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US5778190A
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Encoding video signals using multi-phase motion estimation
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 1995-09-29
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Granted: 1998-07-07
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Expires: 2015-09-29
Abstract
Abstract Video signals are encoded using motion compensation based on motion vectors generated using multi-phase motion estimation. In a first phase, a first subset of video signals of each block is compared to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a first set of motion vectors. In a second phase, a second subset of video signals of each block is compared to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a second set of motion vectors, where the resolution of the first subset of video signals in the spatial domain is lower than the resolution of the second subset of video signals. In an alternative embodiment, in the first phase, each block is compared to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a first set of motion vectors. In the second phase, each block is compared to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a second set of motion vectors, where the second set of motion vectors is based on at least two best matches from the first phase.
Inventors
- 👤 Rohit Agarwal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 08:35
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/41; H04N1/411; H04N1/413; H04N1/415
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A computer-implemented process for encoding video signals, comprising the steps of: (a) generating a motion vector for a current block of video signals of a current frame by performing motion estimation relative to a reference frame; and (b) generating encoded video signals for the current block using motion compensation based on the motion vector, wherein: the motion estimation of step (a) comprises a first phase and a second phase; the first phase comprises the step of comparing a first subset of video signals of the current block to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a first set of motion vectors; the second phase comprises the step of comparing a second subset of video signals of the current block to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a second set of motion vectors; and the resolution of the first subset of video signals in the spatial domain is lower than the resolution of the second subset of video signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
A computer-implemented process for encoding video signals, comprising the steps of: (a) generating a motion vector for a current block of video signals of a current frame by performing motion estimation relative to a reference frame; and (b) generating encoded video signals for the current block using motion compensation based on the motion vector, wherein: the motion estimation of step (a) comprises a first phase and a second phase; the first phase comprises the step of comparing a first subset of video signals of the current block to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a first set of motion vectors; the second phase comprises the step of comparing a second subset of video signals of the current block to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a second set of motion vectors; and the resolution of the first subset of video signals in the spatial domain is lower than the resolution of the second subset of video signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the resolution of the first set of motion vectors in the velocity domain is lower than the resolution of the second set of motion vectors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the second set of motion vectors is based on at least two best matches from the first phase.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the number of motion vectors in the second set is less than the number of motion vectors in the first set.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
The process of claim , wherein: the motion estimation of step (a) further comprises a third phase; the third phase comprises the step of comparing a third subset of video signals of the current block to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a third set of motion vectors; and the resolution of the second subset of video signals in the spatial domain is lower than the resolution of the third subset of video signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
The process of claim 5, wherein: the third subset of video signals comprises all of the video signals of the current block; the third set of motion vectors is based on at least two best matches from the second phase; and the number of motion vectors in the third set is less than the number of motion vectors in the second set.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
95 words
The process of claim wherein: the resolution of the first set of motion vectors in the velocity domain is lower than the resolution of the second set of motion vectors; the resolution of the second set of motion vectors in the velocity domain is lower than the resolution of the third set of motion vectors; the second set of motion vectors is based on at least two best matches from the first phase; and the number of motion vectors in the second set is less than the number of motion vectors in the first set.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
153 words
An apparatus for encoding video signals, comprising: (a) means for generating a motion vector for a current block of video signals of a current frame by performing motion estimation relative to a reference frame; and (b) means for generating encoded video signals for the current block using motion compensation based on the motion vector, wherein: the motion estimation of means (a) comprises a first phase and a second phase; the first phase comprises comparing a first subset of video signals of the current block to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a first set of motion vectors; the second phase comprises comparing a second subset of video signals of the current block to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a second set of motion vectors; and the resolution of the first subset of video signals in the spatial domain is lower than the resolution of the second subset of video signals.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
153 words
An apparatus for encoding video signals, comprising: (a) means for generating a motion vector for a current block of video signals of a current frame by performing motion estimation relative to a reference frame; and (b) means for generating encoded video signals for the current block using motion compensation based on the motion vector, wherein: the motion estimation of means (a) comprises a first phase and a second phase; the first phase comprises comparing a first subset of video signals of the current block to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a first set of motion vectors; the second phase comprises comparing a second subset of video signals of the current block to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a second set of motion vectors; and the resolution of the first subset of video signals in the spatial domain is lower than the resolution of the second subset of video signals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the resolution of the first set of motion vectors in the velocity domain is lower than the resolution of the second set of motion vectors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second set of motion vectors is based on at least two best matches from the first phase.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the number of motion vectors in the second set is less than the number of motion vectors in the first set.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein: the motion estimation of means (a) further comprises a third phase; the third phase comprises comparing a third subset of video signals of the current block to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a third set of motion vectors; and the resolution of the second subset of video signals in the spatial domain is lower than the resolution of the third subset of video signals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein: the third subset of video signals comprises all of the video signals of the current block; the third set of motion vectors is based on at least two best matches from the second phase; and the number of motion vectors in the third set is less than the number of motion vectors in the second set.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
