Hierarchical motion vector estimation

摘要

A method and apparatus for estimating motion using searched motion vectors, and an image encoding system adopting the method and apparatus are provided. Motion between lower level frame data is estimated to obtain search points with minimum Sum of Absolute Differences (SADs), and the search points are used as a based motion vector. Searches are then performed on both upper level frame data and upper level field data using the based motion vector, obtaining search points with minimum SADs. The search points obtained from the searches on the upper level frame and field data are used as frame and field motion vectors.