Patent ID: 6996181
Filing Date: 2006-02-07
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A motion estimation method for use in encoding a moving picture, comprising: (a) estimating a full-pixel motion vector by stochastically sampling pixels to be processed in a predetermined-sized block of a reference frame for each of a plurality of equal-sized blocks in a current frame; and (b) estimating a half-pixel motion vector based on the full-pixel motion vector, wherein the pixels in the predetermined-sized block in the step (a) are sampled by using the following equation: wherein r represents a probability variable for use in sampling a pixel on the X-axis, wherein the probabilities of r being “1” and “0” are respectively ½; wherein c represents a probability variable for use in sampling a pixel on the Y-axis; wherein the probabilities of c being “1” and “0” are respectively ½; wherein R(t) and C(t) represents a rotation coefficient of a currently sampled pixel on the X-axis and on the Y-axis. respectively; and wherein each of R(t+1) and C(t+1) represents a location coefficient of a pixel to be sampled next.