US5691775A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Reduction of motion estimation artifacts
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 1995-03-30
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Granted: 1997-11-25
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Expires: 2015-03-30
Abstract
Abstract A computer-implemented method and apparatus for processing video signals representative of pixels of a current block of a current picture. According to a preferred embodiment, the current block is compared to a plurality of blocks of a previous picture to provide a plurality of corresponding motion vectors, wherein each motion vector corresponds to a respective motion estimation error measure. It is determined whether the current block contains at least one region of high spatial energy and at least one region of relatively low spatial energy associated with different motion vectors of the plurality of corresponding motion vectors. The block is encoded in accordance with this determination.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian Astle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:02
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N19/00; H04N19/50; H04N19/503; H04N19/51; H04N19/85; H04N19/86
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A computer-implemented method for processing video signals representative of pixels of a current block of a current picture, the method comprising the steps of: (a) comparing the current block to a plurality of blocks of a previous picture to provide a plurality of corresponding motion vectors, wherein each motion vector corresponds to a respective motion estimation error measure; (b) determining whether the current block contains at least one region of high spatial energy and at least one region of relatively low spatial energy associated with different motion vectors of the plurality of corresponding motion vectors; and (c) encoding the block in accordance with the determination of step (b).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
A computer-implemented method for processing video signals representative of pixels of a current block of a current picture, the method comprising the steps of: (a) comparing the current block to a plurality of blocks of a previous picture to provide a plurality of corresponding motion vectors, wherein each motion vector corresponds to a respective motion estimation error measure; (b) determining whether the current block contains at least one region of high spatial energy and at least one region of relatively low spatial energy associated with different motion vectors of the plurality of corresponding motion vectors; and (c) encoding the block in accordance with the determination of step (b).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises the steps of: (1) determining whether a first motion vector and a second motion vector each correspond to a respective motion estimation error below a first threshold error; and (2) determining whether there is a third motion vector between the first and second motion vectors having a motion estimation error greater than the respective motion estimation errors of the first and second motion vectors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the third motion vector is linearly interpolated between the first and second motion vectors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 2, wherein step (b)(2) further comprises the step of determining whether the difference between the motion estimation error of the third motion vector and the greater of the motion estimation errors of the first and second motion vectors is greater than a second threshold error.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method of claim 4, wherein: the third motion vector is linearly interpolated between the first and second motion vectors; and step (c) comprises the steps of: (1) determining whether at least one of the respective motion estimation errors of the first and second motion vectors is below a third threshold error and, if so, encoding the current block in accordance with motion estimation, wherein the third threshold error is below the first threshold error; (2) otherwise encoding the current block as an intrablock.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
135 words
The method of claim 4, wherein: the current block is associated with an initial quantization level; the third motion vector is linearly interpolated between the first and second motion vectors; and step (c) comprises the steps of: (1) determining whether at least one of the respective motion estimation errors of the first and second motion vectors is below a third threshold error and, if so, encoding the current block in accordance with motion estimation, wherein the third threshold error is below the first threshold error; (2) otherwise, encoding the current block with a second quantization level finer than the initial quantization level, wherein the second quantization level is sufficient to reduce quantization artifacts otherwise caused by the region of high spatial energy and the region of relatively low spatial energy associated with different motion vectors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
117 words
The method of claim 4, wherein: the third motion vector is linearly interpolated between the first and second motion vectors; and step (c) comprises the steps of: (1) determining whether at least one of the respective motion estimation errors of the first and second motion vectors is below a third threshold error and, if so, encoding the current block in accordance with motion estimation, wherein the third threshold error is below the first threshold error; (2) otherwise, applying a low pass filter to the current block a number of times sufficient to reduce quantization artifacts otherwise caused by the region of high spatial energy and the region of relatively low spatial energy associated with different motion vectors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
95 words
The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises the steps of: (1) determining whether a first motion vector and a second motion vector each correspond to a respective motion estimation error below a first threshold error; (2) forming a motion estimation error curve comprising the respective motion estimation errors of the first and second motion vectors and of a second plurality of motion vectors comprising motion vectors linearly interpolated from the first and second motion vectors; and (3) determining whether the motion estimation error curve comprises a relatively flat trough and relatively steep sides.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
