Predictive mode reduction and selective pixel matching based motion estimation algorithm for H.264
Huanqiang Zeng, Canhui Cai, Sanjit K. Mitra · 2007
Motion estimation (ME) algorithm is used in H.264 to improve the coding efficiency. However, it results in very high computational load. In this paper, a novel fast ME algorithm with reduced computational complexity is proposed. First, a predictive mode reduction method is used to free the encoder from checking the small block types in the homogeneous region. Second, a selective pixel matching scheme and a simplified optimal reference frame discrimination strategy are employed to find the best full-pixel motion vector. Finally, direction based selection rule is utilized to diminish the searching points in sub-pixel ME process. Experimental results have shown that the proposed algorithm achieves a reduction of 87% ME process time on average, while incurring only 0.033 dB loss in PSNR and 0.56% increment on the total bit rate compared with that of exhaustive ME process, which is a default approach set in the JM reference software.