Frames from an image stream or streams are processed by independently operating digital signal processors (DSPs), with only frame checking microprocessors operating in a lockstep mode. In one example, two DSP are operating on alternate frames. Each DSP processes the frames and produces prediction values for the next frame. The lockstep microprocessors develop their own next frame prediction. The lockstep processors compare issued frames and previously developed predicted frames for consistency. If the predictions are close enough, the issued frame passes the test. The lockstep processors then compare the issued frame to the preceding two frames for a similar consistency check. If the prior frames are also close enough, the issued frame is acceptable. In another example, hardware checkers are provided to compare the present frame with a larger number of prior frames. The hardware checkers provide comparison results to the lockstep processors to compare against allowable variation limits.

Frames from an image stream or streams are processed by independently operating digital signal processors (DSPs), with only frame checking microprocessors operating in a lockstep mode. In one example, two DSP are operating on alternate frames. Each DSP processes the frames and produces prediction values for the next frame. The lockstep microprocessors develop their own next frame prediction. The lockstep processors compare issued frames and previously developed predicted frames for consistency. If the predictions are close enough, the issued frame passes the test. The lockstep processors then compare the issued frame to the preceding two frames for a similar consistency check. If the prior frames are also close enough, the issued frame is acceptable. In another example, hardware checkers are provided to compare the present frame with a larger number of prior frames. The hardware checkers provide comparison results to the lockstep processors to compare against allowable variation limits.

Frames from an image stream or streams are processed by independently operating digital signal processors (DSPs), with only frame checking microprocessors operating in a lockstep mode. In one example, two DSP are operating on alternate frames. Each DSP processes the frames and produces prediction values for the next frame. The lockstep microprocessors develop their own next frame prediction. The lockstep processors compare issued frames and previously developed predicted frames for consistency. If the predictions are close enough, the issued frame passes the test. The lockstep processors then compare the issued frame to the preceding two frames for a similar consistency check. If the prior frames are also close enough, the issued frame is acceptable. In another example, hardware checkers are provided to compare the present frame with a larger number of prior frames. The hardware checkers provide comparison results to the lockstep processors to compare against allowable variation limits.

Frames from an image stream or streams are processed by independently operating digital signal processors (DSPs), with only frame checking microprocessors operating in a lockstep mode. In one example, two DSP are operating on alternate frames. Each DSP processes the frames and produces prediction values for the next frame. The lockstep microprocessors develop their own next frame prediction. The lockstep processors compare issued frames and previously developed predicted frames for consistency. If the predictions are close enough, the issued frame passes the test. The lockstep processors then compare the issued frame to the preceding two frames for a similar consistency check. If the prior frames are also close enough, the issued frame is acceptable. In another example, hardware checkers are provided to compare the present frame with a larger number of prior frames. The hardware checkers provide comparison results to the lockstep processors to compare against allowable variation limits.

A load in processing of searching for a motion vector is reduced. In order to solve the problem described above, a motion vector derivation apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention that derives a motion vector to be referred to for generating a prediction image to be used for coding or decoding of a video includes a motion vector search unit configured to search for a motion vector on a prediction unit basis through matching processing. The motion vector search unit is configured to stop search of the motion vector, depending on whether or not a conditional expression according to a pixel bit-depth is satisfied.

Disclosed herein are an apparatus and a method of video pre-processing for motion estimation, the apparatus comprising a similarity description module, a storage module, a verdict module, and a motion estimation module. The similarity description module receives a first image in a video, the first image consisting of first blocks, and calculates the similarity descriptors of every first block and a second block of a second image in the video. The second block corresponds to a reference block among the first blocks. The similarity descriptor of each block, which corresponds to a pixel matrix, indicates whether the pixel values of at least one pair of adjacent pixels in the pixel matrix are identical. The verdict module determines whether the similarity descriptors of the second and reference blocks are identical and reaches a verdict, whereby motion estimation is selectively performed on the second block.

Disclosed herein are an apparatus and a method of video pre-processing for motion estimation, the apparatus comprising a similarity description module, a storage module, a verdict module, and a motion estimation module. The similarity description module receives a first image in a video, the first image consisting of first blocks, and calculates the similarity descriptors of every first block and a second block of a second image in the video. The second block corresponds to a reference block among the first blocks. The similarity descriptor of each block, which corresponds to a pixel matrix, indicates whether the pixel values of at least one pair of adjacent pixels in the pixel matrix are identical. The verdict module determines whether the similarity descriptors of the second and reference blocks are identical and reaches a verdict, whereby motion estimation is selectively performed on the second block.

An image decoding device (200) includes: a motion vector decoding unit (241B) configured to decode a motion vector from coded data; and a refinement unit (241C) configured to search for the motion vector with a value of the motion vector decoded by the motion vector decoding unit (241B) as an initial value, and set the decoded motion vector as a final motion vector in a case where a searching cost at an initial searched point is larger than a predetermined threshold value or in a case where the searching cost at the initial searched point is equal to or larger than the threshold value.

A load in processing of searching for a motion vector is reduced. In order to solve the problem described above, a motion vector derivation apparatus (3032, 3036 to 3038) according to one aspect of the present invention that derives a motion vector to be referred to for generating a prediction image to be used for coding or decoding of a video includes a motion vector search unit (30373) configured to search for a motion vector on a prediction unit basis through matching processing. The motion vector search unit (30373) is configured to stop search of the motion vector, depending on whether or not a conditional expression according to a pixel bit-depth is satisfied.

It is provided a method of video coding implemented in a decoding device or an encoding device, the method comprising: obtaining initial motion vectors for a current block; obtaining first predictions for a sample value in the current block based on the initial motion vectors; calculating a first matching cost according to the first predictions; determining whether an optical flow refinement process should be performed or not, according to at least one preset condition, the at least one preset condition comprising a condition of whether the calculated first matching cost is equal to or larger than a threshold value; and performing an optical flow refinement process for obtaining a final inter prediction for the sample value in the current block, when it is determined that the optical flow refinement process should be performed.