Apparatus and methods for implementing a real-time Versatile Video Coding (VVC) decoder use multiple threads to address the limitation with existing parallelization techniques and fully utilizes the available CPU computation resource without compromising on the coding efficiency. The proposed Multi-threaded (MT) framework uses CTU level parallel processing techniques without compromising on the memory bandwidth. Picture level parallel processing separates the sequence into temporal levels by considering the picture's referencing hierarchy. Embodiments are provided using various optimization techniques to achieve real-time VVC decoding on heterogenous platforms with multi-core CPUs, for those bitstreams generated using a VVC reference encoder with a default configuration.

Methods, systems, and devices are described for communicating data from multiple data terminals to an aggregator terminal over a communication link having changing link conditions. In some embodiments, source data is received at multiple data terminals, each in communication with an aggregator terminal over a communication link. For example, during a live newscast, one mobile camera may receive live video of an event from a first position while another mobile camera receives live video of the event from a second position. For various reasons (e.g., as the cameras move) each communication link may experience independently changing link conditions. Each data terminal encodes the source data (or store source data for later encoding) as a function of its respective link conditions and transmits encoded source data over its respective communication link to the aggregator terminal.

Methods, systems, and devices are described for communicating data from multiple data terminals to an aggregator terminal over a communication link having changing link conditions. In some embodiments, source data is received at multiple data terminals, each in communication with an aggregator terminal over a communication link. For example, during a live newscast, one mobile camera may receive live video of an event from a first position while another mobile camera receives live video of the event from a second position. For various reasons (e.g., as the cameras move) each communication link may experience independently changing link conditions. Each data terminal encodes the source data (or store source data for later encoding) as a function of its respective link conditions and transmits encoded source data over its respective communication link to the aggregator terminal.

A method of encoding an image into a coded image, the method comprising: writing a quantization offset parameter into the coded image, determining a prediction mode type for coding a block of image samples of the image into a coding unit of the coded image, determining a quantization parameter for the block of image samples, and determining if the prediction mode type is of a predetermined type, wherein if the prediction mode type is of the predetermined type, the method further comprises: modifying the determined quantization parameter using the quantization offset parameter, and performing a quantization process for the block of image samples using the modified quantization parameter, and wherein if the prediction mode type is not of the predetermined type, the method further comprises: performing a quantization process for the block of image samples using the determined quantization parameter.

A method of encoding an image into a coded image, the method comprising: writing a quantization offset parameter into the coded image, determining a prediction mode type for coding a block of image samples of the image into a coding unit of the coded image, determining a quantization parameter for the block of image samples, and determining if the prediction mode type is of a predetermined type, wherein if the prediction mode type is of the predetermined type, the method further comprises: modifying the determined quantization parameter using the quantization offset parameter, and performing a quantization process for the block of image samples using the modified quantization parameter, and wherein if the prediction mode type is not of the predetermined type, the method further comprises: performing a quantization process for the block of image samples using the determined quantization parameter.

An encoding method includes determining video format information, (i) setting each of all frames or all fields which are included in the video, as a picture, regardless of whether the video format is the interlace format or the progressive format, (ii) setting a POC indicating display order to each of all of the set pictures one by one, the POC being different each other, and encoding a picture to be encoded which is the frame or the field with reference to a picture previously encoded before encoding the picture to be encoded. In the encoding, the video is encoded with a syntax structure which is not dependent on the video format, the video format information is encoded in a header of a sequence which is a unit of the video, and the encoded bit stream is generated.

A method for image decoding, according to the present invention, includes the following steps: receiving image information including a plurality of filter coefficients; generating a restored block for a current block on the basis of the image information; and applying an adaptive loop filter to the restored block on the basis of the plurality of filter coefficients. According to the present invention, image encoding efficiency may be improved, and complexity may be reduced.

A method for image decoding, according to the present invention, includes the following steps: receiving image information including a plurality of filter coefficients; generating a restored block for a current block on the basis of the image information; and applying an adaptive loop filter to the restored block on the basis of the plurality of filter coefficients. According to the present invention, image encoding efficiency may be improved, and complexity may be reduced.

A decoder includes a memory and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry, in operation, changes values of pixels in a first block and a second block to filter a boundary therebetween, using clipping such that change amounts of the respective values are within respective clip widths. The clip widths for the pixels in the first block and the second block are selected based on block sizes of the first block and the second block. The pixels in the first block include a first pixel located at a first position, and the pixels in the second block include a second pixel located at a second position corresponding to the first position with respect to the boundary. The clip widths include a first clip width and a second clip width corresponding to the first pixel and the second pixel, respectively, and the first clip width is different from the second width.

A decoder includes a memory and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry, in operation, changes values of pixels in a first block and a second block to filter a boundary therebetween, using clipping such that change amounts of the respective values are within respective clip widths. The clip widths for the pixels in the first block and the second block are selected based on block sizes of the first block and the second block. The pixels in the first block include a first pixel located at a first position, and the pixels in the second block include a second pixel located at a second position corresponding to the first position with respect to the boundary. The clip widths include a first clip width and a second clip width corresponding to the first pixel and the second pixel, respectively, and the first clip width is different from the second width.