A fast and efficient partial distortion search algorithm for block motion estimation

Under the prerequisite of assuring image quality close to full search algorithm (FS), a fast and efficient partial distortion search algorithm for block motion estimation based on predictive motion vector field (PMVPDS) is proposed in order to reduce the computational complexity of existent partial distortion algorithm. PMVPDS takes advantages of predictive motion vector field technique, half-stop technique and spiral scanning path to find matching block quickly. In addition, controllable partial distortion criterion (CPDC) is used in the calculation of block distortion to speed up further. Experiment results show that, compared with the normalized partial distortion search algorithm (NPDS) and the progressive partial distortion search algorithm (PPDS), PMVPDS provides a significant speedup and achieves better PSNR performance.