Method and Device for Processing Pixels Contained in a Video Sequence

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This patent describes a method and device for enhancing the quality of video sequences by processing pixels based on their individual motion trajectories across multiple frames. The method dynamically builds motion paths for each pixel, following them through preceding or subsequent frames, and applies advanced filtering and noise reduction techniques based on how much the pixel's amplitude changes along its path and the motion consistency in surrounding areas. The approach can be integrated into video encoders, decoders, or in-loop filters (such as those used in H.264/AVC and similar compression standards) to improve visual quality and compression efficiency.

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• Video encoding and compression (e.g., MPEG, H.264/AVC, HEVC, AV1) for streaming services, storage, and broadcast.
• Real-time video communication (video conferencing, online gaming) requiring efficient video transmission with low artifacts.
• Video surveillance systems, where higher video quality at lower bandwidth is crucial.
• Professional video production and post-processing to minimize noise and visual artifacts without increasing data rate.
• Mobile device video processing, where bandwidth and storage are limited, but quality must remain high.
• Medical imaging or scientific visualization applying video compression with minimal loss of critical visual information.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Improves objective and subjective video quality by reducing compression artifacts and noise.
• Lowers required bit rate for a given visual quality, resulting in bandwidth and storage savings.
• Adapts filtering dynamically to each pixel’s motion characteristics and surrounding context, avoiding over-smoothing or artifact introduction.
• Can be integrated into existing video codec frameworks without significant computational or memory overhead.
• Provides more detailed and natural-looking video, even under challenging motion or scene change conditions.
• Compatible with various video formats and adaptable to different hardware or software video platforms.

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Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for processing the pixel amplitude of at least one image pixel contained in a current frame of a video sequence, said method comprising the steps of constructing an individual motion trajectory comprising motion-shifted versions of the at least one image pixel over a plurality of neighboring frames, and processing the pixel amplitude based on the individual motion trajectory; wherein said step of constructing said individual motion trajectory comprises the steps of: choosing the at least one image pixel of the current frame as a start pixel of the individual motion trajectory, and adding motion-shifted versions of the at least one image pixel of preceding and/or subsequent frames to the individual motion trajectory, wherein for each motion-shifted version to be added, it is determined whether a difference value, which indicates the change of the pixel amplitude of the respective motion-shifted version between consecutive frames, is smaller than an amplitude threshold value, which is individually assigned to the current frame or a frame portion of the current frame comprising said at least one image pixel, and wherein said step of adding further motion-shifted versions is stopped if said difference value exceeds said amplitude threshold value.