Patent ID: 6236683
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
An image predictor for providing at least one target pixel in a preceding image, the preceding image being represented by a plurality of pixels, the at least one target pixel corresponding to a pixel in a current image shifted by a motion vector, the image predictor comprising:a search memory comprising a plurality of memory cells each independently addressable in a read mode and a write mode;a plurality of read decoders that arrange the memory cells into a corresponding plurality of simultaneously and independently readable blocks;a write control circuit that writes data to the search memory that represents the plurality of pixels of the preceding image;a plurality of write decoders that arrange the memory cells into a plurality of independently writable blocks, each of the plurality of independently writable blocks sharing at least one memory cell with each of the plurality of simultaneously and independently readable blocks, the plurality of write decoders arranging the memory cells so that when the data representing the plurality of pixels of the preceding image is written to the search memory, each one of said plurality of pixels is stored within a separate readable block from its adjacent pixels; anda read control circuit that reads data from at least one memory cell, selected in response to the motion vector, that represents the at least one target pixel.