METHOD, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR ENCODING AND DECODING VIDEO DATA

A method of encoding video data into a video bitstream having a plurality of precincts. The method comprises generating a plurality of coding cost estimates (1106) for a current precinct of the plurality of precincts by testing a corresponding candidate coefficient truncation level for the current precinct, each of the coding cost estimates being an over estimate of an encoded data size for coding the current precinct at the candidate truncation level and being determined using a most significant bit plane index, wherein each of the coding cost estimates is independent of a value of coefficient bits in the current precinct. The method also comprises selecting (1110) one of the candidate truncation levels according to the corresponding coding cost estimate and a budgeted coding cost for the current precinct, the budgeted coding cost representing an allowable size of encoding the precinct; and encoding (1113) the current precinct of video data into the video bitstream using the selected truncation level to generate the video bitstream.