Selective prediction for intra-coding video data block

Abstract

In a method of video data compression a video frame in a sequence of frames is divided into a number of macroblocks, a particular macroblock being adjacent to a number of previously coded macroblocks including both intra-coded and inter-coded macroblocks. The method includes selecting either a full prediction or limited prediction type in encoding the particular macroblock to provide a corresponding data bit stream, full prediction using both adjacent inter-coded and intra-coded macroblocks, and limited prediction using intra-coded macroblocks only. A signal is provided along with the bit stream to indicate the selected prediction type to a decoder disposed to recover data from the bit stream. The prediction type may be either signaled explicitly, such as by providing a code word in the bit stream, or may be inferred implicitly by selected values or levels of a coding variable.

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