Patent ID: 6954502

Claim:
An encoder for performing motion compensated encoding of video information, said encoder being arranged to derive prediction motion coefficients for blocks within a macroblock of a video frame being encoded from motion coefficients of at least one prediction block that is a previously encoded macroblock or block within said video frame, the encoder being further arranged to: specify a certain number of available macroblock segmentations that define possible ways in which a macroblock can be segmented into blocks; specify at least one available prediction method for each available macroblock segmentation, thereby providing a certain finite number of available macroblock-segmentation—prediction-method pairs, each prediction method defining a method for deriving prediction motion coefficients for blocks within a macroblock using motion coefficients of at least one prediction block; select a macroblock-segmentation—prediction method pair among the available macroblock-segmentation—prediction method pairs; segment a macroblock using the macroblock segmentation specified by the selected macroblock-segmentation—prediction-method pair; and derive prediction motion coefficients for blocks within said macroblock using the prediction method specified by the selected macroblock-segmentation—prediction-method pair.