A motion vector difference based self-incremental adaptive search range algorithm for variable block size motion estimation

The search range (SR) parameter plays an important role in motion estimation (ME) for video coding. Adaptively adjusting SR according to the information given by previously encoded syntax element, also known as adaptive search range (ASR) algorithm, can efficiently reduce the computational complexity of ME. Compared with heuristic search pattern (HSP) algorithms like diamond/hexagon search, ASR algorithms are more fundamental, flexible and hardware-oriented. This paper although starts with a comparison between HSP and ASP algorithms which is followed by a proposed ASR algorithm with experimental results, however more likely intends to contribute several novel perspectives to this research area.