Patent ID: 8548041

Claim:
A video encoder that utilizes adaptive loop filtering for coding video data, comprising: a prediction unit, for performing prediction techniques according to original video data and reconstructed video data to generate prediction samples; a reconstruction unit, coupled to the prediction unit, for reconstructing the prediction samples to form the reconstructed video data; a reference picture buffer, for storing the reconstructed video data as reference pictures and storing corresponding filter parameters; a filter parameter estimator, coupled between the reconstruction unit and the reference picture buffer, for estimating filter parameters according to the original video data of a reference picture and the reconstructed video data of the reference picture, and storing the filter parameters in the reference picture buffer; and an adaptive loop filter, coupled between the reference picture buffer and the prediction unit, for filtering the reconstructed video data of the a reference picture according to the corresponding stored filter parameters of the reference picture to generate a filtering result and provide the filtering result directly to the prediction unit, wherein the adaptive loop filter receives the corresponding stored filter parameters of the reference picture from the reference picture buffer; wherein the filter parameter estimator comprises a rate-distortion determination unit, for utilizing a rate-distortion criterion to determine whether or not to utilize the adaptive loop filter for performing filtering.