Motion vector processing

1. A method of generating motion vectors in a video processing device, the method comprising:

determining a motion distance between a block motion vector and a sub-block motion vector, wherein the block motion vector corresponds to a video block that includes a sub-block corresponding to the sub-block motion vector;

comparing the motion distance to a first threshold;

selecting one of the block motion vector and the sub-block motion vector as a spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block based on neighboring motion vectors when the motion distance is greater than the first threshold;

comparing the motion distance to a second threshold when the motion distance is not greater than the first threshold;

selecting the block motion vector as the spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block when the motion distance is greater than the second threshold; and

selecting the sub-block motion vector as the spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block when the motion distance is not greater than the second threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

selecting one of the block motion vector and the sub-block motion vector based on the motion distance when the motion distance is not greater than the first threshold.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

performing motion compensated frame rate up conversion (FRUC) based on the spatially-estimated motion vector.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

comparing the spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block to a spatially-estimated motion vector for a neighboring sub-block; and

selecting one of the spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block and the spatially-estimated motion vector for the neighboring sub-block as a temporally-refined motion vector for the sub-block based on a comparison of the spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block to the spatially-estimated motion vector for the neighboring sub-block.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein selecting one of the spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block and the spatially-estimated motion vector for the neighboring sub-block comprises:

selecting a motion vector from a set of motion vectors that minimizes a cost function, wherein the set of motion vectors includes the spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block and spatially-estimated motion vectors for neighboring sub-blocks.

6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

performing motion compensated frame rate up conversion (FRUC) based on the temporally-refined motion vector.

7. A method comprising:

comparing a block motion vector to a sub-block motion vector, wherein the block motion vector corresponds to a video block that includes a sub-block corresponding to the sub-block motion vector;

determining if the sub-block occupies a motion transition area of a video frame based on a comparison of the block motion vector to the sub-block motion vector; and

selecting one of the block motion vector and the sub-block motion vector as a spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block based on neighboring motion vectors when the sub-block occupies the motion transition area of the video frame.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

selecting one of the block motion vector and the sub-block motion vector based on a motion distance between the block motion vector and the sub-block motion vector when the sub-block does not occupy the motion transition area of the video frame.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein selecting one of the block motion vector and the sub-block motion vector based on the neighboring motion vectors comprises:

determining a first motion distance between the block motion vector and at least one spatially-estimated motion vector corresponding to a first neighboring sub-block;

determining a second motion distance between the sub-block motion vector and at least one spatially-estimated motion vector corresponding to a second neighboring sub-block;

comparing the first motion distance to the second motion distance; and

selecting one of the block motion vector and the sub-block motion vector based on a comparison of the first motion distance to the second motion distance.

10. A device for processing video signals, the device comprising:

a motion estimation module configured to:

determine a motion distance between a block motion vector and a sub-block motion vector,

compare the motion distance to a first threshold,

select one of the block motion vector and the sub-block motion vector as a spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block based on neighboring motion vectors when the motion distance is greater than the first threshold,

compare the motion distance to a second threshold when the motion distance is not greater than the first threshold,

select the block motion vector as the spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block when the motion distance is greater than the second threshold, and

select the sub-block motion vector as the spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block when the motion distance is not greater than the second threshold,

wherein the block motion vector corresponds to a video block that includes a sub-block corresponding to the sub-block motion vector.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein motion estimation module is further configured to select one of the block motion vector and the sub-block motion vector based on the motion distance when the motion distance is not greater than the first threshold.

12. The device of claim 10 , further comprising an interpolation module configured to perform motion compensated frame rate up conversion (FRUC) based on the spatially-estimated motion vector.

13. The device of claim 10 , wherein motion estimation module is further configured to compare the spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block to a spatially-estimated motion vector for a neighboring sub-block, and select one of the spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block and the spatially-estimated motion vector for the neighboring sub-block as a temporally-refined motion vector for the sub-block based on a comparison of the spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block to the spatially-estimated motion vector for the neighboring sub-block.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein motion estimation module is further configured to select a motion vector from a set of motion vectors that minimizes a cost function, wherein the set of motion vectors includes the spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block and spatially-estimated motion vectors for neighboring sub-blocks.

15. The device of claim 13 , further comprising an interpolation module configured to perform motion compensated frame rate up conversion (FRUC) based on the temporally-refined motion vector.

16. The device of claim 10 , wherein the device comprises at least one of an integrated circuit, a microprocessor, or a wireless communication device.

17. A device comprising:

a motion estimation module configured to compare a block motion vector to a sub-block motion vector, determine if the sub-block occupies a motion transition area of a video frame based on a comparison of the block motion vector to the sub-block motion vector, and select one of the block motion vector and the sub-block motion vector as a spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block based on neighboring motion vectors when the sub-block occupies the motion transition area of the video frame.

18. The device of claim 17 , wherein motion estimation module is further configured to select one of the block motion vector and the sub-block motion vector based on a motion distance between the block motion vector and the sub-block motion vector when the sub-block does not occupy the motion transition area of the video frame.

19. The device of claim 17 , wherein motion estimation module is further configured to determine a first motion distance between the block motion vector and at least one spatially-estimated motion vector corresponding to a first neighboring sub-block, determine a second motion distance between the sub-block motion vector and at least one spatially-estimated motion vector corresponding to a second neighboring sub-block, compare the first motion distance to the second motion distance, and select one of the block motion vector and the sub-block motion vector based on a comparison of the first motion distance to the second motion distance.

