Alternative block orders for better prediction

A method for improving coding efficiency in a video signal encoding protocol, said method comprising:

• dividing a video signal into a plurality of macroblocks to be encoded, each macroblock containing a plurality of blocks therein;
• selecting a block scanning order for each of the macroblocks to be encoded, wherein the selected block scanning order is top to bottom for each block and left to right for each column of blocks for two rows of blocks, then left to right for each block and top to bottom for each row of blocks for another two rows of blocks;
• and
• encoding the plurality of macroblocks in accordance with the selected block scanning order.

A method for improving coding efficiency in a video signal encoding protocol, said method comprising:

• dividing a video signal into a plurality of macroblocks to be encoded, each macroblock containing a plurality of blocks therein;
• selecting a block scanning order for each of the macroblocks to be encoded, wherein the selected block scanning order is left to right for each block and top to bottom for each row of blocks for two columns of blocks, then top to bottom for each block and left to right for each column of blocks for another two columns of blocks;
• and
• encoding the plurality of macroblocks in accordance with the selected block scanning order.

A system for encoding a video signal, comprising:

• a block converter for dividing the video signal into a plurality of macroblocks to be encoded, each macroblock containing a plurality of blocks therein;
• a block scanner for selecting a block scanning order for the blocks within each of the macroblocks to be encoded, wherein the selected block scanning order maximizes the prediction utility of previously encoded macroblocks, said block scanner including:
• means for selecting as the next block in the scanning order, a candidate block which has a previously encoded macroblock directly above the candidate block;
• means for selecting as the next block in the scanning order, a candidate block which has a previously encoded macroblock directly to the left of the candidate block if a previously encoded macroblock is not directly above any of the candidate blocks;
• and
• means for selecting as the next block in the scanning order, a candidate block that maximizes the prediction utility of previously encoded blocks in the macroblock currently being encoded if a previously encoded macroblock is neither directly above nor directly to the left of any of the candidate blocks;
• and
• an encoder for encoding the plurality of blocks within each of the macroblocks in accordance with the selected block scanning order.

A system for encoding a video signal, comprising:

• a block converter for dividing the video signal into a plurality of macroblocks to be encoded, each macroblock containing a plurality of blocks therein;
• a block scanner for selecting a block scanning order for each of the macroblocks to be encoded, wherein the selected block scanning order is top to bottom for each block and left to right for each column of blocks for two rows of blocks, then left to right for each block and top to bottom for each row of blocks for another two rows of blocks;
• and
• an encoder for encoding the plurality of macroblocks in accordance with the selected block scanning order.

A system for encoding a video signal, comprising:

• a block converter for dividing the video signal into a plurality of macroblocks to be encoded, each macroblock containing a plurality of blocks therein;
• a block scanner for selecting a block scanning order for each of the macroblocks to be encoded, wherein the selected block scanning order is left to right for each block and top to bottom for each row of blocks for two columns of blocks, then top to bottom for each block and left to right for each column of blocks for another two columns of blocks;
• and
• an encoder for encoding the plurality of macroblocks in accordance with the selected block scanning order.