Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a transformation coding apparatus for transforming an input video signal, including a signal which is representative of a boundary of an object. More particularly, the invention is directed to a transformation coding apparatus for transforming a block of data representative of an object and a boundary portion of that object, by selecting a transformation coefficient based on the quality of restoring a picture of an area including the boundary of the object. 
     Generally, transformation coding of a video signal is performed to reduce or compress the amount of data by eliminating redundancy. In such transformation coding operations, a picture frame is divided into blocks, each having a data size of N×N. The transformation coding is performed on each block, to thereby convert the video signal from the spatial domain to the frequency domain. According to this type of transformation coding, the energy of a signal (i.e., the value of the transformation coefficient) is chiefly concentrated in a lower frequency band. Typically, the transformation coding as described above, utilizes a discrete cosine transformation algorithm. In addition, transformation coding may be used for further compressing data by quantizing the transformation coefficients and variable-length-coding the quantized data. 
     The transformation coding technology performs transformation coding with respect to an N×N-sized rectangular block. However, it is inefficient to perform general transformation coding on a data block corresponding to a boundary of an object of a certain shape. Thus, when a boundary of an object is included in a particular block of data, different transformation coding methods for separately transforming the object and the other background area has been proposed. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram of a general encoding apparatus for encoding an input video signal. The encoding apparatus includes a video divider 11, which divides the input video signal into blocks of data each having a data size of N×N. The N×N data blocks are applied to a block controller 12 and a first switch 13. The block controller 12 determines whether each input data block includes a boundary of an object, and controls the first switch 13 according to the result of that determination. More specifically, the first switch 13 directs the N×N-sized data blocks from the video divider 11 to a first encoder 14 or a second encoder 15 under the control of the block controller 12, the operation of which is described in more detail below. If the input block does not include a portion of an object&#39;s boundary, the block controller 12 controls the first switch 13 to direct the input data block to the first encoder 14. On the other hand, if the input block is representative of an object&#39;s boundary, the block controller 12 controls the first switch 13 to direct the input block to the second encoder 15. The first encoder 14 encodes the video signal blocks according to a general transformation coding method. The second encoder 15 performs transformation coding for the blocks representative of a boundary of an object having a certain shape, as will be described below. 
     The general encoding apparatus further includes a second switch 16, which is selectively connected to the outputs of the first and second encoders 14 and 15. The second switch 16 also operates under the control of the block controller 12. More specifically, if the input data block does not correspond to a boundary of an object, as determined by the block controller 12, the block controller 12 controls the second switch 16 to select the output of the first encoder Otherwise, if the input block corresponds to a boundary of an object as determined by the block controller 12, the block controller 12 controls the second switch 16 to select the output of the second encoder 15. Thus, the second switch 16 outputs the transformation coded data with respect to each of the input data blocks. 
     FIG. 2A is a detailed block diagram of the second encoder 15 and FIG. 2B is an illustration explaining an area requiring transformation coding by the second encoder of FIG. 2A. 
     As described above, the second encoder 15 performs transformation coding for each data block corresponding to a boundary of an object. Referring to FIG. 2A, a transformer 21 performs a discrete-cosine-transformation (hereinafter abbreviated as DCT-transforms) on data blocks (Bi), each having a data size of N×N, which are received via the video divider 11 and switch 13. Each of the data blocks (Bi) correspond to a boundary of an object having a certain shape. The transformer 21 produces N×N transformation coefficients F1 which are supplied to a coefficient selector 22. The coefficient selector 22 selects M particular coefficients from the input N×N transformation coefficients F1 and sets the other transformation coefficients to zero. The coefficients Fs selected by the coefficient selector 22 are input to an inverse transformer 23. The inverse transformer 23 inversely transforms the coefficients Fs to restore the data block, which is called a restored data block Br. 
     The restored data block Br is then input to a repetition controller 25, which calculates a mean square error of the input block Bi and the restored Br, and compares the mean square error with a predetermined reference value. The repetition controller 25 calculates the mean square error only with respect to the area which includes the boundary of an object. For example, as shown in FIG. 2B, the area including the boundary of the object is designated by the character &#34;S&#34;. Therefore, the mean square error is calculated only with respect to the pixels within the &#34;S&#34; area. If the mean square error calculated by the repetition controller 25 is greater than a predetermined reference value, the repetition controller 25 replaces the pixel data of the area &#34;S&#34; (which includes the boundary of an object) in the restored block Br by pixel data in the corresponding area of the input block Bi, to form a reconstructed block Br&#39;, which is input to the transformer 21. The transformer 21 DCT-transforms the reconstructed blocks (Br&#39;) to produce N×N transformation coefficients, and outputs them to the coefficient selector 22. The coefficient selector 22 selects M particular coefficients. The coefficients selected by the coefficient selector 22 are inversely transformed by the inverse transformer 23 to produce a restored block Br. The repetition controller 25 calculates a mean square error of the input block Bi and the restored Br. The above steps are repeated until the mean square error is less than a predetermined reference value. When the mean square error is less than a predetermined reference value, the coefficients selected by the coefficient selector 22 are output to an encoder 24, which encodes the selected coefficients and outputs the encoded data. 
