Abstract: A system (10) and method (52, 60, 72) for combining and/or displaying text with three-dimensional (3D) content. The system (10) and method (52, 60, 72) inserts text at the same level as the highest depth value in the 3D content. As a result, the system (10) and method (52, 60, 72) of the present disclosure produces text combined with 3D content wherein the text does not obstruct the 3D effects in the 3D content and does not create visual fatigue when viewed by a viewer.

Abstract: A system (10) and method (52, 60, 72) for combining and/or displaying text with three-dimensional (3D) content. The system (10) and method (52, 60, 72) inserts text at the same level as the highest depth value in the 3D content. As a result, the system (10) and method (52, 60, 72) of the present disclosure produces text combined with 3D content wherein the text does not obstruct the 3D effects in the 3D content and does not create visual fatigue when viewed by a viewer.

Abstract: A system and method for combining and/or displaying text with three-dimensional content. The system and method inserts text at the same level as the highest depth value in the 3D content. One example of 3D content is a two-dimensional image and an associated depth map. In this case, the depth value of the inserted text is adjusted to match the largest depth value of the given depth map. Another example of 3D content is a plurality of two-dimensional images and associated depth maps. In this case, the depth value of the inserted text is continuously adjusted to match the largest depth value of a given depth map. A further example of 3D content is stereoscopic content having a right eye image and a left eye image. In this case the text in one of the left eye image and right eye image is shifted to match the largest depth value in the stereoscopic image. Yet another example of 3D content is stereoscopic content having a plurality of right eye images and left eye images.

Abstract: A system and method for spatiotemporal depth extraction of images with forward and backward depth prediction are provided. The system and method of the present disclosure provide for acquiring a plurality of frames, generating a first depth map of a current frame in the plurality of frames based on a depth map of a previous frame in the plurality of frames, generating a second depth map of the current frame in the plurality of frames based on a depth map of a subsequent frame in the plurality of frames, and processing the first depth map and the second depth map to produce a third depth map for the current frame.

Abstract: A stereoscopic 3-D imaging apparatus has a camera and a wedged optical component attachable to the front of the camera. The wedged optical component is rotatable around the front of the camera using a rotating device, and the rotating device controls the rotation speed of the wedged optical component. The camera is capable of capturing stereoscopic 3-D images, resulting in lower costs and a simple capture process.

Abstract: A variety of implementations are described. At least one implementation modifies one or more images from a stereo-image pair in order to produce a new image pair that has a different disparity map. The new disparity map satisfies a quality condition that the disparity of the original image pair did not. In one particular implementation, a first image and a second image that form a stereo image pair are accessed. A disparity map is generated for a set of features from the first image that are matched to features in the second image. The set of features is less than all features in the first image. A quality measure is determined based on disparity values in the disparity map. The first image is modified, in response to the determined quality measure, such that disparity for the set of features in the first image is also modified.

Abstract: Various implementations relate to improving depth maps. This may be done, for example, by identifying bad depth values and modifying those values. The values may represent, for example, holes and/or noise. According to a general aspect, a segmentation is determined based on an intensity image. The intensity image is associated with a corresponding depth image that includes depth values for corresponding locations in the intensity image. The segmentation is applied to the depth image to segment the depth image into multiple regions. A depth value is modified in the depth image based on the segmentation. A two-stage iterative procedure may be used to improve the segmentation and then modify bad depth values in the improved segmentation, and iterating until a desired level of smoothness is achieved. Both stages may be based, for example, on average depth values in a segment.

Abstract: A system and method for marking a stereoscopic film with colors are provided. The system and method provides for marking a left image with a mark and a right image with a mark having complementary colors, wherein upon viewing, the marks are not visible under certain conditions. The system and method provide for acquiring a stereoscopic image, the stereoscopic image including a first image and a second image, applying a first mark to the first image in a predetermined location, the first mark having a first color, and applying a second mark to the second image in substantially the same predetermined location as in the first image, the second mark having a second color that is different than the first color of the first mark, wherein when viewed in three-dimensional mode, the first mark and the second mark combine into a single mark of one color.

Abstract: A system and method for spatiotemporal depth extraction of images are provided. The system and method provide for acquiring a sequence of images from a scene, the sequence including a plurality of successive frames of images, estimating the disparity of at least one point in a first image with at least one corresponding point in a second image for at least one frame, estimating motion of the at least one point in the first image, estimating the disparity of the at least one next successive frame based on the estimated disparity of at least one previous frame in a forward direction of the sequence, wherein the estimate disparity is compensated with the estimated motion, and minimizing the estimated disparity of each of the plurality of successive frames based on the estimated disparity of at least one previous frame in a backward direction of the sequence.

Abstract: A system and method for extracting depth information from at least two images employing region-based filtering for reducing artifacts are provided. The present disclosure provides a post-processing algorithm or function for reducing the artifacts generated by scanline Dynamic Programming (DP) or other similar methods. The system and method provides for acquiring a first image and a second image from a scene, estimating the disparity of at least one point in the first image with at least one corresponding point in the second image to generate a disparity map, segmenting at least one of the first or second images into at least one region, and filtering the disparity map based on the segmented regions. Furthermore, anisotropic filters are employed, which have a great smoothing effect along the vertical direction than that of the horizontal direction, and therefore, reduce stripe artifacts without significantly blurring the depth boundaries.

