Method and system for reducing update frequency of image-processing means

• US 8,675,980 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2002
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lens Correction Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: DXO Labs
• Inventors: Liege, Bruno, Guichard, Frederic
• Primary Examiner(s): Rush, Eric
• Application Number:
  US10/482,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20040234152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,304 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/167, 382/254, 382/307, 382/325, 382/275, 382/274, 348/211.1, 348/211.2, 348/231.3
• US Class Current: 382/254
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0007 Image acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/10 Selection of transformation methods according to the characteristics of the input images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/00 Image enhancement or restoration
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/70 Denoising; Smoothing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/73 Deblurring; Sharpening
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/80 Geometric correction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00007 relating to particular apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00045 using a reference pattern designed for the purpose, e.g. a test chart
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00071 characterised by the action taken
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/387 Composing, repositioning or otherwise geometrically modifying originals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/40093 Modification of content of picture, e.g. retouching geometric modifications H04N1/387
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/58 Edge or detail enhancement; Noise or error suppression, e.g. colour misregistration correction H04N1/62 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and a system for reducing update frequency of an image processor, in particular a software and/or a component. The image processor enables modifying the quality of digital images derived from and addressed to a set of appliances. The set of appliances includes an image capture device and/or an image scanning device. The image processor uses formatted data dependent on at least one variable, associated with defects of at least one appliance of the set of appliances. The formatted data includes parameters of at least a parameterable model dependent on the variables. The formatted data enables establishing a correspondence, in particular by a correspondence table, between part of the variables and identifiers. The identifiers enable determining the value of the variable corresponding to an identifier taking into account the identifier and the image.

Claims

1. A method for correcting image data of an external imaging device in an image processing apparatus to reduce maintenance cycles of the image processing apparatus, the method comprising:

obtaining, by the image processing apparatus, formatted information related to the external imaging device, the formatted information including a correspondence table that includes information that indicates a first configurable processing model corresponding to at least a first attribute of the external imaging device from a plurality of attributes of the external imaging device and other external imaging devices, each of the attributes corresponding to a software element of a respective external imaging device that results in at least one predetermined variable defect being applied to digital images captured by the respective external imaging device, such that the first attribute results in a first predetermined variable defect being applied to digital images captured by the external imaging device;

receiving, by the image processing apparatus from the external imaging device, a first digital image captured by the external imaging device separate from the formatted information, wherein the first digital image includes the first predetermined variable defect, which is caused by the first attribute of the external imaging device;

determining a first identifier from the correspondence table of the formatted information, wherein the first identifier corresponds to a variable of a measurable factor that varies amongst the digital images captured by the external imaging device, the variable influences a variable defect of the digital images and influences the first predetermined variable defect included in the first digital image, the first identifier identifies a field including a value of the variable, said field is included in the first digital image or in a file that includes the first digital image, and said field is not included in the correspondence table;

determining a second identifier from the formatted information to locate the first configurable processing model for the first attribute by the information included in the formatted information, from a plurality of configurable processing models for the plurality of attributes of the external imaging device, to correct the first predetermined variable defect of the first digital image;

after said step of determining the first identifier, determining, by reading, in the first digital image or in the file that includes the first digital image, the field identified by the first identifier, including the value of the variable corresponding to the first digital image; and

correcting, by the image processing apparatus, the first predetermined variable defect of the first digital image by executing the first configurable processing model, as identified by the second identifier, in accordance with the value of the variable corresponding to the first digital image, as identified by the first identifier.

2. The method for correcting image data according to claim 1, wherein the first identifier includes a version field to identify a version of the software element of the external imaging device that corresponds to the first attribute, the method further comprising:

updating the software element of the external imaging device with a new version; and

updating the version field to reflect the new version of the software element of the external device after said step of updating the software element.

3. The method for correcting image data according to claim 1, wherein the first identifier includes a version field to identify a version of the software element of the external device that corresponds to the first attribute, the method further comprising:

updating the version field to reflect a prior version of the software element, in a case where the first digital image was received prior to the software element being updated to a new version.

4. The method for correcting image data according to claim 1, wherein the processing models each include a mathematical function dedicated to adapt a quality of a digital image.

5. The method for correcting image data according to claim 1, wherein the formatted information further includes at least one of a data processing program or a link to access the data processing program.

6. The method for correcting image data according to claim 1, wherein said correcting the received digital image further comprises:

modifying the color quality of at least one color plane of the first digital image based on the variable.

7. The method for correcting image data according to claim 1, wherein the correcting further comprises:

correcting a blurring level of the first digital image based on the value of the variable.

8. The method for correcting image data according to claim 1, wherein the first predetermined variable defect is related to characteristics of at least one of an optical system, a sensor, an electronic unit, and a software integrated in the external imaging device, and the first predetermined variable defect is at least one of distortion, blurring, vignetting, chromatic aberration, rendering of colors, flash uniformity, sensor noise, grain astigmatism, and spherical aberration.

