An Improved Zero-Block Mode Decision Algorithm for H.264/AVC

In the previous work, we presented a zero-block mode decision algorithm for H.264/AVC to reduce the computation time, based upon the number of zero blocks of 4times4 DCT coefficients between the current macroblock (MB) and the collocated macroblock. In this paper we extend the previous work and provide a more sophisticated algorithm, which uses an early zero-block detection method instead of DCT/Q computation, and incorporates adequate decision methods into semi-stationary and non-stationary regions of a video sequence. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can achieve up to 20% of time saving on average compared to the original zero-block mode decision algorithm, while maintaining a high coding performance.