Pixel block correlation process

In a block matching motion estimation method for estimating motion of corresponding pixels between first and second video image frames, a method of determining correlations between plural reference pixel blocks of multiple pixels and a sample pixel block of multiple sample pixels in the second video image frame, each reference pixel block being relative to a reference pixel in the first video image frame, comprising:

• defining within the reference and sample pixel blocks respective reference and sample subsets of multiple pixels;
• determining and storing correlations between the sample and reference subsets, including determining first and second correlations between the sample subsets and the reference subsets of preceding reference pixel blocks and subsequent reference pixel blocks, respectively;
• and
• identifying from the correlations first sample pixels corresponding to the reference pixels.

A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable programming for estimating motion of corresponding pixels between first and second video image frames by determining correlations between plural reference pixel blocks of multiple pixels in the first video image frame and a sample pixel block of multiple sample pixels in the second video image frame, each reference pixel block being relative to a reference pixel in the first video image frame, the medium comprising:

• programming for defining within the reference and sample pixel blocks respective reference and sample subsets of multiple pixels;
• programming for determining and storing correlations between the sample and reference subsets;
• programming for determining first and second correlations between the sample subsets and the reference subsets of preceding reference pixel blocks and subsequent reference pixel blocks, respectively;
• and
• programming for identifying from the correlations first sample pixels corresponding to the reference pixels.

A data structure stored on a computer-readable medium and representing an estimation of motion of corresponding pixels between first and second video image frames, the first video image frame including first and second reference pixels relative to which respective first and second reference pixel blocks are defined, and the second video image frame including a sample pixel block of multiple sample pixels comprising:

• reference and sample pixel block subset data representing multiple pixel subsets of the reference and sample pixel blocks;
• and
• subset correlation data representing correlations between the multiple pixel subsets of the reference and sample pixel blocks;
• wherein during a data processing operation to find a match between a group of pixels in the sample pixel block and the second reference pixel block, the subset correlation data for a previous sample the first reference pixel block is retrieved and used to find the match to avoid having to re-compute the subset correlation data for the sample second reference pixel block.

In a block matching motion estimation method for estimating motion of corresponding pixels between first and second video image frames, a method of determining correlations between plural reference pixel blocks of multiple pixels in the first image frame and a sample pixel block of multiple sample pixels in the second video image frame, each reference pixel block being relative to a reference pixel in the first video image frame, the method comprising:

• defining within the reference and sample pixel blocks respective reference and sample subsets of multiple pixels;
• determining and storing subset correlations between the sample and reference subsets where the subset correlations include a first subset correlation between a sample subset in the sample block and a reference subset in a first reference pixel block;
• and
• for a second reference pixel block, finding a best matching reference block in the sample pixel block by retrieving and using the first subset correlation computed for the first reference pixel block to find the best matching block for the second block in the sample block without having to re-compute the first subset correlation for the second reference pixel block.

A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable programming for estimating motion of corresponding pixels between first and second video image frames by determining correlations between plural reference pixel blocks of multiple pixels in the first video image frame and a sample pixel block of multiple sample pixels in the second video image frame, each reference pixel block being relative to a reference pixel in the first video image frame, the medium comprising:

• programming for defining within the reference and sample pixel blocks respective reference and sample subsets of multiple pixels;
• programming for determining and storing subset correlations between the sample and reference subsets where the subset correlations include a first subset correlation between a sample subset in the sample block and a reference subset in a first reference pixel block;
• and
• programming for finding a best matching pixel block in the sample pixel block for a second reference pixel block by retrieving and using the first subset correlation to find the best matching pixel block without having to recompute the first subset correlation for the second reference pixel block.