Abstract:
A video encoder and corresponding methods are provided for weighted prediction estimation using a displaced frame difference or differential, the encoder embodying a method for receiving a substantially uncompressed image block, assigning a weighting factor for the image block corresponding to a particular reference picture having a corresponding index, computing motion vectors corresponding to the difference between the image block and the particular reference picture, motion compensating the particular reference picture in correspondence with the motion vectors, multiplying the motion compensated reference picture by the assigned weighting factor to form a weighted motion compensated reference picture, subtracting the weighted motion compensated reference picture from the substantially uncompressed image block, and encoding a signal indicative of the difference between the substantially uncompressed image block and the weighted motion compensated reference picture along with the corresponding index of the particular reference picture.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. §365 of International Application PCT/US04/20028, filed Jun. 23, 2004, which was published in accordance with PCT Article 21(2) on Jan. 13, 2005 in English and which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/482,301, filed Jun. 25, 2003. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed towards video encoders and decoders, and more particularly, towards an apparatus and method for weighted prediction estimation. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The JVT standard (also known as H.264 and MPEG AVC) is the first video compression standard to adopt a Weighted Prediction (“WP”) feature. In video compression standards prior to JVT, such as MPEG-1, 2 and 4, when a single reference picture prediction was used for predictive (“P”) pictures or slices, the prediction was not scaled. When bi-directional prediction was used for bi-predictive (“B”) pictures or slices, predictions were formed from two different pictures, and then the two predictions were averaged together, using equal weighting factors of (½, ½), to form a single averaged prediction. In JVT, multiple reference pictures may be used for inter-prediction, with a reference picture index coded to indicate which of the multiple reference pictures is used. 
     In P pictures or slices, only single directional prediction is used, and the allowable reference pictures are managed in list 0. In B pictures or slices, two lists of reference pictures are managed, list 0 and list 1. In B pictures or slices, single directional prediction using either list 0 or list 1 is allowed, or bi-prediction using both list 0 and list 1 is allowed. When bi-prediction is used, the list 0 and the list 1 predictors are averaged together to form a final predictor. Thus, the JVT WP tool allows arbitrary multiplicative weighting factors and additive offsets to be applied to reference picture predictions in both P and B pictures. 
     Weighted prediction is supported in the Main and Extended profiles of the JVT standard. Use of weighted prediction is indicated in the picture parameter set for P, SP (switching P) and B slices. There are two WP modes—explicit mode, which is supported in P, SP, and B slices, and implicit mode, which is supported in B slices only. 
     Explicit Mode 
     In explicit mode, the WP parameters are coded in the slice header. A multiplicative weighting factor and additive offset for each color component may be coded for each of the allowable reference pictures in list 0 for P slices and B slices. However, different macroblocks in the same picture can use different weighting factors even when predicted from the same reference picture store. This can be accomplished by using reference picture reordering and memory management control operation (“MMCO”) commands to associate more than one reference picture index with a particular reference picture store. 
     The same weighting parameters that are used for single prediction are used in combination for bi-prediction. The final inter prediction is formed for the pixels of each macroblock or macroblock partition, based on the prediction type used. For single directional prediction from list 0,
 
Sample P =Clip1(((Sample P 0 ·W   0 +2 LWD−1 )&gt;&gt; LWD )+ O   0 ) and for single directional prediction from list 1,  (1)
 
Sample P =Clip1(((Sample P 1 ·W   1 +2 LWD−1 )&gt;&gt; LWD )+ O   1 ) and for bi-prediction,  (2)
 
Sample P =Clip1(((Sample P 0 ·W   0 +Sample P 1 ·W   1 +2 LWD )&gt;&gt;( LWD +1))+( O   0   +O   1 +1)&gt;&gt;1)  (3)
 
     where Clip1 ( ) is an operator that clips to the range [0, 255], W 0  and O 0  are the list 0 reference picture weighting factor and offset, and W 1  and O 1  are the list 1 reference picture weighting factor and offset, and LWD is the log weight denominator rounding factor. SampleP0 and SampleP1 are the list 0 and list 1 initial predictors, and SampleP is the weighted predictor. 
     Implicit Mode 
     In WP implicit mode, weighting factors are not explicitly transmitted in the slice header, but instead are derived based on relative distances between the current picture and the reference pictures. Implicit mode is used only for bi-predictively coded macroblocks and macroblock partitions in B slices, including those using direct mode. The same formula for bi-prediction as given in the preceding explicit mode section for bi-prediction is used, except that the offset values O 0  and O 1  are equal to zero, and the weighting factors W 0  and W 1  are derived using the formulas below.
 
