Selective switch for parallel processing

A video encoding method, comprising:

• receiving raw pixel data to be encoded as a current block of a current picture of a video into a bitstream, the bitstream indicating that a merge estimate region (MER) for the current block is defined, and the MER for the current block encompassing the current block and a region neighboring the current block;
• determining whether the current block is coded by using intra block copy mode;
• identifying a list of one or more prediction candidates for the current block,
• wherein when the current block is not coded by using the intra block copy mode and the list of one or more prediction candidates belongs to a predefined subset of a plurality of different candidate lists, one or more spatial neighbors of the current block that are positioned in the MER for the current block are excluded from being used to derive the list of one or more prediction candidates, and
• wherein when the current block is coded by using the intra block copy mode, at least one prediction candidate in the list of one or more prediction candidates is derived from a spatial neighbor of the current block that is positioned in the MER for the current block;
• and
• encoding the current block by using a prediction candidate selected from the list of one or more prediction candidates to generate a prediction of the current block.

An electronic apparatus, comprising:

• a video decoder circuit configured to perform operations comprising:
• receiving data from a bitstream to be decoded as a current block of a current picture of a video, the bitstream indicating that a merge estimate region (MER) for the current block is defined, and the MER for the current block encompassing the current block and a region neighboring the current block;
• determining whether the current block is coded by using intra block copy mode;
• identifying a list of one or more prediction candidates for the current block,
• wherein when the current block is not coded by using the intra block copy mode and the list of one or more prediction candidates is derived from a predefined subset of a plurality of different candidate lists, one or more spatial neighbors of the current block that are positioned in the MER for the current block are excluded from being used to derive the list of one or more prediction candidates, and
• wherein when the current block is coded by using the intra block copy mode, at least one prediction candidate in the list of one or more prediction candidates is derived from a spatial neighbor of the current block that is positioned in the MER for the current block;
• and
• reconstructing the current block by using a prediction candidate selected from the list of one or more prediction candidates to generate a prediction of the current block.