Homogeneity and distortion-based intra mode decision architecture for H.264/AVC

In order to achieve the best coding performance, the H.264/AVC encoder must choose the best coding mode and the best block size in terms of bit-rate and distortion. The H.264/AVC reference software applies the Rate-Distortion Optimization (RDO) technique, which makes the encoding process a complex task in applications which require real-time operation. This paper presents a fast intra decision process and its architecture, where the mode and the block size decisions are performed based on the block distortion and homogeneity. The performed tests show that the method achieves PSNR results similar to the RDO technique and a low bit-rate increase. On the other hand, the gains in terms of complexity are near to 148 times when compared to RDO method. Also, the implemented architecture is capable of processing 1080p videos in real time.