96 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein: the resolution of the first set of motion vectors in the velocity domain is lower than the resolution of the second set of motion vectors; the resolution of the second set of motion vectors in the velocity domain is lower than the resolution of the third set of motion vectors; the second set of motion vectors is based on at least two best matches from the first phase; and the number of motion vectors in the second set is less than the number of motion vectors in the first set.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
174 words
A storage medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions for encoding video signals, wherein the plurality of instructions when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of: (a) generating a motion vector for a current block of video signals of a current frame by performing motion estimation relative to a reference frame; and (b) generating encoded video signals for the current block using motion compensation based on the motion vector, wherein: the motion estimation of step (a) comprises a first phase and a second phase; the first phase comprises comparing a first subset of video signals of the current block to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a first set of motion vectors; the second phase comprises comparing a second subset of video signals of the current block to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a second set of motion vectors; and the resolution of the first subset of video signals in the spatial domain is lower than the resolution of the second subset of video signals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
174 words
A storage medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions for encoding video signals, wherein the plurality of instructions when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of: (a) generating a motion vector for a current block of video signals of a current frame by performing motion estimation relative to a reference frame; and (b) generating encoded video signals for the current block using motion compensation based on the motion vector, wherein: the motion estimation of step (a) comprises a first phase and a second phase; the first phase comprises comparing a first subset of video signals of the current block to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a first set of motion vectors; the second phase comprises comparing a second subset of video signals of the current block to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a second set of motion vectors; and the resolution of the first subset of video signals in the spatial domain is lower than the resolution of the second subset of video signals.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The storage medium of claim 15, wherein the resolution of the first set of motion vectors in the velocity domain is lower than the resolution of the second set of motion vectors.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The storage medium of claim 15, wherein the second set of motion vectors is based on at least two best matches from the first phase.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The storage medium of claim 15, wherein the number of motion vectors in the second set is less than the number of motion vectors in the first set.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
73 words
The storage medium of claim 15, wherein: the motion estimation of step (a) further comprises a third phase; the third phase comprises comparing a third subset of video signals of the current block to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a third set of motion vectors; and the resolution of the second subset of video signals in the spatial domain is lower than the resolution of the third subset of video signals.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
63 words
The storage medium of claim 19, wherein: the third subset of video signals comprises all of the video signals of the current block; the third set of motion vectors is based on at least two best matches from the second phase; and the number of motion vectors in the third set is less than the number of motion vectors in the second set.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
97 words
The storage medium of claim 20, wherein: the resolution of the first set of motion vectors in the velocity domain is lower than the resolution of the second set of motion vectors; the resolution of the second set of motion vectors in the velocity domain is lower than the resolution of the third set of motion vectors; the second set of motion vectors is based on at least two best matches from the first phase; and the number of motion vectors in the second set is less than the number of motion vectors in the first set.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
138 words
A computer-implemented process for encoding video signals, comprising the steps of: (a) generating a motion vector for a current block of video signals of a current frame by performing motion estimation relative to a reference frame; and (b) generating encoded video signals for the current block using motion compensation based on the motion vector, wherein: the motion estimation of step (a) comprises a first phase and a second phase; the first phase comprises the step of comparing the current block to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a first set of motion vectors; the second phase comprises the step of comparing the current block to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a second set of motion vectors; and the second set of motion vectors is based on at least two best matches from the first phase.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
138 words
A computer-implemented process for encoding video signals, comprising the steps of: (a) generating a motion vector for a current block of video signals of a current frame by performing motion estimation relative to a reference frame; and (b) generating encoded video signals for the current block using motion compensation based on the motion vector, wherein: the motion estimation of step (a) comprises a first phase and a second phase; the first phase comprises the step of comparing the current block to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a first set of motion vectors; the second phase comprises the step of comparing the current block to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a second set of motion vectors; and the second set of motion vectors is based on at least two best matches from the first phase.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 22, wherein the resolution of the first set of motion vectors in the velocity domain is lower than the resolution of the second set of motion vectors.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 22, wherein the number of motion vectors in the second set is less than the number of motion vectors in the first set.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
