Patent Description:
State of the art methods for coding a current block of a current picture usually comprises predicting the block to obtain a predictor, determining a residual block by subtracting the predictor from the current block and encoding the residual block into a stream. The current block is predicted from one or a plurality of other block(s), called reference blocks, already coded and reconstructed. The one or the plurality of other block(s) belong(s) to the current picture (intra coding) or to another picture different from the current picture (inter coding). In the case where the current block is predicted from a plurality of reference blocks, the predictor may suffer from blocking artifacts. <FIG> depicts such a current block B intra predicted from a plurality of reference blocks, namely the spatially neighboring grey blocks.

State of the art methods for coding a current block of a current picture usually comprises in-loop filtering step(s). As an example, in H. <NUM> video coding standard a filtering step using a deblocking filter is included in the coding loop. Other filtering steps may be included such as a sample adaptive offset (SAO) filtering. <NUM> deblocking filter attenuates discontinuities at prediction and transform block boundaries, i.e. the external frontiers of the blocks. However, some discontinuities remains in the picture. There is thus a need to further improve the in-loop filtering in order to increase the coding efficiency of the coding method.

<CIT> and <CIT> relate to applying deblocking filters in video coding.

<NPL>, relates to chroma intra prediction based on interchannel correlation for HEVC.

It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present principles, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, many other elements found in typical encoding and/or decoding devices. It will be understood that, although the terms first and second may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms.

According to the present principles, a block is a square or rectangular part of a picture comprising samples associated with sample values, e.g. luma samples or chroma samples. For convenience of terminology, the terms are referred to as luma and chroma. However, the methods and devices disclosed may apply to different colour representation such as for example RGB. Therefore, in all embodiment luma may be replaced by a first component and chroma by a second component.

In the following, the word "reconstructed" and "decoded" can be used interchangeably. Usually but not necessarily "reconstructed" is used on the encoder side while "decoded" is used on the decoder side.

<FIG> represents, on the left, a luma component of a picture divided into blocks according to a first quad-tree decomposition. The <FIG> represents, on the right, a chroma component of the picture divided into blocks according to a second quad-tree decomposition different from the first quad-tree decomposition.

The blocks may be Transform Blocks (TB) or Prediction blocks (PB) within the meaning of H. A TB is a rectangular block of samples of a color component on which the same transform is applied for coding a residual signal. In the following, TB is used to designate such a block on which the same transform is applied. A PB is a rectangular block of samples of a color component on which one and the same prediction is applied. (e.g. same motion parameters for motion compensated prediction). In HEVC, a Coding Tree Block (CTB) is subdivided recursively into Coding Blocks (CBs) along a coding tree structure. A CB may then be partitioned into multiple TBs. The partitioning of a CB into TBs is carried out recursively based on a quadtree approach. In the case where a CB is not further partitioned, the CB is considered to be a TB. To each type of block (i.e. TB, PB, CB, CTB) corresponds a unit (i.e. a transform unit TU, a prediction unit PU, a coding unit CU and a coding tree unit CTU respectively). A unit comprises information related to all color components, e.g. the luma component and the two chroma components. As an example, a CTU comprises a CTB of luma samples and two corresponding CTB of chroma samples in the case of a color picture. In the same way, a CU comprises a CB of luma samples and two corresponding CB of chroma samples in the case of a color picture.

In other implementations different from H. <NUM>, the blocks may be Coding Blocks (CB) and/or Prediction Blocks (PB), in the case where a CB and/or a PB is/are defined as rectangular block(s) of samples on which the same transform is applied for coding the residual signal.

On <FIG>, a plurality of luma blocks BL surrounded by a dashed line are co-located to the single chroma block Be also surrounded by a dashed line. Co-located means that the block Be and the blocks BL cover the same portion of the picture possibly subject to downsampling depending on the color format (<NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>, <NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>,. The chroma block Bc is for example a CB and each luma block BL is for example a TB, the plurality of blocks BL forming a luma CB co-located with the chroma CB. On <FIG>, the chroma component is downsampled with respect to the luma component. It will be appreciated, however, that the present principles also apply to the case where the luma component and the chroma component(s) have the same resolution. By using different quad-tree decompositions for dividing the chroma component and the luma component, blocking artifacts may appear in the case where the chroma block Bc is intra predicted from the luma component, more precisely from the co-located blocks BL of the luma component. When blocking artifacts are created in a predictor, these artifacts usually appear in the residual block derived from the predictor and thus also in the reconstructed/decoded block.

