A new motion-estimation technique for efficient video compression

A new prediction technique for block-based motion estimation (ME) is described. The new technique, referred to as weighted sum block matching (WSBM), changes different motion estimation parameters such as the search window origin and the search window size based on prediction information which is extracted from motion information of neighboring blocks. The new technique was used for ME in the MPEG-2 encoder and was compared with different other block matching algorithms (BMAs). Simulation results show that the new technique provides less block matching computation over other prediction techniques. Moreover, the new technique can be combined with different non-predictive techniques to improve their performance.