High quality, low memory bandwidth motion estimation processor

A method for motion estimation, comprising the steps of:

• (A) copying a plurality of first reference samples of a first reference image from an external memory to a first circuit, said first reference samples having a first offset from a first corner of said first reference image;
• (B) generating a first motion vector corresponding to a first current block of a current image by searching among said first reference samples using said first circuit;
• (C) copying a plurality of second reference samples of said first reference image from said external memory to a second circuit, said second reference samples being proximate a second offset from said first corner of said first reference image, said second offset being different than said first offset and said second reference samples being non-adjacent said first reference samples;
• and
• (D) generating a second motion vector corresponding to said first current block by searching among said second reference samples using said second circuit, wherein (i) said first offset comprises a small offset pointing to a first position in said first reference image, said first position being approximately co-located with a center of said first current block and (ii) said second offset comprises a large offset pointing to a second position in said first reference image, said second position being distant from said first position and said second position corresponding to a global offset associated with fast moving data in said current image.

An apparatus comprising:

• means for storing a first reference image;
• means for (i) copying a plurality of first reference samples of said first reference image from said means for storing, said first reference samples being proximate a first offset from a first corner of said first reference image and (ii) generate a first motion vector corresponding to a first current block of a current image by searching among said first reference samples;
• and
• means for (i) copying a plurality of second reference samples of said first reference image from said means for storing, said second reference samples being proximate a second offset from said first corner of said first reference image, said second offset being different than said first offset and said second reference samples being non-adjacent said first reference samples and (ii) generating a second motion vector corresponding to said first current block by searching among said second reference samples, wherein (i) said first offset comprises a small offset pointing to a first position in said first reference image, said first position being approximately co-located with a center of said first current block and (ii) said second offset comprises a large offset pointing to a second position in said first reference image, said second position being distant from said first position and said second position corresponding to a global offset associated with fast moving data in said current image.