<FIG> shows frontiers, i.e. dividing lines that may be created inside the reconstructed chroma block Be because of its intra prediction from the plurality of luma blocks BL. This intra prediction mode is also named LM mode in the literature (LM stands for "Linear Mode"). This mode exploits inter-component correlation using reconstructed luma samples recY to predict chroma samples linearly with parameters α and β. The parameters α and β may be derived from spatially neighboring reconstructed luma and chroma samples at both encoder and decoder to avoid overhead signaling. In a variant, the parameters α and β may be derived from the source luma and chroma samples at encoder, coded and transmitted to a decoder.

<FIG> illustrates the LM mode. The chroma block Be is predicted from reconstructed luma samples recy of the blocks BL. <NUM> deblocking filter only filters the external frontier of the chroma block Be and thus does not reduce the blocking artifacts inside the chroma block Be in the case of prediction from co-located reconstructed luma samples. Indeed, the H. <NUM> standard specifies the deblocking filter as a process that applies on the transform block or prediction block external frontiers after the picture is reconstructed/decoded.

<FIG> depicts a block B (e.g. a luma TB or a chroma TB) intra predicted from spatially neighboring blocks Be and Bf according to a horizontal direction of prediction. State of the art video coding standards (e.g. H. <NUM>) define a spatial intra prediction mode. According to this mode, the block B is thus predicted from spatially neighboring blocks already reconstructed/decoded. The prediction is made according to a direction of prediction. <NUM> video coding standard <NUM> directions of prediction are defined while in H. <NUM><NUM> directions of prediction are defined. The first lines (L1) of the predictor are derived from the block Be. The last lines (L2) of the predictor are derived from the block Bf. Consequently, a frontier may appear in the predictor. The frontier is represented by the dashed line on <FIG>. In the case where, a frontier is present inside the predictor, this frontier appears also in the residual block and thus in the reconstructed/decoded block.

<FIG> depicts a block B (e.g. a TB) that is intra predicted from spatially neighboring blocks Ba, Bb, Bd, Be, Bf according to an angular direction. A frontier that follows the angular direction of prediction may appear in the predictor. The frontiers are represented by dashed lines on <FIG>.

<FIG> depicts a block B (e.g. a TB) that is intra predicted from spatially neighboring blocks Ba, Bb, Bd, Be, Bf (spatially neighboring TBs) according to a planar prediction mode. The pixel P is predicted according to the planar mode by a linear combination of the <NUM> pixels (indicated by the <NUM> black squares) of the spatially neighboring blocks. A horizontal frontier and a vertical frontier may appear in the predictor. The frontiers are represented by dashed lines on <FIG>. <NUM> deblocking filter only filters the external frontier of the block B and thus would not reduce the blocking artifact inside the block B in the case of spatial prediction from a plurality neighboring blocks. Indeed, the H. <NUM> deblocking filter only filters the transform block or prediction block external frontiers after the picture is reconstructed/decoded.

<FIG> represents an exemplary architecture of a receiver <NUM> configured to decode a block of a picture from a stream to obtain a decoded block according to a specific and non-limiting embodiment, wherein the block is intra predicted from a plurality, i.e. at least two, of reference blocks.

The receiver <NUM> comprises one or more processor(s) <NUM>, which could comprise, for example, a CPU, a GPU and/or a DSP (English acronym of Digital Signal Processor), along with internal memory <NUM> (e.g. RAM, ROM and/or EPROM). The receiver <NUM> comprises one or more communication interface(s) <NUM> (e.g. a keyboard, a mouse, a touchpad, a webcam), each adapted to display output information and/or allow a user to enter commands and/or data; and a power source <NUM> which may be external to the receiver <NUM>. The receiver <NUM> may also comprise one or more network interface(s) (not shown). The decoder module <NUM> represents the module that may be included in a device to perform the decoding functions. Additionally, the decoder module <NUM> may be implemented as a separate element of the receiver <NUM> or may be incorporated within processor(s) <NUM> as a combination of hardware and software as known to those skilled in the art.

The stream may be obtained from a source. According to different embodiments, the source can be, but is not limited to:.

According to different embodiments, the decoded block may be sent to a destination, e.g. a display device. As an example, the decoded block is stored in a remote or in a local memory, e.g. a video memory or a RAM, a hard disk. In a variant, the decoded block is sent to a storage interface, e.g. an interface with a mass storage, a ROM, a flash memory, an optical disc or a magnetic support and/or transmitted over a communication interface, e.g. an interface to a point to point link, a communication bus, a point to multipoint link or a broadcast network.

