Processing a group of images associated with a three-dimensional representation of a scene

Abstract

A method of processing an indexed group of images, the method comprises identifying a first group of images, such as a first texture atlas, and a second group of images; identifying a first image, e.g. a first texture patch, in the first group of images 61; determining a second image, in the second group of images 62, the second image being similar to the first image; and updating an index of the second image based on an index of the first image 63. The second group of images is associated with a three-dimensional representation of a scene, wherein texture points in the three-dimensional represent groups of reference images or points within the second group. The index represents relative position and attributes of points in the image. Assessing similarities comprises determining a distance between the first image and the second image; a Euclidean distance therebetween or a sum of absolute differences (SAD). The process may be iterative and before identifying the first image, reordering of the first and second groups of images based on luminance is carried out. Indices may be arranged in a z-pattern. (Fig 14a)