VIDEO ENCODING METHODS AND DEVICES

A dual, and possibly multiple, frame approach is used by the invention. Embodiments of the invention include making a decision to use a long term reference frame, which is a frame other than an immediate past reference frame, to conduct INTER coding, or to conduct INTRA frame coding. Other embodiments include use of long and short term reference blocks, and make a decision between two types of INTER coding blocks and INTRA coding. In accordance with embodiments of the invention, a long term frame is a high quality frame. The high quality frame may be used as a reference frame under particular conditions.