According to a specific and non-limiting embodiment, the receiver <NUM> further comprises a computer program stored in the memory <NUM>. The computer program comprises instructions which, when executed by the receiver <NUM>, in particular by the processor <NUM>, enable the receiver to execute the decoding method described with reference to any one of the <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>. According to a variant, the computer program is stored externally to the receiver <NUM> on a non-transitory digital data support, e.g. on an external storage medium such as a HDD, CD-ROM, DVD, a read-only and/or DVD drive and/or a DVD Read/Write drive, all known in the art. The receiver <NUM> thus comprises a mechanism to read the computer program. Further, the receiver <NUM> could access one or more Universal Serial Bus (USB)-type storage devices (e.g., "memory sticks. ") through corresponding USB ports (not shown).

According to exemplary and non-limiting embodiments, the receiver <NUM> can be, but is not limited to:.

On the following <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the modules are functional units, which may or not be in relation with distinguishable physical units. For example, these modules or some of them may be brought together in a unique component or circuit, or contribute to functionalities of a software. A contrario, some modules may potentially be composed of separate physical entities. The apparatus which are compatible with the disclosure are implemented using either pure hardware, for example using dedicated hardware such ASIC or FPGA or VLSI, respectively « Application Specific Integrated Circuit », « Field-Programmable Gate Array », « Very Large Scale Integration », or from several integrated electronic components embedded in a device or from a blend of hardware and software components.

<FIG> represents a flowchart of a method for decoding a block of a picture from a stream to obtain a decoded block according to a specific and non-limiting embodiment, wherein the block is intra predicted from a plurality, i.e. at least two, of reference blocks.

The method starts at step S100. At step S110, a receiver accesses a stream. At step S120, the receiver decodes a plurality of reference blocks from the stream. Decoding a reference block comprises decoding a residual block from the stream, transforming the residual block using a transform that is the inverse of the one used at encoder side and adding a predictor to the transformed block to obtain the decoded block. Decoding may further comprise, before the transforming step, inverse quantizing the residual block using a quantization parameter. As an example, each of the reference block is a block on which the same transform is applied, e.g. a TB.

At step S130, the receiver filters with a deblocking filter along edges of the plurality of reference blocks decoded at step S120. To this aim, the deblocking filter may be the H. <NUM> deblocking filter defined in section <NUM>. <NUM> of the document entitled "High Efficiency Video Coding" published in April <NUM>. It will be appreciated, however, that the present principles also apply to a deblocking filter of the H. <NUM> type or more generally to any deblocking filter.

A deblocking filter of the H. <NUM> type filters an edge based on quantization parameters associated with regions apart from the edge. Such a deblocking filter makes also use of a boundary strength parameter Bs. According to the present principles, the H. <NUM> deblocking may be adapted to also filter an edge of a reference block before it is used for prediction.

Deblocking is thus performed on a four-sample part of an edge as depicted on <FIG>. This figure represents an edge that delineates two parts P and Q. px and qx represent samples. Filtering is performed on luma samples when all of the following criteria are true: <NUM>) the boundary strength Bs is greater than zero; and <NUM>) variation of signal on both sides of the edge is below a specified threshold:
|p<NUM>,<NUM> - <NUM>p<NUM>,<NUM> + p<NUM>,<NUM>| + |p<NUM>,<NUM> - <NUM>p<NUM>,<NUM> + p<NUM>,<NUM>| + |q<NUM>,<NUM> - <NUM>q<NUM>,<NUM> + q<NUM>,<NUM>| + |q<NUM>,<NUM> - <NUM>q<NUM>,<NUM> + q<NUM>,<NUM>| > β (<NUM>) where threshold β depends on a quantization parameter QP and is derived from a look-up table. For edges with an associate Bs greater than zero, and for which (<NUM>) is true, deblocking filtering is performed.

In a specific embodiment, a normal deblocking filtering is applied along the edges of the plurality of reference blocks decoded at step S120.

Normal filtering has two modes differing in the number of pixels being modified on each side of the edge.

If |p2,<NUM> - 2p1,<NUM> + p0,<NUM>| + |p2,<NUM> - 2p1,<NUM> + p0,<NUM>| < <NUM>/16β (<NUM>), then the two nearest samples to the edge can be modified in the left part P, otherwise only the nearest samples in P can be modified.

