An Improved Three-Step Search Block-Matching Algorithm for Low Bit-Rate Video Coding Applications - Signals, Systems, and Electronics, 1998. ISSSE 98. 1998 URSI International Symposium on

An improved three-step search (ITSS) block-matching algorithm for motion estimation is described in this paper, spec lfically aiming towards low bit-rate videocoding applications. The method is based on the realworld image sequence’s characteristic of centre-biased motion vector distribution, and uses centre-biased checking point patterns and a relatively small number of search locations to perform fast block matching. Computational complexity is reduced by employing an I I X I I search window rather than the traditional 1 5 X 15 window. Simulation results are presented which show that the ITSS algorithm provides better performance at faster speed than the well-known threestep search (TSS) algorithm and the recently developed new three-step search (NTSS) algorithm when used for low bit-rate video coding, such as video telephone and video conferencing.