Fast algorithm based on sole- and multi-depth measurements for HEVC intra coding

In High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), intra coding plays an important role, but also involves huge computational complexity due to a flexible coding unit (CU) structure and a large number of prediction modes. This paper presents a fast algorithm based on the sole- and multi-depth measurements to reduce the complexity from CU and prediction mode decisions. For the CU decision, evaluation results with sole and multiple depths are utilized to judge if the CU is a heterogeneous, homogeneous, or depth prominent one, where fast CU decisions are made. For the prediction mode decision, the tendencies for different CU sizes are detected based on multiple depths. The number of searching modes is decreased adaptively for the depth with fewer tendencies. Experimental results show the proposed algorithm reduces 61.49% computational complexity, with 0.75% bit-rate increasing, which is more efficient than state-of-the-arts.