If |q2,<NUM> - 2q1,<NUM> + q0,<NUM>| + |q2,<NUM> - 2q1,<NUM> + q0,<NUM>| < <NUM>/16β (<NUM>) , then the two nearest samples to the edge can be modified in the right part Q, otherwise only the nearest samples in Q can be modified.

In the normal filtering mode for a segment of four lines, filtering operations are applied for each line. In the following, the second indices of pixels, indicating the line number, are omitted for brevity.

The filtered pixel values p'<NUM> and q'<NUM> are calculated for each line across the edge by adding or subtracting an offset as follows: <MAT> where the value of Δ<NUM> is obtained by clipping δ<NUM> : Δ<NUM>=clip(-tC,tC, δ<NUM>), where clip(a,b,c)=Max(a, Min(b,c)), tC is a clipping parameter dependent on the QP and δ0 = (<NUM>*(q0 - p0) - <NUM>*(q1 - p1) + <NUM>) >> <NUM> (<NUM>). tC is for example defined by a look-up table. Neglecting the clipping operation, the impulse response of this filter is (<NUM><NUM><NUM> -<NUM>)/<NUM>.

Furthermore, the deblocking filtering is applied to the row or column of samples across the edge, if and only if: <MAT>.

If (<NUM>) is true, the modified value p'<NUM> in each line across the edge is obtained by p'<NUM> = p<NUM> + Δp<NUM> (<NUM>). Similarly, if (<NUM>) is true, then q'<NUM> in each line across the edge is obtained by q'<NUM> = q1 + Δq<NUM> (<NUM>) where the offset value Δp<NUM> = clip(-tC/<NUM>,tC/<NUM>, δp<NUM>) and Δq<NUM> = clip(-tC/<NUM>,tC/<NUM>, δq<NUM>) with δp<NUM> = (((p<NUM> + p<NUM> + <NUM>) >> <NUM>) - p<NUM> + Δ0) » <NUM> (<NUM>) and δq<NUM> = (((q2 + q0 + <NUM>) >> <NUM>) - q<NUM> - Δ<NUM>) >> <NUM> (<NUM>). Neglecting the clipping operation, the impulse response of the filter that corresponds to modification of the pixel at position p<NUM> is (<NUM><NUM> -<NUM><NUM> -<NUM>)/<NUM>.

In a variant, whether to apply strong or normal deblocking is decided based on the first and the fourth lines across the edge of four samples represented on <FIG>. The following expressions using information from lines i = <NUM> and i = <NUM> are evaluated to make a decision between the normal and the strong filtering: <MAT> <MAT> <MAT>.

If (<NUM>), (<NUM>), and (<NUM>) are true, the strong filtering is applied to the edge. Otherwise, normal filtering is applied.

The strong filter modifies more samples on each side of the edge than the normal mode. The offset values Δ0s, Δ1s, and Δ2s are added to pixels p0, p1, and p2, respectively, after clipping of the following δ0s, δ1s, and δ2s values: <MAT> <MAT> <MAT>.

The offset values for modification of pixels q0, q1, and q2 are calculated by exchanging q and p in (<NUM>), (<NUM>), and (<NUM>).

Impulse responses of the filters that correspond to modification of pixels p0, p1, and p2 are (<NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM>)/<NUM>, (<NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM>)/<NUM>, and (<NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM>)/<NUM>, respectively, if the clipping operation is neglected.

Chroma deblocking is only performed when Bs is equal to two. In this case, no further deblocking decisions are done. Only pixels p0 and q0 are modified as in (<NUM>) and (<NUM>). The deblocking is performed with the Δc value, which is obtained by clipping the following δc offset value: δc = (((q0 - p0) « <NUM>) + p1 - q1 + <NUM>) » <NUM> (<NUM>) which corresponds to filtering by the filter with the impulse response of (<NUM><NUM><NUM> -<NUM>)/<NUM>.

At step S140, the receiver decodes a current block by intra prediction from the plurality of filtered reference blocks. As an example, the current block is a block on which the same transform is applied, e.g. a TB. Decoding the current block comprises decoding a residual block from the stream, transforming the residual block using a transform that is the inverse of the one used at encoder side and adding a predictor to the transformed block to obtain the decoded current block. Decoding may further comprise, before the transforming step, inverse quantizing the residual block using a quantization parameter. The predictor is obtained by intra prediction of the current block from the plurality of filtered reference blocks obtained at step S130.

The prediction and deblocking steps are interleaved. Therefore, the coding efficiency is improved.

<FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> represent flowcharts of a method for decoding a block of a picture from a stream to obtain a decoded block according to non-claimed examples, wherein the block is a chroma block predicted from a plurality of co-located luma blocks (the reference blocks).

