Adaptive Dual-Cross-Diamond-Hexagon Search Algorithm for Fast Block Motion Estimation

Motion estimation (ME) is the cardinal technique of video coding standard, since it could significantly affect the output quality of a coding system. Based on the analyses of the limitation on the SAD matching and the allocation for encoding bits, this paper proposes the adaptive dual-cross-diamond-hexagon algorithm according to three main factors affecting the efficiency of ME, namely, the prediction of initial search center, matching criteria and searching strategy. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm performs faster than MVFAST and PMVFAST, whereas similar prediction quality is still maintained.