US Patent 11172203 Intra merge prediction

A combined prediction mode for encoding or decoding a pixel block of a video picture is provided. When it is determined that the combined prediction mode is used, a video codec generates an intra predictor for the current block based on a selected intra-prediction mode and a merge-indexed predictor for the current block based on a selected merge candidate from a merge candidates list. The video codec then generates a final predictor for the current block based on the intra predictor and the merge-indexed predictor. The final predictor is then used to encode or decode the current block.