Data processing apparatus and method for performing a transform between spatial and frequency domains when processing video data

Abstract

A data processing apparatus and method are provided for performing a transform between spatial and frequency domains when processing video data. The data processing apparatus comprises transform circuitry configured to receive N input values and to perform a sequence of operations to generate N output values representing the transform of the N input values between the spatial and frequency domains. In doing this, the transform circuitry employs a base circuitry that is configured to receive M internal input values generated by the transform circuitry, where M is greater than or equal to 4, and to perform a base operation equivalent to matrix multiplication of the M internal input values by a Hankel matrix, which is a square matrix with constant skew diagonals, where each element of the array identifies a coefficient, performance of the base operation generating M internal output values for returning to the transform circuitry. The transform circuitry is arranged during performance of the sequence of operations to generate from the N input values multiple sets of the M internal input values, to provide each set of M internal input values to the base circuitry in order to cause multiple sets of the M internal output values to be produced, and to derive the N output values from the multiple sets of M internal output values. It has been found that such an approach is scalable to accommodate varying sizes of N, results in a significant reduction in the number of multiplications required in order to perform the transform between the spatial and frequency domains of the N input values, and produces a bit exact result.