 X =(16384+( TD   D &gt;&gt;1))/ TDD  
 
 Z =clip3(−1024,1023,( TD   B   ·X +32)&gt;&gt;6)
 
 W   1   =Z &gt;&gt;2  W   0 =64 −W   1   (4)
 
     This is a division-free, 16-bit safe operation implementation of
 
 W   1 =(64 *TD   D )/ TD   B   (5)
 
     where TD B  is temporal difference between the list 1 reference picture and the list 0 reference picture, clipped to the range [−128, 127] and TD B  is difference of the current picture and the list 0 reference picture, clipped to the range [−128, 127]. 
     Approaches for application of weight parameters are described by equations 6 through 8. 
     For simplicity, we write weighted prediction for list 0 prediction as
 
Sample P =Sample P 0 ·w   0   +o   0 ,  (6)
 
     For simplicity, we write weighted prediction for list 1 prediction as
 
Sample P =Sample P 1 ·w   1   +o   1 ,  (7)
 
     and for bi-prediction
 
Sample P =(Sample P 0 ·w   0 +Sample P 1 ·w   1   +o   0   +o   1 )/2,  (8)
 
     where w i  is weighting factor and o i  is weighting offset. 
     Accordingly, what is needed is an apparatus and new class of methods for determining weighted prediction parameters. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These and other drawbacks and disadvantages of the prior art are addressed by an apparatus and method for weighted prediction estimation using a displaced frame differential. 
     A video encoder and corresponding methods are provided for weighted prediction estimation using a displaced frame difference or differential, the encoder embodying a method for receiving a substantially uncompressed image block, assigning a weighting factor and offset for the image block corresponding to a particular reference picture having a corresponding index, computing motion vectors corresponding to the difference between the image block and the particular reference picture, motion compensating the particular reference picture in correspondence with the motion vectors, multiplying the motion compensated reference picture by the assigned weighting factor to form a weighted motion compensated reference picture, subtracting the weighted motion compensated reference picture from the substantially uncompressed image block, and encoding a signal indicative of the difference between the substantially uncompressed image block and the weighted motion compensated reference picture along with the corresponding index of the particular reference picture. 
     These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention may be better understood with reference to the following exemplary figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a block diagram for a video encoder; 
         FIG. 2  shows a block diagram for a video encoder with implicit reference picture weighting; 
         FIG. 3  shows a block diagram for a video encoder with explicit reference picture weighting; 
         FIG. 4  shows a block diagram for a video decoder; 
         FIG. 5  shows a block diagram for a video decoder with explicit reference picture weighting; 
         FIG. 6  shows a flowchart for an exemplary decoding process in accordance with the principles of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7  shows a flowchart for an exemplary encoding process in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The JVT video coding standard includes a Weighted Prediction (WP) tool in its Main and Extended profiles. In WP, a multiplicative weighting factor and an additive offset are applied to the motion compensated prediction. WP is particularly useful for coding fading sequences. In explicit mode, a weighting factor and offset may be coded in the slice header for each allowable reference picture index. In implicit mode, the weighting factors are not coded but are derived based on the relative picture order count (POC) distances of the two reference pictures. 
     Statistical approaches such as linear regression can be used to estimate the weighting parameters. It is also possible for the weighting factor to be estimated as the ratio between the average value of the pixels in the current picture divided by the average value of the pixels in the reference picture while the weighting offset is set to zero. 
     The present description illustrates the principles of the invention. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are included within its spirit and scope. 
     All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. 
     Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure. 
     Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the block diagrams presented herein represent conceptual views of illustrative circuitry embodying the principles of the invention. Similarly, it will be appreciated that any flow charts, flow diagrams, state transition diagrams, pseudocode, and the like represent various processes which may be substantially represented in computer readable media and so executed by a computer or processor, whether or not such computer or processor is explicitly shown. 
     The functions of the various elements shown in the figures may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing software in association with appropriate software. When provided by a processor, the functions may be provided by a single dedicated processor, by a single shared processor, or by a plurality of individual processors, some of which may be shared. Moreover, explicit use of the term “processor” or “controller” should not be construed to refer exclusively to hardware capable of executing software, and may implicitly include, without limitation, digital signal processor (“DSP”) hardware, read-only memory (“ROM”) for storing software, random access memory (“RAM”), and non-volatile storage. 
     Other hardware, conventional and/or custom, may also be included. Similarly, any switches shown in the figures are conceptual only. Their function may be carried out through the operation of program logic, through dedicated logic, through the interaction of program control and dedicated logic, or even manually, the particular technique being selectable by the implementer as more specifically understood from the context. 
     In the claims hereof, any element expressed as a means for performing a specified function is intended to encompass any way of performing that function including, for example, a) a combination of circuit elements that performs that function or b) software in any form, including, therefore, firmware, microcode or the like, combined with appropriate circuitry for executing that software to perform the function. The invention as defined by such claims resides in the fact that the functionalities provided by the various recited means are combined and brought together in the manner which the claims call for. Applicant thus regards any means that can provide those functionalities as equivalent to those shown herein. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a video encoder is indicated generally by the reference numeral  100 . An input to the encoder  100  is connected in signal communication with a non-inverting input of a summing junction  110 . The output of the summing junction  110  is connected in signal communication with a block transform function  120 . The transformer  120  is connected in signal communication with a quantizer  130 . The output of the quantizer  130  is connected in signal communication with a variable length coder (“VLC”)  140 , where the output of the VLC  140  is an externally available output of the encoder  100 . 
