Combining digital images based on three-dimensional relationships between source image data sets
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for combining two-dimensional source images that have overlapping portions and are taken from a substantially common camera location, each source image represented by a corresponding digital data set of three-dimensional camera parameters that define a position of the camera relative to the source image that is viewed from the camera, the method comprising:
- for each pair of overlapping source images to be combined;
determining three-dimensional transformation parameters defining a mapping between a first image space corresponding to one of the source images'"'"' digital data set and a second image space corresponding to the other of the source images'"'"' digital data set, the mapping describing a reorienting of the camera from one of the source images to the other of the source images; and
creating an output data set representing a two-dimensional output image by combining the digital data sets representing the pair of source images in accordance with the determined three-dimensional transformation parameters and by transforming the source images into a common output space by finding a path from a source image space to an output image space based on the determined three-dimensional transformation parameters;
in which finding a path includes choosing a path that is more accurate than other paths.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer-implemented method combines related source images, each represented by a set of digital data, by determining three-dimensional relationships between data sets representing related source images and creating a data set representing an output image by combining the data sets representing the source images in accordance with the determined three-dimensional relationships.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A computer-implemented method for combining two-dimensional source images that have overlapping portions and are taken from a substantially common camera location, each source image represented by a corresponding digital data set of three-dimensional camera parameters that define a position of the camera relative to the source image that is viewed from the camera, the method comprising:
-
for each pair of overlapping source images to be combined;
determining three-dimensional transformation parameters defining a mapping between a first image space corresponding to one of the source images'"'"' digital data set and a second image space corresponding to the other of the source images'"'"' digital data set, the mapping describing a reorienting of the camera from one of the source images to the other of the source images; and
creating an output data set representing a two-dimensional output image by combining the digital data sets representing the pair of source images in accordance with the determined three-dimensional transformation parameters and by transforming the source images into a common output space by finding a path from a source image space to an output image space based on the determined three-dimensional transformation parameters;
in which finding a path includes choosing a path that is more accurate than other paths. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A memory device storing computer readable instructions for aiding a computer to combine two-dimensional source images that have overlapping portions and are taken from a substantially common camera location, each source image represented by a corresponding set of digital data of three-dimensional camera parameters that define a position of the camera relative to the source image that is viewed from the camera, the memory device comprising instructions to perform the following operations:
-
for each pair of overlapping source images to be combined;
determine three-dimensional transformation parameters defining a mapping between a first image space corresponding to one of the source images'"'"' digital data set and a second image space corresponding to the other of the source images'"'"' digital data set, the mapping describing a reorienting of the camera from one of the source images to the other of the source images; and
create an output data set representing a two-dimensional output image by combining the digital data sets representing the pair of source images in accordance with the determined three-dimensional transformation parameters and by transforming the source images into a common output space by finding a path from a source image space to an output image space based on the determined three-dimensional transformation parameters;
in which finding a path includes choosing a path that is more accurate than other paths.
-
-
21. An apparatus to combine two-dimensional source images that have overlapping portions and are taken from a substantially common camera location, the apparatus comprising:
-
a storage medium to store overlapping source images, each source image represented by a corresponding set of digital data of three-dimensional camera parameters that define a position of the camera relative to the source image that is viewed from the camera; and
a processor operatively coupled to the storage medium and configured to perform the following operations;
for each pair of overlapping source images to be combined;
determine three-dimensional transformation parameters defining a mapping between a first image space corresponding to one of the source images'"'"' digital data set and a second image space corresponding to the other of the source images'"'"' digital data set, the mapping describing a reorienting of the camera from one of the source images to the other of the source images; and
create an output data set representing a two-dimensional output image by combining the digital data sets representing the pair of source images in accordance with the determined three-dimensional transformation parameters and by transforming the source images into a common output space by finding a path from a source image space to an output image space based on the determined three-dimensional transformation parameters;
in which finding a path includes choosing a path that is more accurate than other paths.
-
-
22. A computer-implemented method for combining two-dimensional source images that have overlapping portions and are taken from a substantially common camera location, each source image represented by a corresponding digital data set of three-dimensional camera parameters that define a position of the camera relative to the source image that is viewed from the camera, the method comprising:
-
for each pair of overlapping source images to be combined;
determining three-dimensional transformation parameters defining a mapping between a first image space corresponding to one of the source images'"'"' digital data set and a second image space corresponding to the other of the source images'"'"' digital data set, the mapping describing a reorienting of the camera from one of the source images to the other of the source images; and
creating an output data set representing a two-dimensional output image by combining the digital data sets representing the pair of source images in accordance with the determined three-dimensional transformation parameters and by transforming the source images into a common output space by finding a path from a source image space to an output image space based on the determined three-dimensional transformation parameters;
in which finding the path comprises constraining parameters of the source images.
-
-
23. A computer-implemented method for combining two-dimensional source images that have overlapping portions and are taken from a substantially common camera location, each source image represented by a corresponding digital data set of three-dimensional camera parameters that define a position of the camera relative to the source image that is viewed from the camera, the method comprising:
-
for each pair of overlapping source images to be combined;
determining three-dimensional transformation parameters defining a mapping between a first image space corresponding to one of the source images'"'"' digital data set and a second image space corresponding to the other of the source images'"'"' digital data set, the mapping describing a reorienting of the camera from one of the source images to the other of the source images; and
creating an output data set representing a two-dimensional output image by combining the digital data sets representing the pair of source images in accordance with the determined three-dimensional transformation parameters and by transforming the source images into a common output space by finding a path from a source image space to an output image space based on the determined three-dimensional transformation parameters;
in which finding the path comprises generating a minimum spanning tree.
-
Specification