The method starts at step S100. At step S110, a receiver accesses a stream. At step S120, the receiver decodes a luma coding block (luma CB) formed of a plurality of luma transform blocks (TBs) from the stream, the luma coding block being co-located with a current chroma coding block. The luma CB is decoded by decoding each of its luma TBs. Decoding a luma TB comprises decoding a residual block from the stream, transforming the residual block using a transform that is the inverse of the one used at encoder side and adding a predictor to the transformed block to obtain the decoded luma TB. Decoding may further comprise, before the transforming step, inverse quantizing the residual block using a quantization parameter. In this example, the reference blocks are the co-located luma TBs.

At step S130, the receiver filters with a deblocking filter only along internal edges of the luma CB decoded at step S120. The internal edges are for example indicated by narrow lines on <FIG> while the external edges are indicated by bold lines. The internal edges of the luma CB are formed by the frontiers between the luma TBs. To this aim, the deblocking filter may be the H. <NUM> deblocking filter defined in section <NUM>. <NUM> of the document entitled "High Efficiency Video Coding" published in April <NUM>. It will be appreciated, however, that the present principles also apply to a deblocking filter of the H. <NUM> type or more generally to any deblocking filter. Step <NUM> generates a filtered version of the co-located luma TBs decoded at step <NUM> which are only used for inter component prediction.

At step S140, the receiver decodes the current chroma coding block by inter-component intra prediction from the plurality of filtered luma TBs obtained at step S130. Decoding the current chroma CB comprises decoding each of its chroma TBs. Decoding a chroma TB comprises decoding a residual block from the stream, transforming the residual block using a transform that is the inverse of the one used at encoder side and adding a predictor to the transformed block to obtain the decoded current block. Decoding may further comprise, before the transforming step, inverse quantizing the residual block using a quantization parameter. The predictor is obtained from the plurality of filtered luma TBs obtained at step S130 co-located to the chroma CB. In a first optional step, the chroma CB once decoded at step S140 may be further filtered as specified in section <NUM>. <NUM> of the HEVC standard. In-loop filterings (e.g. the Sample Adaptive Offset Filtering and/or the Adaptive Loop Filtering) other than the deblocking may also be applied on the decoded chroma CB.

In a second optional step, the luma components of a picture once decoded are further filtered as specified in section <NUM>. <NUM> of the HEVC standard to obtain the final decoded luma CB. In-loop filterings (e.g. the Sample Adaptive Offset Filtering and/or the Adaptive Loop Filtering) other than the deblocking may also be applied. It is worth underlining that the deblocking filter of step <NUM> is an intermediate deblocking filter that is only used for the purpose of the intra prediction of the current chroma coding block. This intermediate deblocking filter may thus behave differently from the classical deblocking filter that is usually applied after all intra predictions has been done.

In a variant of the second optional step, the external edges of the filtered luma CB obtained at step S130 are further filtered as specified in section <NUM>. <NUM> of the HEVC standard to obtain the final decoded luma CB.

In a variant (depicted on <FIG>) of the example of <FIG> at step S130, the receiver filters with a deblocking filter along both internal and external edges of the luma CB decoded at step S120. Optionally, in-loop filterings (e.g. the Sample Adaptive Offset Filtering and/or the Adaptive Loop Filtering) other than the deblocking may also be applied at step S130 on the luma CB decoded at step S120. The internal edges of the luma CB are formed by the frontiers between the luma TBs. The external edges of the luma CB are edges between the luma CB and other luma CBs already decoded. In this variant, no further deblocking is applied on the luma CB. This variant, may also comprise an optional step. In this optional step, the chroma CB once decoded at step S140 may be further filtered as specified in section <NUM>. <NUM> of the HEVC standard. In-loop filterings (e.g. the Sample Adaptive Offset Filtering and/or the Adaptive Loop Filtering) other than the deblocking may also be applied on the reconstructed chroma CB.

The methods described with respect to <FIG> and <FIG> may be repeated to encode each CU of a CTU.

A variant of the example of <FIG> is disclosed with respect to <FIG>. This variant to intra coded CTU.

