On the methods and performances of rational downsizing video transcoding

Video transcoding is a popular technique for adapting the bit-rate or spatial/temporal resolution of a precoded video to suit better the constraints and requirements of different transmission networks and receiving devices. To minimize computational complexity, many fast methods have been proposed to obtain the motion vectors required for transcoding a precoded video through reducing its frame size by an integral factor. In this paper, we extend the existing work by developing and comparing several fast methods of downsizing precoded videos by a rational factor. Methods that outperform others under different conditions or with different computational requirements are identified, and an application scenario that can benefit from the proposed rational downsizing video transcoding is presented. An efficient scheme is also proposed to select the proper reduced frame size for sustaining the best possible video quality at a specified lower bit-rate. The superiority of the proposed transcoding approach in comparison with the existing integral downsizing video transcoding or cascaded video re-encoding methods is evident from the experimental results shown in this paper.

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