Combination HEVC deblocker/SAO filter

Systems and methods are provided that allow a deblocking filter and a sample adaptive offset (SAO) filter to be combined in a loop filter stage of a High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) decoder. In combining the deblocking filter and the SAO filter, an intermediate buffer may not be utilized, while still allowing for the deblocking filter and the SAO filter to operate substantially in parallel. The order of pixel processing and the parallelization of operation is such that the processing performed by the SAO filter need not hinder the processing performed by the deblocking filter within the loop filter stage. Additionally, and by combining the deblocking filter and the SAO filter without utilizing buffering therebetween, savings in space and cost in implementing the HEVC decoder may be realized.