A fast intra mode decision algorithm for AVS

The AVS video coding standard employs a robust Rate-Distortion Optimization (RDO) technique to improve compression performance. Although RDO technique can achieve better compression efficiency, it also increases tremendous computational complexity. In order to reduce complexity, this paper proposes a fast intra mode decision algorithm for AVS based on the ranking of Sum of Absolute Transformed Difference (SATD) cost. The proposed algorithm makes use of the high correlation among the most probable mode, the mode with the minimum SATD cost and the best mode in the Rate-Distortion sense, to filter out the useless modes. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can save the total encoding time significantly with negligible loss of Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio.