Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for coding an image, comprising generating from the image a residual block having a plurality of residual values using a coding mode; selecting a scanning pattern for scanning the residual block depending on the coding mode; scanning the residual values according to the scanning pattern; and generating a residual value stream from the scanned residual values. The present invention is also directed to a method of initializing a scanning pattern for coding an image, the method comprising collecting information on a coding mode applied to a residual block having a plurality of residual values; and assigning a directional scan in response to the information to form the scanning pattern. Apparatus for coding an image and for initializing a scanning pattern for coding an image are also disclosed.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, a method for encoding video data, and a corresponding apparatus and computer program product. The method includes: applying one of a first transform and a second transform to at least one row of a pixel block, and applying one of the first transform and the second transform to at least one column of the pixel block, based on a prediction mode of the pixel block, to transform between residual pixel values of the pixel block and residual transform coefficients of the pixel block. The method also includes: encoding the residual transform coefficients of the pixel block to generate encoded video data.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an image encoding method is provided. The image encoding method may include a first partial encoding step, wherein first partially encoded image data is generated based on first input data after the first input data is available; a second partial encoding step, wherein second partially encoded image data is generated based on second input data after the second input data is available, before the first input data is available; and an encoded image data generating step, wherein encoded image data is generated based on the first partially encoded image data and the second partially encoded image data.

Abstract: A method for encoding a digital picture having a plurality of pixels is described, each pixel being associated with at least one of a plurality of groups of pixels comprising associating each group of pixels with a first coding mode; determining, for each group of pixels, a first encoding performance level according to its associated first coding mode; determining at least one group of pixels of the plurality of group of pixels such that the first encoding performance level of the at least one determined group of pixels fulfils a predetermined quality criterion; determining, for the determined group of pixels, a second encoding performance level according to a second coding mode; comparing the first performance level and the second performance level; associating the second coding mode with the determined group of pixels if the result of the comparison fulfils a predetermined association criterion; and encoding each group of pixels using its associated coding mode.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a method for estimating motion in a plurality of frames is provided, the method including determining a first set of motion vectors with respect to a first frame and a second frame, the second frame being in succession with the first frame along a time direction, determining a second set of motion vectors with respect to a predicted frame and the second frame, the predicted frame being in succession with the first frame along the time direction; wherein some motion vectors of the second set of motion vectors are interpolated from motion vectors of the first set of motion vectors; and determining a third set of motion vectors based on the first set of motion vectors and the second set of motion vectors.