Motion-compensated Frame Interpolation Based on Weighted Motion Estimation and Vector Segmentation

In this paper, an algorithm of motion-compensated frame interpolation is proposed based on weighted motion estimation, motion vector (MV) segmentation and variable block processing (MCFI). First, we present the weighted motion estimation method to obtain more accurate motion vectors. Next, we partition a frame into moving areas and background by clustering the received motion vectors. Then, a variable block processing method is applied to the moving areas, which can protect the moving areas edge structures from being damaged. Meanwhile, considering multiple directions of the motion blocks, we adopt adaptive vector median filter and motion vector smoothing to refine the block size to effectively eliminate the blocking artifacts and ghost effects. Experiment shows that the algorithm not only improves the image quality both subjectively and objectively, but also has a better adaptability to video sequences with fast motion and complex background.