Propagating adaptive-weighted vector median filter for motion-field smoothing

In the field of predictive video coding and format conversion, there is an increasing attention towards estimation of the true inter-frame motion. The restoration of motion vector field computed by 3-D RS is addressed and a propagating adaptive-weighted vector median (PAWVM) post-filter is proposed. This approach decomposes blocks to make a better estimation on object borders and propagates good vectors in the scanning direction. Furthermore, a hard-thresholding method is introduced into calculating vector weights to improve the propagating. By exploiting both the spatial correlation of the vector field and the matching error of candidate vectors, PAWVM makes a good balance between the smoothness of vector field and the prediction error, and the output vector field is more valid to reflect the true motion.