Versatile video coding using discrete wavelet transforms and histogram analysis

Versatile video coding (VVC) introduces advanced techniques such as sophisticated intra-prediction mechanisms that significantly improve compression efficiency. However, the increased complexity in intra-prediction presents new challenges in computational load and power consumption, essential considerations for efficient video coding. This paper proposes a novel framework that combines discrete wavelet transforms and histogram analysis to optimise the prediction directions in VVC. Through selective reduction of prediction directions based on dominant texture orientation and minimising residual energy, the framework achieves enhanced computational efficiency while maintaining video quality. Experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method, demonstrating a superior average encoding time reduction of 50.5% Δ𝑇 with a minimal rate-distortion increase of 1.53% BDBR compared to the VVC test model. In comparison, the optimised VVenc encoder achieved a lower rate-distortion value of −16.61% BDBR with a −23.34% Δ𝑇 reduction in encoding time.