Paper ID: 521

Title: A Parallel Algorithm for Advanced Video Motion Estimation on
Multicore Architectures

Authors: Svetislav Momcilovic, Leonel Sousa

Abstract: The new Advanced Video Coding (AVC) standards further
exploit temporal correlation between images on a sequence by
considering multiple reference frames and variable block sizes. It
increases the compression rate for a given video quality at the cost
of a significant computational load increase.  Specialized hardware
processors have been proposed to perform real time motion estimation
on AVC, but the nonrecurring engineering cost of these solutions is
too high. This paper proposes a parallel algorithm that exploits the
capacity of the current multi-core processors to implement real time
motion estimation for AVC. In particular, by using the computational
capacity and the fast memory system of the heterogeneous multi-core
CELL processor, it can use the synergetic processors to speedup motion
estimation while the main processor execute in parallel the other
parts of the AVC system.  Experimental results show that motion
estimation can be performed in less than 40ms per frame, for CIF video
format, up to 5 reference frames and variable block size by
programming the proposed parallel algorithm for the CELL processor.