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US 8,576,911 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for motion estimation
AssigneeSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
InventorsYoon-hee Choi, Yeong-kyeong Seong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An efficient method of motion estimation is provided. The method includes receiving a plurality of macroblocks in a reference frame, wherein the plurality of macroblocks are used for motion estimation related to a current frame, and performing the motion estimation for a plurality of macroblocks in the current frame by using the received plurality of macroblocks in the reference frame.
Claims18
A method of motion estimation, the method comprising:
- receiving a first plurality of macroblocks in a reference frame at one time, wherein the first plurality of macroblocks are to be used for motion estimation related to a current frame;
- and
- performing the motion estimation for a second plurality of macroblocks in the current frame by using the received first plurality of macroblocks in the reference frame,
- wherein any additional portion of the reference frame is received only after a time when the first plurality of macroblocks in the reference frame are used for movement estimation for the second plurality of macroblocks,
- wherein the performing of the motion estimation comprises:
- calculating a first similarity between a first macroblock in the current frame and the received first plurality of macroblocks in the reference frame, and searching for a second macroblock having a first highest similarity to the first macroblock, in the first plurality of macroblocks;
- comparing a second similarity between the second macroblock and the first macroblock with a third similarity between a third macroblock having a second highest similarity in a previously received reference frame and the first macroblock;
- and
- selectively updating information related to a fourth similarity of a macroblock in the reference frame having a third highest similarity to the first macroblock, to information related to the second similarity of the second macroblock based on a result of the comparing,
- wherein the information related to the fourth similarity of the macroblock having a third highest similarity is information on the third macroblock.
7 more elements
A method of performing motion estimation by using a parallel processor, the method comprising:
- loading a first plurality of macroblocks in a reference frame into a storage space in the parallel processor at one time, wherein the first plurality of macroblocks are to be used for performing motion estimation related to a second plurality of macroblocks in a current frame;
- and
- performing calculation for the motion estimation related to the second plurality of macroblocks in the current frame, by using the loaded first plurality of macroblocks in the reference frame,
- wherein any additional portion of the reference frame is received only after a time when the first plurality of macroblocks in the reference frame are used for movement estimation for the second plurality of macroblocks,
- wherein the performing of the calculation comprises:
- calculating a first similarity between a first macroblock in the current frame and the loaded first plurality of macroblocks in the reference frame, and searching for a second macroblock having a first highest similarity to the first macroblock, in the first plurality of macroblocks;
- comparing a second similarity between the second macroblock and the first macroblock with a third similarity between a third macroblock having a second highest similarity in a previously received reference frame and the first macroblock;
- and
- selectively updating information related to a fourth similarity of a macroblock in the reference frame having a third highest similarity to the first macroblock, to information related to the second similarity of the second macroblock based on a result of the comparing,
- wherein the information related to the fourth similarity of the macroblock having a third highest similarity is information on the third macroblock.
7 more elements
A motion estimation apparatus comprising:
- a reception unit which receives a first plurality of macroblocks in a reference frame at one time, wherein the first plurality of macroblocks are to be used for motion estimation related to a current frame;
- and
- a motion estimation unit which performs motion estimation for a second plurality of macroblocks in the current frame by using the received first plurality of macroblocks in the reference frame,
- wherein any additional portion of the reference frame is received only after a time when the first plurality of macroblocks in the reference frame are used for movement estimation for the second plurality of macroblocks, and
- wherein the motion estimation unit comprises:
- a search unit which calculates a first similarity between a first macroblock in the current frame and the received first plurality of macroblocks in the reference frame, and searching for a second macroblock having a first highest similarity to the first macroblock, in the first plurality of macroblocks;
- a storage unit which stores information related to a second similarity of a third macroblock having a second highest similarity in a previously received reference frame;
- a comparison unit which compares the first highest similarity between the second macroblock and the first macroblock with a third similarity of the third macroblock and the first macroblock based on a calculated similarity and stored information related to the second similarity of the third macroblock;
- and
- a control unit controlling which selectively updates the stored information related to the second similarity of the third macroblock in the storage unit to information related to a fourth similarity of the second macroblock, based on a result of the comparison.
7 more elements
An apparatus for performing motion estimation by using a parallel processor, the apparatus comprising:
- a storage unit to which a first plurality of macroblocks in a reference frame are loaded at one time, wherein the first plurality of macroblocks are to be used for motion estimation related to a second plurality of macroblocks in a current frame, and wherein the storage unit is in the parallel processor;
- and
- a calculation unit which performs a calculation for the motion estimation related to the second plurality of macroblocks in the current frame, by using the loaded first plurality of macroblocks in the reference frame,
- wherein the calculation unit performs the calculation for the motion estimation such that loading any additional portion of the reference frame only occurs after a time when the first plurality of macroblocks in the reference frame are used for movement estimation for the second plurality of macroblocks, and
- wherein the calculation unit comprises:
- a search unit which calculates a first similarity between a first macroblock in the current frame and the loaded first plurality of macroblocks in the reference frame, and searching for a second macroblock having a first highest similarity to the first macroblock, in the first plurality of macroblocks;
- a storage unit which stores information related to a second similarity of a third macroblock having a second highest similarity in a previously received reference frame;
- a comparison unit which compares the first highest similarity between the second macroblock and the first macroblock with a third similarity of the third macroblock and the first macroblock based on a calculated similarity and stored information related to the second similarity of the third macroblock;
- and
- a control unit controlling which selectively updates the stored information related to the second similarity of the third macroblock in the storage unit to information related to a fourth similarity of the second macroblock, based on a result of the comparison.
7 more elements
A non-transitory computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a method of motion estimation, the method comprising:
- receiving a first plurality of macroblocks in a reference frame at one time, wherein the first plurality of macroblocks are to be used for motion estimation related to a current frame;
- and
- performing the motion estimation for a second plurality of macroblocks in the current frame by using the received first plurality of macroblocks in the reference frame,
- wherein any additional portion of the reference frame is received only after a time when the first plurality of macroblocks in the reference frame are used for movement estimation for the second plurality of macroblocks,
- wherein the performing of the motion estimation comprises:
- calculating a first similarity between a first macroblock in the current frame and the received first plurality of macroblocks in the reference frame, and searching for a second macroblock having a first highest similarity to the first macroblock, in the first plurality of macroblocks;
- comparing a second similarity between the second macroblock and the first macroblock with a third similarity between a third macroblock having a second highest similarity in a previously received reference frame and the first macroblock;
- and
- selectively updating information related to a fourth similarity of a macroblock in the reference frame having a third highest similarity to the first macroblock, to information related to the second similarity of the second macroblock based on a result of the comparing,
- wherein the information related to the fourth similarity of the macroblock having a third highest similarity is information on the third macroblock.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.