Panorama Background Generation Using Block-Based Color-Space Comparison

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current panorama background generation methods are inadequate in handling large background motions, noise from moving foreground objects, and image misalignments, leading to poor quality and computational inefficiency, especially when dealing with real-life scenarios and small image sets.

Innovation Solution

The method involves dividing images into blocks, comparing color-space features to select background blocks, and merging them to generate a panorama background, using a preliminary background model and smoothing overlapping regions to reduce ghosting and visual distortion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional panorama background generation methods are used, then object tracking and surveillance functions are achieved, but image quality deteriorates due to ghosting and noise from moving foreground objects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveobject tracking accuracyVSAvoidpanorama background quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The image is divided into multiple blocks, and each block is processed independently to determine whether it represents background or foreground content. This segmentation allows selective merging of only the background blocks, effectively removing ghosting caused by moving foreground objects while preserving the reliability needed for object tracking applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If flexible approaches with tolerance to image misalignment are used, then background motion handling is improved, but computational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetolerance to image misalignmentVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the image into blocks and processing each block independently with simple comparison operations, the method achieves flexibility in handling image misalignment and background motion without requiring complex transformation models. The block-based approach reduces computational complexity compared to traditional pixel-level registration methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The method performs partial action by selectively processing only the background blocks rather than the entire image. This reduces the overall computational burden while maintaining adaptability to handle misalignment and background motion in the regions that matter most for panorama quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Measurement precision

If exact pixel-by-pixel comparison methods are used, then background extraction accuracy is improved, but processing speed decreases and computational cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebackground extraction accuracyVSAvoidprocessing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The image is divided into blocks, and background extraction is performed at the block level rather than pixel-by-pixel. This segmentation maintains sufficient accuracy for identifying background regions while dramatically improving processing speed and reducing computational cost compared to exact pixel-level comparison methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The method performs partial action by comparing and merging only the background blocks rather than all pixels in the image. This selective processing maintains high background extraction accuracy for the relevant regions while significantly improving overall processing efficiency and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Extent of automation

If methods designed for object-tracking purposes are used, then foreground detection is achieved, but panorama background quality deteriorates due to lack of focus on background content quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforeground object detectionVSAvoidbackground content quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The method extracts only the background blocks from the image set, deliberately separating and excluding foreground objects. This extraction approach prioritizes background content quality by selectively merging only the stationary background portions, while still providing foreground detection capability as a byproduct of the block comparison process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS7577314B2Method and apparatus for generating a panorama background from a set of images
Publication Date: 2009.08.18 ADVANCED INTERCONNECT SYST LTD
  • US7577314B2 patent drawing
  • US7577314B2 patent drawing
  • US7577314B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method of generating a panorama background from a set of images comprises dividing each of the images into blocks and comparing color-space features of corresponding blocks of the images to select background blocks. The selected background blocks are merged to generate the panorama background. An apparatus and computer readable medium embodying a computer program for generating a panorama background are also provided.