Abstract: A method of processing images allowing the identification of at least one same point appearing on each image of a sequence of images, the sequence of images including a first image, a second image and a third image generated respectively at a first instant, a second instant, later than the first instant, and a third instant, later than the second instant, by a camera mounted in an automotive vehicle. The method includes detecting a plurality of identical points in each image of the sequence of images, relating to a plurality of repetitive patterns in each image of the sequence of images and of identification, in the second image and in the third image, of the identical points corresponding to the points in space for which the calculated depth is identical, these points in space representing respectively in the second image and the third image one and the same real point.

Abstract: A method of feature matching is provided. The method includes the steps of (A) determining a set of correspondences between a set of reference feature points for a first image and a set of target feature points for a second image using a processor to compute a descriptor matching function for each pair of reference and target feature points and (B) reducing the set of correspondences using the processor to perform an approximate cross-check to obtain a set of valid correspondences based upon the descriptor matching function computed for each pair of feature points.

Abstract: A camera pose estimation method determines the translation and rotation between a first camera pose and a second camera pose. Features are extracted from a first image captured at the first position and a second image captured at the second position, the extracted features comprising location, scale information and a descriptor, the descriptor comprising information that allows a feature from the first image to be matched with a feature from the second image. Features are matched between the first image and the second image. The depth ratio of matched features is determined from the scale information. n matched features are selected, where at least one of the matched features is selected with both the depth ratio and location. The translation and rotation are calculated between the first camera pose and the second camera pose using the selected matched features with depth ratio derived from the scale information.

Abstract: A method of feature matching is provided. The method includes the steps of (A) determining a set of correspondences between a set of reference feature points for a first image and a set of target feature points for a second image and (B) reducing the set of correspondences while the set of correspondences is being determined using an approximate cross-check to obtain a set of valid correspondences.

Abstract: A method for testing a vehicle underbody of a motor vehicle includes: recording at least one image of at least one region of the vehicle underbody of the motor vehicle using a camera device; producing a three-dimensional depth image with the aid of the at least one recorded image of the at least one region of the vehicle underbody of the motor vehicle; and testing the at least one region of the vehicle underbody of the motor vehicle with the aid of the produced three-dimensional depth image of the vehicle underbody using optical image recognition.

Abstract: Implementations generally relate to producing a still image from a video or series of continuous frames. In some implementations, a method includes receiving the frames that a capture device shot while moving in at least two dimensions. The method further includes analyzing the frames to determine changes of positions of objects in at least two of the frames due to movement of the objects in the scene relative to changes of positions of objects due to the movement of the capture device during the shoot time. The method further includes determining, based at least in part on the variability of the objects, one or more target subjects which the capture device captures during the shoot time. One or more still images are generated from the plurality of frames having at least a portion of the target subject.

Abstract: A depth adjusting method and apparatus is described. The depth adjusting method and apparatus may calculate an average depth value of objects based on a spatial feature of an image, may adjust a depth of the image based on the calculated average value, and may adjust a depth of the image according to a difference in depth between a current frame and a previous frame, based on a temporal feature of the image.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a bio-information obtaining unit configured to obtain bio-information of a subject; a kinetic-information obtaining unit configured to obtain kinetic information of the subject; and a control unit configured to determine an expression or movement of an avatar on the basis of the bio-information obtained by the bio-information obtaining unit and the kinetic information obtained by the kinetic-information obtaining unit and to perform a control operation so that the avatar with the determined expression or movement is displayed.

Abstract: A method of determining whether a sprite will be generated determines a probability of a first page module being displayed on a web page together with a second page module, and if the probability exceeds a predetermined threshold, generates the sprite based on a first image within the first page module and a second image within the second page module, a rule indicating that the sprite contains the first image and the second image, and a style sheet code associated with the sprite.

Abstract: An interactive computerized game system including a visual display, one or more user input devices, and a processor executing software that interacts with the display and input device(s) is disclosed. The software displays images avatars. At least one of the user input devices is a touchscreen. During gameplay, the gameplayer may select at least one avatar using the touchscreen and initiate a skill-based action sub-game. The gameplayer may provide additional input using the touchscreen. An animation is displayed in response to user input satisfying an objective of the sub-game.

Abstract: A “Video Browser” provides interactive browsing of unique events occurring within an overall video recording. In particular, the Video Browser processes the video to generate a set of video sprites representing unique events occurring within the overall period of the video. These unique events include, for example, motion events, security events, or other predefined event types, occurring within all or part of the total period covered by the video. Once the video has been processed to identify the sprites, the sprites are then arranged over a background image extracted from the video to create an interactive static video montage. The interactive video montage illustrates all events occurring within the video in a single static frame. User selection of sprites within the montage causes either playback of a portion of the video in which the selected sprites were identified, or concurrent playback of the selected sprites within a dynamic video montage.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for dynamically varying a physics workload by scaling the classification of objects within a three-dimensional scene. According to embodiments of the invention, a physics engine may classify a plurality of objects within a three-dimensional scene as either static objects or as dynamic objects. The physics engine may then perform physics operations with the objects, and may monitor the workload experienced by processing elements within a system which includes the physics engine. Based on the workload experienced by the processing elements within the system, the physics engine may vary the number of objects which are classified as dynamic and vary the number of objects which are classified as static. By varying the classification of the objects, the physics engine may vary the workload experienced by the physics engine.

