Motion-type-wise algorithm for H.264 in web-based applications

H.264 is most likely the future standard for the web-based applications of video streaming and browsing. The block motion estimation process is a very time consuming part in the H.264 video coding standard and thus hinders its real-time applications. Therefore, a new fast block motion estimation algorithm is proposed in this paper. In this algorithm, it first determines the current block as a quasi-stationary, slow motion, or fast motion block. Then, according to the different motion types, different search patterns and strategies are intelligently employed. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm has much less execution time than the existing FS, UMHexagonS, and EPZS algorithms, with about the same accuracy.