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Method and apparatus for high-speed processing of video images

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1986-04-14
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Granted: 1988-01-05
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Expires: 2006-04-14
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Abstract

Abstract A method and apparatus for high-speed processing of video images of objects in a scene. Each pixel, in lines of bicolored pixels of a raster scanned video image containing at least one object, is identified as to the object of which the pixel corresponds. Adjacent bicolored pixels of the same color across a line are grouped into corresponding numbered pixel groups. Pixel groups of the same color are downwardly grouped into numbered blobs of pixel groups. When a next line pixel group occurs which is of the same color with more than one previous line pixel group, the next line pixel group is grouped as part of first occurring previous line blob. Additional pixel group matches occurring between pixel groups of a previous and next line are upwardly grouped to provide a common ancestor blob number to each blob of the pixel group in each additional pixel group match. Blobs having common ancestor blob numbers are grouped into numbered object with each blob belonging to an object so that each pixel, through a blob number, corresponds to an object number.

Inventors

  • 👤 James E. Cooper, Jr.

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 07:07
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T7/00; G06T7/10; G06T7/11; G06T7/136; G06T7/187; G06V; G06V10/00; G06V10/40; G06V10/44; G06V10/457; G06T2207/00; G06T2207/10; G06T2207/10016; G06T2207/30; G06T2207/30108; G06T2207/30164

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 175 words
An apparatus for identifying each pixel, in lines of bicolored pixels of a raster scanned video image of a scene containing at least one object, to the object of which the pixel corresponds, comprising: means for grouping adjacent bicolored pixels of the same color across a line into corresponding numbered pixel groups, means for downwardly grouping pixel groups of the same color into numbered blobs of pixel groups, when a next line pixel group occurs which is of the same color with more than one previous line pixel group the next line pixel group is grouped as part of the first occurring previous line blob, means for upwardly grouping additional pixel group matches occurring between pixel groups of previous and a next line to provide a common ancestor blob number to each blob of the pixel group in each additional pixel group match; and means for grouping blobs having common ancestor blob numbers into numbered objects, each blob belonging to an object so that each pixel, through a blob number, corresponds to an object number.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 175 words
An apparatus for identifying each pixel, in lines of bicolored pixels of a raster scanned video image of a scene containing at least one object, to the object of which the pixel corresponds, comprising: means for grouping adjacent bicolored pixels of the same color across a line into corresponding numbered pixel groups, means for downwardly grouping pixel groups of the same color into numbered blobs of pixel groups, when a next line pixel group occurs which is of the same color with more than one previous line pixel group the next line pixel group is grouped as part of the first occurring previous line blob, means for upwardly grouping additional pixel group matches occurring between pixel groups of previous and a next line to provide a common ancestor blob number to each blob of the pixel group in each additional pixel group match; and means for grouping blobs having common ancestor blob numbers into numbered objects, each blob belonging to an object so that each pixel, through a blob number, corresponds to an object number.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for generating a new pixel group number upon the occurrence of each differently colored pixel group.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 51 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: means for generating a new blob number upon the occurrence of differently colored pixel groups when the pixel group is of a different color as a previous line pixel group directly above; and means for storing each blob number as an ancestor blob number.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 35 words
The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising: means for reassigning an ancestor blob number a common ancestor blob number, each common ancestor number being stored as a new ancestor blob number for the blob number.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: means for generating a new object number corresponding to each different common ancestor blob number; and means for storing each object number corresponding to each blob number.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 51 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising: means for generating a new blob number upon the occurrence of differently colored pixel groups when the pixel group is of a different color as a previous line pixel group directly above; and means for storing each blob number as an ancestor blob number.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 36 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising: means for reassigning an ancestor blob number a common ancestor blob number, each common ancestor blob number being stored as a new ancestor blob number for the blob number.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 34 words
The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising: means for generating a new object number corresponding to each different common ancestor blob number; and means for storing each object number corresponding to each blob number.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 172 words
A method for identifying each pixel, in lines of bicolored pixels of a raster scanned video image of a scene containing at least one object, to the object of which the pixel corresponds, comprising the steps of: grouping adjacent bicolored pixels of the same color across a line into corresponding numbered pixel groups; grouping, downwardly, pixel groups of the same color into numbered blobs of pixel groups, when a next line pixel group occurs which is of the same color with more than one previous line pixel group the next line pixel group is grouped as part of the first occurring previous line blob; grouping, upwardly, additional pixel group matches occurring between pixel groups of a previous and a next line so as to provide a common ancestor blob number to each blob of the pixel group in each additional pixel group match; grouping blobs having common ancestor blob numbers into numbered objects, each blob belonging to an object so that each pixel corresponds, through a blob number, to an object number.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 172 words
A method for identifying each pixel, in lines of bicolored pixels of a raster scanned video image of a scene containing at least one object, to the object of which the pixel corresponds, comprising the steps of: grouping adjacent bicolored pixels of the same color across a line into corresponding numbered pixel groups; grouping, downwardly, pixel groups of the same color into numbered blobs of pixel groups, when a next line pixel group occurs which is of the same color with more than one previous line pixel group the next line pixel group is grouped as part of the first occurring previous line blob; grouping, upwardly, additional pixel group matches occurring between pixel groups of a previous and a next line so as to provide a common ancestor blob number to each blob of the pixel group in each additional pixel group match; grouping blobs having common ancestor blob numbers into numbered objects, each blob belonging to an object so that each pixel corresponds, through a blob number, to an object number.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of generating a new pixel group number upon the occurrence of each different colored pixel group.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 50 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: generating a new blob number upon the occurrence of differently colored pixel groups when the pixel group is of a different color as a previous line pixel group directly above; and storing generated blob numbers as an ancestor blob number.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 37 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of: reassigning an ancestor blob number a common ancestor blob number; and storing said common ancestor blob number as a new ancestor blob number for the blob number.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of: generating a new object number corresponding to each different common ancestor for number; and storing an object number corresponding to each blob number.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 50 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of: generating a new blob number upon the occurrence of differently colored pixel groups when the pixel group is of a different color as a previous line pixel group directly above; and storing generated blob numbers as an ancestor blob number.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 37 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of: reassigning an ancestor blob number a common ancestor blob number; and storing said common ancestor blob number as a new ancestor blob number for the blob number.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 32 words
The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of: generating a new object number corresponding to each different common ancestor number; and storing an object number corresponding to each blob number.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4069411A Cited
US4107648A Cited
US4183013A Cited
US4189711A Cited
US4624013A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-01-04 1991-07-06 1992-01-05 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-01-04 1995-07-06 1996-01-05 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-01-04 1999-07-06 2000-01-05 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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