Patent ID: 8446950
Filing Date: 2013-05-21
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An image processing method for selecting a motion vector for a first image block of an image of an image sequence from a number of test vectors, to which respectively a significance measurement is assigned, wherein at least one of said test vectors is a motion vector of a second image block that is arranged temporally adjacent, spatially adjacent, or both temporally and spatially adjacent, to the first image block, or a vector formed by modification of said motion vector, each image block comprising a plurality of picture elements of a video signal, the method performed at an image processor, the method comprising the steps of: determining, at the image processor, a distance measurement for each test vector, wherein the distance measurement for each test vector represents a measurement for a difference between picture elements of a pair of image blocks corresponding to said test vector, determining, at the image processor, a modified distance measurement for each test vector depending on the distance measurement determined for said test vector and additionally at least on the significance measurement assigned to said test vector, selecting, at the image processor, one of the test vectors as a motion vector depending on the modified distance measurements, determining, at the image processor, a new significance measurement for the test vector selected as motion vector depending on whether the selected motion vector meets at least one significance criterion, and at the image processor, assigning said new significance measurement as significance measurement to the motion vector for the selection of a motion vector for a third image block, wherein the motion vector of the first image block or a vector formed by modification of this motion vector is selected as test vector.