MOTION VECTOR SEARCH APPARATUS AND METHOD

The object of the present invention is to realize a motion vector search apparatus and method that is able to perform highly accurate motion vector searching even in images containing discontinuous motion relative to encoded images immediately before. According to the present invention, global motion vector search unit searches for a global motion vector by evaluating differences between pixels at the same location of an input image and an NR reference image in the form of an input image input one frame earlier that is held in original image memory. CPU then determines the motion vector search area based on the results of this global motion vector search, and sets that range in motion vector search unit. Motion vector search unit then searches for and determines a motion vector from previously encoded reference images held in frame memory that are the same as the encoded image held in frame memory over the motion vector search area set by CPU.