Abstract: A method and an apparatus for de-noising an image, and in particular, de-noising an image using video epitome based on a source video image. An embodiment of the present principles provides a method of processing an image in a video, comprising: decoding an encoded version of the image to generate a decoded version of the image; and generating a de-noised version of the image using the decoded version of the image and a video image epitome which is a texture epitome associated with the image, wherein the video image epitome was extracted from a source version of the image, wherein the generating comprises: de-noising a current patch using corresponding patches located in the video image epitome that correspond to at least one of a plurality of nearest neighbor patches.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for composing an image representative of a textured material when distorted by a rubbing contact on a touch surface. To compose a realistic and immersive image of a textured material, the method comprises obtaining a 3D model of the textured material and a viscoelasticity model of the material, detecting a contact on the touch surface, computing a distorted version of the 3D model and composing an image representative of the distorted version of the 3D model.

Abstract: A method and device for obtaining a sound, wherein an information representative of a speed of a first object moving on a first surface is obtained. The obtained speed information is used with one or more reference sounds to obtain the sound. The one or more reference sounds are associated with a determined speed of displacement of a second object moving on a second surface, the first surface being different from the second surface.

Abstract: A method, a device and a signal enabling automatic washouts in HAV contents. Washout related information is added to a signal representing a HAV content so that a HAV rendering device may adapt the washout to its physical limitations defined by the device capabilities as well as the user preferences. Different types of washouts are proposed. The HAV content signal comprises a first information representative of a haptic washout effect and an optional second information representative of the parameters required for the haptic washout effect. The method comprises performing a first haptic effect, computing the haptic washout effect according to device capabilities, user preferences, type of washout obtained from washout flags and optional washout parameters, and performing the haptic washout effect.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for predicting a pixel block of an image using a weighted sum of pixel blocks belonging to patches of a dictionary from a set of candidate patches, each patch being formed of a pixel block of an image and a causal neighborhood of this pixel block. The method is wherein a subset of candidate patches is obtained from the set of candidate patches and the dictionary is formed of a patch of the subset of candidate patches, called the first patch, and at least one other patch of said set of candidate patches, called the second patch.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing a video sequence formed by at least two video images, said method comprising: obtaining said at least two video images using a first capture module with a first field of view, each video image representing a same scene captured at different instants or from different points of view, wherein said method comprises: determining luminance information from at least one overall image obtained by a second capture module with a second field of view greater than said first field of view, said overall image representing the scene captured at different instants or from different points of view, down-converting a dynamic range of said video images taking into account said luminance information.

Abstract: The invention relates to image block encoding and decoding. More precisely, the invention relates to block prediction using reference blocks of the image. It is proposed a method which comprises using processing means for using at least the block for determining one reference block in an already encoded part of the image, encoding and reconstructing a part of the image, using at least the block for determining one reference block in the reconstructed part and a vector referencing the one reference block, using the one reference block for determining at least one further reference block in the reconstructed part and encoding the determined vector and a residual of the block with respect to a combination of the one and the at least one further reference block. Using the block for determination of the one reference block allows for selecting it such that it resembles the block and correlation with the block is maintained.

Abstract: A method for generating at least one image with a first dynamic range, from an image with a second dynamic range, which is lower than the first dynamic range is described. The method includes obtaining an epitome of the image with a first dynamic range, called a first epitome. Thereafter, the image with a first dynamic range is generated from the image with a second dynamic range and the first epitome.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating haptic coefficients associated with an audiovisual document. Initially, data is extracted from an audio and/or video track and is used to calculate at least one first group of haptic coefficients from an autoregressive model applied to the read data. These haptic coefficients are designed to programme a filter supplying at the output the control parameters for controlling at least one haptic actuator. Then, a “haptic” sequence of the audiovisual document is determined and calculated haptic parameters are associated with the determined sequence. In this manner, the haptic parameters enabling the control of one or more actuators are easily calculated and easily reproducible. Advantageously, the data used for the calculation is extracted from the selected sequence.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and apparatus for building an estimate (?) of an original image (Y) from a low-quality version (Yl) of the original image and an epitome (Eh) calculated from an image.