61 words
The process of claim 22, wherein: the motion estimation of step (a) further comprises a third phase; the third phase comprises the step of comparing the current block to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a third set of motion vectors; and the third set of motion vectors is based on at least two best matches from the second phase.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
99 words
The process of claim 25, wherein: the resolution of the first set of motion vectors in the velocity domain is lower than the resolution of the second set of motion vectors; the resolution of the second set of motion vectors in the velocity domain is lower than the resolution of the third set of motion vectors; the number of motion vectors in the second set is less than the number of motion vectors in the first set; and the number of motion vectors in the third set is less than the number of motion vectors in the second set.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
132 words
An apparatus for encoding video signals, comprising: (a) means for generating a motion vector for a current block of video signals of a current frame by performing motion estimation relative to a reference frame; and (b) means for generating encoded video signals for the current block using motion compensation based on the motion vector, wherein: the motion estimation of means (a) comprises a first phase and a second phase; the first phase comprises comparing the current block to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a first set of motion vectors, the second phase comprises comparing the current block to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a second set of motion vectors: and the second set of motion vectors is based on at least two best matches from the first phase.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
132 words
An apparatus for encoding video signals, comprising: (a) means for generating a motion vector for a current block of video signals of a current frame by performing motion estimation relative to a reference frame; and (b) means for generating encoded video signals for the current block using motion compensation based on the motion vector, wherein: the motion estimation of means (a) comprises a first phase and a second phase; the first phase comprises comparing the current block to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a first set of motion vectors, the second phase comprises comparing the current block to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a second set of motion vectors: and the second set of motion vectors is based on at least two best matches from the first phase.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the resolution of the first set of motion vectors in the velocity domain is lower than the resolution of the second set of motion vectors.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the number of motion vectors in the second set is less than the number of motion vectors in the first set.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 27, wherein: the motion estimation of means (a) further comprises a third phase; the third phase comprises comparing the current block to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a third set of motion vectors; and the third set of motion vectors is based on at least two best matches from the second phase.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
99 words
The apparatus of claim 30, wherein: the resolution of the first set of motion vectors in the velocity domain is lower than the resolution of the second set of motion vectors; the resolution of the second set of motion vectors in the velocity domain is lower than the resolution of the third set of motion vectors; the number of motion vectors in the second set is less than the number of motion vectors in the first set; and the number of motion vectors in the third set is less than the number of motion vectors in the second set.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
153 words
A storage medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions for encoding video signals, wherein the plurality of instructions when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform the steps of: (a) generating a motion vector for a current block of video signals of a current frame by performing motion estimation relative to a reference frame; and (b) generating encoded video signals for the current block using motion compensation based on the motion vector, wherein: the motion estimation of step (a) comprises a first phase and a second phase; the first phase comprises comparing the current block to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a first set of motion vectors; the second phase comprises comparing the current block to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a second set of motion vectors; and the second set of motion vectors is based on at least two best matches from the first phase.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
153 words
A storage medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions for encoding video signals, wherein the plurality of instructions when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform the steps of: (a) generating a motion vector for a current block of video signals of a current frame by performing motion estimation relative to a reference frame; and (b) generating encoded video signals for the current block using motion compensation based on the motion vector, wherein: the motion estimation of step (a) comprises a first phase and a second phase; the first phase comprises comparing the current block to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a first set of motion vectors; the second phase comprises comparing the current block to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a second set of motion vectors; and the second set of motion vectors is based on at least two best matches from the first phase.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
32 words
The storage medium of claim 32, wherein the resolution of the first set of motion vectors in the velocity domain is lower than the resolution of the second set of motion vectors.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
28 words
The storage medium of claim 32, wherein the number of motion vectors in the second set is less than the number of motion vectors in the first set.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
59 words
The storage medium of claim 32, wherein: the motion estimation of step (a) further comprises a third phase; the third phase comprises comparing the current block to the reference frame at locations corresponding to a third set of motion vectors; and the third set of motion vectors is based on at least two best matches from the second phase.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
100 words
The storage medium of claim 35, wherein: the resolution of the first set of motion vectors in the velocity domain is lower than the resolution of the second set of motion vectors; the resolution of the second set of motion vectors in the velocity domain is lower than the resolution of the third set of motion vectors; the number of motion vectors in the second set is less than the number of motion vectors in the first set; and the number of motion vectors in the third set is less than the number of motion vectors in the second set.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-07-06 | 2002-01-05 | 2002-07-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-06 | 2006-01-05 | 2006-07-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-06 | 2010-01-05 | 2010-07-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |