Frame boundary artifacts removal

A motion-compensation predictor for video data, comprising:

• a predictor operable according to a plurality of coding modes including a skip mode,
• a pixel block coder having an input for pixel blocks of video data, and pixel blocks of reference pictures selected by the predictor, and
• a controller for controlling the predictor when the predictor selects skip mode prediction as a coding mode for an input pixel block of a frame to be coded by motion prediction, by:
• estimating a portion of a reference frame to be used as a prediction reference for the input pixel block according to an motion vector interpolated according to the skip mode;
• determining an amount of the portion that extends beyond an edge of the reference frame;
• when the amount does not exceed a threshold, coding the input pixel block according to the skip mode;
• and
• when the amount exceeds the threshold, partitioning the input pixel block into a plurality of smaller pixel blocks, and coding the plurality of smaller pixel blocks with motion prediction.

A non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause:

• when skip mode prediction is selected as a coding mode for an input pixel block of a frame to be coded by motion prediction:
• estimating a portion of a reference frame to be used as a prediction reference for the input pixel block according to a motion vector interpolated according to the skip mode;
• determining an amount of the portion that extends beyond an edge of the reference frame;
• when the amount does not exceed a threshold, coding the input pixel block according to the skip mode;
• and
• when the amount exceeds the threshold:
• partitioning the input pixel block into a plurality of smaller pixel blocks;
• and;
• coding the plurality of smaller pixel blocks with motion prediction.