A Fast Inter Mode Selection Algorithm for H.264

The high encoding efficiency of H.264 comes from many new video encoding technologies such as adopting variable block size in the process of motion estimation and compensation. But this increases the complexity of H.264 encoder greatly. The high encoding complexity limits the application of H.264 in the domain of real time video encoding. In order to decrease the complexity of H.264 encoder greatly, this paper proposes a fast inter mode selection algorithm to speed up the H.264 encoder. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can reduce the complexity of the inter mode decision remarkably while incurring little, if any, loss in quality