Generative Adversarial Network-Based Frame Extrapolation for Video Coding

Motion estimation and motion compensation are fundamental in video coding to remove the temporal redundancy between video frames. The current video coding schemes usually adopt block-based motion estimation and compensation using simple translational or affine motion models, which cannot efficiently characterize complex motions in natural video signal. In this paper, we propose a frame extrapolation method for motion estimation and compensation. Specifically, based on the several previous frames, our method directly extrapolates the current frame using a trained deep network model. The deep network we adopted is a redesigned Video Coding oriented LAplacian Pyramid of Generative Adversarial Networks (VC-LAPGAN). The extrapolated frame is then used as an additional reference frame. Experimental results show that the VC-LAPGAN is capable in estimating and compensating for complex motions, and extrapolating frames with high visual quality. Using the VC-LAPGAN, our method achieves on average 2.0% BD-rate reduction than High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) under low-delay P configuration.