if (currMB->mb_type!=0 || (bframe && currMB->cbp!=0))
    {
      // cod counter and macroblock mode are written ==> do not consider code counter
      tmp_cc = img->cod_counter;
      rate   = writeMBHeader (1); 
      ue_linfo (tmp_cc, dummy, &cc_rate, &dummy);
      rate  -= cc_rate;
      img->cod_counter = tmp_cc;
    }
    else
    {
      // cod counter is just increased  ==> get additional rate
      ue_linfo (img->cod_counter+1, dummy, &rate,    &dummy);
      ue_linfo (img->cod_counter,   dummy, &cc_rate, &dummy);
      rate -= cc_rate;
    }
  }
  else
  {
    rate = writeMBHeader (1); 
  }
  if (mode)
  {
    //----- motion information -----
    rate  += writeMotionInfo2NAL  ();
  }
  if (mode || (bframe && (currMB->cbp!=0 || input->symbol_mode==CABAC)))
  {
    rate  += writeCBPandLumaCoeff ();

    rate  += writeChromaCoeff     ();
  }


  //=====   R E S T O R E   C O D I N G   S T A T E   =====
  //-------------------------------------------------------
  reset_coding_state (cs_cm);


  rdcost = (double)distortion + lambda * (double)rate;

  if (rdcost >= *min_rdcost)
  {
    return 0;
  }


  if ((img->MbaffFrameFlag) && (mode ? 0: ((img->type == B_SLICE) ? !currMB->cbp:1)))  // AFF and current is skip
  {
    if (img->current_mb_nr%2) //bottom
    {
      if (prevMB->mb_type ? 0:((img->type == B_SLICE) ? !prevMB->cbp:1)) //top is skip
      {
        if (!(field_flag_inference() == currMB->mb_field)) //skip only allowed when correct inference
          return 0;
      }
    }
  }

 
  //=====   U P D A T E   M I N I M U M   C O S T   =====
  //-----------------------------------------------------
  *min_rdcost = rdcost;
  return 1;
}





/*! 
 *************************************************************************************
 * \brief
 *    Store macroblock parameters
 *************************************************************************************
 */
void store_macroblock_parameters (int mode)
{
  int  i, j, k, ****i4p, ***i3p;
  Macroblock *currMB  = &img->mb_data[img->current_mb_nr];
  int        bframe   = (img->type==B_SLICE);

  //--- store best mode ---
  best_mode = mode;
  best_c_imode = currMB->c_ipred_mode;
  best_i16offset = img->i16offset;
  for (i=0; i<4; i++)
  {
    b8mode[i]   = currMB->b8mode[i];
    b8pdir[i]   = currMB->b8pdir[i];
  }

  //--- reconstructed blocks ----
  for (j=0; j<16; j++)
  for (i=0; i<16; i++)
  {
    rec_mbY[j][i] = enc_picture->imgY[img->pix_y+j][img->pix_x+i];
  }
  for (j=0; j<8; j++)
  for (i=0; i<8; i++)
  {
    rec_mbU[j][i] = enc_picture->imgUV[0][img->pix_c_y+j][img->pix_c_x+i];
    rec_mbV[j][i] = enc_picture->imgUV[1][img->pix_c_y+j][img->pix_c_x+i];
  }


  //--- store results of decoders ---
  if (input->rdopt==2 && img->type!=B_SLICE)
  {
    for (k=0; k<input->NoOfDecoders; k++)
    {
      for (j=img->pix_y; j<img->pix_y+16; j++)
      for (i=img->pix_x; i<img->pix_x+16; i++)
      {
        // Keep the decoded values of each MB for updating the ref frames
        decs->decY_best[k][j][i] = decs->decY[k][j][i];
      }
    }
  }

  //--- coeff, cbp, kac ---
  if (mode || bframe)
  {
    i4p=cofAC; cofAC=img->cofAC; img->cofAC=i4p;
    i3p=cofDC; cofDC=img->cofDC; img->cofDC=i3p;
    cbp     = currMB->cbp;
    cbp_blk = currMB->cbp_blk;
  }
  else
  {
    cbp = cbp_blk = 0;
  }

  for (j=0; j<4; j++)
  for (i=0; i<4; i++)
  {  
    frefframe[j][i] = enc_picture->ref_idx[LIST_0][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j];

    if (bframe)
    {
      brefframe[j][i] = enc_picture->ref_idx[LIST_1][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j];
    }
  }

}


/*! 
 *************************************************************************************
 * \brief
 *    Set stored macroblock parameters
 *************************************************************************************
 */
void set_stored_macroblock_parameters ()
{
  int  i, j, k, ****i4p, ***i3p,l;
  Macroblock  *currMB  = &img->mb_data[img->current_mb_nr];
  int         mode     = best_mode;
  int         bframe   = (img->type==B_SLICE);
  int         **ipredmodes = img->ipredmode;
  
  byte        **imgY  = enc_picture->imgY;
  byte       ***imgUV = enc_picture->imgUV;

  int        list_offset   = ((img->MbaffFrameFlag)&&(currMB->mb_field))? img->current_mb_nr%2 ? 4 : 2 : 0;

