US 6,005,980 A · Motion estimation and compensation of video object planes for interlaced digital video

Abstract

A motion estimation and compensation technique is provided for interlaced digital video such as video object planes (VOPs). Predictor motion vectors for use in differentially encoding a current field coded macroblock are obtained using the median of motion vectors of surrounding blocks or macroblocks. When a surrounding macroblock is itself interlaced coded, an average motion vector for that macroblock is used, with fractional pixel values being mapped to the half-pixel. When the current block is not interlaced coded but a surrounding block is, the field motion vectors may be used individually or averaged. In a repetitive padding technique for an interlaced coded VOP, the even and odd lines of the VOP and surrounding block are grouped. Within each field, exterior pixels are padded by setting them to the value of the nearest boundary pixel, or to an average of two boundary pixels. The lines are then reordered to provide a single padded reference VOP image.

Claims54

Dependent claims

A method for providing horizontal and vertical motion vector components for use in differentially encoding respective horizontal and vertical motion vector components of a current block of a digital video image, wherein:

candidate first, second and third blocks have associated horizontal and vertical motion vector components;
said first block being at least a portion of a first macroblock which immediately precedes said current block in a current row;
said second block being at least a portion of a second macroblock which is immediately above said current block in a preceding row;
said third block being at least a portion of a third macroblock which immediately follows said second macroblock in said preceding row;
and
at least one of said first, second and third candidate blocks and said current block is field-coded;
said method comprising at least one of the steps of:
(a) selecting a horizontal motion vector component for use in differentially encoding the horizontal motion vector component of said current block according to a value derived from the horizontal motion vector components of said first, second and third candidate blocks;
and
(b) selecting a vertical motion vector component for use in differentially encoding the vertical motion vector component of said current block according to a value derived from the vertical motion vector components of said first, second and third candidate blocks.

7 more elements

A method for decoding a current block of digital video image data, said current block having associated differentially encoded horizontal and vertical motion vector components, comprising at least one of the steps of:

(a) determining a horizontal motion vector component used in differentially encoding said horizontal motion vector component of said current block according to a value based on horizontal motion vector components of first, second and third candidate blocks;
and
(b) determining a vertical motion vector component used in differentially encoding a vertical motion vector component of said current block according to a value based on vertical motion vector components of said first, second and third candidate blocks;
wherein:
said first block is at least a portion of a first macroblock which immediately precedes said current block in a current row;
said second block is at least a portion of a second macroblock which is immediately above said current block in a preceding row;
said third block is at least a portion of a third macroblock which immediately follows said second macroblock in said preceding row;
and
at least one of said first, second and third candidate blocks and said current block is field coded.

6 more elements

An apparatus for providing horizontal and vertical motion vector components for use in differentially encoding respective horizontal and vertical motion vector components of a current block of a digital video image, wherein:

candidate first, second and third blocks have associated horizontal and vertical motion vector components;
said first block being at least a portion of a first macroblock which immediately precedes said current block in a current row;
said second block being at least a portion of a second macroblock which is immediately above said current block in a preceding row;
said third block being at least a portion of a third macroblock which immediately follows said second macroblock in said preceding row;
and
at least one of said first, second and third candidate blocks and said current block is field coded;
said apparatus comprising at least one of:
(a) means for selecting a horizontal motion vector component for use in differentially encoding the horizontal motion vector component of said current block according to a value derived from the horizontal motion vector components of said first, second and third candidate blocks;
and
(b) means for selecting a vertical motion vector component for use in differentially encoding the vertical motion vector component of said current block according to a value derived from the vertical motion vector components of said first, second and third candidate blocks.

7 more elements

An apparatus for decoding a current block of digital video image data, said current block having associated differentially encoded horizontal and vertical motion vector components, comprising at least one of:

(a) means for determining a horizontal motion vector component used in differentially encoding said horizontal motion vector component of said current block according to a value based on horizontal motion vector components of first, second and third candidate blocks;
and
(b) means for determining a vertical motion vector component used in differentially encoding a vertical motion vector component of said current block according to a value based on vertical motion vector components of said first, second and third candidate blocks;
wherein:
said first block is at least a portion of a first macroblock which immediately precedes said current block in a current row;
said second block is at least a portion of a second macroblock which is immediately above said current block in a preceding row;
said third block is at least a portion of a third macroblock which immediately follows said second macroblock in said preceding row;
and
at least one of said first, second and third candidate blocks and said current block is field coded.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Motion estimation and compensation of video object planes for interlaced digital video

Life of this patent

Motion estimation and compensation of video object planes for interlaced digital video

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims54