Motion vector search apparatus and method

A motion vector search method to search for inter-frame motion vectors of motion pictures, the motion vector search method comprising:

• a target frame input step of inputting a search target frame;
• a reference frame input step of inputting as a reference frame a frame on which a motion vector search has been performed;
• a search pattern determination step of, by using each of a plurality of specific blocks set within the search target frame and each corresponding one of reference blocks set within the reference frame, performing a block matching for each of the specific blocks within a predetermined range of the reference frame and determining a search pattern for a motion vector for the entire frame according to block matching results for the plurality of specific blocks;
• and
• a motion vector searching step of executing a block matching in predetermined units of blocks on the inputted search target frame to be coded and generate motion vectors by using the search pattern determined in the search pattern determination step.

A program that renders a computer to execute a motion vector search method to search for inter-frame motion vectors of motion pictures, the motion vector search method comprising:

• a target frame input step of inputting a search target frame;
• a reference frame input step of inputting as a reference frame a frame on which a motion vector search has been performed;
• a search pattern determination step of, by using each of a plurality of specific blocks set within the search target frame and each corresponding one of reference blocks set within the reference frame, performing a block matching for each of the specific blocks within a predetermined range of the reference frame and determining a search pattern for a motion vector for the entire frame according to block matching results for the plurality of specific blocks;
• and
• a motion vector searching step of executing a block matching in predetermined units of blocks on the inputted search target frame to be coded and generate motion vectors by using the search pattern determined in the search pattern determination step.
• further comprising a search pattern storage component that stores a plurality of search patterns, wherein the search pattern storage component selects an optimum search patterns among the plurality of search patterns stored in the search pattern storage component according to a matching result obtained for the plurality of specific blocks.

A recording medium that store a program that renders a computer to execute a motion vector search method to search for inter-frame motion vectors of motion pictures, the motion vector search method comprising:

• a target frame input step of inputting a search target frame;
• a reference frame input step of inputting as a reference frame a frame on which a motion vector search has been performed;
• a search pattern determination step of, by using each of a plurality of specific blocks set within the search target frame and each corresponding one of reference blocks set within the reference frame, performing a block matching for each of the specific blocks within a predetermined range of the reference frame and determining a search pattern for a motion vector for the entire frame according to block matching results for the plurality of specific blocks;
• and
• a motion vector searching step of executing a block matching in predetermined units of blocks on the inputted search target frame to be coded and generate motion vectors by using the search pattern determined in the search pattern determination step.