Adaptive Loop Filtering for Video Coding

Adaptive loop filtering for video coding is to minimize the mean square error between original samples and decoded samples by using Wiener-based adaptive filter. The proposed ALF is located at the last processing stage for each picture and can be regarded as a tool to catch and fix artifacts from previous stages. The suitable filter coefficients are determined by the encoder and explicitly signaled to the decoder. In order to achieve better coding efficiency, especially for high resolution videos, local adaptation is used for luma signals by applying different filters to different regions or blocks in a picture. In addition to filter adaptation, filter on/off control at coding tree unit (CTU) level is also helpful for improving coding efficiency. Syntax-wise, filter coefficients are sent in a picture level header called adaptation parameter set, and filter on/off flags of CTUs are interleaved at CTU level in the slice data. This syntax design not only supports picture level optimization but also achieves a low encoding latency. Simulation results show that the ALF can achieve on average 7% bit rate reduction for 25 HD sequences. The run time increases are 1% and 10% for encoders and decoders, respectively, without special attention to optimization in C++ code.