{"schema_version":"1.0","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854259","patent":{"patent_number":"US-9854259","title":"Smoothing of difference reference picture","assignee":null,"inventors":[],"filing_date":"2013-07-03T00:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2017-12-26T00:00:00.000Z","cpc_codes":["H04N","H04N","H04N","H04N","H04N","H04N","H04N","H04N","H04N","H04N"],"num_claims":41,"abstract":"An apparatus for coding video information according to certain aspects includes a memory unit and a processor in communication with the memory unit. The memory unit stores difference video information associated with a difference video layer of pixel information derived from a difference between an enhancement layer and a corresponding base layer of the video information. The processor determines a value of a video unit based on a reference video unit or spatial neighboring video unit within the difference video layer and applies a smoothing filter to the reference video unit or spatial neighboring video unit."},"analysis":{"summary":"The Smoothing of Difference Reference Picture patent addresses the need for efficient video coding by intelligently smoothing differences between enhancement and base layers of video information. The core innovation lies in applying a smoothing filter to a reference video unit or spatial neighboring video unit within the difference video layer, thereby reducing data redundancy and improving compression. This approach solves the problem of inefficient video encoding, which often leads to high bandwidth requirements and reduced video quality, especially in scenarios with limited network capacity.\n\nThe technology utilizes a memory unit to store difference video information derived from the difference between an enhancement layer and a corresponding base layer. A processor then determines the value of a video unit based on a reference or spatial neighboring video unit within this difference layer. The key step involves applying a smoothing filter to the selected unit, reducing noise and redundancy in the video data. This results in a more compact and higher-quality video stream.\n\nThe business value of this patent lies in its potential to enhance video streaming services, improve video conferencing experiences, and optimize broadcast television transmissions. By reducing bandwidth requirements, the technology enables higher-resolution video to be delivered to users with lower bandwidth connections. It also reduces storage requirements for video content, benefiting content creators and distributors. The market opportunity is significant, given the ever-increasing demand for high-quality video content across various platforms and devices.\n\nThis innovation can be applied to a wide range of video coding standards and applications, including streaming services like Netflix and YouTube, video conferencing platforms like Zoom and Skype, and broadcast television systems. Its adaptability and potential for cost savings make it a valuable asset in the competitive video industry. The patent opens up avenues for further research and development, leading to even more efficient video coding algorithms and applications in areas such as object recognition and motion estimation.","layman_explanation":"The Smoothing of Difference Reference Picture patent addresses a common problem in the world of video: how to efficiently transmit high-quality video over limited bandwidth connections. Think of it like trying to squeeze a large amount of information through a narrow pipe. The larger the information, the harder it is to get through without losing some of it.\n\n**1. What Problem Does This Solve?**\n\nStreaming video services and video conferencing platforms constantly grapple with the challenge of delivering crisp, clear video to users, especially those with slower internet connections. Existing video compression techniques often fall short, resulting in either reduced video quality (blurry images, pixelation) or frequent buffering, both of which degrade the user experience. The core problem is that transmitting high-resolution video requires a lot of data, and traditional methods of compressing this data sometimes sacrifice too much quality or are simply not efficient enough for low-bandwidth environments.\n\n**2. How Does It Work?**\n\nImagine you have a drawing. The base layer is the basic outline, and the enhancement layer adds all the extra details that make it pop. The Smoothing of Difference Reference Picture focuses on the *difference* between these layers. Instead of trying to compress both layers separately, it looks at what's different and then *smooths* out some of those differences. Think of it like lightly erasing some of the very fine details that don't drastically change the overall image. By smoothing these differences, the amount of data needed to represent the video is reduced.\n\nIt's important to note that this smoothing isn't just randomly blurring the image. The patent describes a specific process where the smoothing is applied intelligently, focusing on areas where it will have the least impact on visual quality. This allows the video to be compressed more efficiently without making it look significantly worse.\n\n**3. Why Does This Matter?**\n\nThis technology matters because it directly impacts the quality of video that can be delivered to users. For streaming services, it means being able to offer higher resolution video to more people, even those with slower internet connections. For video conferencing, it means clearer video calls with less lag and fewer interruptions. From a business perspective, this translates to improved customer satisfaction, reduced infrastructure costs (less bandwidth needed), and a competitive advantage in the marketplace. If a streaming service can deliver a better viewing experience than its competitors, it's more likely to attract and retain subscribers.\n\n**4. What's Next?