A fast block partition algorithm for HEVC

HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding), the next generation video coding standard being developed by JCT-VC (Joint Collaborative Team on Video Coding), can significantly improve the coding efficiency compared to H.264/AVC. HEVC adopts a highly flexible quadtree coding block partitioning structure, which includes Coding Unit (CU), Prediction Unit (PU) and Transform Unit (TU). The CU can be recursively split into four equally size blocks based on the content of an input picture. The quadtree structure increases the coding efficiency but also brings huge computational complexity. In this paper, a fast and efficient block partition algorithm has been proposed. It uses the distribution character of pixels to select the block mode, and uses a new cost function to select the intra mode. The experimental results show that the average saving time is 45.33% in AI-Main configuration, 35.07% in RA-Main configuration and 33.02% in LB-Main configuration.