Selective multiple reference frames motion estimation for H.264/AVC video coding

The popular video coding standard H.264/AVC features many advanced techniques in motion estimation, such as multiple reference frames, variable block sizes, and quarter pixel resolution. These new features significantly improve coding performance, but with extremely high computational complexity. To improve computation efficiency, this paper suggests a selective multiple reference frame motion estimation (SMRFME), which characterizes MRFME as a stationary Gaussian random process, and uses the stationary property to check whether a mode or a block is necessary to perform motion estimation on next reference frames. Experimental results reveal that the proposed SMRFME algorithm momentously improves computational complexity with an average reduction of 68% in total encoding time, and with negligible degradation in PSNR and bit-rate increment. The current research also compares SMRFME algorithm performance with the AFMFSA algorithm. Results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm outperforms the distinct algorithm in all aspects.