Patent ID: 8379722

Claim:
In a computing device that implements a video encoder, a method for use in encoding video data, the method comprising: within a sequence of video pictures, selecting a current video picture to be encoded as a B-picture; dividing the current video picture into portions and, from among the portions, selecting a current direct mode portion to be encoded using spatial motion vector prediction; and with the computing device that implements the video encoder, encoding the current direct mode portion, including: determining a first reference picture for said current direct mode portion, wherein the first reference picture is selected from a first reference picture list, and wherein the selection of the first reference picture comprises determining a first minimum reference picture index among reference picture indices of plural surrounding portions of the current video picture for the first reference picture list; assigning a first predicted motion vector to said current direct mode portion using spatial motion vector prediction, said first predicted motion vector referencing data associated with said first reference picture, wherein said first predicted motion vector is not based on a temporal interpolation interpolation of motion vectors used for encoding said first reference picture, wherein said first predicted motion vector is selected from first motion vector data for the plural surrounding portions of the current video picture, and wherein the selection of the first predicted motion vector comprises determining median values of the first motion vector data for the plural surrounding portions; determining a second reference picture for said current direct mode portion, wherein the second reference picture is selected from a second reference picture list, and wherein the selection of the second reference picture comprises determining a second minimum reference picture index among reference picture indices of the plural surrounding portions for the second reference picture list; assigning a second predicted motion vector to said current direct mode portion using spatial motion vector prediction, said second predicted motion vector referencing data associated with said second reference picture, wherein said second predicted motion vector is selected from second motion vector data for the plural surrounding portions of the current video picture, and wherein the selection of the second predicted motion vector comprises determining median values of the second motion vector data for the plural surrounding portions; and performing motion compensation for said current direct mode portion.