Abstract: A depth map image, unlike a texture view, has smooth regions without complex texture and abrupt changes of pixel value at the object edges. While conventional Inter-prediction skip mode is very efficient for coding texture views, it does not include any Intra-prediction capability, which can be very efficient for coding smooth regions. The hybrid prediction skip mode according to the presently claimed invention includes an Inter-prediction Skip mode coupled with various Intra-prediction modes. The selection of the prediction mode is made by computing a Side Match Distortion (SMD) for the prediction modes. Because no additional overhead indicator bit is required and that the bitstream syntax is not altered, high coding efficiency is maintained and the coding scheme for coding depth maps in accordance to the presently disclosed invention can be implemented easily as an extension to existing standards.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing a fast and accurate video coding process are disclosed. After checking the coding history of certain coded video frame units of a video, the order of the inter prediction and the intra prediction is adaptively exchanged for each coding video frame unit of an inter frame. Furthermore, the computations for coding modes in the latter part of the computation order are selectively skipped so as to speed up the coding process without degrading the video quality.

Abstract: A digital video processing method implementable on an apparatus, comprising performing on a reconstructed digital video frame, by a processor, a transform 110, a quantization 121, a dequantization 122 and an inverse transform 123 to convert a digital video bitstream with hierarchical B frame structure into a digital video bitstream with a modified hierarchical B frame structure. Bidirectional frames are used as access points via synchronized independent frames to enable applications including single view access in multi-view coding videos and random accessing frames. Improved bitstream switching methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing a fast and accurate video coding process are disclosed. After checking the coding history of certain coded video frame units of a video, the order of the inter prediction and the intra prediction is adaptively exchanged for each coding video frame unit of an inter frame. Furthermore, the computations for coding modes in the latter part of the computation order are selectively skipped so as to speed up the coding process without degrading the video quality.