     The output of the quantizer  130  is further connected in signal communication with an inverse quantizer  150 . The inverse quantizer  150  is connected in signal communication with an inverse block transformer  160 , which, in turn, is connected in signal communication with a reference picture store  170 . A first output of the reference picture store  170  is connected in signal communication with a first input of a motion estimator  180 . The input to the encoder  100  is further connected in signal communication with a second input of the motion estimator  180 . The output of the motion estimator  180  is connected in signal communication with a first input of a motion compensator  190 . A second output of the reference picture store  170  is connected in signal communication with a second input of the motion compensator  190 . The output of the motion compensator  190  is connected in signal communication with an inverting input of the summing junction  110 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 2 , a video encoder with implicit reference picture weighting is indicated generally by the reference numeral  200 . An input to the encoder  200  is connected in signal communication with a non-inverting input of a summing junction  210 . The output of the summing junction  210  is connected in signal communication with a block transformer  220 . The transformer  220  is connected in signal communication with a quantizer  230 . The output of the quantizer  230  is connected in signal communication with a VLC  240 , where the output of the VLC  240  is an externally available output of the encoder  200 . 
     The output of the quantizer  230  is further connected in signal communication with an inverse quantizer  250 . The inverse quantizer  250  is connected in signal communication with an inverse block transformer  260 , which, in turn, is connected in signal communication with a reference picture store  270 . A first output of the reference picture store  270  is connected in signal communication with a first input of a reference picture weighting factor assignor  272 . The input to the encoder  200  is further connected in signal communication with a second input of the reference picture weighting factor assignor  272 . A second output of the reference picture store  270  is connected in signal communication with an input to the motion estimator  280 . 
     The input to the encoder  200  is further connected in signal communication with a second input of the motion estimator  280 . The output of the motion estimator  280 , which is indicative of motion vectors, is connected in signal communication with a first input of a motion compensator  290 . A third output of the reference picture store  270  is connected in signal communication with a second input of the motion compensator  290 . The output of the motion compensator  290 , which is indicative of a motion compensated reference picture, is connected in signal communication with a first input of a multiplier (or reference picture weighting applicator)  292 . Although an exemplary multiplier embodiment is shown, the reference picture weighting applicator  292  may be implemented in alternate ways, such as, for example, by a shift register. The output of the reference picture weighting factor assignor  272 , which is indicative of a weighting factor, is connected in signal communication with a second input of the reference picture weighting applicator  292 . The output of the reference picture weighting applicator  292  is connected in signal communication with an inverting input of the summing junction  210 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 3 , a video encoder with explicit reference picture weighting is indicated generally by the reference numeral  300 . An input to the encoder  300  is connected in signal communication with a non-inverting input of a summing junction  310 . The output of the summing junction  310  is connected in signal communication with a block transformer  320 . The transformer  320  is connected in signal communication with a quantizer  330 . The output of the quantizer  330  is connected in signal communication with a VLC  340 , where the output of the VLC  340  is an externally available output of the encoder  300 . 
     The output of the quantizer  330  is further connected in signal communication with an inverse quantizer  350 . The inverse quantizer  350  is connected in signal communication with an inverse block transformer  360 , which, in turn, is connected in signal communication with a reference picture store  370 . A first output of the reference picture store  370  is connected in signal communication with a first input of a reference picture weighting factor assignor  372 . The input to the encoder  300  is further connected in signal communication with a second input of the reference picture weighting factor assignor  372 . A first output of the reference picture weighting factor assignor  372 , which is indicative of a weighting factor, is connected in signal communication with a first input of a motion estimator  380 . A second output of the reference picture store  370  is connected in signal communication with a second input of the motion estimator  380 . 
     The input to the encoder  300  is further connected in signal communication with a third input of the motion estimator  380 . The output of the motion estimator  380 , which is indicative of motion vectors, is connected in signal communication with a first input of a motion compensator  390 . A third output of the reference picture store  370  is connected in signal communication with a second input of the motion compensator  390 . The output of the motion compensator  390 , which is indicative of a motion compensated reference picture, is connected in signal communication with a first input of a multiplier (or reference picture weighting applicator)  392 . The first output of the reference picture weighting factor assignor  372 , which is indicative of a weighting factor, is also connected in signal communication with a second input of the reference picture weighting applicator  392 . The output of the reference picture weighting applicator  392  is connected in signal communication with a first non-inverting input of a summing junction  394 . A second output of the reference picture weighting factor assignor  372 , which is indicative of an offset, is connected in signal communication with a second non-inverting input of the summing junction  394 . The output of the summing junction  394  is connected in signal communication with an inverting input of the summing junction  310 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , a video decoder is indicated generally