Abstract: A variety of implementations are described. At least one implementation modifies one or more images from a stereo-image pair in order to produce a new image pair that has a different disparity map. The new disparity map satisfies a quality condition that the disparity of the original image pair did not. In one particular implementation, a first image and a second image that form a stereo image pair are accessed. A disparity map is generated for a set of features from the first image that are matched to features in the second image. The set of features is less than all features in the first image. A quality measure is determined based on disparity values in the disparity map. The first image is modified, in response to the determined quality measure, such that disparity for the set of features in the first image is also modified.

Abstract: A stereoscopic 3-D imaging apparatus has a camera and a wedged optical component attachable to the front of the camera. The wedged optical component is rotatable around the front of the camera using a rotating device, and the rotating device controls the rotation speed of the wedged optical component. The camera is capable of capturing stereoscopic 3-D images, resulting in lower costs and a simple capture process.

Abstract: A system and method for spatiotemporal depth extraction of images are provided. The system and method provide for acquiring a sequence of images from a scene, the sequence including a plurality of successive frames of images, estimating the disparity of at least one point in a first image with at least one corresponding point in a second image for at least one frame, estimating motion of the at least one point in the first image, estimating the disparity of the at least one next successive frame based on the estimated disparity of at least one previous frame in a forward direction of the sequence, wherein the estimate disparity is compensated with the estimated motion, and minimizing the estimated disparity of each of the plurality of successive frames based on the estimated disparity of at least one previous frame in a backward direction of the sequence.

Abstract: A system and method for marking a stereoscopic film with colors are provided. The system and method provides for marking a left image with a mark and a right image with a mark having complementary colors, wherein upon viewing, the marks are not visible under certain conditions. The system and method provide for acquiring a stereoscopic image, the stereoscopic image including a first image and a second image, applying a first mark to the first image in a predetermined location, the first mark having a first color, and applying a second mark to the second image in substantially the same predetermined location as in the first image, the second mark having a second color that is different than the first color of the first mark, wherein when viewed in three-dimensional mode, the first mark and the second mark combine into a single mark of one color.

Abstract: A system and method for spatiotemporal depth extraction of images with forward and backward depth prediction are provided. The system and method of the present disclosure provide for acquiring a plurality of frames, generating a first depth map of a current frame in the plurality of frames based on a depth map of a previous frame in the plurality of frames, generating a second depth map of the current frame in the plurality of frames based on a depth map of a subsequent frame in the plurality of frames, and processing the first depth map and the second depth map to produce a third depth map for the current frame.

Abstract: A system and method for extracting depth information from at least two images employing region-based filtering for reducing artifacts are provided. The present disclosure provides a post-processing algorithm or function for reducing the artifacts generated by scanline Dynamic Programming (DP) or other similar methods. The system and method provides for acquiring a first image and a second image from a scene, estimating the disparity of at least one point in the first image with at least one corresponding point in the second image to generate a disparity map, segmenting at least one of the first or second images into at least one region, and filtering the disparity map based on the segmented regions. Furthermore, anisotropic filters are employed, which have a great smoothing effect along the vertical direction than that of the horizontal direction, and therefore, reduce stripe artifacts without significantly blurring the depth boundaries.

Abstract: A system and method for combining and/or displaying text with three-dimensional content. The system and method inserts text at the same level as the highest depth value in the 3D content. One example of 3D content is a two-dimensional image and an associated depth map. In this case, the depth value of the inserted text is adjusted to match the largest depth value of the given depth map. Another example of 3D content is a plurality of two-dimensional images and associated depth maps. In this case, the depth value of the inserted text is continuously adjusted to match the largest depth value of a given depth map. A further example of 3D content is stereoscopic content having a right eye image and a left eye image. In this case the text in one of the left eye image and right eye image is shifted to match the largest depth value in the stereoscopic image. Yet another example of 3D content is stereoscopic content having a plurality of right eye images and left eye images.

Abstract: A system and method for stereo matching of at least two images, e.g., a stereoscopic image pair, employing a global optimization function, e.g., a belief propagation function, that utilizes dynamic programming as a preprocessing step are provided. The system and method of the present disclosure provide for acquiring a first image and a second image from a scene, estimating the disparity of at least one point in the first image with at least one corresponding point in the second image, and minimizing the estimated disparity using a belief propagation function, e.g., a global optimization function, wherein the belief propagation function is initialized with a result of a deterministic matching function, e.g., dynamic programming, applied to the first and second image to speed up the belief propagation function. The system and method further generates a disparity map from the estimated disparity and converts the disparity map into a depth map.

Abstract: Various implementations relate to improving depth maps. This may be done, for example, by identifying bad depth values and modifying those values. The values may represent, for example, holes and/or noise. According to a general aspect, a segmentation is determined based on an intensity image. The intensity image is associated with a corresponding depth image that includes depth values for corresponding locations in the intensity image. The segmentation is applied to the depth image to segment the depth image into multiple regions. A depth value is modified in the depth image based on the segmentation. A two-stage iterative procedure may be used to improve the segmentation and then modify bad depth values in the improved segmentation, and iterating until a desired level of smoothness is achieved. Both stages may be based, for example, on average depth values in a segment.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing reserved connections between end stations, in a network, such as the Internet, capable of providing prioritized communications, comprises a switch in packet communications with end stations. The switch detects and forwards packets that contain prioritized data for priority processing, and packets that include requests for reserved connections according to a given reservation protocol. Output queues associated with egress ports of the switch correspond to different priorities associated with received priority packets. An additional output queue is associated with reserved connection data packets. In response to a reserved connection request, the switch determines if sufficient bandwidth exists in the switch to establish a reserved path within the network, and if so, allocates the and width for the reserved connection.