Video encoding using variance for selecting an encoding mode

A method for encoding a video stream comprising:

• generating a first input variance based on pixel values from a first block from a first frame from an input video stream;
• generating a first encoded block by encoding the first block;
• generating a first reconstructed block by reconstructing the first encoded block;
• generating a first reconstruction variance based on pixel values of the first reconstructed block;
• comparing the first input variance and the first reconstruction variance to detect a visual artifact in the first reconstructed block;
• generating, by a processor in response to instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, a second encoded block by encoding a second block from a second frame from the input video stream, wherein encoding the second block includes selecting an encoding mode based on the detection of the visual artifact in the first reconstructed block, wherein the encoding mode is an intra-prediction mode or an inter-prediction mode;
• including the second encoded block in an output bitstream;
• and
• storing or transmitting the output bitstream.

A method for encoding a video stream comprising:

• generating a first input variance based on pixel values from a first block from a first frame from an input video stream;
• generating a first encoded block by encoding the first block;
• generating a first reconstructed block by reconstructing the first encoded block;
• generating a first reconstruction variance based on pixel values of the first reconstructed block;
• comparing the first input variance and the first reconstruction variance to detect a visual artifact in the first reconstructed block;
• generating, by a processor in response to instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, a second encoded block by encoding a second block from a second frame from the input video stream, wherein encoding the second block includes selecting an intra-prediction mode or an inter-prediction mode based on the detection of the visual artifact in the first reconstructed block;
• including the second encoded block in an output bitstream;
• and
• storing or transmitting the output bitstream.