by the reference numeral  400 . The video decoder  400  includes a variable length decoder (“VLD”)  410  connected in signal communication with an inverse quantizer  420 . The inverse quantizer is connected with an inverse transform  430 . The inverse transform is connected in signal communication with a first input terminal of an adder or summing junction  440 , where the output of the summing junction  440  provides the output of the video decoder  400 . The output of the summing junction  440  is connected in signal communication with a reference picture store  450 . The reference picture store  450  is connected in signal communication with a motion compensator  460 , which is connected in signal communication with a second input terminal of the summing junction  440 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 5 , a video decoder for explicit reference picture weighting is indicated generally by the reference numeral  500 . The video decoder  500  includes a VLD  510  connected in signal communication with an inverse quantizer  520 . The inverse quantizer  520  is connected in signal communication with an inverse transformer  530 . The inverse transformer  530  is connected in signal communication with a first input terminal of a summing junction  540 , where the output of the summing junction  540  provides the output of the video decoder  500 . The output of the summing junction  540  is connected in signal communication with a reference picture store  550 . The reference picture store  550  is connected in signal communication with a motion compensator  560 , which is connected in signal communication with a first input of a multiplier (or reference picture weighting applicator)  570 . As will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art, the decoder  500  for explicit weighted prediction may also be used for implicit weighted prediction. 
     The VLD  510  is further connected in signal communication with a reference picture weighting factor lookup  580  for providing a coefficient index to the lookup  580 . A first output of the lookup  580  is for providing a weighting factor, and is connected in signal communication to a second input of the reference picture weighting applicator  570 . The output of the reference picture weighting applicator  570  is connected in signal communication to a first input of a summing junction  590 . A second output of the lookup  580  is for providing an offset, and is connected in signal communication to a second input of the summing junction  590 . The output of the summing junction  590  is connected in signal communication with a second input terminal of the summing junction  540 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 6 , an exemplary process for decoding video signal data for an image block is indicated generally by the reference numeral  600 . The process includes a start block  610  that passes control to an input block  612 . The input block  612  receives the image block compressed data, and passes control to an input block  614 . The input block  614  receives at least one reference picture index with the data for the image block, each reference picture index corresponding to a particular reference picture. The input block  614  passes control to a function block  616 , which determines a weighting factor corresponding to each of the received reference picture indices, and passes control to an optional function block  617 . The optional function block  617  determines an offset corresponding to each of the received reference picture indices, and passes control to a function block  618 . The function block  618  retrieves a reference picture corresponding to each of the received reference picture indices, and passes control to a function block  620 . The function block  620 , in turn, motion compensates the retrieved reference picture, and passes control to a function block  622 . The function block  622  multiplies the motion compensated reference picture by the corresponding weighting factor, and passes control to an optional function block  623 . The optional function block  623  adds the motion compensated reference picture to the corresponding offset, and passes control to a function block  624 . The function block  624 , in turn, forms a weighted motion compensated reference picture, and passes control to an end block  626 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , an exemplary process for encoding video signal data for an image block is indicated generally by the reference numeral  700 . The process includes a start block  710  that passes control to an input block  712 . The input block  712  receives substantially uncompressed image block data, and passes control to a function block  714 . The function block  714  assigns a weighting factor for the image block corresponding to a particular reference picture having a corresponding index. The function block  714  passes control to an optional function block  715 . The optional function block  715  assigns an offset for the image block corresponding to a particular reference picture having a corresponding index. The optional function block  715  passes control to a function block  716 , which computes motion vectors corresponding to the difference between the image block and the particular reference picture, and passes control to a function block  718 . The function block  718  motion compensates the particular reference picture in correspondence with the motion vectors, and passes control to a function block  720 . The function block  720 , in turn, multiplies the motion compensated reference picture by the assigned weighting factor to form a weighted motion compensated reference picture, and passes control to an optional function block  721 . The optional function block  721 , in turn, adds the motion compensated reference picture to the assigned offset to form a weighted motion compensated reference picture, and passes control to a function block  722 . The function block  722  subtracts the weighted motion compensated reference picture from the substantially uncompressed image block, and passes control to a function block  724 . The function block  724 , in turn, encodes a signal with the difference between the substantially uncompressed image block and the weighted mot on compensated reference picture along with the corresponding index of the particular reference picture, and passes control to an end block  726 . 
     The Weighted Prediction (WP) tool has been adopted in the JVT video coding standard for the Main and Extended profiles to improve coding efficiency. In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, a new method class is presented to estimate weighting parameters. 
     The method of operation is based on the model to describe a dissolve or fading sequence. At its most basic, it is assumed that a dissolve or fade process can be seen as a time-varying superposition of two video streams. Let f k (x, y) denote the value of pixel (x,y) in frame k of sequence f. A dissolve from sequence g to sequence h, lasting from frame m to frame n, can therefore be described as
 
