Feature map encoding and decoding based on presence indicator

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to efficient signaling of feature map information for a system employing a neural network. In particular, at the decoder side, a presence indicator is obtained based on information parsed from a bitstream. Based on the value of the obtained presence indicator, further data related to a feature map region are parsed or the parsing is bypassed. The presence indicator may be, for instance, a region presence indicator indicating whether feature map data is included in the bitstream or may be a side information presence indicator indicating whether a side information related to the feature map data is included in the bitstream. Similarly, an encoding method, as well as encoding and decoding devices, are provided. Accordingly, feature map data may be processed more efficiently, by reducing decoding complexity, and the amount of transmitted data can be reduced by applying the bypassing.