A method and apparatus for performing a predictive motion search in a
video encoder system using motion vectors representing the difference in
coordinates of a macroblock of data in a current frame of video data and
coordinates of a related macroblock of data in a reference frame of video
data. A plurality of motion vector predictors is obtained where the
motion vector predictors represent approximations of possible motion
vectors for a current macroblock. A search pattern is defined. Each
motion vector predictor of the plurality of motion vector predictors is
searched around using the search pattern. A final motion vector is then
determined.