Motion estimation coprocessor
AssigneesArray Microsystems, Inc., Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
InventorsThomas G. Kopet, Gerry C. Lui Kuo, Stephen D. Lew
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A motion estimation coprocessor for use in a video data system. The motion estimation coprocessor may be used with a video memory that subdivides a P row.times.Q column image of pixels into several pages. The page structure enables efficient loading of video data into the coprocessor. The motion estimation coprocessor may perform several block matches simultaneously. The motion estimation coprocessor may perform exhaustive block matching or use a hierarchical search.
Claims12
An apparatus for motion video compression comprising:
- an image compression coprocessor for outputting a data token describing a current frame;
- a video memory for storing video image data in a physical array of P rows and Q columns;
- and
- a motion estimation coprocessor coupled to said image compression coprocessor and to said video memory and including:
- means for retrieving a plurality of search windows from said video memory;
- means, coupled to said means for retrieving, for comparing said current frame to said plurality of search windows and for identifying a best matched block and for computing a vector describing a difference between said best matched block and said current frame;
- and
- means, coupled to Said means for comparing, for outputting to said image compression coprocessor an output token including both said vector and said best matched block.
In a motion estimation processor, a device for storing a P row by Q column image of M bit pixels comprising:
- a P/J row by K column array of pages wherein each of said pages comprises an j row by N column block:
- and
- wherein Q=N*K for K=an integer.
In a video data system having a video memory of P rows by Q columns, a method for motion estimation comprising the steps of:
- receiving a current image data frame;
- storing a odd numbered rows of said P rows in a first memory and even numbered rows of said P rows in a second memory;
- addressing said first and said second memories to obtain a search window;
- computing a mean absolute difference between said search window and said current image data frame;
- and
- outputting a motion vector and a best match block.
In a video system having a video memory for storing image data, a method for motion estimation processing comprising the steps of:
- receiving a current image of pixel data;
- retrieving a full resolution search window of video image data from said video memory;
- decimation filtering said search window to obtain a reduced resolution search window;
- and
- block matching said current image and said reduced resolution search window.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.