Abstract: A method and device for controlling at least one force-feedback device associated with at least a part of the body of a user. As to control the user's experience of motion and movements induced by the displacement(s) of the force feedback device(s), following operations are performed: [a] determining a speed value of a movement of the at least a part of the body according to at least a parameter representative of the displacement of the at least one force-feedback device, the movement of the at least a part of the body being induced by the displacement of the at least one force-feedback device; [b] comparing the determined speed value with a threshold speed value as to determine whether the displacement of the at least one force-feedback device is perceived by the user; and [c] controlling the at least one parameter according to the comparison result.

Abstract: A method and device for predicting a block of pixels of an image for encoding/decoding same. The method comprises a step of defining a causal vicinity of said block to be predicted, a step 2 of searching for candidate patches during which a set of candidate patches is formed from at least one patch belonging to an image other than the image to which the block to be predicted belongs, each patch being formed from a block and from a causal vicinity of said block, and a step 3 of block prediction during which the block is predicted at least from the block of at least one patch of said set of candidate patches.

Abstract: A method performs an auto-calibration process including a constrained optimization in which 3D coordinates of anchors in a reference frame are estimated so that an associated, estimated Gram matrix fits a Gram matrix measured from the anchors, wherein the reference frame of a network is formed based on positions of N anchors, where N is four or greater.

Abstract: For gaze-controlled text size control of a display, the invention proposes to probe, sample and record a user's horizontal gaze Signal; to subject the gaze Signal to a subband filterbank or wavelet transform; to detect line delimiters in the gaze Signal; to derive a reading speed; to determine, as a number of saccades per text line the number of locations where the gaze Signal has sudden high slope portions surrounded on both sides by portions of markedly smaller slope; to detect, based on the reading speed and the number of saccades, a too small font size Status or a too big font size Status; and to initiate a corresponding font size change. Parts of this method can be used for gaze-based measuring of text reading speed and for gaze-based measuring of number of saccades.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for reproducing an item of video content filmed using a camera. An item of video content composed of sequences is developed and enhanced by commands applied to the camera at the time of filming. With a view to reproduction, the video content is divided into sequences. The commands applied to the camera are extracted for each sequence and make it possible to calculate at least one haptic actuator control parameter associated with this sequence. At the time of the reproduction of a sequence of the video content, at least one control parameter thus calculated controls at least one haptic actuator. In this way, the spectator perceives stimuli making it possible to enhance his perception of the video document during the reproduction. Advantageously, the player able to reproduce the enhanced content determines a cinematographic effect for a set of sequences from commands applied to the camera.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of gaze estimation. As to determine the position of the gaze without calibrating the system used for determining the gaze, the method comprises: detecting at least a location of the centre of at least an eye on at least an eye image of a viewer watching at least a video image displayed on a screen; determining at least a first position of the gaze of the viewer on the screen by using the at least a detected location of the centre of the at least an eye and a mapping function based on centre-bias property of human gaze distribution. The invention also relates to a device configured for estimating the gaze.

Abstract: A method for decoding a picture divided into blocks is disclosed. The method comprises at least one iteration of: a) determining for at least two blocks adjacent to a reconstructed part of the picture a priority level responsive at least to directional gradients computed in a causal neighborhood of the block; and b) decoding a part of the picture comprising the block whose priority level is the highest.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing a video sequence formed by at least two video images, said method comprising: obtaining said at least two video images using a first capture module with a first field of view, each video image representing a same scene captured at different instants or from different points of view, wherein said method comprises: determining luminance information from at least one overall image obtained by a second capture module with a second field of view greater than said first field of view, said overall image representing the scene captured at different instants or from different points of view, down-converting a dynamic range of said video images taking into account said luminance information.

Abstract: A method and device for predicting a block of pixels of an image for encoding/decoding same. The method comprises a step of defining a causal vicinity of said block to be predicted, a step 2 of searching for candidate patches during which a set of candidate patches is formed from at least one patch belonging to an image other than the image to which the block to be predicted belongs, each patch being formed from a block and from a causal vicinity of said block, and a step 3 of block prediction during which the block is predicted at least from the block of at least one patch of said set of candidate patches.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining a color to be emulated by an ambient light source associated to a display are described. A saliency map is determined for an image displayed on the display. A subset of pixels of the image with a saliency below a given threshold is selected based on the saliency map. The color to be emulated by the ambient light source is then determined from color values of the determined subset of pixels.