Methods, systems and apparatus for providing improved definition video

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said step of computing a global mean video component value comprises the step of computing a global mean video component value from the video component values generated for previous scans of both the first and second fields.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one video component characterizing each pixel represents the intensity level of each pixel.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one video component characterizing each pixel represents a color component of each pixel.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 wherein said step of computing a global mean video component value comprises the substeps of: taking a running sum of the digital video component values generated for a previous scan of at least one of the first and second fields; and dividing the running sum of the video component values generated for the previous scan by the number of pixels in the previous scan.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 wherein said step of computing a global mean video component value comprises the substeps of: generating a histogram including a bin representing each one of the possible digital video component values characterizing a given pixel; for each bin in the histogram, multiplying the video component value represented by the bin by the number of pixels in the bin; summing the products of the number of pixels in a bin and the video component value represented by the bin for all bins in the histogram; and dividing the sum of the products of the number of pixels in each bin and the video component value represented by the bin by the total number of pixels from the previous scan.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 wherein said step of computing a global standard deviation comprises the steps of: computing the absolute difference between the global mean and the video component value generated for each pixel in a previous scan of at least one of the first and second fields; computing the sum of the absolute differences between the global mean and the video component values for all pixels from the previous scan; and dividing the sum of the absolute differences between the global mean and the video component values for all the pixels in the previous scan by the number of pixels in the previous scan.

Claim 9

The method of claim 1 wherein said step of computing a global standard deviation comprises the step of: generating a histogram having a bin for each possible video component value for a given pixel; for each bin in the histogram, computing the absolute difference between the video component value represented by the bin and the global mean; for each bin, computing the product of the absolute difference between the video component value represented by the bin and the global mean and the number of pixels in the bin; computing the sum of the products of the absolute difference between the computed component value represented by the bin and the global mean and the number of pixels in each bin for all bins in the histogram; and dividing the sum by the total number of pixels in the previous scan of at least one of the first and second fields.

Claim 10

The method of claim 1 wherein said step of computing a local mean video component value comprises the substeps of: taking a running sum of the digital video component values generated for a plurality of pixels being updated as part of the current scan of the first field and neighboring a pixel in the second field being deinterlaced; and dividing the running sum by the number of pixels comprising the plurality of pixels being updated as part of the current scan of the first field and neighboring the pixel in the second field being deinterlaced.

Claim 11

The method of claim 1 wherein said step of computing a local mean comprises the substeps of: generating a histogram including a bin representing each one of the possible digital video component values characterizing a given pixel; for each bin in the histogram, multiplying the video component value represented by the bin by the number of pixels, from a plurality of pixels being updated as part of the current scan of the first field and neighboring a pixel in the second field being deinterlaced, in the bin; summing the product of the number of pixels in each bin and the video component value represented by the bin for all bins in the histogram; and dividing the sum of the product of the number of pixels in each bin and the video component value represented by the bin by the number of pixels comprising the plurality of pixels being updated as part of the current scan of the first field and neighboring the pixel in the second field being deinterlaced.

Claim 12

The method of claim 1 wherein said step of computing a local standard deviation comprises the substeps of: computing the absolute difference between the local mean and the video component value generated for each pixel of a plurality of pixels being updated as part of the current scan of the first field and neighboring a pixel in the second field being deinterlaced; computing the sum of the absolute differences between the local mean and the video component values computed for the plurality of pixels being updated as part of the current scan of the first field and neighboring a pixel in the second field being deinterlaced; and dividing the sum of the absolute differences between the number of pixels comprising the plurality of pixels being updated as part of the current scan of the first field and neighboring a pixel in the second field being deinterlaced.

