Block selection using motion estimation error

An apparatus for encoding a current block of pixels of a current picture of a sequence of pictures, the sequence of pictures comprises a previous picture having a previous reference block and a subsequent picture having a subsequent reference block, the apparatus comprises:

• (a) means for determining a previous residual error between the current block and the previous reference block;
• (b) means for determining a subsequent residual error between the current block and the subsequent reference block;
• (c) means for defining at least one interpolated picture interpolated between the previous and subsequent pictures, the interpolated picture having an interpolated reference block;
• and
• (d) means for determining, from the previous and subsequent residual errors, an interpolated residual error between the current block and the at least one interpolated reference block, wherein the interpolated residual error is for reproducing said current block from the said interpolated reference block.

A storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer program code for encoding a current block of pixels of a current picture of a sequence of pictures, the sequence of pictures comprising a previous picture having a previous reference block and a subsequent picture having a subsequent reference block, the storage medium comprising:

• (a) means for causing a computer to determine a previous residual error between the current block and the previous reference block;
• (b) means for causing the computer to determine a subsequent residual error between the current block and the subsequent reference block;
• and
• (c) means for causing the computer to determine, from the previous and subsequent residual errors, an interpolated residual error between the current block and an interpolated reference block of at least one interpolated picture interpolated between the previous and subsequent pictures, wherein the interpolated residual error is for reproducing said current block from said interpolated reference block.