Pulse or digital communications – Bandwidth reduction or expansion – Television or motion video signal
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-14
2003-05-13
Philippe, Gims S. (Department: 2613)
Pulse or digital communications
Bandwidth reduction or expansion
Television or motion video signal
C375S240160, C382S236000, C348S699000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06563873
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method and device for video signal processing. More specifically, the invention relates to motion and/or depth estimation.
2. Description of the Related Art
The paper “Block matching motion estimation using block integration based on reliability metric”, by T. Yoshida, H. Katoh, and Y. Sakai, Proceedings International Conference on Image Processing, pp. 152-155, volume II of III, Oct. 26-29, 1997, Santa Barbara, Calif., proposes a motion estimation technique to improve accuracy and coherence of motion vectors. The proposed technique is based on a matching block integration using a reliability metric of motion vectors. First, the reliability metric is computed for all the matching blocks in the target image, and then, based on this value and its dependency on the direction, four neighboring matching blocks are checked whether they should be integrated or not. Finally, motion vectors are estimated for the integrated matching blocks by the block matching technique. Since the block integration is performed only for flat matching blocks or those with a simple edge, the coherence is improved while the performance of motion compensation is kept as far as possible.
The paper “Global motion estimation for image sequence coding applications”, by Z. Eisips and D. Malah, 17th Convention of electrical and electronical engineers in Israel, Proc. 1991, pp. 186-189, describes an algorithm for the estimation of global motion in image sequences. The algorithm is based on block displacement estimates. The algorithm selects a set of most reliable block displacements and applies a least squares scheme to obtain an initial estimate of the model parameters out of these displacements. Then, a verification stage is used to discard blocks whose displacements are not compatible to this estimate. A block is well matched when the obtained mean absolute difference (MAD) is lower than a threshold. The match will be most reliable when this MAD is significantly better than the MAD without motion compensation. This may be seen as a way of avoiding the use of displacement estimates obtained for smooth image areas, as well as for noise-like textured areas, where real motion cannot be properly estimated by a local matching algorithm. Finally, a least squares scheme, using only the verified block displacements, is applied to obtain a finer estimate of the model parameters.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, inter alia, an object of the invention to provide an improved estimation technique. To this end, the invention provides a video signal processing method and a video signal processing device.
In a video signal processing method in accordance with a primary aspect of the invention, video signal parts are labeled as non-matchable parts if reliable motion or depth information cannot be obtained for such parts, motion or depth information is generated for the video signal, and motion or depth information is produced for the non-matchable parts of the video signal from the motion or depth information generated for the video signal.
These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.
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Van Overveld Cornelis W. A. M.
Wilinski Piotr
Goodman Edward W.
Koninklijke Philips Electronics , N.V.
Philippe Gims S.
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