Patent ID: 7801215

Claim:
A method of encoding a digital video image by estimating a frame-to-frame motion vector of a digital image macroblock, comprising: using a computer processor for partitioning a current frame into non-overlapping macroblocks; using the computer processor for computing a motion estimation termination threshold for a current macroblock using macroblock parameters; using the computer processor for selecting an initial motion vector for the current macroblock using spatio-temporal neighboring macroblock parameters; using the computer processor for determining an initial distortion for the current macroblock by computing a sum of absolute difference using the selected initial motion vector and an associated reference macroblock; using the computer processor for comparing the computed initial distortion to the computed motion estimation termination threshold; and using the computer processor for encoding the current macroblock based on the outcome of the comparison; wherein encoding the current macroblock based on the outcome of the comparison, comprises: if the computed initial distortion is less than the computed motion estimation termination threshold, then using the computer processor for selecting an inter coding mode for encoding the current macroblock and choosing the selected initial motion vector as the representative motion vector for the current macroblock; if the computed initial distortion is greater than or equal to the computed motion estimation termination threshold, then using the computer processor for computing the sum of absolute difference values at each of the equidistant motion vector positions from the initial motion vector; using the computer processor for determining a minimum sum of absolute difference value from the computed sum of absolute difference values; and using the computer processor for comparing the determined minimum sum of absolute difference value to the motion estimation termination threshold and encoding the current macroblock based on the outcome of the comparison.