Image encoding system

• US 20040101043A1
• Filed: 02/20/2003
• Published: 05/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: dynamic digital depth Research Pty Ltd
• Original Assignee: dynamic digital depth Research Pty Ltd
• Inventors: Fox, Simon, Harman, Philip Victor, Flack, Julien
• Application Number:
  US10/368,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20040101043A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/240.01
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• 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 13/194 Transmission of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2213/003 Aspects relating to the "2D+depth" image format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/025 Systems for the transmission of digital non-picture data, e.g. of text during the active part of a television frame transmission of digital non-picture data during the vertical blanking interval only H04N7/088
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction

Abstract

A method of encoding depth data within a video image wherein the depth data is included within an active picture area of the video image.

Claims

1. A method of encoding depth data within a video image wherein said depth data is included within an active picture area of said video image.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said depth data is stored as sub pictures in said active picture area.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said depth data is included within the last two lines of said active picture area.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said depth data is stored at the end of said image.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said depth data is included in a video over scan region of a video display.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said depth data is stored at the start of said image, or at one or both sides of said image.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said depth data is stored in a combination of the start of said image, end of said image, and/or at one or both sides of said image.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said depth data is distributed over a plurality of frames of said video image.

9. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein said depth data is distributed over a plurality of frames of said video image.

10. A method of encoding depth data within a video image wherein said depth data is embedded in portions of said video image which remain substantially uncompressed.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein said depth data is stored in MPEG user data areas.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein said depth data is stored as a watermark.

13. A method of encoding depth data within a video image wherein said depth data is embedded in portions of said video image which are only subject to substantially loss less compression.

14. An image encoded with depth data wherein said depth data is encoded within an active picture area of said image.

15. An image as claimed in claim 14 wherein said depth data is encoded as a sub picture within said active picture area.

16. An image as claimed in claim 14 wherein said depth data is encoded within the last 2 lines of said active picture area.