Abstract: An image processing method includes detecting statistical distribution of permutations of pixel properties amongst contiguous groups of a predetermined number of pixels in at least a portion of an image under test, so as to derive feature data in respect of the image under test, and comparing the feature data derived in respect of the image under test with feature data derived from at least respective portions of one or more other images so as to detect a similarity between the image under test and the one or more other images.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and a method for generating a three dimensional representation of a scene, which includes a plurality of objects disposed on a plane, is disclosed. The three dimensional representation is generated from one or more video images of the scene, which include the objects on the plane produced from a view of the scene by a video camera. The method includes processing the captured video images to extract image features from each object, comparing image features with sample image features from a predetermined set of possible example objects, and identifying the objects from the comparison of the image features with the sample image features. The method also includes generating object path data, which includes object identification data for each object which identifies the respective object; and provides a position of the object on the plane in the video images with respect to time.

Abstract: A method of providing, over a network, an image for recreation in a device, the image containing a background and a foreground object and the method comprising: detecting the position of the foreground object in the image and generating position information on dependence thereon; removing the foreground object from the image; and transferring to the device i) the image with the foreground object removed, ii) the removed foreground object and iii) the position information.

Abstract: A method of viewing a highlight package on a client device, comprising at the client device: receiving a video stream comprising a plurality of frames, receiving field of view information from a server, the field of view information identifying, for a frame in the received video stream, positional information defining a segment of the frame, and displaying the defined segment to a user.

Abstract: A method of annotating, on a display, a plurality of objects in an image of a scene captured by a camera, the method comprising: receiving i) metadata representing the different annotations to be applied to each of the objects, and ii) position information identifying the real-world position of each object in the scene to which the annotations in the image are to be applied; determining the focal length of the camera and the tilt applied to the camera; determining the position of the camera with respect to the scene being captured; and applying the annotation to the image captured by the camera in accordance with the position information.

Abstract: A method of image processing for converting interlaced images to progressive scan images comprises the steps of generating a motion dependent mixing value for determining the extent to which a preceding image field should be mixed with a current intra-field interpolated image field at a given pixel position, comparing the generated mixing value with a preceding historical mixing value, and if the comparison indicates an increase in motion, using the generated mixing value; otherwise, if the comparison indicates a decrease in motion, temporally filtering the generated mixing value prior to use.

Abstract: A method of image processing for conversion of an image in a sequence of images comprises the steps of associating pixels of an image with respective motion values indicative of a degree of inter-image motion for each pixel; adjusting the motion value of each pixel based upon the motion value of a secondary pixel found within a first region of a first predetermined size substantially centered upon each respective pixel, said secondary pixel being that whose associated motion value is indicative of the greatest motion of any pixel in the first region; adjusting the motion value of each pixel based upon the motion value of a secondary pixel that lies within a second region of a second predetermined size substantially centered upon each respective pixel, said secondary pixel being that whose associated motion value is indicative of the least motion of any pixel in the second region; categorizing each pixel as a static pixel or a motion pixel according to its respective associated motion value, and then selecting

Abstract: A method of displaying different first and second 3D images on a display during a frame period. The first 3D image is formed of two stereoscopic images viewed by a first user through first shutter glasses and the second 3D image being a stereoscopic image is formed of two stereoscopic images viewed by a second user through second shutter glasses. The method includes: synchronizing display of the first stereoscopic image with the first shutter glasses and the second stereoscopic image with the second shutter glasses, wherein each stereoscopic image is displayed for a time period in synchronization with the respective shutter glasses, the time period being determined in accordance with the frame duration and the number of different 3D images being displayed on the display, wherein the brightness of the display in increased in accordance with the number of users being synchronized.

Abstract: There is disclosed a content protection method and apparatus. The content protection method and apparatus further improves such related schemes by facilitating spatial as well as temporal management of content. This is achieved by storing encrypted content and a corresponding decryption key and destroying the decryption key when suitable. In order to further facilitate the content protection, the decryption key may be received periodically, which allows for a large number of people to connect to the network at different times.

