Deblocking Filter Based on Edge-Preserving Algorithm And an Efficient VLSI Architecture

This paper presents a new edge-preserving algorithm and its VLSI architecture for block artifact reduction. Unlike previous approaches using block classification, our algorithm utilizes pixel classification to categorize each pixel into one of two classes, namely smooth region and edge region, which are described by the edge-preserving maps. Based on these maps, a two-step adaptive filter which includes offset filtering and edge-preserving filtering is used to remove block artifacts. A pipelined VLSI architecture of the proposed deblocking algorithm for HD video processing is also presented in this paper. A memory-reduced architecture for a block buffer is used to optimize memory usage. The architecture of the proposed deblocking filter is prototyped on FPGA Cyclone II, and then we estimated performance when the filter is synthesized on ANAM 0.25 CMOS cell library using Synopsys Design Compiler. Our experimental results show that our proposed algorithm effectively reduces block artifacts while preserving the details.