**\n\nThe technology described in this patent has the potential to be further refined and adapted for use in other areas of video processing. For example, it could be used to improve the performance of video analytics algorithms or to enhance the quality of video captured by surveillance cameras. As video continues to become an increasingly important part of our lives, innovations like this will play a crucial role in shaping the future of visual communication. The market adoption timeline will likely depend on how quickly video codec developers and streaming service providers integrate this technology into their existing systems. Investment implications include the potential for licensing revenue and the opportunity to develop new video-related products and services based on this technology.","technical_analysis":"The Smoothing of Difference Reference Picture patent introduces a technical solution for improving video compression efficiency by focusing on the difference between enhancement and base layers in video coding. The system architecture involves a memory unit for storing difference video information and a processor for applying a smoothing filter. The core technical concept revolves around reducing redundancy in the difference video layer, which represents the disparity between the enhancement and base layers.\n\nThe implementation details involve generating the difference video layer by subtracting the base layer from the enhancement layer. The processor then determines a value for a video unit based on either a reference video unit or a spatial neighboring video unit within the difference video layer. The smoothing filter is applied to this selected unit, reducing noise and high-frequency components that contribute to data redundancy. Various smoothing filter techniques can be used, such as Gaussian blurring, median filtering, or bilateral filtering, depending on the desired trade-off between compression and detail preservation.\n\nThe algorithm's specifics involve carefully selecting the filter parameters to optimize compression without significantly degrading video quality. The choice of filter and its parameters can be adaptive, based on the characteristics of the video content. Integration patterns involve incorporating this smoothing technique into existing video encoding pipelines, such as those used in H.264 or HEVC codecs.\n\nThe performance characteristics of this approach are primarily measured by the compression ratio achieved and the resulting video quality. The smoothing process reduces the amount of data required to encode the enhancement layer, leading to higher compression ratios. However, excessive smoothing can result in a loss of detail and reduced video quality. The code-level implications involve modifying the video encoding software to incorporate the smoothing filter and its associated processing steps. This may require changes to the motion estimation and compensation modules of the codec.\n\nOverall, the technical analysis reveals that this patent offers a practical and effective method for improving video compression efficiency. By intelligently smoothing the difference video layer, it reduces redundancy and enhances the performance of video coding systems.","business_analysis":"The Smoothing of Difference Reference Picture patent presents a significant business opportunity in the rapidly growing video industry. The core value proposition lies in its ability to enhance video compression efficiency, leading to reduced bandwidth requirements and improved video quality. This has direct implications for streaming services, video conferencing platforms, and broadcast television providers.\n\nThe market opportunity size is substantial, given the increasing demand for high-quality video content across various platforms and devices. The competitive advantages of this technology stem from its ability to deliver superior video quality at lower bandwidth costs. This can translate into increased customer satisfaction, reduced infrastructure costs, and expanded market reach.\n\nThe revenue potential of this patent can be realized through various business models. Licensing the technology to video codec developers and streaming service providers is one option. Another approach is to integrate the technology into proprietary video encoding solutions and offer them as a service. The strategic positioning of this technology is to become a key enabler of high-quality video delivery in bandwidth-constrained environments.\n\nROI projections indicate that this technology can generate significant returns on investment. By reducing bandwidth costs and improving video quality, it can help streaming services attract and retain more subscribers. It can also enable the delivery of higher-resolution video to mobile devices, expanding the market for premium video content.\n\nThe business implications of this patent are far-reaching. It has the potential to disrupt the video encoding market by offering a more efficient and cost-effective solution. It can also accelerate the adoption of 4K and 8K video by making it more accessible to users with limited bandwidth. The patent represents a valuable asset for companies seeking to capitalize on the growing demand for high-quality video content.","faqs":null,"topics":["video compression",""],"tech_cluster":null},"seo":{"title":"Smoothing of Difference Reference Picture: Efficient Video Compression","description":"Discover how Smoothing of Difference Reference Picture enhances video compression by intelligently smoothing video layers. Full patent analysis and technical details.","keywords":["video compression",""]},"attribution":{"source":"Patentable","source_url":"https://patentable.app","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854259","license":"CC-BY-4.0-like","license_terms":"AI-generated analysis on this page (summary, layman_explanation, technical_analysis, business_analysis, faqs) may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL above. Patent abstracts, claims, and bibliographic data are USPTO public domain.","required_link":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854259","citation_suggestion":"Patentable. \"Smoothing of difference reference picture\" (US-9854259). https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854259","copyright_holder":"Nomic Interactive Technology LLC"},"links":{"html":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854259","json":"https://patentable.app/api/llm-context/US-9854259","site":"https://patentable.app","llms_txt":"https://patentable.app/llms.txt"},"generated_at":"2026-05-30T06:34:34.647Z"}