9. The method for correcting image data according to claim 1, wherein the variable includes a global variable that applies to an entirety of the first digital image and corresponds to a state of the external imaging device at a time when the external device captured the first digital image, and a local variable that applies to a portion of the first digital image, and varies between portions of the first digital image.

10. The method for correcting image data according to claim 9, wherein:

the variable includes at least one of a focal length of an optical system of the external imaging device, a redimensioning applied to the first digital image, a gamma correction, noise, an aperture of the optical system, a focusing distance, an underexposure or overexposure, a sensitivity of a sensor of the external imaging device, a rotation of the first digital image relative to the sensor, a white balance, whether or not a flash of the external imaging device was used during the capturing of the digital image, an exposure time, a sensor gain, a compression, and a contrast.

11. The method for correcting image data according to claim 1, wherein each of the attributes correspond to only a software element of a respective external imaging device that results in at least one predetermined variable defect being applied to digital images captured by the respective external imaging device.

12. A system for correcting image data of an external imaging device to reduce maintenance cycles of an image processing apparatus, the system comprising:

a receiver configured to receive formatted information related to the external imaging device, the formatted information including a correspondence table that includes information that indicates a first configurable processing model corresponding to at least a first attribute of the external imaging device from a plurality of and/or versions attributes of the external imaging device and other external imaging devices, each of the plurality of types and/or versions of attributes corresponding to a software element of a respective external imaging device that results in at least one predetermined variable defect being applied to digital images captured by the respective external imaging device, such that the first attribute results in a first predetermined variable defect being applied to digital images captured by the external imaging device, and configured to receive a first digital image captured by the external imaging device separate from the formatted information, wherein the first digital image includes the first predetermined variable defect, which is caused by the first attribute of the external imaging device; and

a processor configured to;

determine a first identifier from the correspondence table of the formatted information, wherein the first identifier corresponds to a variable of a measurable factor that varies amongst the digital images captured by the external imaging device, the variable influences a variable defect of the digital images and influences the first predetermined variable defect included in the first digital image, and the first identifier identifies a field including a value of the variable, said field is included in the first digital image or in a file that includes the first digital image, and said field is not included in the correspondence table,

determine a second identifier from the formatted information to locate the first configurable processing model for the first attribute by the information included in the formatted information, from a plurality of configurable processing models for the plurality of attributes of the external imaging device, to correct the first predetermined variable defect of the first digital image,

determine, after the processor has determined the first identifier and the field, by reading, in the first digital image or in the file that includes the first digital image, the field identified by the first identifier, including the value of the variable corresponding to the first digital image, and

correct the first predetermined variable defect of the first digital image by executing the first configurable processing model, as identified by the second identifier, in accordance with the value of the variable corresponding to the first digital image, as identified by the first identifier.

13. The system for correcting image data according to claim 12, wherein the first identifier includes a version field to identify a version of the software element of the external imaging device that corresponds to the first attribute, the processor further configured to:

update the software element of the external imaging device with a new version; and

update the version field to reflect the new version of the software element of the external imaging device after the software element has been updated.

14. The system for correcting image data according to claim 12, wherein the first identifier includes a version field to identify a version of the software element of the external device that corresponds to the first attribute, the processor further configured to:

update the version field to reflect a prior version of the software element, in a case where the first digital image was received prior to the software element being updated to a new version.

15. The system for correcting image data according to claim 12, wherein the processing models each include a mathematical function dedicated to adapt a quality of a digital image.

16. The system for correcting image data according to claim 12, wherein the formatted information further includes at least one of a data processing program or a link to access the data processing program.

17. The system for correcting image data according to claim 12, wherein said processor is further configured to:

modify the color quality of at least one color plane of the first digital image based on the variable.

18. The system for correcting image data according to claim 12, wherein said processor is further configured to:

correcting a blurring level of the first digital image based on the value of the variable.

19. The system for correcting image data according to claim 12, wherein the first predetermined variable defect is related to characteristics of at least one of an optical system, a sensor, an electronic unit, and a software integrated in the external imaging device, and the first predetermined variable defect is at least one of distortion, blurring, vignetting, chromatic aberration, rendering of colors, flash uniformity, sensor noise, grain astigmatism, and spherical aberration.

20. The system for correcting image data according to claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the value of the variable by retrieving the value from a field of the first digital image, the field being specified by the determined first identifier of the variable according to a type of the first digital image.

21. The system for correcting image data according to claim 12, wherein each of the attributes correspond to only a software element of a respective external imaging device that results in at least one predetermined variable defect being applied to digital images captured by the respective external imaging device.