Edge-Based Coding Tree Unit Partitioning Strategy in Inter Prediction

Abstract

The High Efficiency Video Coding standard increases in the range of [30, 40]% data compression ratio compared to H.264/MPEG-4 (AVC), but it requires bigger number of operations. HEVC uses a quadtree coding structure. The quadtree partitioning process is a high complexity operation since it employs an exhaustive process, called rate distortion optimisation, which involves all possible combinations of quadtree partitions. In this paper, a frame partitioning strategy is addressed using motion features. Motion features are edges extracted using Gaussian smoothing, the Sobel operators, and the Otsu's method. The strategy achieves CU partitions according to the amount of motion in content, and reduces the number of operations in the inter prediction mode.