Low Complexity Scalable Video Coding

In this paper, we consider scalable video coding (SVC) which has higher complexity than H.264/AVC since it has spatial, temporal and quality scalability in addition to H.264/AVC functionality. Furthermore, inter-layer prediction and layered coding for spatial scalability make motion estimation and mode decision more complex. Therefore, we propose low complexity SVC schemes by using current developing SVC standard. It is archived by prediction method such as skip, direct, inter-layer MV prediction with fast mode and motion vector (MV) estimation at enhancement layer. In order to increase the performance of inter-layer MV prediction, combined MV interpolation is applied with adjustment of prediction direction. Additionally, fast mode and MV estimation are proposed from structural properties of motion-compensated temporal filtering (MCTF) to elaborate predicted macro block (MB) mode and MV. From the experimental results, proposed method has comparable performance to reference software model with significant lower complexity.