Predictive interpolation of a video signal
A method of enhancing picture quality of a video signal is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of generating a interpolated base frame image; receiving a first previously decoded difference picture; receiving a second previously decoded difference picture; generating a combined motion compensated difference surface; and generating a temporally interpolated enhanced picture based upon the interpolated base frame image and the combined motion compensated difference surface. A circuit for enhancing picture quality of a video signal is also disclosed. The circuit comprising a base decoder generating a base image of a standard definition picture; a temporal predictive interpolator coupled to the base decoder and generating an interpolated block; and a summing circuit coupled to the temporal predictive interpolated. The summing circuit preferably adds the interpolated block and a difference block.
1. A method of enhancing picture quality of a video signal, said method comprising the steps of:
generating an interpolated base frame in accordance with a current base image;
retrieving a first previously decoded difference picture from a frame buffer;
generating a prediction surface from a motion compensation prediction utilizing said first previously decoded difference picture; and
generating a temporally interpolated enhanced picture based upon said interpolated base frame and said prediction surface.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of receiving enhancement data.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising a step of generating a difference picture based upon said enhancement data.
4. The method of claim 3 further comprising a step of adding said temporally interpolated enhanced picture to said difference picture.
5. The method of claim 4 further comprising a step of generating an enhanced picture.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of generating decoded images based upon received base images.
7. The method of claim 6 further comprising a step of applying a deblocking filter to reduce coding artifacts present in the base images.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of applying a deblocking filter comprises a step of applying a deblocking filter after said base images have been decoded.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of applying a deblocking filter comprises a step of suspending said deblocking filter when the picture quality of said base images is above a predetermined therehold.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprises a step of regulating said deblocking filter by base layer stream quantization parameters.
11. The method of claim 9 further comprising a step of applying a deblocking filter to said interpolated base layer image.
12. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of encoding data for enhancement layers only for selected blocks.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of generating a temporally interpolated enhanced picture further comprises a step of generating an enhanced picture based upon motion vectors of the base layer bitstream and measurements derived by the receive upon the base images and previously enhanced images.
14. A circuit for enhancing picture quality of a video signal, said circuit comprising:
a base decoder generating a base image of a standard definition picture;
a temporal predictive interpolator coupled to said base decoder and generating an interpolated base frame;
a combined motion compensated difference surface based upon a first previously processed picture and a second previously processed picture;
a first summing circuit coupled to receive said interpolated base frame and said combined motion compensated surface and to generate a temporally interpolated enhance picture; and
a second summing circuit adding said temporally interpolated enhanced picture and a difference block.
15. The circuit of claim 14 wherein said difference picture is based upon enhancement data.
16. The circuit of claim 15 wherein said enhancement data comprises a plurality of codebook numbers.
17. The circuit of claim 16 wherein said enhancement data comprises a first pointer to a first codebook and a second pointer to a second codebook.
18. The circuit of claim 17 further comprising an enhanced picture generated by said second summing circuit.