Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SP (대한전자공학회논문지SP)

The Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers (대한전자공학회)
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Fast motion estimation scheme based on Successive Elimination Algorithm for applying to H.264

H.264에 적용을 위한 SEA기반 고속 움직임 탐색 기법

  • Published : 2005.03.01
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Abstract

In this paper, we propose a new fast motion estimation algorithm based on successive elimination algorithm (SEA) which can dramatically reduce heavy complexity of the variable block size motion estimation in H.264 encoder. The proposed method applies the conventional SEA in the hierarchical manner to the seven block modes. That is, the proposed algorithm can remove the unnecessary computation of SAD by means of the process that the previous minimum SAD is compared to a current SAD for each mode which is obtained by accumulating sum norms or SAD of $4\times4$ blocks. As a result, we have tighter bound in the inequality between SAD and sum norm than in the ordinary SEA. If the basic size of the block is smaller than $4\times4$, the bound will become tighter but it also causes to increase computational complexity, specifically addition operations for sum norm. Compared with fast full search algorithm of JM of H.264, our algorithm saves 60 to $70\%$ of computation on average for several image sequences.

본 논문에서는 연속제거 알고리즘(successive elimination algerian)을 기반으로 하여 H.264 부호화기의 복잡도에서 가장 큰 비중을 차지하는 가변 블록에 대한 움직임 추정을 효율적으로 생략함으로써 고속으로 움직임 벡터를 탐색하는 기법을 제안한다. 제안된 기법은 7가지 모드의 가변 블록에 대하여 기존의 SEA를 계층적으로 적용한다. 즉, SEA를 사용해서 $4\times4$ 블록 단위로 SAD 또는 sum norm을 조합하고 이것을 각 모드의 최소 SAD 값과 비교 검색함으로써 불필요한 SAD 계산을 줄이는 방식이다. 그러므로 SEA의 SAD와 sum norm의 부등 관계에서 경계범위를 좁게 만들 수 있다. 단위 블록의 크기를 $4\times4$ 이하로 할 경우에는 경계 범위를 더욱 좁게 만들 수 있으나 계산량이 증가하는 단점이 있다. 제안된 기법을 적용했을 때에 각 실험영상에 따른 전체적인 계산량은 H.264의 고속 전역 탐색 방식에 비하여 약 $60\%\~70\%$의 일관된 감소가 있었다.

Keywords

References

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