Adaptive Motion Estimator Based on Variable Block Size Scheme

Authors: S. Dhahri, A. Zitouni, H. Chaouch, R. Tourki

Abstract:

This paper presents an adaptive motion estimator that can be dynamically reconfigured by the best algorithm depending on the variation of the video nature during the lifetime of an application under running. The 4 Step Search (4SS) and the Gradient Search (GS) algorithms are integrated in the estimator in order to be used in the case of rapid and slow video sequences respectively. The Full Search Block Matching (FSBM) algorithm has been also integrated in order to be used in the case of the video sequences which are not real time oriented. In order to efficiently reduce the computational cost while achieving better visual quality with low cost power, the proposed motion estimator is based on a Variable Block Size (VBS) scheme that uses only the 16x16, 16x8, 8x16 and 8x8 modes. Experimental results show that the adaptive motion estimator allows better results in term of Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR), computational cost, FPGA occupied area, and dissipated power relatively to the most popular variable block size schemes presented in the literature.

Keywords: H264, Configurable Motion Estimator, VariableBlock Size, PSNR, Dissipated power.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1083921

References:

[1] G. Cote, and L. Winger, Recent progress in the field of video compression, IEEE Canadian Review- Spring 2002.
[2] ITU-T SG15, Video Codec for Audiovisual Service at Px64 Kbits/s, In ITU-T recommendation H.261 Version 3, Mars 1993.
[3] R. Srinivasan, and K. R. Rao, "Predictive coding based on efficient motion estimation", IEEE Trans. on Circuits and Syst. on Video Technol., vol. 33, no. 8, August 1985, pp. 888-896.
[4] M. Ghanbari, "The cross-search algorithm for motion estimation," IEEE Trans. on Communications, vol. 38, no. 7, July 1990, pp. 950- 953.
[5] L.-K. Liu et E. Feig, 'A block-based gradient descent search algorithm for block motion estimation in video coding', IEEE Trans. on Circuits and Sys. for Video Technol., Vol. 6, No 4, pp. 419- 422,1996.
[6] Lai-Man Po, and Wing-Chung Ma, "A novel four-step search algorithm for fast block motion estimation," IEEE Trans. on Circuits and Syst. for Video Technol., Vol. 6, no. 3, June 1996, pp.313 - 317.
[7] C. Zhu, X. Lin, L-P. Chau, K-P. Lim, H-A. Ang and C-Y. Ong, "A novel hexagon-based search algorithm for fast block motion estimation," IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing, 2001. Vol. 3, pp.1593 - 1596.
[8] C. Chun-Ho, and P. Lai-Man, "A novel cross-diamond search algorithm for fast block motion estimation," IEEE Trans. on Circuits and Syst. for Video Technol., vol. 12, no. 12, December 2002, pp.1168-1177.
[9] Jae Hun Lee, and Al, "Variable block size motion estimation algorithm and its hardware architecture for H.264 /AVC", IEEE Inter. Symp. on Circuits and Sys., May 2004.
[10] A. Djeffal, and Z. Baarir, "Video coding adaptive block matching ", 8th African Conference on Research in Computer Science, November 2006, pp.1-8.
[11] Y.K. Tu, J.F. Yang and M.T. Sun, Fast Variable-size Block Motion Estimation Using Merging Procedure with an Adaptive Threshold, IEEE International Conference on Multimedia and Expo. Baltimore, July 2003, p.II-789-792.
[12] Z. Zhou, M.T. Sun and Y.F. Hsu, Fast variable block-size motion estimation algorithms based on merge and split procedures for H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Syst., ISCAS. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, May 23-26, 2004.II-789-792.
[13] Y. Jiang,S. Li and S. Goto, A Low Complexity Variable Block Size Motion Estimation Algorithm for Video Telephony Communication, 47th IEEE International Midwest Symposium on Circuits and Syst.. July 2004, p.II-465 - II-468.II-789-792.
[14] M. G. Xavier, "Optimizing performance of an encoder following the standard Advanced Video Coding for a vector machine," Master Memory, Faculty of Sciences libre University of Bruxcelle, 2006.
[15] S. Yalcin, H.F. Ates, I.Hamzaoglu, "A high performance hardware architecture for an SAD reuse based hierarchical motion estimation algorithm for H.264 video coding", Proc. Inter. Conf. on Field Prog. Logic and App., Tampere, Finland, Aug 2005.
[16] P. Brault, "Motion Estimation and image segmentation", Thesis Memory, Faculty of Sciences of Orsay, November 2005.
[17] LIU Hao, ZHANG Wen-jun, CAI Jun, "A fast block-matching algorithm based on variable shape search", Journal of Zhejiang University Science A, Mars 2005.
[18] Tiago Miguel Braga da Silva Dias, "High-Performance VLSI Motion Estimation Processors: Data Reuse and Sub-Pixel Accuracy", Master Memoir, Univ. de Tec. de Lisboa, Inst. Sup. Tec., Sep. 2004.
[19] M.A. Ben Ayed,A. Samet and N. Masmoudi, Toward an Optimal Block Motion Estimation Algorithm for H.264/AVC, International Journal of Image and Graphics (IJIG). 2006.
[20] Z. Wang,A.C. Bovik,H.R. Sheikh and E.P. Simoncelli, Image quality assessment: From error visibility to structural similarity, IEEE Trans. on Image Processing. vol. 13, no. 4, 2004.