EMULATION OF BI PREDICTED PICTURES USING ADJACENT PICTURES FOR IMPROVED VIDEO

A method and apparatus for emulation of Bi predicted B pictures is described where a B picture is constructed only from information from one preceding and successive frame without pixel averaging or motion vector computation. In the case of H.264 or analogous codecs, a top field of a B picture is formed from the successive I or P picture top field, and the bottom field formed from the previous P picture bottom field. B picture emulation may reverse the previous and successive pictures. For interlaced pictures, the odd and ever interlacing fields are treated as top and bottom fields, and also use information from both one preceding and successive frame. The resulting Bi predicted B pictures reduce inter-GOP flicker.