The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 22, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 31, 1997
Elliot N Linzer, Bronx, NY (US);
John Ju, San Jose, CA (US);
C-Cube Microsystems, Inc., Milpitas, CA (US);
Abstract
A reference picture is processed to generate, first, second and third pictures. The first picture has a lower resolution than the second picture and the second picture has a lower resolution than the third picture. Using independent starting positions, first and second stage field motion estimation (motion vector) searches are preformed using the first and second pictures, respectively. By performing the first stage field motion estimation search, a first field motion vector candidate is obtained. By performing the second stage field motion estimation search, a second field motion vector candidate is obtained. Using at least one of the first and second field motion vector candidates as a starting position and the third picture, a third stage field motion estimation search is performed. Alternatively, a first stage field motion estimation search is performed using the first picture to obtain a first motion vector from a top reference field and a second motion vector from a bottom reference field. A second stage field motion estimation search is performed using the second picture to obtain a third motion vector from the top reference field and a fourth motion vector from a bottom reference field. Either the first motion vector is selected and the second motion vector is deselected or the second motion vector is selected and the first motion vector is deselected. Likewise, either the third motion vector is selected and the fourth motion vector is deselected or the fourth motion vector is selected and the third motion vector is deselected. Using the selected motion vectors as starting positions and the third picture, a third stage field motion estimation search is performed.