Motion vector field error estimation
First Claim
1. Video or film signal processing apparatus comprising:
- a motion estimation apparatus for generating best fit motion vectors, each best fit motion vector corresponding to a region of an input signal, a means for calculating, for each of said regions of the input signal, a plurality of spatial and temporal image gradients, a means for calculating, for each said best fit motion vector, a plurality of error values corresponding to said plurality of image gradients, a means for calculating a plurality of error vectors from said plurality of error values, a logic means adapted to calculate for each motion vector an estimate of the distribution of vector measurement errors in calculating said best fit motion vector, and a means adapted to generate, for each said motion vector, an indication of the motion vector measurement error derived from said estimate.
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Abstract
A technique is disclosed for estimating the measurement error in motion vectors used for example in a motion compensated video signal process. For each motion vector corresponding to a region of an image a plurality of temporal and spatial image gradients are calculated corresponding to that region. From the constraint equations of the image gradients a plurality of error values can be calculated for each motion vector and a parameter generated describing the size of the distribution of motion vector measurement errors. Subsequent processing of the video signals using the motion vectors can then be adapted, for example by graceful fallback in motion compensated interpolation, depending on the accuracy of each motion vector. The ‘confidence’ in the accuracy of each motion vector can be described by a parameter calculated in relation to the size of the error distribution and the motion vector speed.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. Video or film signal processing apparatus comprising:
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a motion estimation apparatus for generating best fit motion vectors, each best fit motion vector corresponding to a region of an input signal, a means for calculating, for each of said regions of the input signal, a plurality of spatial and temporal image gradients, a means for calculating, for each said best fit motion vector, a plurality of error values corresponding to said plurality of image gradients, a means for calculating a plurality of error vectors from said plurality of error values, a logic means adapted to calculate for each motion vector an estimate of the distribution of vector measurement errors in calculating said best fit motion vector, and a means adapted to generate, for each said motion vector, an indication of the motion vector measurement error derived from said estimate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Video or film signal processing apparatus comprising:
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a motion estimation apparatus for generating best fit motion vectors, each best fit motion vector corresponding to a region of an input signal, a means for calculating, for each of said regions of the input signal, a plurality of spatial and temporal image gradients, a means for calculating, for each said best fit motion vector, a plurality of error values corresponding to said plurality of image gradients, a means for calculating a plurality of error vectors from said plurality of error values, a logic means adapted to calculate for each motion vector, an estimate of the distribution of vector measurement errors in calculating said best fit motion vector, and a means adapted to generate, for each said vector, an indication of the motion vector measurement error derived from said estimate, wherein the apparatus includes means for calculating the standard deviation of the error in the constraint equations for each of a plurality of pixels in a region of said input signal, and means for estimating the error in measuring the motion vector using the resultant standard deviation, and wherein an estimate of the covariance matrix for the measured motion vector is generated, the covariance matrix having vector components. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A method of video or film signal processing comprising the steps of:
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generating best fit motion vectors corresponding to plural regions of an input signal, calculating, for each of said plural regions of the input signal, a plurality of spatial and temporal image gradients, calculating, for each said best fit motion vector, a plurality of error values corresponding to said plurality of image gradients, calculating a plurality of error vectors from said plurality of error values, calculating, for each motion vector, an estimate of the distribution of vector measurement errors in calculating said best fit motion vector, and generating, for each said motion vector, an indication of the motion vector measurement error derived from said estimate. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification