Fast Intra-Inter Macro-Block Mode Decision in Video Encoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video coding techniques face high computational complexity in selecting the most efficient prediction mode for macro-blocks, particularly in evaluating rate-distortion costs for intra and inter macro-block modes, which is inefficient for real-time processing on devices with limited resources.
Innovation Solution
A method for fast video encoding that estimates rate-distortion costs across multiple predictors, allowing for early termination of calculations exceeding a threshold based on statistical information, thereby reducing computational complexity and increasing encoding speed by selecting the predictive mode with the minimum cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If exhaustive rate-distortion optimization is performed for all prediction modes, then compression performance is improved, but computational complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the prediction mode evaluation into two distinct stages: a fast evaluation stage that computes a simplified cost metric for all candidate modes, and a refined evaluation stage that performs full rate-distortion optimization only on the subset of modes identified as promising in the first stage. This segmentation allows the system to achieve near-exhaustive optimization performance while dramatically reducing overall computational complexity by avoiding redundant calculations on clearly suboptimal modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by performing complete rate-distortion optimization on only a subset of prediction modes rather than all modes. The fast evaluation stage identifies the most promising candidates, and the refined optimization is applied partially to these selected modes. This approach achieves sufficient compression performance without the excessive computational cost of exhaustive optimization across all possible prediction modes.
2Manufacturing precision
If all prediction modes are evaluated to ensure optimal compression, then encoding accuracy is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by conducting a fast evaluation of all prediction modes using a simplified cost metric before committing to full rate-distortion optimization. This preliminary stage identifies the most promising prediction modes in advance, allowing the system to focus computational resources on refining only those candidates. As a result, encoding accuracy is maintained for the selected modes while processing time is reduced by avoiding exhaustive optimization of all modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the skipping principle by rapidly evaluating prediction modes that are unlikely to be optimal using a fast cost metric, and skipping the time-consuming full rate-distortion optimization for these modes. The system rushes through the evaluation of clearly suboptimal modes while performing detailed optimization only on promising candidates, thereby maintaining encoding accuracy for the best modes while significantly reducing overall processing time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple prediction modes are supported to adapt to different image characteristics, then compression efficiency is improved, but algorithm complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the evaluation process adaptive based on the characteristics of the current macroblock. The fast evaluation stage dynamically identifies which prediction modes are promising for the specific image content, and the refined optimization is dynamically applied only to those modes. This dynamic approach maintains high compression efficiency by adapting to different image characteristics while reducing algorithmic complexity by avoiding static exhaustive evaluation of all modes regardless of content.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by tailoring the evaluation depth to the specific characteristics of each prediction mode candidate. Rather than applying uniform exhaustive optimization to all modes, the system performs detailed refined optimization locally only on modes that show promise in the fast evaluation stage, while using simplified evaluation for other modes. This local quality approach maintains compression efficiency for the best modes while reducing overall algorithmic complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A fast video encoder (100) and method (500) for selecting (809) Inter macro-block mode or intra macro-block mode is provided. The method can include estimating (502) a rate-distortion cost (801) of a plurality of predictors (203) for coding a video (201), selecting (504) a predictive coding mode for the video based on a minimization of the rate-distortion cost, and coding (505) the image using a predictive mode associated with the minimum rate-distortion cost. The rate-distortion cost can be estimated across Intra macro-block modes and Inter macro-block modes for reducing a computational complexity. Rate-Distortion costs can be terminated early (524) based on statistical information (522) across a plurality of predictors for increasing an encoding speed. A fast estimation of the rate-distortion cost associated with the Intra macro-block mode for making inter/intra macro-block mode decision in a video coding system by exploiting the coding statistics across prediction modes is presented.