Systems and methods for selecting a macroblock mode in a video encoder

The invention is related to methods and apparatus that provide improved video encoding. Conventional video encoding techniques inadequately determine the encoding mode for a macroblock. One embodiment according to the invention advantageously includes the coding cost for motion vectors into the mode decision, thereby enhancing the quality of the selection of the mode. One embodiment further uses an L1 norm in the decision, thereby advantageously reducing the computational complexity of taking the coding cost for motion vectors into the mode decision.