Computer-assisted motion compensation of a digitized image

• US 7,221,390 B1
• Filed: 04/05/2000
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callahan Cellular LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Kutka, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Ye; Lin
• Application Number:
  US09/959,804
• Time in Patent Office: 2,603 Days
• Field of Search: 348/208.4, 348/208.6, 348/208.13, 348/208.1, 348/218.1, 348/219.1, 348/442, 382/107, 382/265, 382/280, 382/260, 382/243
• US Class Current: 348/208.4
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/527 Global motion vector estimation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/537 Motion estimation other than block-based

Abstract

Motion estimation is in each case carried out for the entire image, for that image and for a predetermined number of previous images, with an image motion vector being determined in each case. The images are stored in a memory having been compensated for motion, using the respective image motion vector. A predetermined area of the memory is read in order to form the motion-compensated image.

Claims

1. A method for computer-aided motion compensation in a digitized image, comprising:

estimating motion for an entire image, and for a predetermined number of previous images, with a respective image motion vector being determined for each according to a basic position of a first predetermined area of memory;

storing in a chronological sequence of images, the entire image and the previous images in a memory having been compensated for motion, using the respective image motion vector, where the memory is larger than a format of the entire image, thereby overwriting at least a portion of each previous image, with motion compensation by a subsequent image in the memory resulting in overlapping images; and

reading a second predetermined area of the memory to form a motion-compensated image.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said estimating, storing, reading and overwriting codes a digitized image.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said estimating, storing, reading and overwriting decodes a digitized image.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the respective image motion vector is determined using the basic position of only the first predetermined area of memory.

5. A system for computer-aided motion compensation in a digitized image, comprising:

a processor to perform motion estimation for an entire image and for a predetermined number of previous images, with a respective image motion vector being determined in each according to a basic position of a first predetermined area of memory; and

a memory to store the entire image and the previous images compensated for motion in a chronological sequence, using the respective image motion vector, where the memory is larger than a format of the entire image and each previous image is overwritten with motion compensation by a subsequent image resulting in overlapping images, said processor reading an identical second predetermined area of the memory to form each motion-compensated image.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the respective image motion vector is determined using the basic position of only the first predetermined area of memory.

7. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program to control a computer to perform a method for motion compensation in a digitized image, said method comprising:

estimating motion for an entire image, and for a predetermined number of previous images, with a respective image motion vector being determined for each according to a basic position of a first predetermined area of memory;

storing in a chronological sequence of images, the entire image and the previous images in a memory having been compensated for motion, using the respective image motion vector, where the memory is larger than a format of the entire image, thereby overwriting at least a portion of each previous image, with motion compensation by a subsequent image in the memory resulting in overlapping images; and

reading a second predetermined area of the memory to form a motion-compensated image.

8. The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in claim 7, wherein the respective image motion vector is determined using the basic position of only the first predetermined area of memory.

9. A method for computer-aided motion compensation in a digitized image, comprising:

estimating motion for an entire image, and for a predetermined number of entire previous images, with a respective image motion vector being determined for each according to a basic position of a first predetermined area of memory;

storing in a memory, larger than any image stored therein, the entire image and previous images in a chronological sequence, each image having been compensated for motion using the respective image motion vector, to overwrite at least a portion of each previous image by a subsequent image with motion compensation resulting in overlapping images in the memory; and

reading a second predetermined area of the memory to form a motion-compensated image.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the respective image motion vector is determined using the basic position of only the first predetermined area of memory.

11. A method for computer-aided motion compensation in a digitized image, comprising:

estimating motion for an entire image, and for a predetermined number of entire previous images; and

storing in a memory, larger than any image stored therein, the entire image and previous images in a chronological sequence, each image having been compensated for motion using a respective image motion vector, to overwrite at least a portion of each previous image by a subsequent image with motion compensation resulting in overlapping images in the memory.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the respective image motion vector is determined using a basic position of a single predetermined area of memory in each image to compensate for motion.