Patent ID: 7609763

Claim:
In a computing device that implements a video decoder, the computing device including a processor and memory, a method of decoding images in a sequence of video images, the method comprising: receiving and decoding, with the computing device that implements the video decoder, a code in a bit stream to determine a fraction for a current image in the sequence, wherein the fraction represents an estimated temporal distance position for the current image relative to an interval between a first reference image for the current image and a second reference image for the current image, and wherein the determination of the fraction is independent of actual temporal distance positions of the respective reference images; and for motion compensation for a direct mode macroblock in the current image, with the computing device that implements the video decoder, processing the fraction along with a motion vector for a co-located macroblock in the first reference image, wherein the motion vector represents motion in the first reference image relative to the second reference image, and wherein the processing the fraction along with the motion vector results in a representation of motion for the direct mode macroblock in the current image relative to the first reference image and relative to the second reference image.