Hierarchical Predictable Hexagon Search Algorithm for MPEG4-AVC/H. 264 Coding

H.264/AVC has achieved significant rate-distortion performance by many useful video encoding and decoding tools, but the motion estimation process concerns greatly on computational complexity. In this paper, an efficient fast motion estimation algorithm, hierarchical predictable hexagon search (HPHS) algorithm is proposed. The HPHS algorithm uses the precision initial search center and predictable hexagon search to finish the motion estimation. Experimental results show that the proposed method can obtain good performances and avoid the search trapping at local-minimum matching error position. Furthermore, compared with the hybrid search patterns of UMHexagonS, it can simplify the hardware design significantly in the future