An optimal quadtree-based motion estimation and motion-compensated interpolation scheme for video compression

Abstract—In this paper, we propose an optimal quadtree (QT)based motion estimator for video compression. It is optimal in the sense that for a given bit budget for encoding the displacement vector field (DVF) and the QT segmentation, the scheme finds a DVF and a QT segmentation which minimizes the energy of the resulting displaced frame difference (DFD). We find the optimal QT decomposition and the optimal DVF jointly using the Lagrangian multiplier method and a multilevel dynamic program. We introduce a new, very fast convex search for the optimal Lagrangian multiplier 333, which results in a very fast convergence of the Lagrangian multiplier method. The resulting DVF is spatially inhomogeneous, since large blocks are used in areas with simple motion and small blocks in areas with complex motion. We also propose a novel motion-compensated interpolation scheme which uses the same mathematical tools developed for the QT-based motion estimator. One of the advantages of this schem...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 1998
• Where: TIP
• Authors: Guido M. Schuster, Aggelos K. Katsaggelos
• Keywords: Lagrangian Multiplier, Lagrangian Multiplier Method, Motion Estimator, TIP 1998