Adaptive Loop Filtering (ALF) for Video Coding

A method for adaptive loop filtering of a reconstructed picture in a video decoder, wherein parameters of an adaptive loop filter comprise a plurality of coefficients and an offset, the method comprising:

• determining whether or not adaptive loop filtering with no offset is to be applied to the reconstructed picture;
• decoding filter parameters for an adaptive loop filter wherein a value of the offset is not included in the filter parameters when adaptive loop filtering with no offset is to be applied;
• and
• applying the adaptive loop filter to at least some pixels of a portion of the reconstructed picture using the decoded filter parameters, wherein a value of the offset is assumed to be zero.

An apparatus configured for adaptive loop filtering of a reconstructed picture in a video encoder, wherein parameters of an adaptive loop filter comprise a plurality of coefficients and an offset, the apparatus comprising:

• means for determining whether or not sample adaptive offset (SAO) filtering is applied to the reconstructed picture;
• means for using adaptive loop filtering with no offset for the reconstructed picture when the SAO filtering is determined to be applied to the reconstructed picture;
• and
• means for using adaptive loop filtering with a computed offset for the reconstructed picture when the SAO filtering is determined to not be applied.