Blocking artefact free video coding based on a bilinear forward image warping model

In this paper a new very low bit rate video coding scheme is presented. It is based on a forward motion estimation technique using an image warping model, thus delivering the basis for temporal tracking of regions or objects. In order to deal with new or disappearing image contents a new algorithm for the adaptation of a tracked control grid is proposed. To improve the coding efficiency a high quality pixel interpolation in the warping based predictor has to be used, which unfortunately also emphasizes the high frequency coding artefacts. To reduce these artefacts the prediction error is coded by a biorthogonal wavelet transform. The proposed coder yields an improvement of the PSNR of ca. 0.7 dB compared to the advanced H.263 coder. In addition the visual quality is better as any blocking artefacts in the coded images are avoided.