Claim 13

The method of claim 1 wherein said step of computing a local standard deviation comprises the substeps of: generating a histogram having a bin representing each possible video component value for a given pixel; for each bin in the histogram, computing the absolute difference between the video component value represented by the bin and the local mean; for each bin, computing the product of the absolute difference between the video component value represented by the bin and the local mean and the number of pixels, plurality of pixels being updated as part of the current scan of the first field and neighboring a pixel in the second field being deinterlaced in the bin; computing the sum of the products of the absolute difference between the component value represented by the bin and the global mean and the number of pixels in each bin for all bins in the histogram; and dividing the sum by the total number of pixels comprising the plurality of pixels being updated as part of the current scan of the first field and neighboring a pixel in the second field being deinterlaced.

Claim 16

The method of claim 13 wherein the new video component value is the local mean video component value.

Claim 17

The method of claim 13 wherein the new video component value is the median local video component value calculated for the plurality of pixels being updated as part of the current scan of the first field and neighboring the pixel in the first field being tested.

Claim 18

The method of claim 13 wherein said step of computing a global mean video component value comprises the step of computing a global mean video component value in accordance with the formula: ##EQU8## where: P j is the value for the video component being processed as characterizing a pixel j from the previous field or fields; m is the total number of pixels from the previous field or fields used to calculate the global mean; and M g is the global mean value.

Claim 19

The method of claim 13 wherein said step of computing a global mean video component value comprises the step of computing a global mean video component value in accordance with the equation: ##EQU9## where: P i is the video component value represented by bin i; hist(i) is the number of pixels in bin i; n is the total number of bins (i.e. 256 in the case of component valves represented by 8 bits); and m is the total number of pixels used to calculate the global mean as taken from the previous field or fields; and M g is the global mean.

Claim 20

The method of claim 13 wherein said step of computing a global standard deviation comprises the step of computing a global standard deviation in accordance with the equation: ##EQU10## where: P j is the value for the video component being processed as characterizing a pixel j from the previous field or fields; m is the total number of pixels from the previous field or fields used to calculate the global mean; M g is the global mean value; and σ g is the global standard deviation.

Claim 21

The method of claim 13 wherein said step of computing a global standard deviation comprises the step of computing a global standard deviation in accordance with the formula: ##EQU11## where: P i is the video component value represented by bin i; hist(i) is the number of pixels in bin i; n is the total number of bins (i.e. 256 in the case of component valves represented by 8 bits); and m is the total number of pixels used to calculate the global mean as taken from the previous field or fields; M g is the global mean; σ g is the global standard deviation.

Claim 22

The method of claim 13 wherein said step of computing a local mean video component value comprises computing a local mean video component value in accordance with the equation: ##EQU12## where: P k is the value generated for the current scan for the component being processed as characterizing pixel k from the local neighborhood; l is the number of pixels in the local neighborhood; and M l is the local mean value.

Claim 23

The method of claim 13 wherein said step of computing a local mean video component value comprises the step of computing a local mean video component value in accordance with the equation: ##EQU13## where: P q is the video component value represented by bin q; r is the total number of bins; hist(q) is the total number of pixels from the local neighborhood in bin q; l is the number of pixels in the local neighborhood; and M l is the local mean value.

Claim 24

The method of claim 13 wherein said step of computing the deviation from the local mean value of the video component value generated for the pixel being tested comprises the step of computing the deviation from the local mean value in accordance with the equation: σ.sub.s =|P.sub.s -M.sub.l | where: σ s is the deviation from the local mean of pixel s; P 2 is the video component value generated for pixel s in the current scan; and M l is the local mean.

