Microsoft patents video compression tweak for reference lists
Microsoft describes a method for video encoders and decoders to save data by conditionally signaling changes to reference picture lists. The system checks specific thresholds to decide whether to explicitly send list modification details or infer them, reducing the amount of data needed in the video stream.
In the filing’s own words
Innovations in signaling of reference picture list (“RPL”) modification information. For example, a video encoder evaluates a condition that depends at least in part on a variable indicating a number of total reference pictures. Depending on the results of the evaluation, the encoder signals in a bitstream a flag that indicates whether an RPL is modified according to syntax elements explicitly signaled in the bitstream. A video decoder evaluates the condition and, depending on results of the evaluation, parses from a bitstream a flag that indicates whether an RPL is modified according to syntax elements explicitly signaled in the bitstream. The condition can be evaluated as part of processing for an RPL modification structure that includes the flag, or as part of processing for a slice header. The encoder and decoder can also evaluate other conditions that affect syntax elements for list entries of the RPL modification information.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for causing one or more processing units, when programmed thereby, to perform operations comprising: receiving encoded data in a bitstream; and decoding the encoded data to produce reconstructed video, wherein the decoding the encoded data includes: determining that a first condition is satisfied, wherein the first condition depends at least in part on a value of a reference picture list (“RPL”) variable exceeding a first threshold amount; responsive to the first condition being satisfied, parsing from the bitstream a flag that indicates whether additional RPL information is indicated in the bitstream; determining, based on the flag, that the additional RPL information is indicated in the bitstream; responsive to the determining that the additional RPL information is indicated in the bitstream, checking whether or not a second condition is satisfied, wherein the second condition depends at least in part on the value of the RPL variable exceeding a second threshold amount, the second threshold amount being greater than the first threshold amount; and determining a value of an index that indicates an entry in an RPL structure, including, if the second condition is satisfied, parsing from the bitstream the value of the index, but otherwise, the second condition not being satisfied, inferring the value of the index.
Facts
- Company
- Microsoft (Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC)
- Official title
- CONDITIONAL SIGNALLING OF REFERENCE PICTURE LIST MODIFICATION INFORMATION
- Publication number
- US20260323080A1
- Application number
- 19334424
- Filed
- Sep 19, 2025
- Published
- Oct 15, 2026
- Inventors
- 2
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H04N 19/58 Electricity & electronicsH04N 19/105 Electricity & electronicsH04N 19/109 Electricity & electronicsH04N 19/134 Electricity & electronicsH04N 19/46 Electricity & electronicsH04N 19/503 Electricity & electronicsMore from Microsoft in Chips & hardware
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.