Entropy-based intra-coding RDO estimation for HEVC

The neoteric H.265/HEVC video compression standard provides two times higher compression efficiency compared to the current industrial standard H.264/AVC. However the coding complexity increased. The main bottleneck of the encoder is rate-distortion optimization (RDO) estimation module as it involves numerous sequential syntax-based binary arithmetic coding (SBAC) loops. In this paper we present entropy-based RD estimation for HEVC intra compression. Our RDO implementation eliminates sequential block interdependencies and reduces RD estimation complexity. Our rate estimation algorithm provides the bit rate overhead between 0.6% to 6.0% on the reference HM encoder in All Intra Main configuration, while compression time reduction is 20%.