University of Texas System

Anush Moorthy

Alan C Bovik

Techniques and structures are disclosed in which one or more distortion categories are identified for an image or video, and a quality of the image or video is determined based on the one or more distortion categories. The image or video may be of a natural scene, and may be of unknown provenance. Identifying a distortion category and/or determining a quality may be performed without any corresponding reference (e.g., undistorted) image or video. Identifying a distortion category may be performed using a distortion classifier. Quality may be determined with respect to a plurality of human opinion scores that correspond to a particular distortion category to which an image or video of unknown provenance is identified as belonging. Various statistical methods may be used in performing said identifying and said determining, including use of generalized Gaussian distribution density models and natural scene statistics.

Determining quality of an image or video using a distortion classifier

A method, system and computer program product for improving the perceptual quality and naturalness of an image captured by an image acquisition device (e.g., digital camera). Statistical features of a scene being imaged by the image acquisition device are derived from models of natural images. These statistical features are measured and mapped onto the control parameters (e.g., exposure, ISO) of the digital acquisition device. By mapping these statistical features onto the control parameters, the perceptual quality and naturalness of the scene being imaged may be based on the values of these control parameters. As a result, these control parameters are modified to maximize the perceptual quality and naturalness of the scene being imaged. After modification of these control parameters, the image is captured by the image acquisition device. In this manner, the perceptual quality and naturalness of the image captured by the image acquisition device is improved.

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San Diego, CA, United States of America

Anush Moorthy