Patent ID: 7408988

Claim:
A method for motion estimating, comprising the steps of: (A) generating a first interpolated block having a sub-pixel resolution in response to a first interpolation process operating on a reference block of a reference frame of a video signal having an integer pixel resolution, wherein each of a plurality of first pixels in said first interpolated block is calculated directly from a plurality of reference pixels in said reference block; (B) generating a motion vector having said sub-pixel resolution in response to said first interpolated block and a current block of a current frame of said video signal having said integer pixel resolution; and (C) generating a second interpolated block having said sub-pixel resolution in response to a second interpolation process operating on said reference block around said motion vector after said motion vector has been determined at said sub-pixel resolution, wherein (i) said second interpolation process is different than said first interpolation process and (ii) said second interpolation process operates on a greater number of neighboring pixels to generate each of a plurality of second interpolated pixels in said second interpolated block than said first interpolation process operates on to generate each of a plurality of first interpolated pixels in said first interpolated block.