Motion parameter engine for true motion

A method of estimating local motion in a video programmed in a memory of a device comprising:

• determining motion in the video to be local motion;
• phase correlating a first extended block and a second extended block to determine one or more motion vector candidates, wherein the first extended block corresponds to a reference block from a previous frame and the second extended block corresponds to a current block from a current frame, further wherein the first extended block is a first block larger than the reference block and the second extended block is a second block larger than the current block, further wherein Fast Fourier Transforms are carried out on the first extended block and the second extended block;
• refining the one or more motion vector candidates by searching neighboring pixel positions;
• implementing a variable block search using the one or more motion vector candidates to determine a best motion vector, wherein the best motion vector has a lowest computation cost function relative to a pre-defined threshold, wherein implementing the variable block search comprises:
• splitting the current block into a set of 8 pixel×8 pixel blocks;
• performing an 8 pixel×8 pixel block search;
• else performing a 4 pixel×4 pixel block search, if the 8 pixel×8 pixel block search does not determine the best motion vector;
• and
• else performing a 2 pixel×2 pixel block search, if the 4 pixel×4 pixel block search does not determine the best motion vector;
• implementing a predictive motion vector search to ensure the best motion represents true motion;
• temporally tracking to determine whether the best motion vector is in motion;
• and
• refining the best motion vector by searching the neighboring pixel positions.

An apparatus for acquiring video and estimating local motion within the video, comprising:

• a non-transitory memory for storing an application, the application configured for:
• phase correlating a first extended block and a second extended block to determine one or more motion vector candidates, further wherein the first extended block is a first block larger than the reference block and the second extended block is a second block larger than the current block, further wherein Fast Fourier Transforms are carried out on the first extended block and the second extended block;
• implementing a variable block search using the one or more motion vector candidates to determine a best motion vector, wherein the best motion vector has a lowest computation cost function relative to a pre-defined threshold, wherein implementing the variable block search comprises:
• splitting the current block into a set of 8 pixel×8 pixel blocks;
• performing an 8 pixel×8 pixel block search;
• else performing a 4 pixel×4 pixel block search, if the 8 pixel×8 pixel block search does not determine the best motion vector;
• and
• else performing a 2 pixel×2 pixel block search, if the 4 pixel×4 pixel block search does not determine the best motion vector;
• and
• implementing a predictive motion vector search to ensure the best motion vector represents true motion;
• and
• a processor for executing the application.

A method of estimating local motion in a video for each target block programmed in a memory of a device comprising:

• generating an extended block for phase correlation calculation, wherein the extended block is a block larger than a target block;
• determining motion vector candidates;
• splitting each target block into 8 pixel×8 pixel blocks and finding an associated motion vector from the motion vector candidates;
• and
• applying a variable block search if the associated motion vector is not found, wherein implementing the variable block search comprises:
• performing an 8 pixel×8 pixel block search;
• else performing a 4 pixel×4 pixel block search, if the 8 pixel×8 pixel block search does not determine the best motion vector;
• and
• else performing a 2 pixel×2 pixel block search, if the 4 pixel×4 pixel block search does not determine the best motion vector.

A method of estimating local motion in a video programmed in a memory of a device comprising:

• phase correlating a first extended block and a second extended block to determine one or more motion vector candidates, wherein the first extended block is a first block larger than a reference block and the second extended block is a second block larger than a current block, further wherein Fast Fourier Transforms are carried out on the first extended block and the second extended block;
• implementing a variable block search using the one or more motion vector candidates to determine a best motion vector, wherein the best motion vector has a lowest computation cost function relative to a pre-defined threshold, and further wherein the variable block search includes:
• splitting a target block into a set of 8 pixel×8 pixel blocks;
• performing an 8 pixel×8 pixel block search;
• else performing a 4 pixel×4 pixel block search, if the 8 pixel×8 pixel block search does not determine the best motion vector;
• and
• else performing a 2 pixel×2 pixel block search using the motion vector candidates and a predictive motion vector, if the 4 pixel×4 pixel block search does not determine the best motion vector;
• and
• implementing a predictive motion vector search and temporal tracking to ensure the best motion vector represents true motion.