Method and apparatus for color index prediction

An apparatus for coding a current block of video data using palette coding for a video coding system, the apparatus comprising one or more electronic circuits configured to:

• receive input data associated with the current block:
• maintain a pattern relation table (PRT), which includes one or more entries, by performing at least:
• for each entry of the PRT, recording a search pattern and one or more corresponding predictors, wherein the search pattern is derived from value or values of K previous coded pixel or pixels, each of the one or more corresponding predictors corresponds to candidate pixel value or values of N following pixel or pixels associated with the K previous coded pixel or pixels, and K and N are integers equal to or greater than one;
• determine a current search pattern for a current pixel based on K pixel or pixels at K selected position or positions coded before the current pixel;
• search the PRT to identify one of the one or more entries which contains a search pattern identical to the current search pattern;
• set one of one or more predictors recorded in the PRT in association with the identified entry as a current predictor;
• and
• apply encoding or decoding to N pixel or pixels, including the current pixel and following the K pixel or pixels at the K selected position or positions coded before the current pixel, according to the current predictor.