Image processing apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of generating model data representative of a model in a three dimensional space of an object from input signals representative of a set of images of the object taken from a plurality of respective camera positions, the method comprising the steps of:
- using a computer to perform the following steps;
displaying a model image derived from the model data and comprising a plurality of primitives for viewing by a user;
receiving at least one primitive selection signal responsive to user actuation of an input means whereby each primitive selection signal identifies a respective selected primitive of the model;
defining a plurality of virtual cameras in the three dimensional space having positions and look directions relative to the model which correspond substantially to those of the respective actual cameras relative to the object;
evaluating which of the virtual cameras is an optimum virtual camera for generating a view of the selected primitives;
identifying from the camera images a first camera image of the plurality of camera images taken from a camera position corresponding to that of the optimum virtual camera, anddetermining from the camera images a second camera image as being suitable for matching features in the first camera image and displaying the second camera image for comparison by the user with the first camera image.
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Abstract
A method of generating model data representative of a model in a three-dimensional space of an object from input signals representative of a set of images of the object taken from a plurality of respective camera positions includes the steps of displaying a model image derived from the model data and having a plurality of primitives for viewing by a user, receiving at least one primitive selection signal responsive to user actuation of an input whereby each primitive selection signal identifies a respective selected primitive of the model, and defining a plurality of virtual cameras in the three dimensional space having positions and look directions relative to the model which correspond substantially to those of the respective actual cameras relative to the object. Additional steps include evaluating which of the virtual cameras is an optimum virtual camera for generating a view of the selected primitives, identifying from the camera images a first camera image of the plurality of camera images taken from a camera position corresponding to that of the optimum virtual camera, and determining from the camera images a second camera image as being suitable for matching features in the first camera image and displaying the second camera image for comparison by the user with the first camera image.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of generating model data representative of a model in a three dimensional space of an object from input signals representative of a set of images of the object taken from a plurality of respective camera positions, the method comprising the steps of:
using a computer to perform the following steps; displaying a model image derived from the model data and comprising a plurality of primitives for viewing by a user; receiving at least one primitive selection signal responsive to user actuation of an input means whereby each primitive selection signal identifies a respective selected primitive of the model; defining a plurality of virtual cameras in the three dimensional space having positions and look directions relative to the model which correspond substantially to those of the respective actual cameras relative to the object; evaluating which of the virtual cameras is an optimum virtual camera for generating a view of the selected primitives; identifying from the camera images a first camera image of the plurality of camera images taken from a camera position corresponding to that of the optimum virtual camera, and determining from the camera images a second camera image as being suitable for matching features in the first camera image and displaying the second camera image for comparison by the user with the first camera image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 9, 10)
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5. A method of generating model data representative of a model in a three dimensional space of an object from input signals representative of a set of images of the object taken from a plurality of respective camera positions, the method comprising the steps of:
using a computer to perform the following steps; displaying a model image derived from the model data and comprising a plurality of primitives for viewing by a user; receiving at least one primitive selection signal responsive to user actuation of an input means whereby each primitive selection signal identifies a respective selected primitive of the model; defining a plurality of virtual cameras in the three dimensional space having positions and look directions relative to the model which correspond substantially to those of the respective actual cameras relative to the object; evaluating which of the virtual cameras is an optimum virtual camera for generating a view of the selected primitives; and identifying from the camera images a first camera image of the plurality of camera images taken from a camera position corresponding to that of the optimum virtual camera, wherein the evaluating step comprises; calculating for a selected primitive an aspect measurement representative of the visibility of the primitive when viewed in projection in the look direction of one of the virtual cameras; repeating the calculating step to obtain a respective aspect measurement for each of the virtual cameras; comparing the aspect measurements for the selected primitive and determining a candidate virtual camera to be the virtual camera for which the corresponding aspect measurement is a maximum; repeating the calculating, comparing and determining steps for each of the selected primitive whereby candidate virtual cameras are determined for each selected primitive; and choosing the optimum virtual camera on the basis of the frequency with which virtual cameras are determined to be candidate virtual cameras. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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11. Apparatus for generating model data representative of a model in a three dimensional space of an object from input signals representative of a set of images of the object taken from a plurality of respective camera positions, the apparatus comprising:
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display means and control means operable to control the display means to display a model image derived from the model data and comprising a plurality of primitives for viewing by a user; means for receiving at least one primitive selection signal responsive to user actuation of an input means whereby each primitive selection signal identifies a respective selected primitive of the model; means for defining a plurality of virtual cameras in the three dimensional space having positions and look directions relative to the model which correspond substantially to those of the respective actual cameras relative to the object; evaluating means for evaluating which of the virtual cameras is an optimum virtual camera for generating a view of the selected primitives; identifying means for identifying from the camera images a first camera image of the plurality of camera images taken from a camera position corresponding to that of the optimum virtual camera; and determining means for determining from the camera images a second camera image as being suitable for matching features in the first camera image, the control means being operable to control the display means to display the second camera image for comparison by the user with the first camera image. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 19, 20)
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15. Apparatus for generating model data representative of a model in a three dimensional space of an object from input signals representative of a set of images of the object taken from a plurality of respective camera positions, the apparatus comprising:
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display means and control means operable to control the display means to display a model image derived from the model data and comprising a plurality of primitives for viewing by a user; means for receiving at least one primitive selection signal responsive to user actuation of an input means whereby each primitive selection signal identifies a respective selected primitive of the model; means for defining a plurality of virtual cameras in the three dimensional space having positions and look directions relative to the model which correspond substantially to those of the respective actual cameras relative to the object; evaluating means for evaluating which of the virtual cameras is an optimum virtual camera for generating a view of the selected primitives; and identifying means for identifying from the camera images a first camera image of the plurality of camera images taken from a camera position corresponding to that of the optimum virtual camera, wherein the evaluating means comprises; means for calculating for a selected primitive an aspect measurement representative of the visibility of the primitive when viewed in projection in the look direction of one of the virtual cameras; means for repeating the calculating step to obtain a respective aspect measurement for each of the virtual cameras; means for comparing the aspect measurements for the selected primitive and for determining a candidate virtual camera to be the virtual camera for which the corresponding aspect measurement is a maximum; means for repeating the calculating, comparing and determining steps for each of the selected primitive whereby candidate virtual cameras are determined for each selected primitive; and means for choosing the optimum virtual camera on the basis of the frequency with which virtual cameras are determined to be candidate virtual cameras. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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21. A computer readable medium encoded with a computer program to implement a method of generating model data representative of a model in a three dimensional space of an object from input signals representative of a set of images of the object taken from a plurality of respective camera positions, comprising the steps of:
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displaying a model image derived from the model data and comprising a plurality of primitives for viewing by a user; receiving at least one primitive selection signal responsive to user actuation of an input means whereby each primitive selection signal identifies a respective selected primitive of the model; defining a plurality of virtual cameras in the three dimensional space having positions and look directions relative to the model which correspond substantially to those of the respective actual cameras relative to the object; evaluating which of the virtual cameras is an optimum virtual camera for generating a view of the selected primitives; identifying from the camera images a first camera image of the plurality of camera images taken from a camera position corresponding to that of the optimum virtual camera; and determining from the camera images a second camera image as being suitable for matching features in the first camera image and displaying the second camera image for comparison by the user with the first camera image.
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Specification