Patent ID: 7852940

Claim:
A video encoding method comprising: defining a search space comprising at least a portion of an array of video blocks within a video frame previous to a current video frame to be encoded, wherein said video blocks are arranged in an array within the search space; defining an anchor point within the array of video blocks, wherein the anchor point is a central point anchored at an initial motion vector prediction; defining multiple concentric regions within the search space wherein each video block within the video frame comprises an array of pixels, addressable using coordinates and wherein the perimeter of the multiple concentric regions cross or encompass one or more video blocks, said multiple concentric regions centered at the anchor point wherein defining the concentric regions comprises: determining whether computing power available to the video encoding system at the time of the search space is sufficient to extend the search space outward to the next concentric region of the video frame previous to the current video frame; and iteratively expanding the search space outward by increasing the number of the concentric regions based on the determination; evaluating, using a processor of the video encoding system, video blocks associated with the concentric regions to identify a video block yielding a minimum difference value relative to a current video block to be encoded; and encoding the current video block with a motion vector based on the identified video block.