VLC table prediction algorithm for CAVLC in H.264 using the characteristics of mode information

Abstract

The most recent H.264 video coding standard adopted context-based adaptive variable length coding (CAVLC) as the entropy coding tool. By combining adaptive variable length coding (VLC) with context modeling, we can achieve a better coding performance. However, CAVLC in H.264 has a problem that correctness of VLC table prediction is low. In this paper, we propose a new VLC table prediction algorithm using the correlation of coding mode between the current and neighboring blocks and the statistics of mode distribution in both intra and inter frames. Moreover, we can further increase correctness of VLC table prediction considering the structural characteristics of the mode information in inter frame. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm increases correctness of VLC table prediction by 10.07% and reduces the bit rate by 1.21% on average. © 2008 Springer.