The method starts at step S100. At step S110, a receiver accesses a stream. At step S120, the receiver decodes a luma CTB formed of a plurality of luma transform blocks (TBs) from the stream. The luma CTB of the CTU is co-located with a current chroma CTB. The luma CTB is decoded by decoding each of its luma TBs. More precisely, the luma CTB is decoded by decoding each of its luma CBs and each of the luma CB is decoded by decoding each of its luma TBs. Decoding a luma TB comprises decoding a residual block from the stream, transforming the residual block using a transform that is the inverse of the one used at encoder side and adding a predictor to the transformed block to obtain the decoded luma TB. Decoding may further comprise, before the transforming step, inverse quantizing the residual block using a quantization parameter. In this example, the reference blocks are the co-located luma TBs.

At step S130, the receiver filters, with a deblocking filter, the internal and external edges of the luma CTB (i.e. edges of its CBs and TBs) decoded at step S120. The internal edges of the luma CTB are formed by the frontiers between the luma TBs and between the luma CBs. To this aim, the deblocking filter may be the H. <NUM> deblocking filter defined in section <NUM>. <NUM> of the document entitled "High Efficiency Video Coding" published in April <NUM>. It will be appreciated, however, that the present principles also apply to a deblocking filter of the H. <NUM> type or more generally to any deblocking filter. Step <NUM> generates a filtered version of the co-located luma CTB decoded at step <NUM> which is used for inter component prediction. In-loop filterings (e.g. the Sample Adaptive Offset Filtering and/or the Adaptive Loop Filtering) other than the deblocking may also be applied on the decoded luma CTB. In a variant, the deblocking filter is applied in step S120 right after a luma CB is decoded, i.e. not after the luma CTB is completely decoded.

At step S140, the receiver decodes the chroma CTB of the CTU by intra prediction from the plurality of filtered luma TBs obtained at step S130. The chroma CTB is decoded by decoding each of its chroma TBs. More precisely, the chroma CTB is decoded by decoding each of its chroma CBs and each of the chroma CB is decoded by decoding each of its chroma TBs. Decoding a chroma TB comprises decoding a residual block from the stream, transforming the residual block using a transform that is the inverse of the one used at encoder side and adding a predictor to the transformed block to obtain the decoded current block. Decoding may further comprise, before the transforming step, inverse quantizing the residual block using a quantization parameter. The predictor is obtained from the plurality of filtered co-located luma TBs obtained at step S130. A deblocking filter and in-loop filterings (e.g. the Sample Adaptive Offset Filtering and/or the Adaptive Loop Filtering) other than the deblocking may also be applied on the decoded chroma CTB.

<FIG> represents a flowchart of a method for decoding a block of a picture from a stream to obtain a decoded block according to a specific and non-limiting embodiment, wherein the block is a chroma or a luma block predicted from a plurality of spatially neighboring blocks (the reference blocks).

The method starts at step S100. At step S110, a receiver accesses a stream. At step S120, the receiver decodes a plurality of reference blocks (e.g. a plurality of TBs) from the stream. The plurality of reference blocks are spatially neighboring blocks of a current block (e.g. a current TB). Decoding a reference block comprises decoding a residual block from the stream, transforming the residual block using a transform that is the inverse of the one used at encoder side and adding a predictor to the transformed block to obtain the decoded block. Decoding may further comprise, before the transforming step, inverse quantizing the residual block using a quantization parameter.

At step S130, the receiver filters with a deblocking filter along edges of the plurality of spatially neighboring blocks decoded at step S120. To this aim, the deblocking filter may be the H. <NUM> deblocking filter defined in section <NUM>. <NUM> of the document entitled "High Efficiency Video Coding" published in April <NUM>. It will be appreciated, however, that the present principles also apply to a deblocking filter of the H. <NUM> type or more generally to any deblocking filter.

At step S140, the receiver decodes the current block by intra prediction from the plurality of filtered reference blocks. Decoding the current block comprises decoding a residual block from the stream, transforming the residual block using a transform that is the inverse of the one used at encoder side and adding a predictor to the transformed block to obtain the decoded current block. Decoding may further comprise, before the transforming step, inverse quantizing the residual block using a quantization parameter. The predictor is obtained by spatial intra prediction from the plurality of filtered reference blocks obtained at step S130.

In the claimed embodiment, wherein a chroma CB or a luma CB is formed of a plurality of TBs, a TB is decoded at step S120 and the decoded TB is filtered at step S130 along its top and left edges. The steps S120 and S130 are repeated for each TB of the CB. In addition, the steps S120 and S130 may also be repeated for each CB of a CTB as depicts on <FIG>. Therefore, the causal (top and left) spatial blocks, namely the causal TBs, used to predict a current TB have undergone a full deblocking process before they are used for intra prediction of a next TB. On <FIG>, the first TB (labeled <NUM>) is decoded and then filtered along its top and left edges (as indicated by the arrows). Then, the second TB labeled <NUM> (in the decoding order) is decoded and filtered along its top and left edges. The process continues until all the TBs are decoded. The filtered edges are represented with doted lines. The de-blocking of each TB is thus performed right after it is decoded, before starting to process a next TB of the considered CTB in decoding order.

