Patent ID: 8422546

Claim:
In a computing device that implements a video encoder, a method comprising, with the computing device, for each of plural blocks to be encoded using adaptive inter-picture compression: classifying the block according to content of the block, wherein the classifying the block includes: determining a block gradient for the block to be encoded using the adaptive inter-picture compression, including: downsampling luminance samples for the block; and determining a pixel gradient for each of plural pixels within the block, the pixel gradient being between one or more samples for the pixel and one or more corresponding samples for surrounding pixels, wherein the pixel gradient is quantified as a sum of differences between the samples for the pixel and the one or more corresponding samples for surrounding pixels, wherein the sum of differences is determined based upon both the luminance samples and chrominance samples for the block, and wherein the downsampling of the luminance samples is performed before the sum of differences is determined; and evaluating the block gradient to determine a block value; and adaptively encoding the block using adaptive inter-picture compression and depending at least in part upon the block classification, wherein the adaptive encoding includes using two or more of: adaptive median filtering depending at least in part on the block classification, selective dropping of a last non-zero transform coefficient depending at least in part on the block classification, adaptive dead zone re-sizing depending at least in part on the block classification, or quantization step size adjustment depending at least in part on the block classification.