Motion vector estimation using edge oriented block matching algorithm for video sequences

Accurate motion estimation is the key to the next generation of video compression techniques. As part of a larger motion compensated system, accurate motion vectors will be required if the compression is going to achieve the high quality that applications are striving for. Even low bit rate coding schemes such as those used for video conferencing will be demanding better quality. Block matching algorithms that predict the motion field using blocks of pixels use search heuristics to find the best match. The full search technique will always be better at minimizing the prediction error compared to reduced search techniques. However, blocks on the boundary of moving objects create problems for accurately predicting the motion vectors, which are very sensitive for human eyes. We proposed a new method for accurately determining the motion vectors using the edge matching criteria. This method gives good motion estimation, and the motion compensated frames are very close to the original frames. This new method reduces the computational requirements significantly and gives good results as compared to the intensity based full search algorithm.