Modified small-cross diamond search motion estimation algorithm for H.264/AVC

Motion estimation (ME) is one of the most important and complex block of all the existing video coding standards. In H.264/AVC video coding standard ME process is much more complex due to variable block size with quarter pixel accuracy. In this paper, we proposed a modified small-cross diamond search (MSCDS) motion estimation algorithm for H.264/AVC video coding standard. The proposed algorithm reduces the number of checking points and thereby makes the motion estimation process faster. Moreover, the MSCDS algorithm is suitable for stationary, quasi-stationary and fast moving video sequences and computationally less complex from hardware point of view. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm requires very few number of search points for finding the best matched block with almost negligible loss in video quality. As compared to the fastest existing ME algorithm, proposed algorithm requires 9.02% less number of search points with 0.007 dB loss in PSNR.