Systems and methods of improved motion estimation using a graphics processing unit

An apparatus for determining a motion vector describing motion relative to a reference block, the apparatus comprising:

• a memory circuit having instructions stored therein;
• a processor configured by the instructions to:
• determine which of a plurality of prediction blocks is a good match with the reference block, according to a match criteria;
• perform a local area exhaustive search to produce a best match with the reference block, the search performed in an area centered around the good match prediction block, the best match having integral pixel resolution;
• and
• analytically determine a minima of a quadratic surface which models the degree of match between the best match and the reference block, the minima corresponding to a best matching block with fractional resolution, wherein the analytically determining comprises:
• determining a first minima of the quadratic surface in a first direction;
• and
• determining a second minima of the quadratic surface in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the second minima corresponds to a best matching block with fractional resolution.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having a program for determining a motion vector, the program comprising logic configured to perform the steps of:

• determining which of a plurality of prediction blocks is a good match with the reference block, according to a match criteria;
• performing a local area exhaustive search to produce a best match with the reference block, the search performed in an area centered around the good match prediction block, the best match having integral pixel resolution;
• modeling the degree of match between the best match and the reference block as a quadratic surface;
• analytically determining a minima of the quadratic surface, wherein the analytically determining comprises:
• determining a first minima of the quadratic surface in a first direction;
• and
• determining a second minima of the quadratic surface in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the second minima corresponds to a best matching block with fractional resolution;
• and
• computing a fractional motion vector based on the best matching block with fractional resolution.