Fast mesh-based motion estimation employing an embedded block model

A fast algorithm for mesh-based motion estimation employing uniform triangular patches is proposed. The technique utilises an embedded block model to estimate the motion of the mesh grid points. Without the need for time-consuming, evaluation, the algorithm reduces the number of search iterations according to the inherent motion. A block-wise coding approach is taken for the motion information, permitting any picture degradation caused by the fast algorithm to be successfully compensated by the residue coding. Simulations on three classes of test sequence show that the proposed algorithm results in a better PSNR-rate performance than the hexagonal matching algorithm. Moreover, a reduction of up to 91% in mesh iterations is obtained.