Abstract: There is disclosed a content protection method and apparatus. The content protection method and apparatus further improves such related schemes by facilitating spatial as well as temporal management of content. This is achieved by storing encrypted content and a corresponding decryption key and destroying the decryption key when suitable. In order to further facilitate the content protection, the decryption key may be received periodically, which allows for a large number of people to connect to the network at different times.

Abstract: An image processing method for image conversion by combining two or more source values based on a mixing parameter to generate an output pixel value. A metric is calculated for a selected pixel at a given image field based on the directly preceding image field and a spatially interpolated version of the given image field at the selected pixel position. The selected pixel is categorized based on the metric as providing an indeterminate, unreliable, or reliable basis for a determination of motion at that pixel. The mixing parameter for the selected pixel is adjusted based on the categorization of the pixel.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a first motion detector, a second motion detector and a conversion selector. The first motion detector detects motion to a first level of spatial frequency sensitivity. The second motion detector detects motion to a second level of spatial frequency sensitivity greater than the first level of spatial frequency sensitivity to detect smaller amounts of motion than the first motion detector. The conversion selector selects contributions from at least one of a first conversion process and a second conversion process for a given point in an image dependant upon whether motion is detected by the first motion detector at the given point or not. The conversion selector operates independently of the second motion detector if a degree of motion within the image or a part thereof including the given point detected by the first motion detector does not exceed a threshold amount.

Abstract: A camera arrangement comprising a plurality of camera elements and a corresponding method of arranging camera elements is described. The camera arrangement improves the resolution of a stitched image by maintaining a uniform overlap between the fields of view of adjacent camera element. The uniform overlap is achieved. This is because the amount of unnecessary overlap required to achieve the required degree of overlap is reduced.

Abstract: A method of detecting an object in an image at a client device is described. This method comprises the steps of: receiving from a server a two dimensional image of a scene, the scene being captured by a camera and the image comprising an object located within the scene, receiving from the server position data, the position data being indicative of the position of the object within the image; receiving from the server an outline representation of the object at that position, the outline representation defining for pixel positions in a segment of the image at that position whether the pixel position represents the object; and on the basis of said outline, detecting the object in the image.

Abstract: A method of creating a stereoscopic image for display comprising the steps of: receiving a first image and a second image of the same scene captured from the same location, the second image being displaced from the first image by an amount; and transforming the second image such that at least some of the second image is displaced from the first image by a further amount; and outputting the first image and the transformed second image for stereoscopic display is disclosed. A corresponding apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A camera arrangement comprising a 3 dimensional image capture portion arranged to capture a first stereoscopic image composed of a first and a second image and a further camera element spaced apart from the 3 dimensional capture portion, the further camera element arranged to capture a third image, whereby the third image, when viewed with either the first or second image forms a second stereoscopic image is described. A corresponding method and camera system is also described.

Abstract: There is described a method of distributing software and supplemental display data and a client device having the same. The method reduces the cost of providing software to a number of devices on a multi-cast network. The software allows the user to gain access to the multi-cast network, and the supplemental display data is transferred to the client device over the network.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for forming a composite image of a scene from a plurality of overlapping elemental images, the apparatus comprising: a selector for selecting one point in one of the plurality of images and another point in a second one of the plurality of images, the first point and the other point being overlaid in the composite image and being of substantially the same point in the scene; a determiner for determining, when the first point and the other point are overlaid, the gradient across the overlap between the first and other elementary image; and an adjuster for adjusting one of the first and second elementary image to minimise the gradient across the overlap. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and a system for generating image content. The method and system allow segments of a panoramic scene, to be generated with reduced distortion. The method and system reduce the amount of distortion by mapping pixel data onto a pseudo camera focal plane which is provided substantially perpendicularly to the focal location of the camera that captured the image. A camera arrangement can implement the method and system.

Abstract: An image processing device comprises receiving means operable to receive, from a camera, a captured image corresponding to an image of a scene captured by the camera. The scene contains at least one object. The device comprises determining means operable to determine a distance between the object within the scene and a reference position defined with respect to the camera, and generating means operable to detect a position of the object within the captured image, and to generate a modified image from the captured image based on image features within the captured image which correspond to the object in the scene.