Patent US6496607B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6496607B1
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US
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Method and apparatus for region-based allocation of processing resources and control of input image formation
Assignee: SRI International Inc
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Filing: 1999-04-21
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Granted: 2002-12-17
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Expires: 2019-04-21
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for classifying regions of an image, based on the relative "importance" of the various areas and to adaptively use the importance information to allocate processing resources and input image formation.
Inventors
- 👤 Ravi Krishnamurthy
- 👤 Sriram Sethuraman
- 👤 Ya-Qin Zhang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 23:09
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N19/00; H04N19/85; H04N19/10; H04N19/102; H04N19/124; H04N19/126; H04N19/134; H04N19/146; H04N19/149; H04N19/156; H04N19/162; H04N19/169; H04N19/17; H04N19/186; H04N19/46; H04N19/50; H04N19/503; H04N19/51; H04N19/523; H04N19/55; H04N19/593; H04N19/60; H04N19/61
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for classifying a block within a current image of an input image sequence, said method comprising the steps of: (a) classifying a block as to its importance within a current image of the input image sequence using a block classifier, where said block classifier is for classifying a block as a skin-tone block, an edge block, or a motion block within the image; and (b) modifying said block classification interactively in accordance with user selection.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for classifying a block within a current image of an input image sequence, said method comprising the steps of: (a) classifying a block as to its importance within a current image of the input image sequence using a block classifier, where said block classifier is for classifying a block as a skin-tone block, an edge block, or a motion block within the image; and (b) modifying said block classification interactively in accordance with user selection.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said modifying step (b) modifies said block classification in accordance with user selection received from a decoder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of: (c) modifying said block classification in accordance with a detected audio signal.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for allocating an encoding resource to a block within an image of an input image sequence, said method comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining an importance information for the block within an image of the input image sequence, by obtaining importance information from a block classifier, where said block classifier is for classifying a block as a skin-tone block, an edge block, or a motion block within the image; (a1) modifying said block classification interactively in accordance with user selection; and (b) allocating an encoding resource to said block in accordance with said importance information.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for allocating an encoding resource to a block within an image of an input image sequence, said method comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining an importance information for the block within an image of the input image sequence, by obtaining importance information from a block classifier, where said block classifier is for classifying a block as a skin-tone block, an edge block, or a motion block within the image; (a1) modifying said block classification interactively in accordance with user selection; and (b) allocating an encoding resource to said block in accordance with said importance information.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 4 , further comprises the step of: (a2) modifying said block classification in accordance with a detected audio signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein said allocating step (b) allocates an encoding resource for enhancing motion estimation in accordance with said importance information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein said allocating step (b) allocates an encoding resource for enhancing segmentation in accordance with said importance information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein said allocating step (b) allocates an encoding resource for enhancing mode decision in accordance with said importance information.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
87 words
A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps comprising of: (a) classifying a block as to its importance within a current image of the input image sequence using a block classifier, where said block classifier is for classifying a block as a skin-tone block, an edge block, or a motion block within the image; and (b) modifying said block classification interactively in accordance with user selection.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
87 words
A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps comprising of: (a) classifying a block as to its importance within a current image of the input image sequence using a block classifier, where said block classifier is for classifying a block as a skin-tone block, an edge block, or a motion block within the image; and (b) modifying said block classification interactively in accordance with user selection.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 9 , further comprising the step of: (c) modifying said block classification in accordance with a detected audio signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
104 words
A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps comprising of: (a) obtaining an importance information for the block within an image of the input image sequence by obtaining importance information from a block classifier, where said block classifier is for classifying a block as a skin-tone block, an edge block, or a motion block within the image; (a1) modifying said block classification interactively in accordance with user selection; and (b) allocating an encoding resource to said block in accordance with said importance information.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
104 words
A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps comprising of: (a) obtaining an importance information for the block within an image of the input image sequence by obtaining importance information from a block classifier, where said block classifier is for classifying a block as a skin-tone block, an edge block, or a motion block within the image; (a1) modifying said block classification interactively in accordance with user selection; and (b) allocating an encoding resource to said block in accordance with said importance information.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
83 words
An apparatus for classifying a block within a current image of an input image sequence, said apparatus comprising: a block classifier for classifying a block as to its importance within the a current image of the input image sequence, where said block classifier is for classifying a block as a skin-tone block, an edge block, or a motion block within the image; and an importance map generator, coupled to said block classifier, for modifying said block classification interactively in accordance with user selection.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
83 words
An apparatus for classifying a block within a current image of an input image sequence, said apparatus comprising: a block classifier for classifying a block as to its importance within the a current image of the input image sequence, where said block classifier is for classifying a block as a skin-tone block, an edge block, or a motion block within the image; and an importance map generator, coupled to said block classifier, for modifying said block classification interactively in accordance with user selection.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for classifying a block within a current image of an input image sequence, said apparatus comprising: an importance map generator for obtaining an importance information for the block within an image of the input image sequence by obtaining importance information from a block classifier, where said block classifier is for classifying a block as a skin-tone block, an edge block, or a motion block within the image; means for modifying said block classification interactively in accordance with user selection; and an encoder, coupled to said importance map generator, for allocating an encoding resource to said block in accordance with said importance information.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for classifying a block within a current image of an input image sequence, said apparatus comprising: an importance map generator for obtaining an importance information for the block within an image of the input image sequence by obtaining importance information from a block classifier, where said block classifier is for classifying a block as a skin-tone block, an edge block, or a motion block within the image; means for modifying said block classification interactively in accordance with user selection; and an encoder, coupled to said importance map generator, for allocating an encoding resource to said block in accordance with said importance information.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-12-16 | 2006-06-17 | 2006-12-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-12-16 | 2010-06-17 | 2010-12-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-12-16 | 2014-06-17 | 2014-12-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |