The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 03, 2004
Filed:
Aug. 23, 2000
Timothy I. P. Trew, Horley, GB;
Richard D. Gallery, Horley, GB;
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V., Eindhoven, NL;
Abstract
An image encoder or other image processing apparatus includes a segmentation apparatus for assigning image pixels to regions, in accordance with predetermined criteria. The segmentation apparatus provides a temporally consistent segmentation throughout a motion picture sequence, and comprises: a motion compensation processor for predicting the segmentation for a current frame (F ) upon the basis of the segmentation (S ) of the preceding frame and estimated motion vectors (M); a pixel identifier and reallocator for modifying the predicted segmentation in dependence upon the accuracy of pixel values (F ′) predicted for the current frame on the basis of the motion vectors (M). In particular, for portions of the image where pixel values are not accurately predicted by the motion vectors, it is assumed that the predicted segmentation is invalid, and such portions are re-segmented and merged into the predicted segmentation to obtain the temporally consistent segmentation. In the embodiments, pixels on the borders of regions in the predicted segmentation are also considered and re-assigned to neighbouring regions according to various criteria.