METHOD FOR EFFECTIVE FAST MODE DECISION USING EDGE DETECTION FOR H.264/AVC

An efficient high-speed mode decision method of H.264/AVC by using a contour line is provided to apply multiple skip modes corresponding to class information of each macro block, thereby reducing the number of bits and calculation quantities during a mode decision process. A luminance component of the current frame is filtered(S110). The filtered current frame is divided into macro block units. The number of pixels of each macro block is compared with a predetermined threshold value. Each macro block is classified into a total of three classes(S120). Motion prediction and motion compensation are performed for each macro block by using the classified class information(S130). Skip modes corresponding to the class information are determined, and a merging technique is applied. Based on cost calculation on each macro block, an optimal macro block having the lowest cost is determined(S150).