A fast motion estimation algorithm based on Diamond and Hexagon Search patterns

Based on the directional characteristic of SAD (Sum of Absolute Difference) distribution and the center-biased characteristic of motion vectors, a fast BMA(block-matching motion estimation algorithm), DHS (Diamond and Hexagon Search), is proposed in this paper. DHS employs HP to locate the best matching block with large motion vector, and diamond search pattern (DP) to refine the motion vector. Although the proposed DHS may also be trapped in local minima, the experimental results show that it is faster than UMHexagonS (Unsymmetrical-cross multi-hexagon-grid Search), while its encoding efficiency is better than DS and it is almost the same as that of UMHexagonS.