Efficient rate control techniques for video encoding

A method of providing rate control for video encoding comprising:

• calculating thresholds for un-quantized coefficients of a video block wherein the thresholds identify when quantized coefficients become non-zero for different quantization parameters (QP's);
• and
• generating a ρ-QP look-up table (LUT) mapping numbers of non-zero coefficients after quantization (ρ's) to the QP's using the thresholds.

An apparatus comprising:

• means for calculating thresholds for un-quantized coefficients of a video block wherein the thresholds identify when quantized coefficients become non-zero for different quantization parameters (QP's);
• and
• means for generating a ρ-QP look-up table (LUT) mapping numbers of non-zero coefficients after quantization (ρ's) to the QP's using the thresholds.

A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable code for causing a computer to provide rate control for video encoding comprising:

• code for casuing a computer to calculate thresholds for un-quantized coefficients of a video block wherein the thresholds identify when quantized coefficients become non-zero for different quantization parameters (QP's);
• and
• code for casuing a computer to generate a ρ-QP look-up table (LUT) mapping numbers of non-zero coefficients after quantization (ρ's) to the QP's using the thresholds.