THREE DIMENSIONAL IMAGE DATA PROCESSING
First Claim
1. A method of providing three dimensional image data for use in rendering image elements of at least one view of the three dimensional image data, the method comprising:
- providing (101) a first image;
providing (103) a mixed image being a combination of the first image and a second image, the second image being a foreground image relative to the first image and the combination being in response to transparency data for the second image;
providing (105) a transparency map related to the mixed image, the transparency map comprising transparency values for pixels of the mixed image;
providing (107) a first depth indication map for the mixed image, the first depth indication map comprising depth indication values for pixels of the mixed image; and
providing (111) the three dimensional image data comprising the first image, the mixed image, the transparency map and the first depth indication map.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Three dimensional image data is provided which includes data representing a first image which specifically may be a background image. A mixed image which is a combination of the first image and a second image which specifically may be a foreground image, a transparency map related to the mixed image comprising transparency values for pixels of the mixed image and a depth indication map for the mixed image comprising depth indication values for pixels of the mixed image. The use of a mixed image may allow three dimensional processing while at the same time allowing 2D backwards compatibility. Image quality around image objects may be improved by modifying transparency values in response to depth indication values and/or depth indication values in response to transparency values. Specifically, an improved alignment of transitions of depth indication values and transparency values may provide improved three dimensional foreground image object edge data.
58 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method of providing three dimensional image data for use in rendering image elements of at least one view of the three dimensional image data, the method comprising:
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providing (101) a first image; providing (103) a mixed image being a combination of the first image and a second image, the second image being a foreground image relative to the first image and the combination being in response to transparency data for the second image; providing (105) a transparency map related to the mixed image, the transparency map comprising transparency values for pixels of the mixed image; providing (107) a first depth indication map for the mixed image, the first depth indication map comprising depth indication values for pixels of the mixed image; and providing (111) the three dimensional image data comprising the first image, the mixed image, the transparency map and the first depth indication map. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 31)
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24. A method of encoding an image signal, the method comprising:
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providing (101) a first image; providing (103) a mixed image being a combination of the first image and a second image, the second image being a foreground image relative to the first image and the combination being in response to a transparency value for the second image; providing (105) a transparency map related to the mixed image, the transparency map comprising transparency values for pixels of the mixed image; providing (107) a first depth indication map for the mixed image, the first depth indication map comprising depth indication values for pixels of the mixed image; and generating (111) the image signal comprising encoded data representing the first image, the mixed image, the transparency map and the first depth indication map. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A method of rendering an image, the method comprising:
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providing (101) a first image; providing (103) a mixed image being a combination of the first image and a second image, the second image being a foreground image relative to the first image and the combination being in response to a transparency value for the second image; providing (105) a transparency map related to the mixed image, the transparency map comprising transparency values for pixels of the mixed image; providing (107) a first depth indication map for the mixed image, the first depth indication map comprising depth indication values for pixels of the mixed image; and rendering (111) the image in response to the first image, the mixed image, the transparency map and the first depth indication map.
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28. An image signal encoder comprising:
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means (303) for providing a first image; means (405) for providing a mixed image being a combination of the first image and a second image, the second image being a foreground image relative to the first image and the combination being in response to a transparency value for the second image; means (409) for providing a transparency map related to the mixed image, the transparency map comprising transparency values for pixels of the mixed image; means (407) for providing a first depth indication map for the mixed image, the first depth indication map comprising depth indication values for pixels of the mixed image; and means (307) for generating the image signal comprising encoded data representing the first image, the mixed image, the transparency map and the first depth indication map.
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29. An image rendering unit comprising:
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means (505) for providing a first image; means (507) for providing a mixed image being a combination of the first image and a second image, the second image being a foreground image relative to the first image and the combination being in response to a transparency value for the second image; means (513) for providing a transparency map related to the mixed image, the transparency map comprising transparency values for pixels of the mixed image; means (511) for providing a first depth indication map for the mixed image, the first depth indication map comprising depth indication values for pixels of the mixed image; and means (515) for rendering the image in response to the first image, the mixed image, the transparency map and the first depth indication map.
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30. An image signal comprising:
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data representing a first image; data representing a mixed image being a combination of the first image and a second image, the second image being a foreground image relative to the first image and the combination being in response to a transparency value for the second image; data representing a transparency map related to the mixed image, the transparency map comprising transparency values for pixels of the mixed image; data representing a first depth indication map for the mixed image, the first depth indication map comprising depth indication values for pixels of the mixed image.
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Specification