Screen Content Video Quality Enhancement Based on Embedded Coding Information Receives RGC FDS Funding

We are delighted to announce that our latest project, “Screen Content Video Quality Enhancement Based on Embedded Coding Information” (UGC/FDS13/E02/26), has been funded by the Research Grants Council (RGC) under the Faculty Development Scheme (FDS) for the 2026/27 academic year. The project will run for 24 months and has received funding of HK$561,160.

Abstract

With the widespread adoption of remote work, online learning, and video conferencing, streaming computer screen content over the internet has become an important part of daily communication. To ensure smooth transmission over limited network bandwidth, these videos must be heavily compressed. In response, the Joint Video Experts Team (JVET) integrated enhanced Screen Content Coding (SCC) tools directly into the Versatile Video Coding (VVC/H.266) standard. However, this compression often leads to significant quality degradation, leaving text blurry, fine details distorted, and visual quality compromised. While various video restoration methods exist, they are generally too slow and computationally expensive for real-time applications.

This project addresses these limitations by developing a highly efficient and intelligent video enhancement framework specifically designed for screen content. By directly extracting and leveraging hidden coding information from the compressed stream, the proposed system can accurately restore sharp text and fine visual details without requiring massive computing power. Additionally, the framework is designed to be highly adaptive, automatically adjusting its enhancement workload based on the user’s device capabilities and real-time network conditions. Ultimately, this research will provide a practical, high-performance solution to deliver clearer and more reliable video quality, significantly improving user experience in areas such as digital collaboration and online education.