Fast coding algorithm based on adaptive coding depth range selection for HEVC

The JCT-VC is developing the next-generation video coding standard, called high efficiency video coding (HEVC). In HEVC, there are three units in a block structure. These units are a coding unit (CU), a prediction unit (PU), and a transform unit (TU). The CU is the basic unit for region splitting (like a macroblock). The CU performs recursive splitting into four blocks of equal size, starting from the treeblock. We use mode information of the current CU to avoid unnecessary CU splitting. To reduce the computational complexity, we propose a depth range selection mechanism (DRSM) using a selecting adaptive depth range. This depth range selection mechanism allows for effective splitting by only processing CUs that need this process. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm achieves an approximate 48% reduction in encoding time for Random Access HE, compared to the HEVC test model (HM) 6.0 encoder with a BD-bitrate loss of 1.2%.