Method and apparatus for performing high quality fast predictive motion search

A method for performing a fast predictive motion search in a video encoder system using block-based motion estimation, comprising:

• determining a plurality of motion vector predictors;
• performing a search pattern on at least one of the plurality of motion vector predictors after obtaining the plurality of motion vector predictors;
• determining a best motion vector having a difference metric higher than a predetermined threshold;
• and
• performing a new search pattern around a new set of motion vector predictors.

A method for performing a fast predictive motion search in a video encoder system using block-based motion estimation, comprising:

• performing a search pattern around a motion vector predictor;
• determining a current difference metric for a current motion vector;
• comparing the current difference metric to a previous minimum difference metric;
• setting a new minimum difference metric if the current difference metric is below the previous minimum difference metric;
• and
• terminating the search pattern if the difference metric exceeds the previous minimum metric by a predetermined amount.

A method for performing fast predictive motion search in a video encoder system using motion vectors representing the difference in coordinates of a macroblock of data in a current frame of video data and coordinates of a related macroblock of data in a reference frame of video data, comprising:

• defining a search pattern that is more extensive in a horizontal direction than in a vertical direction;
• performing a candidate search based on the defined search pattern;
• and
• determining a final motion vector.

A method for performing a fast predictive motion search in a video encoder system using block-based motion estimation, comprising:

• determining a plurality of motion vector predictors in a first stage;
• performing a search pattern on at least one of the plurality of motion vector predictors in the first stage;
• determining a best motion vector predictor;
• and
• performing a new search pattern around the best motion vector predictor in a second stage.