Algorithmic optimizations for software-only MPEG-2 encoding

Till recently dedicated hardware has been required to perform real-time MPEG-2 video encoding. However, with increase in clock frequency and the introduction of video-specific instruction sets, general-purpose processors and DSPs can now approximate the function and performance of single-function hardware. In this paper, a software-only MPEG-2(MP@ML) video encoder implementation aimed at real-time operation on embedded platforms and general-purpose processors is described. The main contribution of this work is a set of algorithmic optimizations that significantly reduces the computational complexity of the encoding process while slightly degrading the subjective video quality compared to encoders that are more exhaustive.