Video pre-processing method and apparatus for motion estimation

A video pre-processing apparatus for motion estimation, comprising

• a similarity description module for receiving a first image in a video, the first image consisting of a plurality of first blocks, for calculating a similarity descriptor of each of the first blocks, and for calculating a similarity descriptor of a second block of a second image in the video, the second block corresponding to a reference block among the first blocks;
• a storage module coupled with the similarity description module and for storing the similarity descriptor of each of the first blocks;
• a verdict module coupled with the storage module and for reaching a verdict on whether the similarity descriptor of the second block and the similarity descriptor of the reference block are identical;
• and
• a motion estimation module subject to the verdict and for performing motion estimation on the second block;
• wherein each of the first blocks corresponds to one of a plurality of first pixel matrices, the similarity descriptor of each of the first blocks is configured to indicate whether a plurality of pixel values of at least one pair of adjacent pixels in the corresponding first pixel matrix are identical, the second block corresponds to a second pixel matrix, and the similarity descriptor of the second block is configured to indicate whether a plurality of pixel values of at least one pair of adjacent pixels in the second pixel matrix are identical.