Patent ID: 6377623
Filing Date: 2002-04-23
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A motion estimating method using block matching in order to compress a moving image, comprising the steps of:(a) inputting an input image frame as a layer 0 frame; (b) reducing a resolution of said layer 0 frame to produce a layer 1 frame; (c) reducing a resolution of said layer 1 frame to produce a layer 2 frame; (d) calculating a first mean absolute difference (â€œMADâ€ ) with respect to a layer 2 search region of said layer 2 frame; (e) evaluating said layer 2 search region to identify a first initial search center point based on said first MAD and determining a first layer 1 search region based on said first initial search center point; (f) evaluating said layer 2 search region to identify a second initial search center point based on said first MAD and determining a second layer 1 search region based on said second initial search center point; and (g) evaluating said layer 2 search region to identify a third initial search center point based on a correlation of a current block and peripheral blocks of said current block and determining a third layer 1 search region based on said third initial search center point (h) calculating a second MAD with respect to said first layer 1 search region in said layer 1 frame by using said first initial search center point as a center in said first layer 1 search region; (i) evaluating said first layer 1 search region to identify a first layer 0 search center point based on said second MAD and determining a first layer 0 search region based on said first layer 0 search center point; (j) calculating a third MAD with respect to said first layer 0 search region in said layer 0 frame by using said first layer 0 search center point as a center in said first layer 0 search region; and (k) determining a final position in said first layer 0 search region based on said third MAD and determining a final motion vector based on information corresponding to a distance between said final position and an origin.