20. An apparatus for processing video signals, the apparatus comprising:

means for determining a motion distance between a block motion vector and a sub-block motion vector, wherein the block motion vector corresponds to a video block that includes a sub-block corresponding to the sub-block motion vector;

means for comparing the motion distance to a first threshold;

means for selecting one of the block motion vector and the sub-block motion vector as a spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block based on neighboring motion vectors when the motion distance is greater than the first threshold;

means for comparing the motion distance to a second threshold when the motion distance is not greater than the first threshold;

means for selecting the block motion vector as the spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block when the motion distance is greater than the second threshold; and

means for selecting the sub-block motion vector as the spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block when the motion distance is not greater than the second threshold.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 , further comprising:

means for selecting one of the block motion vector and the sub-block motion vector based on the motion distance when the motion distance is not greater than the first threshold.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 , further comprising:

means for performing motion compensated frame rate up conversion (FRUC) based on the spatially-estimated motion vector.

23. The apparatus of claim 20 , further comprising:

means for comparing the spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block to a spatially-estimated motion vector for a neighboring sub-block; and

means for selecting one of the spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block and the spatially-estimated motion vector for the neighboring sub-block as a temporally-refined motion vector for the sub-block based on a comparison of the spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block to the spatially-estimated motion vector for the neighboring sub-block.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the means for selecting one of the spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block and the spatially-estimated motion vector for the neighboring sub-block comprises:

means for selecting a motion vector from a set of motion vectors that minimizes a cost function, wherein the set of motion vectors includes the spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block and spatially-estimated motion vectors for neighboring sub-blocks.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 , further comprising:

means for performing motion compensated frame rate up conversion (FRUC) based on the temporally-refined motion vector.

26. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the apparatus comprises at least one of an integrated circuit, a microprocessor, or a wireless communication device.

27. An apparatus comprising:

means for comparing a block motion vector to a sub-block motion vector, wherein the block motion vector corresponds to a video block that includes a sub-block corresponding to the sub-block motion vector;

means for determining if the sub-block occupies a motion transition area of a video frame based on a comparison of the block motion vector to the sub-block motion vector; and

means for selecting one of the block motion vector and the sub-block motion vector based on neighboring motion vectors when the sub-block occupies the motion transition area of the video frame.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 , further comprising:

means for selecting one of the block motion vector and the sub-block motion vector based on a motion distance between the block motion vector and the sub-block motion vector when the sub-block does not occupy the motion transition area of the video frame.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein the means for selecting one of the block motion vector and the sub-block motion vector based on the neighboring motion vectors comprises:

means for determining a first motion distance between the block motion vector and at least one spatially-estimated motion vector corresponding to a first neighboring sub-block;

means for determining a second motion distance between the sub-block motion vector and at least one spatially-estimated motion vector corresponding to a second neighboring sub-block;

means for comparing the first motion distance to the second motion distance; and

means for selecting one of the block motion vector and the sub-block motion vector based on a comparison of the first motion distance to the second motion distance.

30. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that upon execution by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to:

determine a motion distance between a block motion vector and a sub-block motion vector, wherein the block motion vector corresponds to a video block that includes a sub-block corresponding to the sub-block motion vector;

compare the motion distance to a first threshold;

select one of the block motion vector and the sub-block motion vector as a spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block based on neighboring motion vectors when the motion distance is greater than the first threshold;

compare the motion distance to a second threshold when the motion distance is not greater than the first threshold;

select the block motion vector as the spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block when the motion distance is greater than the second threshold; and

select the sub-block motion vector as the spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block when the motion distance is not greater than the second threshold.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 30 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

select one of the block motion vector and the sub-block motion vector based on the motion distance when the motion distance is not greater than the first threshold.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 30 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

perform motion compensated frame rate up conversion (FRUC) based on the spatially-estimated motion vector.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 30 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

compare the spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block to a spatially-estimated motion vector for a neighboring sub-block; and

select one of the spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block and the spatially-estimated motion vector for the neighboring sub-block as a temporally-refined motion vector for the sub-block based on a comparison of the spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block to the spatially-estimated motion vector for the neighboring sub-block.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 33 , wherein the instructions that upon execution by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to select one of the spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block and the spatially-estimated motion vector for the neighboring sub-block comprise instructions that upon execution by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to:

select a motion vector from a set of motion vectors that minimizes a cost function, wherein the set of motion vectors includes the spatially-estimated motion vector for the sub-block and spatially-estimated motion vectors for neighboring sub-blocks.

35. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 33 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

perform motion compensated frame rate up conversion (FRUC) based on the temporally-refined motion vector.

36. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that upon execution by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to:

compare a block motion vector to a sub-block motion vector, wherein the block motion vector corresponds to a video block that includes a sub-block corresponding to the sub-block motion vector;

determine if the sub-block occupies a motion transition area of a video frame based on a comparison of the block motion vector to the sub-block motion vector; and

select one of the block motion vector and the sub-block motion vector based on neighboring motion vectors when the sub-block occupies the motion transition area of the video frame.

37. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 36 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

select one of the block motion vector and the sub-block motion vector based on a motion distance between the block motion vector and the sub-block motion vector when the sub-block does not occupy the motion transition area of the video frame.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 36 , wherein the instructions that upon execution by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to select one of the block motion vector and the sub-block motion vector based on the neighboring motion vectors comprise instructions that upon execution by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to:

determine a first motion distance between the block motion vector and at least one spatially-estimated motion vector corresponding to a first neighboring sub-block;

determine a second motion distance between the sub-block motion vector and at least one spatially-estimated motion vector corresponding to a second neighboring sub-block;

compare the first motion distance to the second motion distance; and

select one of the block motion vector and the sub-block motion vector based on a comparison of the first motion distance to the second motion distance.