111 words
A computer-implemented apparatus for processing video signals representative of pixels of a current block of a current picture, the apparatus comprising: (a) means for comparing the current block to a plurality of blocks of a previous picture to provide a plurality of corresponding motion vectors, wherein each motion vector corresponds to a respective motion estimation error measure; (b) means for determining whether the current block contains at least one region of high spatial energy and at least one region of relatively low spatial energy associated with different motion vectors of the plurality of corresponding motion vectors; and (c) means for encoding the block in accordance with the determination of means (b).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
111 words
A computer-implemented apparatus for processing video signals representative of pixels of a current block of a current picture, the apparatus comprising: (a) means for comparing the current block to a plurality of blocks of a previous picture to provide a plurality of corresponding motion vectors, wherein each motion vector corresponds to a respective motion estimation error measure; (b) means for determining whether the current block contains at least one region of high spatial energy and at least one region of relatively low spatial energy associated with different motion vectors of the plurality of corresponding motion vectors; and (c) means for encoding the block in accordance with the determination of means (b).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein means (b) comprises: (1) means for determining whether a first motion vector and a second motion vector each correspond to a respective motion estimation error below a first threshold error; and (2) means for determining whether there is a third motion vector between the first and second motion vectors having a motion estimation error greater than the respective motion estimation errors of the first and second motion vectors.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the third motion vector is linearly interpolated between the first and second motion vectors.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein means (b)(2) further comprises means for determining whether the difference between the motion estimation error of the third motion vector and the greater of the motion estimation errors of the first and second motion vectors is greater than a second threshold error.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
85 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein: the third motion vector is linearly interpolated between the first and second motion vectors; and means (c) comprises: (1) means for determining whether at least one of the respective motion estimation errors of the first and second motion vectors is below a third threshold error and, if so, encoding the current block in accordance with motion estimation, wherein the third threshold error is below the first threshold error; (2) means for otherwise encoding the current block as an intra-block.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is electrically connected to a bus and the bus is electrically connected to a memory device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
136 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein: the current block is associated with an initial quantization level; the third motion vector is linearly interpolated between the first and second motion vectors; and means (c) comprises: (1) means for determining whether at least one of the respective motion estimation errors of the first and second motion vectors is below a third threshold error and, if so, encoding the current block in accordance with motion estimation, wherein the third threshold error is below the first threshold error; (2) means for otherwise encoding the current block with a second quantization level finer than the initial quantization level, wherein the second quantization level is sufficient to reduce quantization artifacts otherwise caused by the region of high spatial energy and the region of relatively low spatial energy associated with different motion vectors.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
118 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein: the third motion vector is linearly interpolated between the first and second motion vectors; and means (c) comprises: (1) means for determining whether at least one of the respective motion estimation errors of the first and second motion vectors is below a third threshold error and, if so, encoding the current block in accordance with motion estimation, wherein the third threshold error is below the first threshold error; (2) means for otherwise applying a low pass filter to the current block a number of times sufficient to reduce quantization artifacts otherwise caused by the region of high spatial energy and the region of relatively low spatial energy associated with different motion vectors.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
98 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein means (b) comprises: (1) means for determining whether a first motion vector and a second motion vector each correspond to a respective motion estimation error below a first threshold error; (2) means for forming a motion estimation error curve comprising the respective motion estimation errors of the first and second motion vectors and of a second plurality of motion vectors comprising motion vectors linearly interpolated from the first and second motion vectors; and (3) means for determining whether the motion estimation error curve comprises a relatively flat trough and relatively steep sides.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is electrically connected to a bus and the bus is electrically connected to a memory device.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-11-24 | 2001-05-26 | 2001-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-24 | 2005-05-26 | 2005-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-24 | 2009-05-26 | 2009-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |