An architecture for enhanced three step search generalized for hierarchical motion estimation algorithms

Advances in the area of motion estimation in recent years showed that the motion vector distribution is center-biased within a search window. New algorithms such as Enhanced Three Step Search method, aiming towards H.261 applications, were developed with this very fact in mind, and proven to be outperform the traditional TSS and the like. The architecture proposed in this paper to implement the enhanced three step search method is very simple and efficient without adding any direct or hidden costs. Additional advantage with this architecture is it's ability to implement other existing hierarchical motion estimation algorithms efficiently. This will be shown by faking the implementation of the regular three step search method as an example.