1. The method for transforming video data using motion estimation via a distribution server, the method comprising: predicting a fractional pixel motion vector via a fractional pixel motion estimation module of the distribution server using a prediction-based search, wherein the prediction-based search is terminated early if the predicted fractional pixel motion vector has a minimum cost that is less than a predefined threshold value; refining the predicted fractional pixel motion vector based on a predicted integer pixel motion vector when the minimum cost of the predicted fractional pixel motion vector is more than the predefined threshold value; selecting a portion of points in a block of pixels; further refining the predicted fractional pixel motion vector using a direction search that is based on the predicted integer pixel motion vector, wherein a motion vector from a previous frame is used to determine the predicted integer pixel motion vector; and further refining the predicted fractional pixel motion vector using a small diamond shaped pattern search, the small diamond shaped pattern search to examine fractional pixel points.