Patent ID: 8774272

Claim:
A video data encoding method for encoding a plurality of inter video frames, each frame comprising a plurality of non-overlapping blocks, in a group of pictures; said method comprising: determining blocks eligible for mode-forcing in each of the plurality of inter video frames in the group of pictures; selecting a set of block encoding modes for the blocks eligible for mode-forcing, wherein a calculated or estimated rate cost of mode-forcing is within a pre-determined budget for the eligible blocks, wherein the rate cost is determined from a mode forcing fraction for bit processing applied to a prior frame of mode-forced blocks; controlling the set of block encoding modes within a video encoder for the blocks eligible for mode-forcing according to a frame position in the group of pictures, independent of content within the blocks, wherein a fraction of blocks within each frame is forced to a forward inter-encoded frame content, such that the fraction of forward inter-encoded blocks within each frame decreases as the frame position advances in the group of pictures; and encoding the plurality of inter frames according to the set of block encoding modes within the video encoder.