 f   k ( x,y )=α k   h ( x,y )+(1−α k ) g ( x,y )  (9)
 
     For purposes of this description, also assume that there is negligible motion from sequence g to h. For compactness, we denote f k  the vector formed by all the pixels of frame k. By (9), we can write
 
 f   a ( x,y )=α a   h ( x,y )+(1−α a ) g ( x,y )
 
 f   b ( x,y )=α b   h ( x,y )+(1−α b ) g ( x,y )
 
 f   c ( x,y )=α c   h ( x,y )+(1−α c ) g ( x,y )
 
 f   d ( x,y )=α d   h ( x,y )+(1−α d ) g ( x,y )
 
     where m&lt;a,b,c,d&lt;n, a≠b, c≠d 
     and we can derive the following equation: 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     
                       f 
                       d 
                     
                     - 
                     
                       f 
                       c 
                     
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       
                         
                           
                             α 
                             d 
                           
                           - 
                           
                             α 
                             c 
                           
                         
                         
                           
                             α 
                             b 
                           
                           - 
                           
                             α 
                             a 
                           
                         
                       
                       ⁢ 
                       
                         ( 
                         
                           
                             f 
                             b 
                           
                           - 
                           
                             f 
                             a 
                           
                         
                         ) 
                       
                     
                     = 
                     
                       β 
                       ⁡ 
                       
                         ( 
                         
                           
                             f 
                             b 
                           
                           - 
                           
                             f 
                             a 
                           
                         
                         ) 
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   10 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     By substituting the frame index into (10), we can derive the formula of WP for bi-prediction. For example if we denote the current frame index as k, the reference frame for list 0 prediction as k−l 0 , and the reference frame for list 1 prediction as k+l 1 , then from (10), we will get
 
 f   k+l     1     −f   k =β( f   k   −f   k−l     0   ),  (11)
 
so
 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     f 
                     k 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       
                         1 
                         
                           β 
                           + 
                           1 
                         
                       
                       ⁢ 
                       
                         f 
                         
                           k 
                           + 
                           
                             l 
                             1 
                           
                         
                       
                     
                     + 
                     
                       
                         β 
                         
                           β 
                           + 
                           1 
                         
                       
                       ⁢ 
                       
                         f 
                         
                           k 
                           - 
                           
                             l 
                             0 
                           
                         
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   12 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     Comparing with equation (6) (7) and (8), we can set 
     
       
         
           
             
               w 
               0 
             
             = 
             
               
                 
                   
                     2 
                     ⁢ 
                     
                         
                     
                     ⁢ 
                     β 
                   
                   
                     β 
                     + 
                     1 
                   
                 
                 ⁢ 
                 
                     
                 
