IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,563,211
Granted Patent B2
US 12,563,211 · App. 17/911,657 · Granted Feb 24, 2026

Video data encoding and decoding using a coded picture buffer whose size is defined by parameter data

Inventors: Stephen Mark Keating (Basingstoke, GB); Karl James Sharman (Basingstoke, GB); Adrian Richard Browne (Basingstoke, GB)
Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
H04N19/423H04N19/172
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,563,211
App. No.
17/911,657
Granted
Feb 24, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus includes a video data decoder and a coded picture buffer to buffer successive portions of an input video data and provide a portion to the video data decoder for decoding. The video data decoder is responsive to parameter data associated with the input video data. The parameter data indicates, for a given input video data, an encoding level selected from a plurality of encoding levels. Each level defines at least a maximum luminance picture size, a minimum compression ratio, and a maximum value of the coded picture buffer size. For each encoding level of the plurality of encoding levels, the maximum value of the coded picture buffer size is greater than or equal to the number of bits required to represent a picture at the maximum luminance picture size when encoded according to the minimum compression ratio.

Claims (42)

1 . An apparatus comprising:

circuitry configured as:

a video data decoder; and

a coded picture buffer to buffer successive portions of an input video data stream and to provide a portion to the video data decoder for decoding, the coded picture buffer having a coded picture buffer size, wherein

the video data decoder is responsive to parameter data associated with the input video data stream, the parameter data indicating, for a given input video data stream, an encoding level selected from all encoding levels specified in a coding specification, each encoding level of all of the encoding levels specified in the coding specification defining at least a maximum luminance picture size, a minimum compression ratio, and a maximum value of the coded picture buffer size,

for each encoding level of all of the encoding levels specified in the coding specification, the defined maximum value of the coded picture buffer size is greater than or equal to the number of bits required to represent a picture at the maximum luminance picture size when encoded according to the minimum compression ratio, and

for level 6, Main Tier, the defined maximum value of the coded picture buffer size is 80,000 bits.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the portion includes portions of data representing entire pictures.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein the apparatus is disposed within a video storage, capture, transmission, or reception system.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the encoding levels include at least levels from 1 to 6.2.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the encoding levels include level 6.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein for each encoding level of all of the encoding levels of the coding specification, the maximum value of the coded picture buffer size is greater than or equal to the number of bits required to represent a picture at the most challenging combination of coding conditions, which include the minimum compression ratio and maximum coded picture size.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the most challenging combination of conditions includes an 8K picture coded at the minimum compression ratio using the Main 10 profile or using the Main 4:4:4 10 profile.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein for at least two levels of all of the encoding levels specified in the coding specification, the defined maximum value of the coded picture buffer size is greater than a maximum bitrate for the corresponding level.

9 . A method comprising:

buffering input video data in a coded picture buffer to buffer successive portions of an input video data stream and to provide a portion for decoding, the coded picture buffer having a coded picture buffer size; and

decoding, by circuitry, a portion of the input video data stream in response parameter data associated with the input video data stream, the parameter data indicating, for a given input video data stream, an encoding level selected from all encoding levels specified in a coding specification, each encoding level of all of the encoding levels specified in the coding specification defining at least a maximum luminance picture size, a minimum compression ratio, and a maximum value of the coded picture buffer size, wherein

for each encoding level of all of the encoding levels specified in the coding specification, the defined maximum value of the coded picture buffer size is greater than or equal to the number of bits required to represent a picture at the maximum luminance picture size when encoded according to the minimum compression ratio, and

for level 6, Main Tier, the defined maximum value of the coded picture buffer size is 80,000 bits.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the coding specification is an ITU-T Versatile Video coding specification.

11 . A non-transitory storage medium comprising executable computer code components which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method of claim 9 .

12 . An apparatus comprising:

circuitry configured as:

a video data encoder; and

a coded picture buffer to buffer successive portions of a current output video data stream generated by the video data encoder, the coded picture buffer having a coded picture buffer size, wherein

the video data encoder is responsive to parameter data associated with the output video data stream, the parameter data indicating, for a given output video data stream, an encoding level selected from all encoding levels specified in a coding specification, each encoding level of all of the encoding levels specified in the coding specification defining at least a maximum luminance picture size, a minimum compression ratio, and a maximum value of the coded picture buffer size,

for each encoding level of all of the encoding levels specified in the coding specification, the defined maximum value of the coded picture buffer size is greater than or equal to the number of bits required to represent a picture at the maximum luminance picture size when encoded according to the minimum compression ratio, and

for level 6, Main Tier, the defined maximum value of the coded picture buffer size is 80,000 bits.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the portion includes portions of data representing entire pictures.

14 . The apparatus of claim 12 ,

wherein the apparatus is disposed within a video storage, capture, transmission, or reception system.

15 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the encoding levels include at least levels from 1 to 6.2.

16 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the encoding levels include level 6.

17 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein for each encoding level of all of the encoding levels of the coding specification, the maximum value of the coded picture buffer size is greater than or equal to the number of bits required to represent a picture at the most challenging combination of coding conditions, which include the minimum compression ratio and maximum coded picture size.

18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the most challenging combination of conditions includes an 8K picture coded at the minimum compression ratio using the Main 10 profile or using the Main 4:4:4 10 profile.

19 . A method comprising:

encoding, by circuitry, an input video data stream to generate an output encoded video data stream in response to parameter data associated with the output encoded video data stream, the parameter data indicating, for a given output encoded video data stream, an encoding level selected from all encoding levels specified in a coding specification, each encoding level of all of the encoding levels specified in the coding specification defining at least a maximum luminance picture size, a minimum compression ratio, and a maximum value of the coded picture buffer size; and

buffering the encoded output video data stream in a coded picture buffer configured to buffer successive portions of the output encoded video data stream generated by the encoding step, the coded picture buffer having the coded picture buffer size, wherein

for each encoding level of all of the encoding levels specified in the coding specification, the defined maximum value of the coded picture buffer size is greater than or equal to the number of bits required to represent a picture at the maximum luminance picture size when encoded according to the minimum compression ratio, and

for level 6, Main Tier, the defined maximum value of the coded picture buffer size is 80,000 bits.

20 . A non-transitory storage medium comprising executable computer code components which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method of claim 19 .

Assignments (6)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2022
From: KEATING, STEPHEN MARK
To: SONY EUROPE BV
Reel/Frame 061102/0430 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2022
From: SHARMAN, KARL JAMES
To: SONY EUROPE BV
Reel/Frame 061102/0453 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2022
From: BROWNE, ADRIAN RICHARD
To: CUNIO BROWNE SERVICES LIMITED
Reel/Frame 061102/0472 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2022
From: CUNIO BROWNE SERVICES LIMITED
To: SONY EUROPE BV
Reel/Frame 061102/0521 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2022
From: SONY EUROPE BV
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 061102/0536 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 15, 2022
From: SONY CORPORATION
To: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 061434/0635 →
Priority Claims (1)
GB 2004954 · Apr 3, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230179783A1 · Jun 8, 2023
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