Method and system for parallel processing of Hough transform computations
First Claim
1. A system for parallel computation of a Hough transform, the system comprising:
- a plurality of processors capable of parallel operation;
a first memory interface for retrieving a data value from an image memory and passing the data value to each of the plurality of processors; and
a plurality of Hough transform sub-space memories, each associated with a processor of the plurality of processors;
wherein a processor of the plurality of processors is operable to receive the data value from the first memory interface and update Hough transform values in the associated memory of the plurality of Hough transform sub-space memories.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In a parallel computation of a Hough transform of an array of input data values, the transform space of the Hough transform is partitioned dynamically or statically into a number of sub-spaces. Each sub-space of the transform is stored in a sub-space of memory locations. Data values from the array of input data values are passed to a plurality of processors, each processor associated dynamically or statically with a sub-space of memory locations. Each processor, acting in parallel with the other processors, updates constituent elements of the Hough transform stored in the associated sub-space memory locations dependent upon the input data value.
25 Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A system for parallel computation of a Hough transform, the system comprising:
-
a plurality of processors capable of parallel operation;
a first memory interface for retrieving a data value from an image memory and passing the data value to each of the plurality of processors; and
a plurality of Hough transform sub-space memories, each associated with a processor of the plurality of processors;
wherein a processor of the plurality of processors is operable to receive the data value from the first memory interface and update Hough transform values in the associated memory of the plurality of Hough transform sub-space memories. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A method for parallel computation of a transform of an array of data values to a transform space, the method comprising:
-
initializing a transform space memory;
retrieving a data value from the array of data values;
partitioning the transform space memory into a plurality of transform sub-space memories;
passing the data value to a plurality of processors, each processor associated with a transform sub-space memory of the plurality of transform sub-space memories;
each processor of the plurality of processors updating elements of the transform stored in the associated transform sub-space memory dependent upon the data value; and
providing an output dependent upon elements of the transform space. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method for identifying a high level feature of an image represented as an input array of pixel values, comprising:
-
normalizing the input array of pixel values;
pre-processing the array of normalized pixel values to provide an array of data values;
segmenting the array of data values into one or more regions of interest;
identifying low level features in the array of data values;
partitioning the transform space of a Hough transform into a plurality of sub-spaces;
calculating, in parallel, the Hough transform of the one or more regions of interest in the plurality of sub-spaces;
searching the Hough transform space to identify the high level feature of the image; and
outputting parameters to specify the high level feature of the image. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A system for computing a Hough transform comprising:
-
a plurality of processing means, capable of parallel operation, each operable to calculate a sub-set of elements of a Hough transform;
a plurality of sub-space storage means, each associated with a processing means of the plurality of processing means and operable to store a subset of elements of the Hough transform;
a means for distributing a pixel location value to each processing means of the plurality of processing means; and
a means for outputting a result dependent upon the elements of the Hough transform. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A Hough transform method for tracking eye movements, comprising:
-
receiving a video frame comprising an array of first data values;
preprocessing the array of first data values to provide a plurality of second data values;
calculating a Hough transform of the plurality of second data values for elliptical primitive curves;
identifying eye positions by detecting ellipses using the Hough transform; and
identifying iris positions by detecting circles using the Hough transform of elliptical primitive curves;
wherein calculating a Hough transform of the plurality of second data values comprises;
initializing a Hough transform memory;
retrieving a data value from the plurality of second data values;
passing the data value to a plurality of processors;
associating each processor of the plurality of processors with a Hough transform sub-space memory of the Hough transform memory; and
each processor of the plurality of processors updating elements of the Hough transform stored in the associated Hough transform sub-space memory dependent upon the data value. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
-
Specification