIE int‘l symposium, digital image processing, vol. 6312, no.8, pp. 63120-63135, Aug. 2006.

[3] Q.Cai, et al, “Lossy and lossless intra coding performance evaluation: HEVC, H.264/AVC, JPEG 2000 and JPEG LS”. Published in signal and information processing association annual summit and conference, vol.9, no.12, pp.1-9, Dec.2012.

[4] K.R. Rao, D. N. Kim and J. J. Hwang, “Video Coding standards”, pp. 125-158, Springer 2013.

[5] “High Efficiency Video Coding HEVC / H.265” article Available Vcodex website http://www.vcodex.com/h265.html

http://www.vcodex.com/h265.html


[6] “Next generation video compression – Ericsson Review The Communications Journal” Available website: http://www.ericsson.com/news/130424-next-generation-video-compression_244129228_c

[7] L. Zhao et al, “Fast mode decision algorithm for intra prediction in HEVC”, Conference Article no.6115979, IEEE Visual Communications and Image Processing, 6-9 Nov. 2011

[8]JCT-VC, “WD1: Working Draft 1 of High-Efficiency Video Coding”,

JCTVC-C403, JCT-VC Meeting, Guangzhou, October 2010.

[9] G.J. Sullivan et al, “Standardized Extensions of High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC)”, IEEE Journal on Selected Topics in signal Processing, vol. 7, pp. 1001-1016, December 2013.

[10]W.Y. Wei, "Deblocking Algorithms in Video and Image Compression Coding." Graduate Institute of Communication Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC

http://www.ericsson.com/news/130424-next-generation-video-compression_244129228_c


[11] A. Norkin et al, “HEVC Deblocking Filter”, IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology, Vol. 22, No. 12, pp. 1746-1754, Dec. 2012.

[12]W. Shen et al , “A high-throughput VLSI architecture for deblocking filter in HEVC” ,“IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems (ISCAS)” , pp 673-676 , May 2013

[13] W. Shen et al, “A 64 Cycles/MB, Luma- Chroma Parallelized H.264/AVC Deblocking Filter for 4Kx2K Applications” , “IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems (ISCAS)”, vol.E95-C, no.4, pp.441- 446, April 2012.

[14] K.Xu , “A Five-Stage Pipeline, 204 Cycles/MB, Single-Port SRAM-Based Deblocking Filter for H.264/AVC,”, IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology , vol.18, no.3, pp.363-374, March 2008.

[15] P. List et al , “Adaptive deblocking filter,” IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. Video Technol., vol. 13, no. 7, pp. 614–619, July 2003


[16] C.-M. Fu et al , “Sample adaptive offset in the HEVC standard,” IEEE Transactions onCircuits and Systems for Video Technology., vol. 22, no. 12, pp. 1755–1764, Dec. 2012. [17] ITU-T: "H.265 : High efficiency video coding", April 2013.To access it, go to http://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-H.265-201304-I/en [18] HEVC Reference Software HM13.0. https://hevc.hhi.fraunhofer.de/svn/svn_HEVCSoftware/tags/HM-13.0rc1/ [19] E .Ozcan et al , “A high performance deblocking filter hardware for High Efficiency Video Coding” , 2013 23rd International Conference on Field Programmable Logic and Applications , pp 1-4 , Sept.2013.

[20] Required test sequence http://media.xiph.org/video/derf/

http://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-H.265-201304-I/en

https://hevc.hhi.fraunhofer.de/svn/svn_HEVCSoftware/tags/HM-13.0rc1/

http://media.xiph.org/video/derf/


[21]F. Pescador et al, “Complexity analysis of an HEVC decoder based on a digital signal processor”, IEEE Trans. on Consumer Electronics. vol. 59, no. 2, pp. 391-399, May 2013.

[22] Special issue on emerging research and standards in next generation video coding, IEEE Trans. on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology, vol. 22, pp. 1646-1909, Dec. 2012.

[23] Special issue on emerging research and standards in next generation video coding, IEEE Trans. on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology, vol. 23, pp. 2009-2142, Dec. 2013

[24] IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Signal Processing, vol. 7, pp. 931-1151, Dec. 2013.

Reducing/Eliminating visual artifacts in HEVC by Deblocking filter final report

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