Patent ID: 8228997

Claim:
A method of scanning a search area of reference pixel data to identify a reference macroblock of pixels with a closest pixel fit to a current macroblock of pixels, comprising: a) loading a local memory array with reference pixel data from the search area, the local memory array including N extra rows or columns in addition to a number of rows or columns used to store N reference macroblocks of pixels; b) using the reference pixel data loaded in the local memory array to compare N reference macroblocks of pixels with the current macroblock of pixels to track a reference macroblock of pixels that most closely matches the current macroblock of pixels; c) shifting the reference pixel data in the local memory array in a first direction and loading one new row or column of reference pixel data into the local memory array; d) if an end of a row or column in the search area has not been reached, then returning to step b; e) if an end of a row or column in the search area has been reached, then using the reference pixel data loaded in the local memory array to compare 2N reference macroblocks of pixels with the current macroblock of pixels to track the reference macroblock of pixels that most closely matches the current macroblock of pixels; and shifting the reference pixel data in the local memory array in both the first direction and a second direction, loading one new row or column of reference pixel data into the local memory array, and returning to step b.