Method and system for generating image frame sequences using morphing transformations

Claim 1

A method of generating a non-repetitive output time sequence of image frames in a continuous full motion video stream, from a lesser input time sequence of full motion video image frames, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving as part of the input time sequence of full motion video image frames a pair of consecutive image frames of the input time sequence of full motion video image frames, the pair of consecutive image frames including a first frame and a second frame, the pair of consecutive frames defining a frame rate less than a predetermined frame rate; (b) identifying and locating a plurality of feature points in both the first frame and the second frame; (c) morphing the first frame with the second frame using the plurality of feature points to form at least one intermediate frame; (d) sequentially organizing the first frame, the at least one intermediate frame, and the second frame to form consecutive frames of the output time sequence; (e) receiving a second pair of consecutive image frames of the input time sequence differing from the first pair received in step (a), second pair of consecutive image frames including a third frame and a fourth frame, the second pair defining a frame rate which is at least the predetermined frame rate; and (f) maintaining the second pair of consecutive image frames as image frames in the non-repetitive output time sequence; wherein the consecutive frames of the non-repetitive output time sequence define a non-repetitive full motion video stream having a frame rate which is at least the predetermined frame rate.

Claim 2

A method of generating a non-repetitive output time sequence of image frames in a continuous full motion video stream, from a lesser input time sequence of full motion video image frames, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving as part of the input time sequence of full motion video image frames a pair of consecutive image frames of the input time sequence of full motion video image frames, the pair of consecutive image frames including a first frame and a second frame, the pair of consecutive frames defining a frame rate less than a predetermined frame rate; (b) identifying and locating a plurality of feature points in both the first frame and the second frame; (c) morphing the first frame with the second frame using the plurality of feature points to form at least one intermediate frame; (d) sequentially organizing the first frame, the at least one intermediate frame, and the second frame to form consecutive frames of the output time sequence; (e) receiving a second pair of consecutive image frames of the input time sequence differing from the first pair received in step (a), second pair of consecutive image frames including a third frame and a fourth frame, the second pair defining a frame rate which is at least the predetermined frame rate; and (f) maintaining the second pair of consecutive image frames as image frames in the non-repetitive output time sequence; wherein the consecutive frames of the non-repetitive output time sequence define a non-repetitive full motion video stream having a frame rate which is at least the predetermined frame rate.

Claim 7

A system for generating a non-repetitive output time sequence of image frames in a continuous full motion video stream, from a lesser input time sequence of full motion video image frames, the system comprising: a receiver which receives a signal representative of the input time sequence, the input time sequence including a pair of consecutive image frames which define a frame rate less than a predetermined (display) frame rate, the pair of consecutive image frames including a first frame and a second frame; and an image processor operative to identify and locate a plurality of feature points in both the first frame and the second frame, and to morph the first frame with the second frame using the plurality of feature points to form at least one intermediate frame, the image processor further operative to sequentially organize the first frame, the at least one intermediate frame, and the second frame to form consecutive frames of the non-repetitive full motion video output time sequence at the predetermined output frame rate; wherein the consecutive frames of the non-repetitive full motion video output sequence define a non-repetitive video stream having a frame rate which is at least the predetermined frame rate, and wherein the receiver receives a second pair of consecutive image frames of the input time sequence differing from the first pair, the second pair defining a frame rate which is at least the predetermined output frame rate, wherein the image processor maintains the second pair of consecutive image frames as consecutive image frames in the non-repetitive output time sequence.

Claim 8

A system for generating a non-repetitive output time sequence of image frames in a continuous full motion video stream, from a lesser input time sequence of full motion video image frames, the system comprising: a receiver which receives a signal representative of the input time sequence, the input time sequence including a pair of consecutive image frames which define a frame rate less than a predetermined (display) frame rate, the pair of consecutive image frames including a first frame and a second frame; and an image processor operative to identify and locate a plurality of feature points in both the first frame and the second frame, and to morph the first frame with the second frame using the plurality of feature points to form at least one intermediate frame, the image processor further operative to sequentially organize the first frame, the at least one intermediate frame, and the second frame to form consecutive frames of the non-repetitive full motion video output time sequence at the predetermined output frame rate; wherein the consecutive frames of the non-repetitive full motion video output sequence define a non-repetitive video stream having a frame rate which is at least the predetermined frame rate, and wherein the receiver receives a second pair of consecutive image frames of the input time sequence differing from the first pair, the second pair defining a frame rate which is at least the predetermined output frame rate, wherein the image processor maintains the second pair of consecutive image frames as consecutive image frames in the non-repetitive output time sequence.

Claim 12

A method of generating a non-repetitive output time sequence of image frames in a continuous full motion video stream, from a lesser input time sequence of full motion video image frames, the method comprising the steps of (a) receiving as part of the input time sequence of fall motion video image frames a pair of consecutive image frames, the pair of consecutive image frames including a first frame and a second frame, and defining a frame rate less than a predetermined frame rate; (b) identifying and locating a plurality of feature points in both the first frame and the second frame; (c) morphing the first frame with the second frame using the plurality of feature points to form at least one intermediate frame; and (d) sequentially organizing the first frame, the at least one intermediate frame, and the second frame to form consecutive frames of the non-repetitive output time sequence; wherein the consecutive frames of the non-repetitive output time sequence define a full motion video stream having a frame rate which is at least the predetermined frame rate; (e) receiving a second pair of consecutive image frames of the input time sequence differing from the first pair received in step (a), the second pair of consecutive image frames including a third frame and a fourth frame, the second pair defining a frame rate which is at least the predetermined frame rate; (f) maintaining the second pair of consecutive image frames as image frames in the non-repetitive output time sequence.

Claim 13

A method of generating a non-repetitive output time sequence of image frames in a continuous full motion video stream, from a lesser input time sequence of full motion video image frames, the method comprising the steps of (a) receiving as part of the input time sequence of fall motion video image frames a pair of consecutive image frames, the pair of consecutive image frames including a first frame and a second frame, and defining a frame rate less than a predetermined frame rate; (b) identifying and locating a plurality of feature points in both the first frame and the second frame; (c) morphing the first frame with the second frame using the plurality of feature points to form at least one intermediate frame; and (d) sequentially organizing the first frame, the at least one intermediate frame, and the second frame to form consecutive frames of the non-repetitive output time sequence; wherein the consecutive frames of the non-repetitive output time sequence define a full motion video stream having a frame rate which is at least the predetermined frame rate; (e) receiving a second pair of consecutive image frames of the input time sequence differing from the first pair received in step (a), the second pair of consecutive image frames including a third frame and a fourth frame, the second pair defining a frame rate which is at least the predetermined frame rate; (f) maintaining the second pair of consecutive image frames as image frames in the non-repetitive output time sequence.