Methods and systems for using motion estimation regions in encoding pictures associated with video data

A system comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• divide a coding unit (CU) of a picture into a first motion estimation region (MER) and a second MER, the CU larger in size than the first MER and the second MER;
• perform one or more first motion searches for the first MER and the second MER to determine a first motion vector (MV) for the first MER and a second MV for the second MER, wherein:
• the one or more first motion searches are based on a first cost to predict the first MV and a second cost to predict the second MV;
• the one or more first motion searches includes a first predictor search, a first integer-pel search, and a first fractional-pel search based on a first set of search points of the first MV;
• the first fractional-pel search includes an area bounded by eight neighbor integer-pel positions around a best integer-pel position determined from the first integer-pel search;
• and
• the first cost and the second cost are determined based on a penalty component and a distortion component;
• perform one or more second motion searches for the CU to determine a selected MV from one of the first MV and the second MV based on which one of the first cost and the second cost is lower;
• perform a sub-pel refinement using the selected MV to determine a refined MV;
• and
• encode the CU in the picture using the refined MV;
• and
• memory communicatively associated with the processor and configured to store a first candidate list generated based on a first number of the one or more first motion searches and a second candidate list generated based on a second number of the one or more second motion searches.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a set of instructions that when executed cause a computer to at least:

• divide coding unit (CU) of a picture into a first motion estimation region (MER) and a second MER, the CU larger in size than the first MER and the second MER;
• perform a first motion search for the first MER and the second MER to determine a first motion vector (MV) for the first MER and a second MV for the second MER, wherein:
• the first motion search is based on a first cost to predict the first MV and a second cost to predict the second MV;
• the first motion search for the first MER includes a first predictor search, a first integer-pel search, and a first fractional-pel search based on a first set of search points of the first MV;
• the first fractional-pel search includes an area bounded by eight neighbor integer-pel positions around a best integer-pel position determined from the first integer-pel search;
• and
• the first cost and the second cost are determined based on a penalty component and a distortion component;
• and
• perform a second motion search for the CU to determine a selected MV from one of the first MV and the second MV based on which one of the first cost and the second cost is lower;
• perform a sub-pel refinement using the selected MV to determine a refined MV;
• and
• encode the CU in the picture using the refined MV.