Abstract: When a player is controlling a first object with a pointing device, an in-operation flag indicating that the player is controlling the first object with the pointing device is set as “ON”. When the in-operation flag is set as “ON” and a second object is within a predetermined distance from an input position of the pointing device, the second object is selected. When the in-operation flag is set as “OFF”, that is, when the player stops controlling the first object, the first object is caused to perform a process for exerting an effect on the second object having been selected.

Abstract: A method is used for changing colors of a first image frame to form a second image frame. Palette index values of the first image frame are first read. Then, color change index values specific to the second image frame and correlating to the palette index values are read respectively via a color change index array. Afterwards, color value sets corresponding to the color change index values are read respectively. Consequently, the second image frame is displayed with colors indicated by the color value sets.

Abstract: There is provided a method of representing and animating a 2D (Two-Dimensional) character in a 3D (Three-Dimensional) space for a character animation. The method includes performing a pre-processing operation in which data of a character that is required to represent and animate the 2D character like a 3D character is prepared and stored and producing the character animation using the stored data.

Abstract: An image processing device comprises a decoder, a sprite buffer interface, and a sprite buffer as well as a rendering engine, a frame buffer interface, and a frame buffer, which is characterized by synchronizing the write timing for the sprite buffer with the read timing for the frame buffer. That is, the decoder decodes compressed image data to restore original image data before compression. The sprite buffer interface writes the decoded data (i.e., sprite pattern data) into the sprite buffer, from which the sprite pattern data are read and supplied to the rendering engine. The rendering engine performs a prescribed rendering process (e.g., magnification, reduction, rotation, deformation, etc.) on the sprite pattern data, which are then written into the frame buffer. A display controller reads rendering-completed data (i.e., display data) from the frame buffer so as to output them to a display.

Abstract: An information presentation apparatus creates a three-dimensional animation of a specific object in a three-dimensional virtual space on the basis of the human characteristic of paying more attention to a moving object. A user's attention can be drawn to a specific object, such as a destination building, in the virtual space displayed on the screen. Irrespective of whether the specific object is selected by the user or designated at the system side to which the user's attention is to be drawn, the user can easily detect the attention-drawing object.

Abstract: A video processing device and method receives data from a common data source, such as a frame buffer and outputs first overlay information in a first color space from a first port and outputs second overlay information in a second color from a second port to facilitate output of multiple overlay images in different color spaces from common memory through different ports. In one embodiment a bidirectional port is used to allow a set of common signal pads or a bus to function as a flexible bidirectional video data port.

Abstract: A method of generating a 2-D extended image from a video sequence representing a natural 3-D scene first determines motion parameters for a camera that recorded the scene with respect to a bakcground object from the video sequence using a structure-from-motion algorithm. The motion parameters include a rotation matrix, a translation vector and a depth map representing the depth of each point in the background object from the camera. Next from the motion parameters and depth map the 2-D extended image is generated for the background object as a composition of the images from the video sequence using a plane perspective projection technique. The background object may be layered as a function of depth and flatness criteria to form a set of layered 2-D extended images for the background object from the video sequence.

Abstract: A video game apparatus includes an external ROM. This external ROM is previously memorized with player object data, basic shadow object data and light object data. A direction in which a shadow is thrown is determined according to the player object data and the light object data, to thereby determine a length of each leg of the player object. Based on the length of the leg and the height of the light, a length of the shadow is determined. Based on the height of each leg, a depth of the shadow is determined. A shape of a displaying shadow object is determined from a state of a ground object to which the shadow is thrown.

Abstract: A video game apparatus includes an external ROM. This external ROM is previously memorized with player object data, basic shadow object data and light object data. A direction in which a shadow is thrown is determined according to the player object data and the light object data, to thereby determine a length of each leg of the player object. Based on the length of the leg and the height of the light, a length of the shadow is determined. Based on the height of each leg, a depth of the shadow is determined. A shape of a displaying shadow object is determined from a state of a ground object to which the shadow is thrown.

Abstract: The character numbers of the characters of line sprites and the color palette numbers are specified in the regions C.sub.1,0, C.sub.1,1 C.sub.1,2, . . . C.sub.1,31. The data for specifying display position of the lines and shrinkage are stored in the regions L.sub.1, L.sub.2 . . . to L.sub.380. also, the number of active characters to be displayed on the display screen is specified in the region L.sub.1, L.sub.2, . . . to L.sub.380. Since only one display position is specified to each of the line sprites, capacity of the memory can be decreased, and control of the display can be done easily. Also, since the number of active characters can be specified in line sprite units, operation for changing the display and other operations can be executed easily with sufficient flexibility.

Abstract: A screen is divided into plural character positions each having an equal area. In at least one of the characters, characters having position-shifted patterns are displayed sequentially, so that a displayed pattern is scrolled in predetermined direction.