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: A media handling system in which candidate video sequences are displayed on a display screen in schematic form for selection by a user comprises means for detecting human faces in the candidate video sequences; a display screen for displaying representations of the candidate video sequences for selection by a user, each representation including one or more images representing human faces derived from the respective video sequences; and a user control for defining a set of one or more of the video sequences.

Abstract: A display arrangement comprises an image display device having a first camera directed towards positions adopted by users viewing the display; one or more further cameras directed towards other respective locations; a face detector for detecting human faces in images captured by the cameras; and means for detecting those faces which appear in images captured by both the first camera and at least one of the further cameras.

Abstract: A video data processing apparatus, that processes video data including a sequence of images, the apparatus including: an object tracker unit configured to detect a presence of one or more objects within an image and to track a detected object across successive images; an identity association unit configured to associate an identity with an object tracked by the object tracker unit; a counter unit configured to, for a first and second identity, count a number of images within which a tracked object associated with the first identity and a tracked object associated with the second identity have both been detected; and a similarity detector unit configured to determine whether two tracked objects are similar in appearance.

Abstract: A display arrangement comprises an image display device having two or more sets of images for display; a camera directed towards positions adopted by users viewing the display; a face detector for detecting human faces in images captured by the camera, the face detector being arranged to detect faces in at least two face categories; and means, responsive to the a frequency of detection of categories of faces by the face detector at one or more different periods, for selecting a set of images to be displayed on the image display device at that time of day.

Abstract: An image processing method includes partitioning an image under test to form a plurality of contiguous image segments having similar image properties, deriving feature data from a subset including one or more of the image segments, and comparing the feature data from the subset of image segments with feature data derived from respective image segments 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 method for selecting a subset of n (where n is two or more) images representative of a test set of images. The method includes detecting a degree of similarity between images in the test set of images so that the subset of images comprises those n images having substantially the lowest similarity with other images in the set.

Abstract: Image object detection apparatus in which test regions of a test image are compared with an image property model, a mask defining a subset of pixel positions within a test region, comprises means for comparing pixel properties in the test image defined by the test regions with the image property model to detect a property difference between the image property model and a test region; so that pixel property differences within the mask and pixel property differences outside the mask are combined with opposite respective polarities to form a difference value in respect of that test region, an object being detected in the test image at a test region corresponding to a lowest difference value between the image property model and pixels defined by the test region.

Abstract: A face detection apparatus associated methodology is provided to generate an output indicating a likelihood of a region of an image containing a face. The apparatus includes a comparing device for comparing the region with face data that indicates a presence of the face and for detecting respective likelihood values indicating the likelihood of the region containing the face in a group of respective different face size. A control device is provided for modifying at least one of the group and the likelihood values based on a face size or a range of face sizes appropriate to at least one classification of the image. The control device is responsive to metadata associated with the image that define the at least one classification of the image. The image is a part of a video sequence, and at least one classification includes a video program type.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and method generate a three dimensional representation of a scene which includes a plurality of objects disposed on a plane. 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 comprises processing the captured video images so as to extract one or more image features from each object, comparing the one or more image features with sample image features from a predetermined set of possible example objects which the video images may contain, and identifying the objects from the comparison of the image features with the stored image features of the possible example objects. 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: 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 distribution network and method. This is particularly advantageous because the network allows highlight clips to be generated and distributed quickly. Additionally, the highlights are more consistent because the user selects the event (from which the highlight is formed) from a list of possible event selections. This also has the advantage that there is the reduced likelihood of the individual generating the events missing any other incidents requiring highlighting.

Abstract: A data compression apparatus for performing data compression on input data comprises a quantisation parameter estimation arrangement for deriving an estimated value of a quantisation parameter used in a previous compression/decompression cycle applied to the input data, by detecting rounding effects in data values of at least a subset of the input data; and a parameter selection arrangement, responsive to the quantisation parameter estimation arrangement for selecting a quantisation parameter for use in compression of the input data.

Abstract: Face detection apparatus generating an output indicative of the likelihood of test regions of a test image containing a face comprises: means for deriving a plurality of sets of image attribute data from the test region, each set relating to the test region scaled by a respective different scaling factor from a geometric progression of scaling factors, the progression being such that each scaling factor is related to a next scaling factor by a predetermined multiplicative factor, the factor being the same across the whole progression of scaling factors; means for comparing the derived attributes for each scaling factor with a first respective set of attributes indicative of the presence of a face to generate a first respective likelihood value; means for comparing the derived attributes for each scaling factor with a second respective set of attributes indicative of the presence of a face to generate a second respective likelihood value; means for generating a combined likelihood value in respect of at least

Abstract: A system and associated methodology of detecting objects using multiple sets of object probability data relating to different respective expected object sizes relative to the image size. A list of locations in an image where an object has been detected is stored, the list defining a probability data set and a probability value for each detected object. Object locations in a set of object probability data as locations at which a local maximum probability value exceeds a threshold probability value are detected and, if that location is substantially similar to a location previously stored in the list, where the local maximum probability value exceeds that relating to the previously stored location. The storing is repeated successively in respect of each set of probability data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for image conversion comprises first motion detecting means operable to detect motion to a first level of sensitivity; second motion detecting means operable to detect motion to a second level of sensitivity, the second level of sensitivity being of greater sensitivity than the first level of sensitivity so that the second motion detecting means can detect smaller amounts of motion than the first motion detecting means; conversion selection means operable to select respectively either a first conversion process or a second conversion process for a given point in an image dependant upon whether motion is detected at that point or not, and in which the conversion selection means operates independently of the second motion detecting means if the degree of motion within an image or a part thereof detected by the first motion detecting means exceeds a threshold amount.

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: An image processing apparatus for image conversion comprises calculating means operable to calculate a first metric for a selected pixel position in a current image field, the first metric being the difference between a directly preceding image field and a spatially interpolated version of the current image field at the selected pixel position; categorising means operable to categorise, on the basis of the first metric, whether the selected pixel in the current image field provides either an indeterminate, unreliable or reliable basis for the determination of apparent motion at that selected pixel position in the current image field; and adjustment means operable to adjust a parameter associated with the selected pixel depending upon the categorisation made.

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 image processing for image conversion, comprises the steps of calculating a difference measure of the difference in pixel values between corresponding blocks of a current image field and a preceding image field, calculating a variability measure of the variability of pixel values from at least one of said corresponding blocks, determining whether the difference measure exceeds the variability measure, and if the difference measure exceeds the variability measure, then setting an inter-image mixing value for each pixel in the corresponding block of the current image field to indicate that the current image field should not be mixed with the preceding image field at that pixel position.