Image conversion and encoding techniques

• US 7,054,478 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2003
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: dynamic digital depth Research Pty Ltd
• Original Assignee: dynamic digital depth Research Pty Ltd
• Inventors: Harman, Philip Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta, Bhavesh M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PERUNGAVOOR, SATHYANARAYA V
• Application Number:
  US10/642,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20040032980A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 382/154, 382/180, 382/199, 382/203, 382/236, 382/241, 382/242, 382/243, 348/26, 348/42, 348/51, 359/462, 356/2, 356/12, 356/601, 356/611, 345/419, 345/421, 345/422, 345/581, 345/582, 345/584
• US Class Current: 382/154
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10012 Stereo images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/12 Edge-based segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/593 from stereo images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/97 Determining parameters from multiple pictures depth or shape recovery from multiple images G06T7/55; stereo camera calibration G06T7/85
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 9/001 Model-based coding, e.g. wire frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/15 for colour aspects of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/161 Encoding, multiplexing or demultiplexing different image signal components for multi-view video sequence encoding H04N19/597
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/167 Synchronising or controlling image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/189 Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/194 Transmission of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/221 using the relative movement between cameras and objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/257 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/261 with monoscopic-to-stereoscopic image conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/296 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/341 using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/597 specially adapted for multi-view video sequence encoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/0077 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/0081 : Depth or disparity estimation from stereoscopic image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/0085 : Motion estimation from stereoscopic image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/0092 : Image segmentation from stereoscopic image signals

Abstract

A method of producing a depth map for use in the conversion of 2D images into stereoscopic images including the steps of: identifying at least one object within a 2D image; allocating an identifying tag to each object; allocating a depth tag to each object; and determining and defining an outline of each object.

Claims

1. A method of producing a depth map including the steps of:

identifying and numbering each frame of a video sequence;

identifying at least one object within the video sequence;

allocating an identifying tag to each object;

dividing the video sequence into a plurality of partial sequences;

transmitting the partial sequences to a plurality of operators, each operator determining and defining an outline for each object in the partial sequence previously allocated said identifying tag;

receiving said partial sequences from said plurality of operators;

collating said partial sequences to reform the video sequence;

allocating a depth tag to each object; and

adding security measures to the sequence prior to said video sequence being divided into a plurality of partial sequences, wherein the security measures include removing audio from the video sequence and modifying the colors of the video sequence.

2. A method of converting 2D images in a video sequence into stereoscopic images applying a depth map generated according to the method of claim 1.