Abstract: A method includes measuring the likelihood that two different space-time video segments could have resulted from a similar underlying motion field without computing the field. The method may be employed to identify locations in a video sequence where at least one behavioral phenomenon similar to that demonstrated in the video segment occurs. For example, the phenomenon might be a dynamic behavior, an action, a rigid motion, and/or a non-rigid motion.

Abstract: A method and system for computing at least one of spatial and temporal relationships between at least first and second sequences of representations having respective first and second temporal progressions and including employing the first and second temporal progressions to obtain at least one of the spatial and temporal relationships.

Abstract: A method and system for aligning in at least one of time and space temporally ordered sequences of images comprising receiving a plurality of sequences of images, each sequence including a multiplicity of images, each plurality of sequences defining a space-time volume, and providing an output indication relating at least one point in a space-time volume corresponding to one of the plurality of sequences to at least one point in a space-time volume corresponding to at least another one of the plurality of sequences.

Abstract: A system for automatically generating a mosaic from a plurality of input images. The system sequentially executes an image alignment process, an editing process, and a combining process such that, from a sequence of images, the system automatically produces a seamless mosaic for various applications. Illustrative applications for the mosaic include: (1) a mosaic based display system including an image printing system, (2) a surveillance system and (3) a mosaic based compression system. The mosaic based display system permits a system user to display, manipulate and alter a mosaic. The mosaic based compression system exploits the temporal and spatial redundancy in image sequences and efficiently compresses the image information. The compression system can be used for compressing image information for storage in a storage device or can be used for compressing image information for transmission through a band-limited transmission channel.

Abstract: A method for performing parametric image alignment, which when given any local match-measure, applies global estimation directly to the local match-measure data, without first going through an intermediate step of local flow estimation. The method can utilize any local match-measure, such as, correlation, normalized-correlation, squared or absolute brightness differences, statistical measures such as mutual information, and the like.

Abstract: The invention is embodied in a process for synthesizing a new image representing a new viewpoint of a scene from at least two existing images of the scene taken from different respective viewspoints. The process begins by choosing a planar surface visible in the at least two of the existing images and transforming the at least two existing images relative to one another so as to bring the planar surface into perspective alignment in the at least two existing images, and then choosing a reference frame and computing parallax vectors between the two images of the projection of common scene points on the reference frame. Preferably, the reference frame comprises an image plane of a first one of the existing images. Preferably, the reference frame is co-planar with the planar surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a geometric relationship between the image motion of pairs of points over multiple image frames representing a three-dimensional scene. This relationship is based on the parallax motion of points with respect to an arbitrary planar surface, and does not involve epipolar geometry. A constraint is derived over two frames for any pair of points, relating their projective structure (with respect to the plane) based only on their image coordinates and their parallax displacements. Similarly, a 3D-rigidity constraint between pairs of points over multiple frames is derived. Also disclosed are applications of these parallax-based constraints to solving three important problems in 3D scene analysis: (i) the recovery of 3D scene structure, (ii) the detection of moving objects in the presence of camera induced motion, and (iii) the synthesis of new camera views based on a given set of views. Moreover, this approach can handle difficult situations for 3D scene analysis, e.g.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting moving objects in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional scenes. The method repetitively applies a two-dimensional transformation to a plurality of images representing a scene to identify misaligned regions within the images. Any residual motion represented by the misaligned regions that may be classified as a moving object within the scene is further processed by a three-dimensional technique that removes parallax motion from the residual motion. The result is motion contained in an epipolar flow field which is only due to a moving object within the scene.

Abstract: A system for automatically generating a mosaic from a plurality of input images. The system sequentially executes an image alignment process, an editing process, and a combining process such that, from a sequence of images, the system automatically produces a seamless mosaic for various applications. Illustrative applications for the mosaic include: (1) a mosaic based display system including an image printing system, (2) a surveillance system and (3) a mosaic based compression system. The mosaic based display system permits a system user to display, manipulate and alter a mosaic. The mosaic based compression system exploits the temporal and spatial redundancy in image sequences and efficiently compresses the image information. The compression system can be used for compressing image information for storage in a storage device or can be used for compressing image information for transmission through a band-limited transmission channel.

Abstract: A system for automatically generating a mosaic from a plurality of input images. The system sequentially executes an image alignment process, an editing process, and a combining process such that, from a sequence of images, the system automatically produces a seamless mosaic for various applications. Illustrative applications for the mosaic include: (1) a mosaic based display system including an image printing system, (2) a surveillance system and (3) a mosaic based compression system. The mosaic based display system permits a system user to display, manipulate and alter a mosaic. The mosaic based compression system exploits the temporal and spatial redundancy in image sequences and efficiently compresses the image information. The compression system can be used for compressing image information for storage in a storage device or can be used for compressing image information for transmission through a band-limited transmission channel.

Abstract: A system for generating three-dimensional mosaics from a plurality of input images representing an imaged scene. The plurality input images contain at least two images of a single scene, where at least two of the images have overlapping regions. The system combines the images using a parallax-based approach that generates a three-dimensional mosaic comprising an image mosaic representing a panoramic view of the scene and a shape mosaic representing the three dimensional geometry of the scene. Specifically, in one embodiment, the system registers the input images along a parametric surface within the imaged scene and derives translation vectors useful in aligning the images into a two-dimensional image mosaic. Once registered, the system generates a shape mosaic representing objects within the scene.

Abstract: A system for automatically generating a mosaic from a plurality of input images. The system sequentially executes an image alignment process, an editing process, and a combining process such that, from a sequence of images, the system automatically produces a seamless mosaic for various applications. Illustrative applications for the mosaic include: (1) a mosaic based display system including an image printing system, (2) a surveillance system and (3) a mosaic based compression system. The mosaic based display system permits a system user to display, manipulate and alter a mosaic. The mosaic based compression system exploits the temporal and spatial redundancy in image sequences and efficiently compresses the image information. The compression system can be used for compressing image information for storage in a storage device or can be used for compressing image information for transmission through a band-limited transmission channel.