System and method of real time insertions into video using adaptive occlusion with a synthetic reference image
First Claim
1. A method of occlusion processing for merging an inserted image with a current image in a live broadcast of an event, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) obtaining a reference image of a scene, said scene including at least one intended insertion region;
(b) processing the reference image to obtain a synthetic reference image;
(c) warping the synthetic reference image into the current image using warp parameters which transform the synthetic reference image to the same size and perspective as the current image;
(d) updating the warped, synthetic reference image to reflect camera and lighting conditions in the current image;
(e) creating a difference image by subtracting the updated, warped, synthetic reference image from the current image;
(f) creating an occlusion mask from said difference image for deciding whether to broadcast the pixels of the current image, the pixels of the inserted image, or a mixture of each; and
(g) mixing the inserted image and the current image according to the occlusion mask to obtain a broadcast image which seamlessly blends the inserted image into a portion of the current image without obscuring the action of the event.
14 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for realtime occlusion processing for seamlessly and realistically blending an inserted image such as an advertisement into a region of a live broadcast image without obscuring the action of the live image. The average color and intensity of a synthetic reference image containing at least some of the region to be replaced is compared to the average color and intensity of the current live broadcast image to determine the difference between the two images. The resulting difference image obtained from processing the current image and synthetic, reference image determines areas of the intended insertion region within the current image which are obscured by live action. The processor then generates an occlusion mask based on the difference image and only those pixels that are unoccluded within the intended insertion region are allowed to be inserted into the live broadcast.
-
Citations
29 Claims
-
1. A method of occlusion processing for merging an inserted image with a current image in a live broadcast of an event, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) obtaining a reference image of a scene, said scene including at least one intended insertion region; (b) processing the reference image to obtain a synthetic reference image; (c) warping the synthetic reference image into the current image using warp parameters which transform the synthetic reference image to the same size and perspective as the current image; (d) updating the warped, synthetic reference image to reflect camera and lighting conditions in the current image; (e) creating a difference image by subtracting the updated, warped, synthetic reference image from the current image; (f) creating an occlusion mask from said difference image for deciding whether to broadcast the pixels of the current image, the pixels of the inserted image, or a mixture of each; and (g) mixing the inserted image and the current image according to the occlusion mask to obtain a broadcast image which seamlessly blends the inserted image into a portion of the current image without obscuring the action of the event. - 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, 24)
-
-
25. A system for merging an inserted image with a current image in a live broadcast of an event while compensating for occluding objects in the foreground of the current image, the system comprising:
-
camera means for obtaining a reference image of a scene, said scene including an intended insertion region; processor means for processing the reference image to obtain a synthetic reference image; warping means for warping the synthetic reference image into the current image using warp parameters which transform the synthetic reference image to the same size and perspective as the current image; updating means for updating the color and intensity of the warped, synthetic reference image to reflect camera and lighting conditions in the current image; comparator means for creating a difference image by subtracting the updated, warped, synthetic reference image from the current image; masking means for creating an occlusion mask from said difference image for deciding whether to broadcast the pixels of the current image or the pixels of the inserted image; and mixing means for mixing the inserted image and the current image according to the occlusion mask to obtain a broadcast image which seamlessly blends the inserted image into a portion of the current image without obscuring the action of the event. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
-
Specification