The method disclosed with respect to <FIG> and <FIG> improves the spatial intra prediction which does not suffer from the discontinuities that are present in the reference samples used for intra prediction, when multiple reference TBs are used to spatially predict a single larger TB.

<FIG> represents an exemplary architecture of a transmitter <NUM> configured to code a block of a picture in a stream according to a specific and non-limiting embodiment, wherein the block is intra predicted from a plurality, i.e. at least two, of reference blocks.

The transmitter <NUM> comprises one or more processor(s) <NUM>, which could comprise, for example, a CPU, a GPU and/or a DSP (English acronym of Digital Signal Processor), along with internal memory <NUM> (e.g. RAM, ROM, and/or EPROM). The transmitter <NUM> comprises one or more communication interface(s) <NUM> (e.g. a keyboard, a mouse, a touchpad, a webcam), each adapted to display output information and/or allow a user to enter commands and/or data; and a power source <NUM> which may be external to the transmitter <NUM>. The transmitter <NUM> may also comprise one or more network interface(s) (not shown). Encoder module <NUM> represents the module that may be included in a device to perform the coding functions. Additionally, encoder module <NUM> may be implemented as a separate element of the transmitter <NUM> or may be incorporated within processor(s) <NUM> as a combination of hardware and software as known to those skilled in the art.

The block may be obtained from a source. According to different embodiments, the source can be, but is not limited to:.

According to different embodiments, the stream may be sent to a destination. As an example, the stream is stored in a remote or in a local memory, e.g. a video memory or a RAM, a hard disk. In a variant, the stream is sent to a storage interface, e.g. an interface with a mass storage, a ROM, a flash memory, an optical disc or a magnetic support and/or transmitted over a communication interface, e.g. an interface to a point to point link, a communication bus, a point to multipoint link or a broadcast network.

According to an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment, the transmitter <NUM> further comprises a computer program stored in the memory <NUM>. The computer program comprises instructions which, when executed by the transmitter <NUM>, in particular by the processor <NUM>, enable the transmitter <NUM> to execute the encoding method described with reference to <FIG>. According to a variant, the computer program is stored externally to the transmitter <NUM> on a non-transitory digital data support, e.g. on an external storage medium such as a HDD, CD-ROM, DVD, a read-only and/or DVD drive and/or a DVD Read/Write drive, all known in the art. The transmitter <NUM> thus comprises a mechanism to read the computer program. Further, the transmitter <NUM> could access one or more Universal Serial Bus (USB)-type storage devices (e.g., "memory sticks. ") through corresponding USB ports (not shown).

According to exemplary and non-limiting embodiments, the transmitter <NUM> can be, but is not limited to:.

<FIG> represents a flowchart of a method for coding a block of a picture in a stream according to a specific and non-limiting embodiment, wherein the block is intra predicted from a plurality, i.e. at least two, of reference blocks.

The method starts at step S200. At step S210, a transmitter accesses a current block of a picture to be coded. At step S220, the transmitter encodes in the stream and reconstructs a plurality of reference blocks. Encoding a reference block comprises obtaining a residual block by subtracting a predictor from the reference block, transforming the residual block using a transform (inverse of the one used at decoder side) and encoding the transformed block into the stream. Coding may further comprise quantizing the transformed block using a quantization parameter. Reconstructing a reference block after coding comprises transforming the residual block using a transform that is the inverse of the one used for encoding and adding the predictor to the transformed block to obtain the reconstructed block. Reconstructing may further comprise, before the transforming step, inverse quantizing the residual block using a quantization parameter. As an example, each of the reference block is a block on which the same transform is applied, e.g. a TB.

At step S230, the transmitter filters with a deblocking filter along edges of the plurality of reference blocks reconstructed at step S120. To this aim, the deblocking filter may be the H. <NUM> deblocking filter defined in section <NUM>. <NUM> of the document entitled "High Efficiency Video Coding" published in April <NUM>. It will be appreciated, however, that the present principles also apply to a deblocking filter of the H. <NUM> type or more generally to any deblocking filter. A deblocking filter of the type of the H. <NUM> deblocking filter filters an edge based on quantization parameters associated with regions apart from the edge. Such a deblocking filter makes also use of a boundary strength parameter Bs. According to the present principles, the H. <NUM> deblocking may be adapted to also filter an edge of a reference block before it is used for prediction.

