Image conversion and encoding techniques

• US 20040032980A1
• Filed: 08/18/2003
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: dynamic digital depth Research Pty Ltd
• Original Assignee: dynamic digital depth Research Pty Ltd
• Inventors: Harman, Philip Victor
• Granted Patent: US 7,054,478 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/154
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10012 Stereo images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/12 Edge-based segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/593 from stereo images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/97 Determining parameters from multiple pictures depth or shape recovery from multiple images G06T7/55; stereo camera calibration G06T7/85
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 9/001 Model-based coding, e.g. wire frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/15 for colour aspects of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/161 Encoding, multiplexing or demultiplexing different image signal components for multi-view video sequence encoding H04N19/597
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/167 Synchronising or controlling image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/189 Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/194 Transmission of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/221 using the relative movement between cameras and objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/257 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/261 with monoscopic-to-stereoscopic image conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/296 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/341 using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/597 specially adapted for multi-view video sequence encoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/0077 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/0081 : Depth or disparity estimation from stereoscopic image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/0085 : Motion estimation from stereoscopic image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/0092 : Image segmentation from stereoscopic image signals

Abstract

A method of producing a depth map for use in the conversion of 2D images into stereoscopic images including the steps of: identifying at least one object within a 2D image; allocating an identifying tag to each object; allocating a depth tag to each object; and determining and defining an outline of each object.

Claims

1. A method of producing a depth map for use in the conversion of 2D images in a video sequence into stereoscopic images including the steps of:

identifying and numbering each frame of the video sequence;

identifying at least one object within the video sequence;

allocating an identifying tag to each object;

dividing the video sequence into a plurality of partial sequences;

transmitting the partial sequences to a plurality of operators, each operator determining and defining an outline for each object in the partial sequence previously allocated said identifying tag;

receiving said partial sequences from said plurality of operators;

collating said partial sequences to reform the video sequence; and

allocating a depth tag to each object.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further including the step of adding security measures to the sequence prior to said video sequence being divided into a plurality of partial sequences.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said security measures include at least one of removing audio from the video sequence and modifying the colors of the video sequence.