There are provided methods and apparatus for adaptive geometric partitioning for video encoding and decoding. An apparatus includes an encoder for encoding image data corresponding to pictures by adaptively partitioning at least portions of the pictures responsive to at least one parametric model. The at least one parametric model involves at least one of implicit and explicit formulation of at least one curve.

Scalable motion estimation is provided for macroblocks of a picture with the macroblocks being subdividable into partitions of different shapes and sizes. One embodiment of a method for performing motion estimation includes setting a target complexity for a macroblock of a source frame and performing motion estimation for one or more partitions of the macroblock until the target complexity is met. The macroblock partitions can be rectangular, square or a combination of rectangular and square.

Scalable motion estimation is provided for macroblocks of a picture with the macroblocks being subdividable into partitions of different shapes and sizes. One embodiment of a method for performing motion estimation includes setting a target complexity for a macroblock of a source frame and performing motion estimation for one or more partitions of the macroblock until the target complexity is met. The macroblock partitions can be rectangular, square or a combination of rectangular and square.

The present disclosure relates to means to enable reduction of memory access in motion vector determination and/or refinement for a prediction block. In particular, the present disclosure relates to means to enable reduction of memory access in motion vector determination and/or refinement performed on a sub prediction block basis. In other words, a prediction block is split into sub prediction blocks for which at least the motion vector refinement is performed individually. The memory access window which limits the samples accessible during the motion vector determination and refinement of the sub prediction blocks does not exceed the memory access window for performing the motion vector determination and/or refinement for the prediction block.

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for compressing video images are disclosed. According to one exemplary method, the method includes classifying image pixels in each video image of a series of video images as either foreground or background. The method also includes replacing each pixel classified as background with a time-averaged value of pixel intensity for that pixel. The method further includes compressing the video images using a compression algorithm.

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for compressing video images are disclosed. According to one exemplary method, the method includes classifying image pixels in each video image of a series of video images as either foreground or background. The method also includes replacing each pixel classified as background with a time-averaged value of pixel intensity for that pixel. The method further includes compressing the video images using a compression algorithm.

Encoding and decoding using advanced motion estimation may include encoding a video stream including a plurality of frames by generating a first encoded frame based on a first frame from the plurality of frames, generating a first reconstructed frame based on the first encoded frame, generating reference frame index information based on the first reconstructed frame, generating an encoded reference frame based on the first reconstructed frame, generating a second reconstructed reference frame based on the encoded reference frame, and generating a second encoded frame based on a second frame from the plurality of frames, the reference frame index information, and the second reconstructed reference frame.

Computer processor hardware receives settings information for a first image. The first image includes a set of multiple display elements. The computer processor hardware receives motion compensation information for a given display element in a second image to be created based at least in part on the first image. The motion compensation information indicates a coordinate location within a particular display element in the first image to which the given display element pertains. The computer processor hardware utilizes the coordinate location as a basis from which to select a grouping of multiple display elements in the first image. The computer processor hardware then generates a setting for the given display element in the second image based on settings of the multiple display elements in the grouping.

Computer processor hardware receives settings information for a first image. The first image includes a set of multiple display elements. The computer processor hardware receives motion compensation information for a given display element in a second image to be created based at least in part on the first image. The motion compensation information indicates a coordinate location within a particular display element in the first image to which the given display element pertains. The computer processor hardware utilizes the coordinate location as a basis from which to select a grouping of multiple display elements in the first image. The computer processor hardware then generates a setting for the given display element in the second image based on settings of the multiple display elements in the grouping.

Block-based motion estimation of video compression estimates the direction and magnitude of motion of objects in the scene in a computationally efficient manner and accurately predicts the optimal search direction/neighborhood location for motion vectors. A system can include a motion detection module that detects apparent motion in the scene, a motion direction and magnitude prediction module that estimates the direction and magnitude of motion of the objects detected to be in motion by the motion detection module, and a block-based motion estimation module that performs searches in reduced neighborhoods of the target block according to the estimated motion by the motion direction and magnitude prediction module and only for the blocks determined to be in motion by the motion detection module. The Invention is particularly well suited for stationary traffic cameras that monitor roads and highways for traffic law enforcement purposes.