At step S240, the transmitter encodes the current block by intra prediction from the plurality of filtered reference blocks obtained at step S230. As an example, the current block is a block on which the same transform is applied, e.g. a TB. Encoding the current block comprises obtaining a residual block by subtracting a predictor from the block, transforming the residual block using a transform (inverse of the one used at decoder side) and encoding the transformed block into the stream. Coding may further comprise quantizing the transformed block using a quantization parameter.

All the variants and embodiments disclosed with respect to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> on the decoder side also apply to the encoder side.

The encoding, reconstruction, de-blocking interleaved process can be advantageously used in an encoder Rate Distortion Optimization (RDO) process that selects a set of coding parameters (coding tree, coding modes, PU partitions, prediction modes, transform tree, etc. ) associated with a given CTU. Indeed, during the coding tree decision process, the encoder can easily know the impact of the de-blocking filter onto the final distortion associated to the reconstructed signal. Therefore, the RDO process evaluates the distortion associated with each set of coding parameters more accurately and hence is improved.

To take benefit from the interleaved TB-based coding, reconstruction, de-blocking process, the Rate Distortion Optimization can be modified as follows. For each CTU to compress in the considered picture, the following steps are applied:
For each candidate coding tree for current CTU's quad-tree representation.

Then the rate distortion cost associated with each TU of a candidate transform tree is added to the RD cost of other TU according to a bottom-to-top RD competition scheme.

One sees that the de-blocking is now integrated inside the rate distortion optimization loop, which makes the Rate Distortion decision aware of how the de-blocking step impacts the final reconstruction blocks.

This makes the overall encoder side rate distortion optimization process more efficient.

The implementations described herein may be implemented in, for example, a method or a process, an apparatus, a software program, a data stream, or a signal. Even if only discussed in the context of a single form of implementation (for example, discussed only as a method or a device), the implementation of features discussed may also be implemented in other forms (for example a program). An apparatus may be implemented in, for example, appropriate hardware, software, and firmware. The methods may be implemented in, for example, an apparatus such as, for example, a processor, which refers to processing devices in general, including, for example, a computer, a microprocessor, an integrated circuit, or a programmable logic device. Processors also include communication devices, such as, for example, computers, cell phones, portable/personal digital assistants ("PDAs"), and other devices that facilitate communication of information between end-users.

Implementations of the various processes and features described herein may be embodied in a variety of different equipment or applications, particularly, for example, equipment or applications. Examples of such equipment include an encoder, a decoder, a post-processor processing output from a decoder, a pre-processor providing input to an encoder, a video coder, a video decoder, a video codec, a web server, a set-top box, a laptop, a personal computer, a cell phone, a PDA, and other communication devices. As should be clear, the equipment may be mobile and even installed in a mobile vehicle.

Additionally, the methods may be implemented by instructions being performed by a processor, and such instructions (and/or data values produced by an implementation) may be stored on a processor-readable medium such as, for example, an integrated circuit, a software carrier or other storage device such as, for example, a hard disk, a compact diskette ("CD"), an optical disc (such as, for example, a DVD, often referred to as a digital versatile disc or a digital video disc), a random access memory ("RAM"), or a read-only memory ("ROM"). The instructions may form an application program tangibly embodied on a processor-readable medium. Instructions may be, for example, in hardware, firmware, software, or a combination. Instructions may be found in, for example, an operating system, a separate application, or a combination of the two. A processor may be characterized, therefore, as, for example, both a device configured to carry out a process and a device that includes a processor-readable medium (such as a storage device) having instructions for carrying out a process. Further, a processor-readable medium may store, in addition to or in lieu of instructions, data values produced by an implementation.

Claim 1:
A decoding method comprising:
decoding a plurality of reference blocks (S120), wherein a single transform is applied to samples of each reference block of the plurality of reference blocks,
wherein each of the plurality of reference blocks is a transform block on which a same transform is applied, and wherein edges of the plurality of reference blocks are adjacent to a current block of a picture;
obtaining (S130) a plurality of filtered reference blocks by filtering with a deblocking filter along the top and left edges of each of the plurality of decoded reference blocks; and
decoding (S140) the current block by intra prediction from the plurality of filtered reference blocks, wherein the single transform is applied to samples of the current block.