Low complexity variable block size motion estimation algorithm for video telephony communication

This paper proposes a variable block size (VBS) motion estimation algorithm for application such as video telephony communication. The technique includes classifying types of the macro blocks (MBs) in frames and applying different strategies in searching for the best matching macro blocks. Compared with former VBS algorithms, the criterion to split macro blocks is based on the previously encoded P-frame owing to the motion character in video phone. Simulation results show that the computational complexity is reduced to about 11.53% of the traditional full search algorithm and nearly equal PSNR value is achieved.