  //===== reconstruction values =====
  for (j=0; j<16; j++)
  for (i=0; i<16; i++)
  {
    imgY[img->pix_y+j][img->pix_x+i] = rec_mbY[j][i];

    if(img->MbaffFrameFlag)
      rdopt->rec_mbY[j][i]       = rec_mbY[j][i]; 
  }

  for (j=0; j<8; j++)
  for (i=0; i<8; i++)
  {
    imgUV[0][img->pix_c_y+j][img->pix_c_x+i] = rec_mbU[j][i];
    imgUV[1][img->pix_c_y+j][img->pix_c_x+i] = rec_mbV[j][i];

    if(img->MbaffFrameFlag)
    {
      rdopt->rec_mbU[j][i]           = rec_mbU[j][i];   
      rdopt->rec_mbV[j][i]           = rec_mbV[j][i];   
    }
  }

  //===== coefficients and cbp =====
  i4p=cofAC; cofAC=img->cofAC; img->cofAC=i4p;
  i3p=cofDC; cofDC=img->cofDC; img->cofDC=i3p;
  currMB->cbp      = cbp;
  currMB->cbp_blk = cbp_blk;
  //==== macroblock type ====
  currMB->mb_type = mode;


  if(img->MbaffFrameFlag)
  {
    rdopt->mode = mode;
    rdopt->i16offset = img->i16offset;
    rdopt->cbp = cbp;
    rdopt->cbp_blk = cbp_blk;
    rdopt->mb_type  = mode;

    rdopt->prev_qp=currMB->prev_qp;
    rdopt->prev_delta_qp=currMB->prev_delta_qp;
    rdopt->qp=currMB->qp;

    for(i=0;i<6;i++)
      for(j=0;j<4;j++)
        for(k=0;k<2;k++)
          for(l=0;l<18;l++)
            rdopt->cofAC[i][j][k][l] = img->cofAC[i][j][k][l];

    for(i=0;i<3;i++)
        for(k=0;k<2;k++)
          for(l=0;l<18;l++)
            rdopt->cofDC[i][k][l] = img->cofDC[i][k][l];
  }


  for (i=0; i<4; i++)
  {
    currMB->b8mode[i]   = b8mode[i];
    currMB->b8pdir[i]   = b8pdir[i];
    if(img->MbaffFrameFlag)
    {
      rdopt->b8mode[i]  = b8mode[i];                  
      rdopt->b8pdir[i]  = b8pdir[i];                  
    }
  }

  if (input->rdopt==2 && img->type!=B_SLICE)
  {
    //! save the MB Mode of every macroblock
    decs->dec_mb_mode[img->mb_x][img->mb_y] = mode;
  }

  //==== reference frames =====
  for (j=0; j<4; j++)
  for (i=0; i<4; i++)
  {
    // backward prediction or intra
    if ((currMB->b8pdir[i/2+(j/2)*2] == 1) || IS_INTRA(currMB))
    {
      enc_picture->ref_idx[LIST_0][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j] = -1;
      enc_picture->ref_pic_id [LIST_0][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j] = -1;

      enc_picture->mv[LIST_0][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j][0] =0;
      enc_picture->mv[LIST_0][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j][1] = 0;
      if(img->MbaffFrameFlag)
        rdopt->refar[LIST_0][j][i] = -1;
    }
    else
    {
      enc_picture->ref_idx[LIST_0][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j] = frefframe[j][i]; 
      enc_picture->ref_pic_id [LIST_0][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j] = enc_picture->ref_pic_num[LIST_0 + list_offset][enc_picture->ref_idx[LIST_0][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j]];

      enc_picture->mv[LIST_0][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j][0] = img->all_mv[i][j][LIST_0][frefframe[j][i]][currMB->b8mode[i/2+(j/2)*2]][0];
      enc_picture->mv[LIST_0][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j][1] = img->all_mv[i][j][LIST_0][frefframe[j][i]][currMB->b8mode[i/2+(j/2)*2]][1];
      if(img->MbaffFrameFlag)
        rdopt->refar[LIST_0][j][i] = frefframe[j][i];
    }

    // forward prediction or intra
    if ((currMB->b8pdir[i/2+(j/2)*2] == 0) || IS_INTRA(currMB))
    {
      enc_picture->ref_idx[LIST_1][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j] = -1;
      enc_picture->ref_pic_id [LIST_1][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j] = -1;  
      enc_picture->mv[LIST_1][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j][0] =0;
      enc_picture->mv[LIST_1][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j][1] = 0;
      if(img->MbaffFrameFlag)
        rdopt->refar[LIST_1][j][i] = -1;
    }
    
