Method and system of video coding with a multi-pass prediction mode decision pipeline

A computer-implemented method of video decoding comprising:

• obtaining a plurality of compressed frames of a video sequence to decode and having individual frames divided into blocks of pixel data;
• and
• obtaining prediction data comprising a prediction mode of a current block of one of the frames, the prediction mode being selected at an encoder, at least in part, by:
• performing multiple prediction passes for an individual current block comprising forming a prediction mode decision at each pass of the multiple prediction passes, wherein one of the prediction mode decisions is a final prediction mode decision.

A computer-implemented system comprising:

• at least one display;
• at least one memory to store frames of a video sequence wherein individual frames have image data with pixels divided into blocks;
• at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one of the memory and display, and arranged to operate by:
• generating a best prediction mode decision of individual current blocks of one of the frames comprising:
• performing multiple prediction passes for an individual current block comprising forming a prediction mode decision at each pass of the multiple prediction passes, wherein one of the prediction mode decisions is a final prediction mode decision.

At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that when executed cause a computing device to operate by:

• obtaining a plurality of frames of a video sequence to encode wherein individual frames are divided into blocks of pixel data;
• and
• generating a best prediction mode decision of individual current blocks of one of the frames comprising:
• performing multiple prediction passes for an individual current block comprising forming a prediction mode decision at each pass of the multiple prediction passes, wherein one of the prediction mode decisions is a final prediction mode decision.