Distributed video coding encoder/decoder complexity sharing method by phase motion estimation algorithm

Distributed video coding is a coding paradigm that allows complexity to be shared between encoder and decoder, in contrast with conventional video coding. To improve coding efficiency, accurate motion estimation in encoder is required. However, the encoder of distributed video coding performs incomplete motion estimation because of increasing complexity. Therefore, coding efficiency is decreased by inefficient local motion estimation. To solve this problem, we propose that the encoder perform a partial motion estimation using the three step search. It is possible to control complexity of encoder and coding efficiency by performance of terminal. The result of the partial motion estimation is transferred to the decoder, and the decoder performs motion estimation within the narrow range. Therefore, complexity of the decoder is decreased and coding efficiency is increased.