Performance evaluation and recent advances of fast block-matching motion estimation methods for video coding

Abstract

This paper presents a performance evaluation of a set of fast block matching motion estimation methods of recent development. These methods are Kite-Cross-Diamond search (KCDS), Cross-Diamond-Hexagonal search (CDHS), Efficient-Hexagonal-Inner search (EHIS) and a newly proposed in this paper, called Cross-Half-Diamond low resolution search (CHDS), which is an improvement of Cross-Diamond-Hexagonal search. Also, Diamond search (DS) and Full search (FS) algorithms are implemented. These methods are evaluated based on the mean square error and the number of search points. Based on experimental results, it is concluded that DS, CDHS, CHDS and EHIS are appropriate for small and large motion contents, except EHIS for high frequencies and complex motion contents. The KCDS method has the lowest performance compared with other algorithms. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.