                 ⁢ 
                 and 
                 ⁢ 
                 
                     
                 
                 ⁢ 
                 
                   w 
                   1 
                 
               
               = 
               
                 
                   2 
                   
                     β 
                     + 
                     1 
                   
                 
                 . 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     So the only parameter we need to estimate is β. By equation (11), we have 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   β 
                   = 
                   
                     
                       
                         
                           f 
                           
                             k 
                             + 
                             
                               l 
                               1 
                             
                           
                         
                         - 
                         
                           f 
                           k 
                         
                       
                       
                         
                           f 
                           k 
                         
                         - 
                         
                           f 
                           
                             k 
                             - 
                             
                               l 
                               0 
                             
                           
                         
                       
                     
                     . 
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   13 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     That is, β is the ratio of the picture difference, or the weighting factor. There are several ways to estimate β. 
     Method Embodiment 1: Using equation (13), a method is illustrated in which the determination of the weighting factor comprises calculating an expectation of the frame difference of a current picture with a preceding picture and also calculating an expectation of frame difference of the current picture with a subsequent picture. In the instant embodiment of the present invention, the value of β is the ratio between these two expectations. The two weights, w o  and w 1 , are computed based on β. 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   β 
                   ≈ 
                   
                     
                       
                         E 
                         ⁡ 
                         
                           ( 
                           
                             
                               f 
                               
                                 k 
                                 + 
                                 
                                   l 
                                   1 
                                 
                               
                             
                             - 
                             
                               f 
                               k 
                             
                           
                           ) 
                         
                       
                       
                         E 
                         ⁡ 
                         
                           ( 
                           
                             
                               f 
                               k 
                             
                             - 
                             
                               f 
                               
                                 k 
                                 - 
                                 
                                   l 
                                   0 
                                 
                               
                             
                           
                           ) 
                         
                       
                     
                     . 
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   14 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     Method Embodiment 2: By equation (11), linear regression in [3] or other statistical approaches as in [6] can be used. 
     Method Embodiment 3: Curve fitting can be applied. 
     When estimating β, it is not necessary to use all the pixels in the image. A subsampled image can be used to save computations. 
     In equation (10), we assume there is no motion in the sequence. To take the motion into consideration, an iterative method is used as follows. 
     Step 1: initially compute β n=0  using frame difference; 
     Step 2: n=n+1; 
     Step 3: estimate motion vector using Weighted Prediction by β n , i.e., the motion vector is estimated between current picture and weighted reference picture whose pixel value is multiplied by β n ; 
     Step 4: compute β n+1  using motion compensated frame difference; 
     Step 5: if |β n+1 −β n |&lt;ε, or n&gt;N, stop; otherwise go to Step 2. 
     After the weighting factor is computed, the optional weighting offset can be calculated using equation (6) (7). By taking expectation on both sides, we can derive the weighting offset as the average difference between current picture and weighted motion compensated reference picture
 
 o   0   =E (Sample P )− E (sample P 0· w   0 ).  (15)
 
 o   1   =E (Sample P )− E (sample P 1 ·w   1 ).  (16)
 
     These and other features and advantages of the present invention may be readily ascertained by one of ordinary skill in the pertinent art based on the teachings herein. It is to be understood that the principles of the present invention may be implemented in various forms of hardware, software, firmware, special purpose processors, or combinations thereof. 
     Most preferably, the principles of the present invention are implemented as a combination of hardware and software. Moreover, the software is preferably implemented as an application program tangibly embodied on a program storage unit. The application program may be uploaded to, and executed by, a machine comprising any suitable architecture. Preferably, the machine is implemented on a computer platform having hardware such as one or more central processing units (“CPU”), a random access memory (“RAM”), and input/output (“I/O”) interfaces. The computer platform may also include an operating system and microinstruction code. The various processes and functions described herein may be either part of the microinstruction code or part of the application program, or any combination thereof, which may be executed by a CPU. In addition, various other peripheral units may be connected to the computer platform such as an additional data storage unit and a printing unit. 
     It is to be further understood that, because some of the constituent system components and methods depicted in the accompanying drawings are preferably implemented in software, the actual connections between the system components or the process function blocks may differ depending upon the manner in which the present invention is programmed. Given the teachings herein, one of ordinary skill in the pertinent art will be able to contemplate these and similar implementations or configurations of the present invention. 
     Although the illustrative embodiments have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one of ordinary skill in the pertinent art without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.