  }

  if (bframe)
  {
    for (j=0; j<4; j++)
      for (i=0; i<4; i++)
      {
        
        // forward
        if (IS_INTRA(currMB)||(currMB->b8pdir[i/2+(j/2)*2] == 0))
        {
          enc_picture->ref_idx[LIST_1][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j] = -1;
          enc_picture->ref_pic_id [LIST_1][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j] = -1;
          enc_picture->mv[LIST_1][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j][0] = 0;
          enc_picture->mv[LIST_1][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j][1] = 0;
          if(img->MbaffFrameFlag)
            rdopt->refar[LIST_1][j][i] = -1;
        }
        else
        {
          enc_picture->ref_idx[LIST_1][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j] = brefframe[j][i];
          enc_picture->ref_pic_id [LIST_1][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j] = enc_picture->ref_pic_num[LIST_1 + list_offset][enc_picture->ref_idx[LIST_1][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j]];
          enc_picture->mv[LIST_1][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j][0] = img->all_mv[i][j][LIST_1][brefframe[j][i]][currMB->b8mode[i/2+(j/2)*2]][0];
          enc_picture->mv[LIST_1][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j][1] = img->all_mv[i][j][LIST_1][brefframe[j][i]][currMB->b8mode[i/2+(j/2)*2]][1];
          if(img->MbaffFrameFlag)
            rdopt->refar[LIST_1][j][i] = brefframe[j][i];
        }
      }
  }

  //==== intra prediction modes ====
  currMB->c_ipred_mode = best_c_imode;
  img->i16offset = best_i16offset;
  if (mode==P8x8)
  {
    for (k=0, j=img->block_y; j<img->block_y+4; j++)
      for (   i=img->block_x; i<img->block_x+4; i++, k++)
      {
        ipredmodes           [i][j] = b8_ipredmode       [k];
        currMB->intra_pred_modes[k] = b8_intra_pred_modes[k];
      }
  }
  else if (mode!=I4MB)
  {
    for (k=0, j=img->block_y; j<img->block_y+4; j++)
      for (   i=img->block_x; i<img->block_x+4; i++, k++)
      {
        ipredmodes           [i][j] = DC_PRED;
        currMB->intra_pred_modes[k] = DC_PRED;
      }
  }

  if(img->MbaffFrameFlag)
  {
    for (k=0, j=img->block_y; j<img->block_y+4; j++)
      for (   i=img->block_x; i<img->block_x+4; i++, k++)
      {
        rdopt->ipredmode[i][j]     = ipredmodes[i][j];
        rdopt->intra_pred_modes[k] = currMB->intra_pred_modes[k];
      }
    rdopt->c_ipred_mode = currMB->c_ipred_mode;
    rdopt->i16offset = img->i16offset;  // DH
  }

  //==== motion vectors =====
  SetMotionVectorsMB (currMB, bframe);
}



/*! 
 *************************************************************************************
 * \brief
 *    Set reference frames and motion vectors
 *************************************************************************************
 */
void SetRefAndMotionVectors (int block, int mode, int pdir, int fwref, int bwref)
{
  int     i, j=0;
  int     bslice  = (img->type==B_SLICE);
  int     pmode   = (mode==1||mode==2||mode==3?mode:4);
  int     j0      = ((block/2)<<1);
  int     i0      = ((block%2)<<1);
  int     j1      = j0 + (input->blc_size[pmode][1]>>2);
  int     i1      = i0 + (input->blc_size[pmode][0]>>2);

  int list_offset   = ((img->MbaffFrameFlag)&&(img->mb_data[img->current_mb_nr].mb_field))? img->current_mb_nr%2 ? 4 : 2 : 0;


  if (pdir<0)
  {
    for (j=j0; j<j1; j++)
    for (i=i0; i<i1; i++)
    {
      enc_picture->mv[LIST_0][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j][0] = 0;
      enc_picture->mv[LIST_0][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j][1] = 0;
      enc_picture->mv[LIST_1][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j][0] = 0;
      enc_picture->mv[LIST_1][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j][1] = 0;
      enc_picture->ref_idx[LIST_0][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j] = -1;
      enc_picture->ref_idx[LIST_1][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j] = -1;
      enc_picture->ref_pic_id[LIST_0][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j] = -1;
      enc_picture->ref_pic_id[LIST_1][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j] = -1;
    }
    return;
  }

  if (!bslice)
  {
    for (j=j0; j<j1; j++)
    for (i=i0; i<i1; i++)
    {
      enc_picture->mv[LIST_0][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j][0] = img->all_mv[i][j][LIST_0][fwref][mode][0];
      enc_picture->mv[LIST_0][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j][1] = img->all_mv[i][j][LIST_0][fwref][mode][1];
      enc_picture->ref_idx[LIST_0][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j] = fwref;
      enc_picture->ref_pic_id[LIST_0][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j] = enc_picture->ref_pic_num[LIST_0+list_offset][enc_picture->ref_idx[LIST_0][img->block_x+i][img->block_y+j]];
    }
  }