Encoder, a decoder and corresponding methods for inter prediction using bidirectional optical flow

A bidirectional optical flowing prediction method includes obtaining an initial motion vector pair for a current block, obtaining a forward and a backward prediction block according to the forward motion vector and a backward prediction block according to the initial motion vector pair, and calculating gradient parameters for a current sample in the current block. The method further includes obtaining at least two sample optical flow parameters, including a first parameter and a second parameter, for the current sample based on the gradient parameters, obtaining block optical flow parameters based on sample optical flow parameters of samples in the current block, and obtaining a prediction value of the current block. One of the block optical flow parameters is obtained by multiplying the first parameter and a sign function of the second parameter, and the sign function is a piecewise function with at least three subintervals.