Claim 25

A video system comprising: a video display operable to display images as a plurality of pixels each characterized by a video component level; circuitry for generating said video component levels formatted for the display of images as a plurality of pixels arranged in first and second fields of interlaced rows, updated on alternate scans; circuitry for quantifying said video component levels by numerical video component values represented by digital signals; and a processor for deinterlacing said pixels in said first and second fields of interlaced rows, said processor operable to: compute a global mean video component value from said video component values provided for a previous scan of at least one of the first and second fields; compute a global standard deviation from said global mean; compute a local mean video component value from said video component values provided for a current scan of said first field and forming a neighborhood of a said pixel in said second field being deinterlaced; compute a local standard deviation from said local mean video component value for said pixels in said first field forming said neighborhood of said pixel in said second field being deinterlaced; compare said local standard deviation with a preselected multiple of said global standard deviation; carry forward the video component value generated for said pixel being deinterlaced from a previous scan of said second field when said local standard deviation is less than said selected multiple of said global standard deviation and set said video component value for said pixel being deinterlaced to said local mean video component value when said local standard deviation exceeds said selected multiple of said global standard deviation; and generate, for display, the digital signals representing at least one of the carried forward and set video component values for said pixel being deinterlaced.

Claim 26

A video system comprising: a video display operable to display images as a plurality of pixels each characterized by a video component level; circuitry for generating said video component levels formatted for the display of images as a plurality of pixels arranged in first and second fields of interlaced rows, updated on alternate scans; circuitry for quantifying said video component levels by numerical video component values represented by digital signals; and a processor for deinterlacing said pixels in said first and second fields of interlaced rows, said processor operable to: compute a global mean video component value from said video component values provided for a previous scan of at least one of the first and second fields; compute a global standard deviation from said global mean; compute a local mean video component value from said video component values provided for a current scan of said first field and forming a neighborhood of a said pixel in said second field being deinterlaced; compute a local standard deviation from said local mean video component value for said pixels in said first field forming said neighborhood of said pixel in said second field being deinterlaced; compare said local standard deviation with a preselected multiple of said global standard deviation; carry forward the video component value generated for said pixel being deinterlaced from a previous scan of said second field when said local standard deviation is less than said selected multiple of said global standard deviation and set said video component value for said pixel being deinterlaced to said local mean video component value when said local standard deviation exceeds said selected multiple of said global standard deviation; and generate, for display, the digital signals representing at least one of the carried forward and set video component values for said pixel being deinterlaced.

Claim 27

The video system of claim 23 wherein said video component level represents the intensity level of a said pixel in a said image.

Claim 28

The video system of claim 23 wherein said video component level represents a color component level of a said pixel in a said image.

Claim 29

The video system of claim 23 wherein said processor is operable to compute a global mean video component value from said video component values provided for a previous scan of both said first and second fields.

Claim 30

A video system comprising: a video display operable to display images as a plurality of pixels each characterized by a video component level; circuitry for generating said video component levels formatted for the display of images as a plurality of pixels arranged in first and second fields of interlaced rows, updated on alternate scans; circuitry for quantifying said video component levels by numerical video component values represented by digital signals; and a processor for detecting and replacing corrupted pixels in a said image to be displayed, said processor operable to: compute a global mean video component value from said video component values provided for a previous scan of at least one of said first and second fields; compute a global standard deviation from said global mean value; compute a local mean video component value from said video component values provided for a plurality of said pixels being updated as a part of a current scan of said first field and neighboring a said pixel in said first field being tested; compute the deviation from said local mean value of said video component value generated to update said pixel being tested as part of said current scan of said first field; compare the deviation from said local mean of said video component value of said pixel being tested with a selected multiple of said global standard deviation; characterize said video component value of said pixel being tested in accordance with said video component value generated to update said pixel being tested as part of said current scan of said first field if the deviation from said local mean is less than a selected multiple of said global standard deviation; compare the deviation from said local mean with a pre-selected threshold value if the deviation from said local mean value exceeds said pre-selected multiple of said global standard deviation; characterize said video component level of said pixel being tested in accordance with said video component value generated to update said pixel being tested as part of said current scan of said first field if the deviation from said local means is less than said threshold value; replace said video component value generated for said pixel being tested as part of said current scan of said first field with a new video component value if the deviation from said local mean is greater than said threshold value; and generate, for display, the digital signals representing at least one of the video component values generated to update the pixel being tested and replaced video component values generated for the pixel being tested.

