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A fast rate-distortion optimization algorithm for H.264/AVC codec

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Abstract

Rate-distortion optimization (RDO) selects the mode that achieves the highest coding performance at the minimum cost after all coding modes have been computed. Unfortunately, the extreme complexity of RDO operations can severely impact real-time applications. To save coding time, we propose intra-mode-ignored decision and early skip mode prediction procedures. The former is based on the inter-coding results, such that the intra-mode may be disregarded for predictive frame coding. In the latter, a simple criterion can determine whether skip mode should be employed before performing the intra- and inter-mode procedures. Experimental results show that these two methods can significantly reduce the encoding time, by an average approximately 24 and 15%, respectively. A hybrid of the two methods could save an additional 36%, while maintaining an optimum RD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Yunlin, Taiwan

    Shih-Chang Hsia

  2. National Kaohsiung First University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Wei-Chih Hsu & Shih-Ren Wu

Authors
  1. Shih-Chang Hsia
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  2. Wei-Chih Hsu
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  3. Shih-Ren Wu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shih-Chang Hsia.

Additional information

This work was supported by the National Science Council, Taiwan, under nsc96-2221-E-327-006-MY3-3.

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Hsia, SC., Hsu, WC. & Wu, SR. A fast rate-distortion optimization algorithm for H.264/AVC codec. SIViP 7, 939–949 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11760-011-0282-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11760-011-0282-0

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