Fast Zero Block Detection and Early CU Termination for HEVC Video Coding

Abstract

This paper proposed a fast zero block detection for various transform size from 32x32 to 4x4 in the new generation of the High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard. The derivation is based on sum-of-absolute-difference (SAD) value available in the inter prediction computation. The proposed method achieves detection accuracy to 90% in average, and saves transform unit computation by 44% (QP at 22) and 65% (QP at 32) with negligible coding performance loss, when compared with that of HM4.0rc1. Additionally, this pre-skip detection could further help decide the CU inter mode efficiently with about 50% time saving.