Method and system for estimating global motion in video sequences
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method of global motion estimation between frames of a motion-compensated inter-frame encoded video sequence, the method comprising, for a particular frame of the inter-frame encoded video sequence:
- a) determining, using one or more computer processing systems, a motion estimation representative of the global motion between the particular frame and a first preceding or first succeeding frame of the inter-frame encoded video sequence, on the basis of motion vectors directly between the particular frame and the first preceding or first succeeding frame along a first route between the particular frame and the first preceding or first succeeding frame;
b) determining, using the one or more computer processing systems, one or more further motion estimations representative of the global motion between the particular frame and the first preceding or first succeeding frame at least partially on the basis of motion vectors between the particular frame and one or more preceding or succeeding other frames along one or more second routes between the particular frame and the first preceding or first succeeding frame, wherein the one or more second routes are different from the first route; and
c) selecting, using the one or more computer processing systems, one of the motion estimations which meets at least one predetermined criterion as being representative of the global motion of the particular frame;
d) storing or outputting said selected motion estimation for use in registering an image of said particular frame with an image of said first preceding or first succeeding frame.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to estimating the global motion between frames of a motion-compensated inter-frame encoded video sequence, directly from the motion vectors encoded within the frames. For any particular frame, a motion estimation is determined from motion vectors direct from the frame'"'"'s anchor frame to the frame in question. This motion estimation is then checked against pre-determined criteria, and where the criteria are not met, re-estimation along a different route is performed, using the bi-directional motion vectors contained within B-frames. A panoramic image generating method and system which makes uses of the global motion estimations thus obtained is also described.
12 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of global motion estimation between frames of a motion-compensated inter-frame encoded video sequence, the method comprising, for a particular frame of the inter-frame encoded video sequence:
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a) determining, using one or more computer processing systems, a motion estimation representative of the global motion between the particular frame and a first preceding or first succeeding frame of the inter-frame encoded video sequence, on the basis of motion vectors directly between the particular frame and the first preceding or first succeeding frame along a first route between the particular frame and the first preceding or first succeeding frame; b) determining, using the one or more computer processing systems, one or more further motion estimations representative of the global motion between the particular frame and the first preceding or first succeeding frame at least partially on the basis of motion vectors between the particular frame and one or more preceding or succeeding other frames along one or more second routes between the particular frame and the first preceding or first succeeding frame, wherein the one or more second routes are different from the first route; and c) selecting, using the one or more computer processing systems, one of the motion estimations which meets at least one predetermined criterion as being representative of the global motion of the particular frame; d) storing or outputting said selected motion estimation for use in registering an image of said particular frame with an image of said first preceding or first succeeding frame. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a computer program or suite of programs such that when executed on at least one computer system the program or suite of programs causes the at least one computer system to perform a method of global motion estimation between frames of a motion-compensated inter-frame encoded video sequence, the method comprising, for a particular frame of the inter-frame encoded video sequence:
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a) determining a motion estimation representative of the global motion between the particular frame and a first preceding or first succeeding frame of the inter-frame encoded video sequence, on the basis of motion vectors directly between the particular frame and the first preceding or first succeeding frame along a first route between the particular frame and the first preceding or first succeeding frame; b) determining one or more further motion estimations representative of the global motion between the particular frame and the first preceding or first succeeding frame at least partially on the basis of motion vectors between the particular frame and one or more preceding or succeeding other frames along one or more second routes between the particular frame and the first preceding or first succeeding frame, wherein the one or more second routes are different from the first route; and c) selecting one of the motion estimations which meets at least one predetermined criterion as being representative of the global motion of the particular frame; d) storing or outputting said selected motion estimation for use in registering an image of said particular frame with an image of said first preceding or first succeeding frame.
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13. A system for global motion estimation between frames of a motion-compensated inter-frame encoded video sequence, the system comprising:
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a video processor arranged in use to; i) determine a motion estimation representative of the global motion directly between a particular frame of the inter-frame encoded video sequence and a preceding or succeeding frame of the inter-frame encoded video sequence on the basis of motion vectors therebetween along a first route between the particular frame and the preceding or succeeding frame; ii) determine one or more further motion estimations representative of the global motion between the particular frame and the preceding or succeeding frame at least partially on the basis of motion vectors between the particular frame and one or more preceding or succeeding other frames along one or more second routes between the particular frame and the preceding or succeeding frame, wherein the one or more second routes are different from the first route; and a motion estimation selector arranged in use to select one of the motion estimations which meets at least one predetermined criterion as being representative of the global motion of the frame. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for generating panoramic images from a motion-compensated inter-frame encoded video sequence, comprising:
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a system for global motion estimation between frames of a motion-compensated inter-frame encoded video sequence, the system for global motion estimation comprising; a video processor arranged in use to; i) determine a motion estimation representative of the global motion directly between a particular frame of the inter-frame encoded video sequence and a preceding or succeeding frame of the inter-frame encoded video sequence on the basis of motion vectors therebetween along a first route between the particular frame and the preceding or succeeding frame; ii) determine one or more further motion estimations representative of the global motion between the particular frame and the preceding or succeeding frame at least partially on the basis of motion vectors between sub-parts of the particular frame and sub-parts of one or more preceding or succeeding other frames along one or more second routes between the particular frame and the preceding or succeeding frame, wherein the one or more second routes are different from the first route; and a motion estimation selector arranged in use to select one of the motion estimations which meets at least one predetermined criterion as being representative of the global motion of the frame; and further arranged to provide global motion estimations for each frame; and a panoramic image generating unit for generating at least one panoramic image representing the frames of the video sequence using the global motion estimations thus determined. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification