Method and apparatus for assigning motion vector predictor to sub-block without performing associated iteration of sub-block motion vector predictor determination flow

Abstract

An exemplary motion vector predictor determination method includes the following steps: determining a motion vector predictor of a block according to motion vector data of neighbor units associated with the block; and utilizing a motion vector predictor computing circuit for assigning the motion vector predictor determined for the block to a first sub-block within the block. In addition, an exemplary motion vector predictor determination apparatus employing the exemplary motion vector predictor determination method is provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A motion vector predictor determination method comprising:
 determining a motion vector predictor of a block according to motion vector data of neighbor units associated with the block; and   utilizing a motion vector predictor computing circuit for assigning the motion vector predictor determined for the block to a first sub-block within the block.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the neighbor units comprise at least one first neighbor unit adjacent to the block and at least one second neighbor unit adjacent to the block; and the method further comprises:
 checking if motion vector data of the at least one first neighbor unit and motion vector data of the at least one second neighbor unit are identical to each other; and   when a checking result indicates that the motion vector data of the at least one first neighbor unit is identical to the motion vector data of the at least one second neighbor unit, assigning the motion vector predictor determined for the block to a second sub-block within the block;   wherein the motion vector data of the at least first neighbor unit is involved in determining the motion vector predictor of the block, and the motion vector data of the at least one second neighbor unit is not involved in determining the motion vector predictor of the block.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein one of the at least one first neighbor unit and one of the at least one second neighbor unit are on a same side of the block. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the same side is a top side of the block. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the same side is a left side of the block. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first sub-block and the second sub-block have a same size; and the at least one first neighbor unit and the at least one second neighbor unit are in a same frame. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one first neighbor unit and the at least one second neighbor unit have a same size; and a size of each of the first sub-block and the second sub-block is equal to a size of each of the at least one first neighbor unit and the at least one second neighbor unit. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein each of the first sub-block, the second sub-block, the at least one first neighbor unit and the at least one second neighbor unit is square. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one first neighbor unit and the at least one second neighbor unit have a same size; and a size of each of the first sub-block and the second sub-block is larger than a size of each of the at least one first neighbor unit and the at least one second neighbor unit. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein each of the first sub-block and the second sub-block is non-square, and each of the at least one first neighbor unit and the at least one second neighbor unit is square. 
     
     
         11 . A motion vector predictor determination apparatus comprising:
 a motion vector predictor computing circuit, arranged to determine a motion vector predictor of a block according to motion vector data of neighbor units associated with the block, and assign the motion vector predictor determined for the block to a first sub-block within the block.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the neighbor units comprise at least one first neighbor unit adjacent to the block and at least one second neighbor unit adjacent to the block; and the apparatus further comprises:
 a checking circuit, arranged to check if motion vector data of the at least one first neighbor unit and motion vector data of the at least one second neighbor unit are identical to each other;   wherein the motion vector predictor computing circuit is further arranged to assign the motion vector predictor determined for the block to a second sub-block within the block when the checking circuit determines that the motion vector data of the at least one first neighbor unit is identical to the motion vector data of the at least one second neighbor unit, where the motion vector data of the at least first neighbor unit is involved in determining the motion vector predictor of the block, and the motion vector data of the at least one second neighbor unit is not involved in determining the motion vector predictor of the block.