Abstract: There is provided a method of improving latency in a Rate Distortion Optimization apparatus, comprising re-ordering processing of a sequence of 4×4 blocks of pixels received for processing by the Rate Distortion Optimization apparatus, the received order of the 4×4 blocks of pixels corresponding to the location of the 4×4 blocks of pixels within a macroblock, and processing the re-ordered sequence of 4×4 blocks in the Rate Distortion Optimization apparatus, where the re-ordering of the processing of the 4×4 blocks of pixels comprises interleaving the processing of two upper 4×4 blocks of pixels of a current 8×8 block with the processing of two lower 4×4 blocks of pixels of a previous 8×8 block.

Abstract: There is provided an improved latency rate distortion optimization apparatus comprising a forward quantize unit (1200) for processing input coefficients (Wij), an inverse quantize unit (1300) coupled to the forward quantize unit (1200), and at least one look-up-table (150) of quantize values for use by the forward (1200) and inverse (1300) quantize units, wherein the at least one look-up-table (150) of quantize values further includes any one or more of the following modified quantize multiplication factors: negative forward quantize multiplication factors (?MF); pre-shifted forward quantize multiplication factors (MFps); negative pre-shifted forward quantize multiplication factors (?MFps); negative inverse quantize multiplication factors (?V); pre-shifted inverse quantize multiplication factors (Vps); or negative pre-shifted inverse quantize multiplication factors (?Vps), and the forward quantize unit (1200) is arranged to operate on the input coefficients (Wij) using one of the modified forward quantize mul

Abstract: There is provided a method of Motion Estimation in digital video, comprising carrying out an initial search to determine an initial search best candidate motion vector for a source macroblock, carrying out a main search to determine a main search best candidate motion vector for a source macroblock, carrying out a prediction search, centred on the best candidate from the initial search, to determine a prediction search best candidate motion vector for a source macroblock, carrying out a first extended search, centred on the best result from the initial, main and prediction searches, to determine a first extended search best candidate motion vector for a source macroblock, carrying out a second extended search, centred on the best result from the initial, main, prediction and first extended searches, to determine a second extended search best candidate motion vector for a source macroblock, and providing the second extended search best candidate motion vector to a subsequent video encoding process.

Abstract: There is provided a method of improving latency in a Rate Distortion Optimisation apparatus, comprising re-ordering processing of a sequence of 4×4 blocks of pixels received for processing by the Rate Distortion Optimisation apparatus, the received order of the 4×4 blocks of pixels corresponding to the location of the 4×4 blocks of pixels within a macroblock, and processing the re-ordered sequence of 4×4 blocks in the Rate Distortion Optimisation apparatus, where the re-ordering of the processing of the 4×4 blocks of pixels comprises interleaving the processing of two upper 4×4 blocks of pixels of a current 8×8 block with the processing of two lower 4×4 blocks of pixels of a previous 8×8 block.

Abstract: There is provided an improved latency rate distortion optimisation apparatus comprising a forward quantiser unit (1200) for processing input coefficients (Wij), an inverse quantiser unit (1300) coupled to the forward quantiser unit (1200), and at least one look-up-table (150) of quantiser values for use by the forward (1200) and inverse (1300) quantiser units, wherein the at least one look-up-table (150) of quantiser values further includes any one or more of the following modified quantiser multiplication factors: negative forward quantiser multiplication factors (?MF); pre-shifted forward quantiser multiplication factors (MFps); negative pre-shifted forward quantiser multiplication factors (?MFps); negative inverse quantiser multiplication factors (?V); pre-shifted inverse quantiser multiplication factors (Vps); or negative pre-shifted inverse quantiser multiplication factors (?Vps), and the forward quantiser unit (1200) is arranged to operate on the input coefficients (Wij) using one of the modified forwar