Abstract:
Signaling of a sample adaptive offset (SAO) parameter determined to minimize an error between an original image and a reconstructed image during video encoding and decoding operations. A video encoding method of signaling an SAO parameter includes, from among largest coding units (LCUs) of a video, obtaining prediction information before de-blocking of a currently encoded LCU is performed; predicting an SAO parameter of the currently encoded LCU based on the obtained prediction information; and performing entropy encoding on the predicted SAO parameter.