Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for distributing an image processing application over a set of processors. Said system comprises reading means for reading an input document, compiling means for detecting inconsistencies in said input document, and building means for building an executable code from said compiled document for programming said set of processors. The input document specifies modules for applying entire or steps of image processing functions to an input image. Such a module comprises input/output ports for receiving or transmitting image strips via input/output links. Said input/output ports are specified by a geometry and a law, said geometry defining a subdivision of said input image into a set of image strips and said law defining a subset of said set of image strips that is to pass through said input/output port. A module is attached to one processor of said set of processors, which runs the specified image processing function.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image processing method for noise reduction in a sequence of noisy original images representing a threadlike structure moving on a background, said method comprising: an acquisition of the digital pixel value at a current pixel location in a first and a second successive original image of the sequence, an extraction of the thread-like structure for providing first and second binary mask image pixel values at said location from said first and second original image, spatial and time-filtering of the pixel value of the second original image, and a pixel value selection based on said binary mask image pixel values for providing respectively, as a finally filtered pixel value, either the spatially or time-filtered pixel value respectively, as a threadlike structure filtered or a background pixel value. The invention also relates to a system and an apparatus for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A method for spatial filtering of noise in a digital image includes localization of an instantaneous pixel ?P.sub.0 (x.sub.0,y.sub.0)! having a noisy intensity ?I.sub.0 (x.sub.0,y.sub.0)!, definition of a sliding window ?WD(x.sub.0,y.sub.0)! centered around the instantaneous pixel, selection of a fixed or random number (N), of oriented random elementary filters ?F.sub.1, F.sub.2, . . . F.sub.N ! having an axis of orientation ?P.sub.0 Z.sub.1, P.sub.0 Z.sub.2, . . . , P.sub.0 Z.sub.N ! which passes through said instantaneous pixel, and having characteristics, at least one of which is random, including: an orientation angle ?.theta..sub.1, .theta..sub.2, . . . .theta..sub.