Claim 31

A video system comprising: a video display operable to display images as a plurality of pixels each characterized by a video component level; circuitry for generating said video component levels formatted for the display of images as a plurality of pixels arranged in first and second fields of interlaced rows, updated on alternate scans; circuitry for quantifying said video component levels by numerical video component values represented by digital signals; and a processor for detecting and replacing corrupted pixels in a said image to be displayed, said processor operable to: compute a global mean video component value from said video component values provided for a previous scan of at least one of said first and second fields; compute a global standard deviation from said global mean value; compute a local mean video component value from said video component values provided for a plurality of said pixels being updated as a part of a current scan of said first field and neighboring a said pixel in said first field being tested; compute the deviation from said local mean value of said video component value generated to update said pixel being tested as part of said current scan of said first field; compare the deviation from said local mean of said video component value of said pixel being tested with a selected multiple of said global standard deviation; characterize said video component value of said pixel being tested in accordance with said video component value generated to update said pixel being tested as part of said current scan of said first field if the deviation from said local mean is less than a selected multiple of said global standard deviation; compare the deviation from said local mean with a pre-selected threshold value if the deviation from said local mean value exceeds said pre-selected multiple of said global standard deviation; characterize said video component level of said pixel being tested in accordance with said video component value generated to update said pixel being tested as part of said current scan of said first field if the deviation from said local means is less than said threshold value; replace said video component value generated for said pixel being tested as part of said current scan of said first field with a new video component value if the deviation from said local mean is greater than said threshold value; and generate, for display, the digital signals representing at least one of the video component values generated to update the pixel being tested and replaced video component values generated for the pixel being tested.

Claim 32

The video system of claim 27 wherein said new video component value comprises said local mean video component value.

Claim 33

The video system of claim 27 wherein said new video component value comprises a median video component value computed from said plurality of pixels being updated as part of said current scan of said first field and neighboring said pixel being tested.

Claim 36

The method of claim 30 wherein said step of computing global statistics comprises the substeps of: computing a global mean video component value from the video component values generated for a previous scan of at least one of the first and second fields; and computing a global standard deviation from the global mean.

Claim 37

The method of claim 31 wherein said step of computing local statistics comprises the steps of: computing a local mean video component value from the video component values generated for a plurality of pixels being updated as part of the current scan of the first field and defining a neighborhood of a pixel in the second field being deinterlaced; and computing a local standard deviation from the local mean video component value.

Claim 38

The method of claim 32 wherein said step of comparing comprises the step of comparing the local standard deviation with a selected multiple of the global standard deviation and wherein in response to said step of comparing, carrying forward the video component value generated as part of a previous scan of the second field for the pixel being deinterlaced when the local standard deviation is less than the selected multiple of the global standard deviation and setting the video component value for the pixel being deinterlaced to the computed local mean video component value when the local standard deviation exceeds the selected multiple of the global standard deviation.

Claim 41

The method of claim 34 wherein said step of computing global statistics comprises the substeps of: computing a global mean video component value from the video component values generated for a previous scan of at least one of the first and second fields; and computing a global standard deviation from the global mean.

Claim 42

The method of claim 35 wherein said step of computing local statistics comprises the substeps of: computing a local mean video component value from the video component values generated for a plurality of pixels being updated as part of the current scan of the first field and defining a neighborhood of a pixel in the first field being deinterlaced; and computing the deviation from the local mean value of the video component value generated to update the pixel being tested as part of the current scan of the first field.

Claim 43

The method of claim 36 and further comprising the steps of: comparing the deviation from the local mean of the video component value of the pixel being tested with a pre-selected threshold value if the deviation from the local mean value exceeds the selected multiple of the global standard deviation; quantifying the video component level of the pixel being tested in accordance with the video component value generated to update the pixel being tested as part of the current scan of the first field if the deviation from the local mean is less than the threshold value.