Patent ID: 8457198
Filing Date: 2013-06-04
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method of deciding an encoding mode for variable block size motion estimation performed by a computer system, the method comprising operations of: (a) searching, using a processor of the computer system in a reference frame for a macroblock that is most similar to a current macroblock; (b) selecting a temporary encoding mode candidate group for encoding the current macroblock from among a plurality of encoding mode candidate groups comprising at least one encoding mode, using encoding mode information on the searched-for macroblock of the reference frame; (c) selecting the temporary encoding mode candidate group or an encoding mode candidate group comprising an encoding mode using a smaller block than the temporary encoding mode candidate group as a final encoding mode candidate group, based on the temporary encoding mode candidate group, complexity of the current macroblock or sub-blocks obtained by dividing the current macroblock, and difference between the current macroblock or each of the sub-blocks and the reference frame; and (d) performing motion estimation in encoding modes included in the final encoding mode candidate group and deciding an encoding mode of the current macroblock, wherein operation (a) comprises: (a1) searching in the reference frame for a region that is most similar to the current macroblock; and (a2) searching for a macroblock having the largest overlap with a searched-for region if the searched-for region overlaps a plurality of macroblocks in the reference frame, wherein the operation (b) comprises: selecting the temporary encoding mode candidate group which includes all encoding modes of the macroblock having the largest overlap with the searched-for region as the temporary encoding mode candidate group for encoding the current macroblock.