Picture encoding using same-picture reference for pixel reconstruction

1. A method for encoding a digital picture, comprising:

a) padding all un-decoded pixels within a currently processing digital picture with temporary pixel values to produce a padded picture;

b) adding the padded picture to a list of reference pictures stored in a buffer;

c) searching one or more of the reference pictures for a matching section for use as a reference in pixel reconstruction of a section of the digital picture independent of whether the digital picture is intra-coded or inter-coded; and

d) using the matching section to perform pixel prediction on the section to generate a motion vector and one or more residual pixels for the section, wherein motion compensation is performed on any digital picture independent of whether a particular digital picture is intra-coded or inter-coded.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein d) includes determining an offset between the matching section and the section in the current picture and constructing the motion vector from the offset.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising performing motion compensation on a section of the current picture using the padded picture, the motion vector, and a reference picture from the list of reference pictures independent of whether the digital picture is to be intra-coded or inter-coded.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein performing motion compensation includes generating one or more predicted pixels for the section using the motion vector and one or more reference pixels from the reference picture and combining the predicted pixels with the residual pixels to produce decoded pixels for the section and inserting the decoded pixels into the reference picture.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the reference picture is the padded picture.

6. An apparatus for encoding a digital picture, comprising:

a processor;

a memory; and

computer coded instructions embodied in the memory and executable by the processor, wherein the computer coded instructions are configured to implement a method for encoding a digital picture upon execution by the processor, the method comprising:

a) padding all un-decoded pixels within a digital picture currently being decoded with temporary pixel values to produce a padded picture;

b) adding the padded picture to a list of reference pictures stored in a buffer;

c) searching one or more of the reference pictures including the padded picture for a matching section for use as a reference in pixel reconstruction of a section of the picture independent of whether the digital picture is intra-coded or inter-coded; and

d) using the matching section to perform pixel prediction on the section to generate a motion vector and one or more residual pixels for the section, wherein motion compensation is performed on any digital picture independent of whether a particular digital picture is intra-coded or inter-coded.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein d) includes determining an offset between the matching section and the section in the current picture and constructing the motion vector from the offset.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises performing motion compensation on a section of the current picture using the padded picture, the motion vector, and a reference picture from the list of reference pictures independent of whether the digital picture is to be intra-coded or inter-coded.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein performing motion compensation includes generating one or more predicted pixels for the section using the motion vector and one or more reference pixels from the reference picture and combining the predicted pixels with the residual pixels to produce decoded pixels for the section and inserting the decoded pixels into the reference picture.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the reference picture is the padded picture.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having embodied therein coded instructions executable by a computer processor, the computer coded instructions being configured to implement a method for encoding a digital picture upon execution by the processor, the method comprising:

a) padding all un-decoded pixels within a digital picture currently being decoded with temporary pixel values to produce a padded picture;

b) adding the padded picture to a list of reference pictures stored in a buffer;

c) searching one or more of the reference pictures including the padded picture for a matching section for use as a reference in pixel reconstruction of a section of the picture independent of whether the digital picture is intra-coded or inter-coded; and

d) using the matching section to perform pixel prediction on the section to generate a motion vector and one or more residual pixels for the section, wherein motion compensation is performed on any digital picture independent of whether a particular digital picture is intra-coded or inter-coded.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 wherein d) includes determining an offset between the matching section and the section in the current picture and constructing the motion vector from the offset.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises performing motion compensation on a section of the current picture using the padded picture, the motion vector, and a reference picture from the list of reference pictures independent of whether the digital picture is to be intra-coded or inter-coded.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein performing motion compensation includes generating one or more predicted pixels for the section using the motion vector and one or more reference pixels from the reference picture and combining the predicted pixels with the residual pixels to produce decoded pixels for the section and inserting the decoded pixels into the reference picture.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein the reference picture is the padded picture.