Polygon block matching method
First Claim
1. A block matching motion estimation method for estimating motion of corresponding pixels between first and second video image frames, comprising:
- defining a reference pixel block of multiple pixels relative to a first reference pixel in the first video image frame and a sample pixel block of multiple sample pixels in the second video image frame, the reference pixel block being a quadrilateral array of pixels;
determining and storing for the pixels in the sample pixel block correlations to the pixels in the reference pixel block, including using shape of an arbitrary image feature to exclude pixels in the reference pixel block located outside the arbitrary image feature from correlation determinations; and
identifying from the correlations a first sample pixel corresponding to the first reference pixel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A polygon block matching method includes defining a preliminary quadrilateral reference pixel block of multiple pixels about a selected reference pixel in an image object of a video image frame. The pixels of the preliminary quadrilateral pixel block not in the interior of the image object are identified and omitted to establish a reference pixel block that conforms to the image object. If it encompasses the perimeter of the image object, the reference pixel block frequently is of a non-quadrilateral polygonal configuration. A search or sample pixel block of multiple sample pixels is defined in another video image frame and represents a region over which a selected sample pixel corresponding to the selected reference pixel is sought. The search includes determining and storing for the pixels in the sample pixel block correlations to the pixels in the reference pixel block, and identifying from the correlations the selected sample pixel corresponding to the selected reference pixel.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A block matching motion estimation method for estimating motion of corresponding pixels between first and second video image frames, comprising:
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defining a reference pixel block of multiple pixels relative to a first reference pixel in the first video image frame and a sample pixel block of multiple sample pixels in the second video image frame, the reference pixel block being a quadrilateral array of pixels; determining and storing for the pixels in the sample pixel block correlations to the pixels in the reference pixel block, including using shape of an arbitrary image feature to exclude pixels in the reference pixel block located outside the arbitrary image feature from correlation determinations; and identifying from the correlations a first sample pixel corresponding to the first reference pixel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A block matching motion estimation method for estimating motion of pixels between first and second video image frames that include an arbitrary first image feature of plural image feature pixels, comprising:
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identifying the arbitrary first image feature in the first video image frame; defining a reference pixel block of multiple pixels relative to each image feature pixel in the first video image frame and a corresponding sample pixel block of multiple sample pixels in the second video image frame; identifying for each reference pixel block in the first video image frame the pixels of the arbitrary first image feature; and identifying from the sample pixels in the sample pixel block first sample pixels corresponding to the image feature pixels, including using shape of the arbitrary first image feature to exclude pixels in the reference pixel block located outside the arbitrary image feature from use in identifying the corresponding first sample pixels. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable programming for estimating motion of corresponding pixels between first and second video image frames, the medium comprising:
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programming for defining a reference pixel block of multiple pixels relative to a first reference pixel in the first video image frame and a sample pixel block of multiple sample pixels in the second video image frame, the reference pixel block being an array of pixels at least partially overlapping an arbitrary image feature in the first video image frame; programming for determining and storing for the pixels in the sample pixel block correlations to the reference pixel block and the first reference pixel, including using shape of an arbitrary image feature to exclude pixels in the reference pixel block located outside the arbitrary image feature from correlation determinations; and programming for identifying from the correlations a first sample pixel corresponding to the first reference pixel. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A block matching motion estimation method for estimating motion of corresponding pixels between first and second video image frames, comprising:
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defining a reference pixel block of multiple pixels relative to a first reference pixel in the first video image frame and a sample pixel block of multiple sample pixels in the second video image frame, the reference pixel block being a non-quadrilateral polygonal arrays of pixels; defining relative to the first reference pixel a preliminary quadrilateral reference pixel block of plural pixels; identifying the pixels of the preliminary quadrilateral pixel block as to whether they are in the interior of the arbitrary first image feature, at least one of the pixels in the preliminary quadrilateral pixel block not being in the interior of the arbitrary first image feature; and establishing as the reference pixel block the pixels of the preliminary quadrilateral pixel block in the interior of the arbitrary first image feature; determining and storing for the pixels in the sample pixel block correlations to the pixels in the reference pixel block; and identifying from the correlations a first sample pixel corresponding to the first reference pixel; wherein the first reference pixel and the first sample pixel are included in arbitrary first and second image features in the first and second video image frames, respectively, the arbitrary first image feature having an interior that is bounded by an image feature perimeter and the reference pixel block including a pixel block perimeter that conforms to the image feature perimeter.
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21. A block matching motion estimation method for estimating motion of pixels between first and second video image frames that include an arbitrary first image feature of plural image feature pixels, comprising:
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identifying the arbitrary first image feature in the first video image frame, the arbitrary first image feature having an interior that is bounded by an image feature perimeter; defining a reference pixel block of multiple pixels relative to each image feature pixel in the first video image frame and a corresponding sample pixel block of multiple sample pixels in the second video image frame; identifying for each reference pixel block in the first video image frame the pixels of the arbitrary first image feature; defining relative to each image feature pixel a preliminary quadrilateral reference pixel block of plural pixels; identifying the pixels of the preliminary quadrilateral reference pixel block as to whether they are in the interior of the arbitrary first image feature; establishing as the reference pixel block the pixels of the preliminary quadrilateral reference pixel block in the interior of the arbitrary first image feature; and identifying from the sample pixels in the sample pixel block first sample pixels corresponding to the image feature pixels. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable programming for estimating motion of corresponding pixels between first and second video image frames, the medium comprising:
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programming for defining a reference pixel block of multiple pixels relative to a first reference pixel in the first video image frame and a sample pixel block of multiple sample pixels in the second video image frame, the reference pixel block being a non-quadrilateral polygonal array of pixels, and the first reference pixel and the first sample pixel being included in arbitrary first and second image features in the first and second video image frames, respectively, the arbitrary first image feature having an interior that is bounded by an image feature perimeter and the reference pixel block including a pixel block perimeter that conforms to the image feature perimeter; programming for defining relative to the first reference pixel a preliminary quadrilateral reference pixel block of plural pixels; programming for identifying the pixels of the preliminary quadrilateral pixel block as to whether they are in the interior of the arbitrary first image feature, at least one of the pixels in the preliminary quadrilateral pixel block not being in the interior of the arbitrary first image feature; programming for establishing as the reference pixel block the pixels of the preliminary quadrilateral pixel block in the interior of the arbitrary first image feature; programming for determining and storing for the pixels in the sample pixel block correlations to the reference pixel block and the first reference pixel; and programming for identifying from the correlations a first sample pixel corresponding to the first reference pixel.
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Specification