METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILTERING JITTER FROM MOTION ESTIMATION VIDEO DATA

A method, means, and computer program are provided for filtering jitter from motion estimation video data. The movement of one or more identifying features of an image is observed over a plurality of frames. The movement is analyzed and a pattern to the movement is determined. The pattern is analyzed for a jitter signature. In the event the pattern reflects the presence of jitter, the data associated with the affected frames of video is filtered by, for example, altering the magnitude of motion vectors to offset the components of jitter or discarding affected motion vectors. Embodiments of the invention filter translational jitter in either or both of the x- and y-axes as well as rotational jitter from motion estimation data. In one embodiment of the invention, motion vectors themselves are analyzed for the presence of jitter. In the event jitter is identified, affected motion vectors are discarded or filtered.