Patent ID: 8243804

Claim:
A method for implementing motion estimation in an encoder device, comprising the steps of: (A) performing a first stage motion estimation search during inter-prediction on one or more first search blocks of sub-sampled images to generate a first plurality of motion vector scores, wherein said sub-sampled images comprise a resolution less than a full resolution of one or more source images; (B) applying a first adjustable bias to any one or more of said first plurality of motion vector scores with a lowest sum of absolute differences score; (C) selecting a motion vector with a lowest adjusted score in response to applying said first adjustable bias; (D) performing a second stage motion estimation search on one or more second search blocks of non-sub-sampled images to generate a second plurality of motion vector scores with a selected motion vector with said lowest adjusted score, wherein (i) said non-sub-sampled images comprise a full resolution of said source images and (ii) said one or more second search blocks are determined based on said selected motion vector; (E) applying a second adjustable bias to any one or more of said second plurality of motion vector scores with the lowest sum of absolute differences score, wherein said second adjustable bias is calculated using statistical analysis of a displacement error between one or more target frames and reference frames after applying the results of step (D); and (F) selecting a final motion vector from the results of step (B) or step (E) to be presented as part of a bitstream by said encoder for each target block position.