Abstract: A device for superimposing a graphic on an image which comprises: a selection unit configured to select a plurality of specified points on the image which represent areas of background; an image processing unit configured to i) determine a color characteristic of the image at the plurality of specified points; ii) determine a location for graphic insertion; iii) determine the difference in color between at least one of the plurality of specified points and the location for graphic insert; iv) define areas within the location for graphic insert as a foreground region or a background region on the basis of the determined color difference; v) overlay the graphic on the image to form a graphic image; and vi) overlay the foreground regions of the location for composition onto the graphic image, is described.

Abstract: A video data encoding method is operable with respect to successive source images each including a set of encoded regions, each region being separately encoded as an independently decodable network abstraction layer (NAL) unit having associated encoding parameter data. The method includes: identifying a subset of the regions representing at least a portion of each source image that corresponds to a required display image; allocating regions of the subset of regions for a source image to respective composite frames of a set of one or more composite frames so that the set of composite frames, taken together, provides image data representing the subset of regions; and modifying the encoding parameter data associated with the regions allocated to each composite frame so that the encoding parameter data corresponds to that of a frame comprising those regions allocated to that composite frame.

Abstract: A device for superimposing a graphic on an image which comprises: a selection unit configured to select a plurality of specified points on the image which represent areas of background; an image processing unit configured to i) determine a colour characteristic of the image at the plurality of specified points; ii) determine a location for graphic insertion; iii) determine the difference in colour between at least one of the plurality of specified points and the location for graphic insert; iv) define areas within the location for graphic insert as a foreground region or a background region on the basis of the determined colour difference; v) overlay the graphic on the image to form a graphic image; and vi) overlay the foreground regions of the location for composition onto the graphic image, is described.

Abstract: A client device, comprising: a communication unit configured to receive a plurality of parameters, the parameters defining segments of an image stored on a server, wherein the segments partially overlap; a processing unit configured to allow selection of a segment of the image in accordance with a defined view on the client device and wherein upon selection the segment is downloadable from the server; and a display configured to display on the client device the cut out of the image taken from the receivable segment is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of extracting image features from objects on a plane within video images; detecting the objects from a relative position on the plane by comparing the extracted image features with sample image features; and generating object identification data identifying the objects on the plane. The method includes generating a 3D model of the plane and logging object identification data and object path data, the object path data including a time history of object position on the 3D model and a path of the objects within the video images. The method also includes detecting an occlusion event indicating whether object features are occluded; associating object identification data with object path data for objects in the occlusion event; identifying one of the objects involved in the occlusion event by comparing the objects image features and the sample image features; and updating the path data after the identification.

Abstract: A method of matching a pose of a synthesized representation of a human or animal body to a captured image of that human or animal body is provided, which can be used to generate a graphical model of the body when disposed on a plane, such as a synthesized model of a football player on a field of play. The method includes receiving the captured image data, determining from the captured image data a plurality of limb position estimates, each position estimate corresponding to an amount by which limbs of the body are separated with respect to each other and deriving from the plurality of limb positions an estimated gait phase of the body. The estimated gait phase is then applied to a basis gait model in order to provide an estimated pose of the body, the basis gait model comprising data which defines a displacement of the limbs or parts thereof with respect to a gait cycle period. The estimated pose is then matched to that of the synthesized representation of the body.

Abstract: Method of estimating orientation of objects disposed on a plane from video images of a scene taken by a video camera. Includes receiving for each object, object tracking data, providing a position of the object on the plane in the image with respect to time, determining from the object tracking data basis vectors associated with an objects, each basis vector corresponding to a factor, which can influence the orientation of the object and each basis vector being related to the movement or location of the one or more objects, and combining the basis vectors in accordance with a blending function to calculate an estimate of the orientation of the object on the plane, the blending function including blending coefficients which determine a relative magnitude of each basis vector used in the blending function.

Abstract: A method of estimating an orientation of one or more of a plurality of objects disposed on a plane, from one or more video images of a scene, which includes the objects on the plane produced from a view of the scene by a video camera. The method comprises receiving for each of the one or more objects, object tracking data, which provides a position of the object on the plane in the video images with respect to time, determining from the object tracking data a plurality of basis vectors associated with at least one of the objects, each basis vector corresponding to a factor, which can influence the orientation of the object and each basis vector being related to the movement or location of the one or more objects, and combining the basis vectors in accordance with a blending function to calculate an estimate of the orientation of the object on the plane, the blending function including blending coefficients which determine a relative magnitude of each basis vector used in the blending function.

Abstract: A method of matching a pose of a synthesised representation of a human or animal body to a captured image of that human or animal body is provided, which can be used to generate a graphical model of the body when disposed on a plane, such as a synthesised model of a football player on a field of play. The method includes receiving the captured image data, determining from the captured image data a plurality of limb position estimates, each position estimate corresponding to an amount by which limbs of the body are separated with respect to each other and deriving from the plurality of limb positions an estimated gait phase of the body. The estimated gait phase is then applied to a basis gait model in order to provide an estimated pose of the body, the basis gait model comprising data which defines a displacement of the limbs or parts thereof with respect to a gait cycle period. The estimated pose is then matched to that of the synthesised representation of the body.

Abstract: A method of tracking objects on a plane within video images of the objects captured by a video camera. The method includes processing the captured video images so as to extract one or more image features from each object, detecting each of the objects from a relative position of the objects on the plane as viewed from the captured video images by comparing the one or more extracted image features associated with each object with sample image features from a predetermined set of possible example objects which the captured video images may contain; and generating object identification data for each object, from the comparing, which identifies the respective object on the plane. The method further includes generating a three dimensional model of the plane and logging, for each detected object, the object identification data for each object which identifies the respective object on the plane together with object path data.