MOTION VECTOR SEARCH METHOD AND APPARATUS, PROGRAM THEREFOR, AND STORAGE MEDIUM WHICH STORES THE PROGRAM

摘要

A motion vector search method used in video encoding which performs motion-compensated prediction. The method includes inputting a motion vector which has been searched for with respect to an encoding target block; computing a motion vector having a minimum overhead cost which minimizes the amount of code generated for the motion vector of the encoding target block; limiting a search area based on the input motion vector and the motion vector having the minimum overhead cost; and searching for a motion vector by searching only the limited search area. It is possible to compute a predicted vector of the encoding target block based on a motion vector of an already-encoded block in the vicinity of the target block, and determine the computed predicted vector to be the motion vector having the minimum overhead cost.