A low-bit rate multimedia communication system with improved software-based H.263 codec

We construct a low-bit rate multimedia communication system (LBMCS) and propose a new fast motion estimation algorithm which guarantees the implementation of a software-based H.263 codec. Based on this system we implement some practical functions such as remote monitor, videophone, audio recording, video recording, facsimile (FAX) and white board. Besides discussing the hardware structure and software frameworks of the system, we place the emphasis on the efficient implementation of the H.263 codec where the improvement in half-pel estimation is mentioned, and a novel search algorithm SSS (synthetical switch search) is expatiated on. Simulation results show that SSS is rather better than the common-used search algorithm, the TSS (three step search)