Cross Segment Decoding for Improved Quality of Experience for Video Applications

In this paper, we present an improved algorithm for decoding live streamed or pre-encoded video bit streams with time-varying qualities. The algorithm extracts information available to the decoder from a high visual quality segment of the clip that has already been received and decoded, but was encoded independently from the current segment. The proposed decoder is capable of significantly improve the Quality of Experience of the user without incurring significant overhead to the storage and computational complexities of both the encoder and the decoder. We present simulation results using the HEVC reference encoder and standard test clips, and discuss areas of improvements to the algorithm and potential ways of incorporating the technique to a video streaming system or standards.