Method and apparatus for motion vector detection and medium storing method program directed to the same

摘要

A method and apparatus for performing motion estimation under a motion estimation mode suitable for an amount of motion within each E-block detects a motion vector with a small amount of computation. A block division section 102 divides a frame to be encoded into E-blocks of a predetermined pixel size. For each target E-block, a motion estimation mode detection section 105 relies on a past motion vector of a predetermined block to predict an amount of motion, and determines a motion estimation mode defining a search area that enables detection of the predicted amount of motion among a plurality of predefined motion estimation modes. If the predicted amount of motion is small, a mode defining a narrow search area and a fine search resolution is selected. If the predicted amount of motion is large, a mode defining a broad search area and a coarse search resolution is selected.