Canon Kabushiki Kaisha

Allan Joseph Davison

Simon Michael Rowe

Alexander Ralph Lyons

Richard Ian Taylor

Jane Haslam

Adam Michael Baumberg

Alexandre Percival Dodge

Customer computer processing apparatus () are connected to a service apparatus () via the Internet (). Service apparatus () processes requests and payment details from a customer apparatus (), and, in response to a valid payment, sends instructions to the customer apparatus to enable the customer apparatus to control a printer () or a display panel () to print or display a photographic mat (). Service apparatus () retains details of the photographic mat pattern for subsequent use. Images of a subject object on the photographic mat are recorded at different positions and orientations with a camera (). Data defining the images is returned from the customer processing apparatus () to the service apparatus (). The service apparatus processes the image data along with the stored pattern data to identify the photographic mat features in the images and to calculate the position and orientation at which each image was recorded. A three-dimensional computer model of the subject object is then generated using the calculated positions and orientations.

Image processing apparatus

In a processing system, video images of moving objects are processed to model the objects in a 3D computer model. Video from multiple cameras is processed to separate objects from their shadows, and to test whether an object is made up of separate objects, which are then modelled separately. Each object is modelled using vertical planes whose bases approximate the object's ground footprint, using planes based on object surface planes identified in the image data, or using a single vertical plane. Pixel data from the video images is rendered onto the planes in the models. The video for rendering is selected based on the viewer's viewing direction, the camera viewing directions, and quality characteristics of the cameras and image data. If the viewer's viewing direction is close to vertical or a plane of an object, a schematic of the objects' positions is displayed. To account for image data from different cameras being used, successive images are tested for visual discontinuous, and are modified if necessary. Information indicating the accuracy/reliability of the rendered image is displayed.

In an apparatus and method for creating a three-dimensional model of an object, images of the object taken from different, unknown positions are processed to identify the points in the images which correspond to the same point on the actual object (that is &ldquo;matching&rdquo; points), the matching points are used to determine the relative positions from which the images were taken, and the matching points and calculated positions are used to calculate points in a three-dimensional space representing points on the object. A number of different techniques are used to identify the matching points, and a number of solutions are calculated and tested for the relative positions, the solution which is consistent with the largest number of matching points being selected. In one matching technique, edges in an image are identified by first identifying corner points in the image and then identifying edges between the corner points on the basis of edge orientation values of pixels, the edges are processed in strength order to remove cross-overs, the images sub-divided into regions by connecting points at the ends of the edges on the basis of the edge strengths, and matching points within corresponding regions in two or more images are identified.

In an apparatus and method for creating a three-dimensional model of an object, images of the object taken from different, unknown positions are processed to identify the points in the images which correspond to the same point on the actual object (that is &ldquo;matching&rdquo; points), the matching points are used to determine the relative positions from which the images were taken, and the matching points and calculated positions are used to calculate points in a three-dimensional space representing points on the object. A number of different techniques are used to identify the matching points, and a number of solutions are calculated and tested for the relative positions. Edges in an image are identified by first identifying corner points in the image and then identifying edges between the corner points on the basis of edge orientation values of pixels, the edges are processed in strength order to remove cross-overs, the images sub-divided into regions by connecting points at the ends of the edges on the basis of the edge strengths, and matching points within corresponding regions in two or more images are identified.

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Guildford, United Kingdom

Allan Joseph Davison