Efficient frame selection schemes for multi-reference and variable block size Motion Estimation

Multi-reference and variable block size Motion Estimation (ME) can improve the coding efficiency, but it also requires a huge computational complexity. This paper introduces efficient frame selection schemes for the multi-reference and variable block size ME. The proposed modified frame selection scheme can reduce the number of search points about 18% compared with existing schemes. In addition, the proposed hierarchical frame selection scheme can efficiently support variable block size ME. Since the proposed frame selection schemes are separated from the block matching process, the proposed schemes can be used with any existing single reference fast search algorithms.