An efficient computation-constrained block-based motion estimation algorithm for low bit rate video coding

• Published in: IEEE transactions on image processing Vol. 8; no. 12; pp. 1816 - 1823
• Main Authors: Gallant, M., Cote, G., Kossentini, F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 1999; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Subjects: Algorithms; Application software; Applied sciences; Bit rate; Blocking; Coders; Coding; Computational efficiency; Costs; Distortion; Distortion measurement; Encoders; Exact sciences and technology; Image processing; Information, signal and communications theory; Motion control; Motion estimation; Motion measurement; Searching; Signal processing; Telecommunications and information theory; Video coding; Yield estimation; Waveform; Experimental result; Motion estimation; Algorithm performance; Image processing; Coding; Video signal; Numerical simulation; Search algorithm; Block matching; Signal to noise ratio
• ISSN: 1057-7149
• DOI: 10.1109/83.806627

We present an efficient computation constrained block-based motion vector estimation algorithm for low bit rate video coding that yields good tradeoffs between motion estimation distortion and number of computations. A reliable predictor determines the search origin, localizing the search process. An efficient search pattern exploits structural constraints within the motion field. A flexible cost measure used to terminate the search allows simultaneous control of the motion estimation distortion and the computational cost. Experimental results demonstrate the viability of the proposed algorithm in low bit rate video coding applications. The resulting low bit rate video encoder yields essentially the same levels of rate-distortion performance and subjective quality achieved by the UBC H.263+ video coding reference software. However, the proposed motion estimation algorithm provides substantially higher encoding speed as well as graceful computational degradation capabilities.