     In the general apparatus as described above, the coefficient selector 22 selects M coefficients in sequence of a larger value of energy among the N×N transformation coefficients, which minimizes the error in the entire area of the N×N-sized block. However, since a substantial portion of the N×N-sized block represents an area including the boundary of an object, the transformation coefficient selection method is inefficient. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To solve the above and other problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a transformation coding apparatus for transforming a data block corresponding to a boundary of an object. The transformation is performed by selecting coefficients based on the quality of the restored picture with respect to the area including the boundary of an object, as opposed to the quality of the restored picture with respect to all of the data blocks. 
     To accomplish the above and other objects of the present invention, there is provided a transformation coding apparatus for transforming a block corresponding to a boundary of an object. The transformation coding apparatus includes transformer means for transforming an input block and outputting transformation coefficients, transformation coefficient select means for selecting and outputting transformation coefficients using the transformation coefficients and the input block, inverse transformer means for inversely transforming the transformation coefficients selected by the transformation coefficient select means and outputting a restored block, encoding means for variable-length-coding the coefficients selected by the transformation coefficient select means, and a repetition controller for calculating a mean square error of the input block and the restored block, comparing the calculated mean square error with a predetermined reference value, and determining whether to continue coefficient selection. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a general encoding apparatus for encoding an input video signal. 
     FIG. 2A illustrates a block diagram of a conventional second encoder of the general encoding apparatus of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 2B is an illustration explaining an area requiring transformation coefficient selection in the second encoder of FIG. 2A. 
     FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a transformation coding apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a detailed block diagram of the transformation coefficient selector of FIG. 3. 
     FIG. 5 is a detailed block diagram of the pattern former of FIG. 4. 
     FIG. 6 is a detailed block diagram of the comparator of FIG. 4. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a transformation coding apparatus for transforming a block of data representative of an object having a certain shape and a portion of the boundary of that object. The transformation coding apparatus includes a transformer 31 for DCT-transforming an N×N-size data block Bi and outputting N×N transformation coefficients F1. A transformation coefficient selector 32 selects and outputs transformation coefficients using the transformation coefficients F1 and the data block Bi. An inverse transformer 33 inversely transforms the selected transformation coefficients Fs and outputs a restored data block to a repetition controller 35. An encoder 34 functions to perform variable-length-coding on the selected coefficients Fs. The repetition controller 35 calculates a mean square error of the input data block Bi and the restored data block Br, comparing the calculated result with a predetermined reference value, and outputting a control signal for completing the selection of coefficients in the transformation coefficient selector 32, if the calculated mean square error is less than the predetermined reference value. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a detailed block diagram of the transformation coefficient selector 32. The transformation coefficient selector 32 includes a block selector 41 for receiving the data block Bi, selecting the data block Bi or the error block, and outputting the selected block Bd. A pattern former 42 receives transformation coefficients of the data block Bi from the transformer 31, and forms and outputs pattern blocks Bp(n) with respect to the individual transformation coefficients. The pattern former 42 stores the pattern blocks and outputs pattern blocks Bp(k) corresponding to a select index. A comparator 43 selects a pattern block from among the pattern blocks Bp(n) which best-matches the block Bd selected by the block selector 41, and outputs the select index. A coefficient restoring portion 44 restores the transformation coefficient corresponding to the select index selected by the comparator 43. An error calculator 45 then calculates an error between the block Bd selected by the block selector 41 and the pattern block Bp(k) corresponding to the select index input from the pattern former 42, and produces an error block, which is output to the block selector 41. A completion controller 46 completes selection of the pattern block in the comparator 43 according to the control signal generated by the repetition controller 35. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, the pattern former 42 includes an inverse transformer 51 for performing an inverse transformation with respect to the input N×N transformation coefficients, forming N×N pattern blocks Bp(n), and outputting the pattern blocks Bp(n) to the comparator 43. A memory 52 is coupled to an output of the inverse transformer 51, and stores the pattern blocks Bp(n). A controller 53 outputs pattern blocks Bp(k) to the error calculator 45. The pattern blocks Bp(k) correspond to the select index, and are chosen from among all of the pattern blocks Bp(n) which are stored in the memory 52. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, the comparator 43 is composed of a mean square error calculator 61 for calculating a mean square error of the pattern block with respect to the respective coefficients of the block Bd and the N×N pattern blocks Bp(n), and a bit quantity variation calculator 62 for calculating the amount of variation of the bit quantity generated by additionally adding one coefficient to the bit quantity of the selected coefficients. The comparator also includes a selector 63 for selecting a pattern block of a coefficient which maximizes the ratio of the mean square error (calculated by the mean square error calculator 61) with respect to the amount of variation of the bit quantity, which is calculated by the bit quantity variation calculator 62 for the N×N pattern block. 
     The operation of the transformation apparatus for a block of data representing an object having a certain shape and a boundary portion of that object according to the present invention will now be described in detail. 
