The present invention provides a motion estimation method using a multilevel
successive elimination algorithm. The present invention includes the steps of:
a) selecting an initial candidate block among a plurality of candidate blocks in
an image frame for computing an initial SAD; b) selecting four vertex candidate
blocks placed at vertexes of a imaginary perfect square based on the initial candidate
block as the center of the imaginary perfect square; c) extracting elimination
levels of the four vertex candidate blocks by performing the MSEA; d) predicting
elimination levels for side candidate blocks which are located at sides of the
perfect square based on a spatial correlation between elimination levels of candidate
blocks and the extracted elimination levels of the four vertex candidate blocks;
and e) extracting elimination levels of the side candidate blocks by performing
the MSEA based on the predicted elimination level.
