Adaptive search range scaling for B pictures coding

Abstract

This paper presents a frame-level adaptive search range scaling strategy for B pictures coding for H.264/AVC from the hardware-oriented viewpoint. After studying the relationship between search range of P and B picture, a simple search range scaling strategy is proposed at first, which is efficient for normal or low motion video. After that, this strategy is extended to high motion video by using the information of intra prediction and motion vector of each P picture to restrict the search range of adjacent B pictures. This adaptive search range scaling strategy can not only reduce approximate 60% search area of B pictures, but also keep almost the same coding performance as the reference software. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2006.