     The transformer 31 DCT-transforms the N×N-sized block Bi, which is received from the video divider 11, to produce the N×N transformation coefficients F1. The transformation coefficients F1 are input to the transformation coefficient selector 32. The transformation coefficient selector 22, in response to the input N×N transformation coefficients and the input block Bi, selects and outputs transformation coefficients Fs from among the N×N transformation coefficients. 
     The procedure for selecting a predetermined number of the transformation coefficients in the transformation coefficient selector 32 will be described with reference to the detailed block diagram of the transformation coefficient selector 32 shown in FIG. 4. 
     The block selector 41 selects and outputs an input block Bi received from the video divider 11 in the process of selecting a first transformation coefficient. The selector 41 then selects and outputs an error block between the pattern block Bp(k) (with respect to the transformation coefficient which has been selected in the previous process) and the input block Bi. 
     The pattern former 42 forms, outputs and stores pattern blocks Bp(n) with respect to the individual N×N transformation coefficients received from the transformer 31. In addition, if the select index k is input, the pattern blocks Bp(k) corresponding to the input select index k are output. The operation of the pattern former 42 will be described with reference to the detailed block diagram of the pattern former shown in FIG. 5. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, the inverse transformer 51 performs inverse transformation with respect to each of the input N×N transformation coefficients received from the transformer 31, and forms the N×N pattern blocks Bp(n). The pattern blocks Bp(n) are output to the comparator 43 and are also stored in the memory 52 of the pattern former 42. The memory 52 stores the pattern blocks Bp(n) output from the inverse transformer 51. The controller 53 receives the select index k and outputs pattern blocks Bp(k), which correspond to the select index, to the error calculator 45. 
     The comparator 43 selects a pattern block which best-matches the block Bd selected by the block selector 41 from among the pattern blocks Bp(n) received from the pattern former 42, and outputs the corresponding select index k. 
     The selection operation of the pattern block in the comparator 43 will be described with reference to the detailed block diagram of the comparator 31 shown in FIG. 6. The mean square error calculator 61 calculates a mean square error of the pattern block Bd received from the block selector 41 and the pattern blocks Bp(n) received from the pattern former with respect to all the pattern blocks which have not been selected until then, and outputs the result as ΔMSE(n) with respect to each pattern block. The bit quantity variation calculator 62 calculates and stores the bit quantity of the coefficients which have been selected until then, and calculates the amount of variation of the bit quantity generated according to any additional coefficient to output the calculated result as Δbit(n). The selector 63 receives the mean square error ΔMSE(n) and the amount of variation of the bit quantity Δbit(n), and selects a pattern block of a coefficient which maximizes a ratio ΔMSE(n)/Δbit(n) of the mean square error with respect to the amount of variation of the bit quantity, to thereby output the index k as a select index. That is, the selector 63 outputs the select index k which maximizes the ratio of the mean square error ΔMSE(k), which is decreased according to the added k-th coefficient, with respect to the amount Δbit(k) of variation of the bit quantity which is increased according to the added k-th coefficient among the N×N coefficients. 
     The coefficient restoring portion 44 receives the select index k selected by the comparator 43 and restores and outputs the transformation coefficient corresponding to the select index k. The output transformation coefficient is a select index output from the transformation coefficient selector 32. 
     The error calculator 45 calculates an error between the block Bd selected by the block selector 41 and the pattern block Bp(k) corresponding to the select index received from the pattern former 42, and produces an error block. The error block is then output to the block selector 41. 
     The completion controller 46 completes selection of the pattern block by the comparator 43 according to the control signal generated by the repetition controller 35. That is, the completion controller 46 completes the selection of the transformation coefficient by the transformation coefficient selector 32 if the mean square error between the restored block with respect to the selected transformation coefficients and the input block is less than the predetermined reference value. 
     Thus far, the operation of the transformation coefficient selector 32, which is an essential element of the transformation coding apparatus for a data block corresponding to a boundary of an object according to the present invention has been described. Referring back to FIG. 3, the inverse transformer 33 inversely transforms the transformation coefficients Fs selected by the transformation coefficient selector 32, and then produces the restored block Br. The encoder 34 variable-length-codes the transformation coefficients Fs selected by the transformation coefficient selector 32, and then outputs the encoded data. The repetition controller 35 calculates a mean square error between the transformation coefficient selector 32 and the restored block Br and then allows the transformation coefficient selector 32 to complete the selection of the transformation coefficient if the calculated mean square error is smaller than the reference value. 
     As described above, the transformation coding apparatus for a data block of an object having a certain shape and a boundary portion of the object, in accordance with the present invention, selects a coefficient which maximizes the ratio of the mean square error ΔMSE(k). The mean square error ΔMSE(k) is decreased according to the added select coefficient (k-th coefficient), with respect to the amount ΔMSE(k) of variation of the bit quantity, which is increased according to the added coefficient (k-th coefficient). As a result, the original quality of the picture is enhanced and the amount of data required for the picture is reduced. 
     While only certain embodiments of the invention have been specifically described herein, it will be apparent that numerous modifications may be made thereto without departing form the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 5