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US6549679B1
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Automated picture montage method and apparatus
Assignee: ArcSoft Inc
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Filing: 1999-09-10
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Granted: 2003-04-15
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Expires: 2019-09-10
Abstract
Abstract An automated picture montage method (10) and associated apparatus computer system (12) for accepting an original image (40) and a picture database (28) for creating a montage image (58) from a plurality of pictures (46) to approximate the original image (40). In a pre-index database operation (36), the database (28) is indexed so as to minimize the computational power required. In order to maximize the quality of image, tile regions (42) are analyzed beginning at a center tile region (54) in an outward spiraling order of progression (48). In order to speed the process, analysis is accomplished in a first pass operation (44) and a second pass operation (50). Pictures in the picture database (28) are first selected based on the average color difference of the pictures and the tile region (42). A best match picture is found based on the RGB mean square difference between picture subregions and tile subregions.
Inventors
- 👤 Juneng Zheng
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:49
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T3/00; G06T3/40; G06T3/4038
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A computer method for creating a mosaic image of an original image from a plurality of micro-images, comprising: (1) dividing the original image into a plurality of tile regions; (2) calculating the average color of one of the tile regions; (3) selecting a group of the micro-images that possibly match the one tile region by comparing the average color of the one tile region and the average color of each micro-image, wherein the average color of each micro-image is stored in a database; (4) dividing the one tile region into a plurality of subregions and calculating the average color of each subregion; (5) selecting one micro-image from the group that matches the one tile region by comparing the average colors of the subregions of the one tile region and the average colors of corresponding subregions of each micro-image, wherein the average colors of the corresponding subregions of each micro-image are stored in the database; (6) filling the one tile region with the one micro-image; (7) repeating actions (1) to (6) for each of the remaining tile regions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
A computer method for creating a mosaic image of an original image from a plurality of micro-images, comprising: (1) dividing the original image into a plurality of tile regions; (2) calculating the average color of one of the tile regions; (3) selecting a group of the micro-images that possibly match the one tile region by comparing the average color of the one tile region and the average color of each micro-image, wherein the average color of each micro-image is stored in a database; (4) dividing the one tile region into a plurality of subregions and calculating the average color of each subregion; (5) selecting one micro-image from the group that matches the one tile region by comparing the average colors of the subregions of the one tile region and the average colors of corresponding subregions of each micro-image, wherein the average colors of the corresponding subregions of each micro-image are stored in the database; (6) filling the one tile region with the one micro-image; (7) repeating actions (1) to (6) for each of the remaining tile regions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: (1) calculating the average color of one of the micro-images; (2) dividing the one micro-image into a plurality of subregions and calculating the average color of each subregion; (3) storing the average color of the one micro-image and the average color of each subregion of the one micro-image in the database; (4) repeating actions (1) to (3) for each of the remaining micro-images.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said comparing the average color of the one tile region and the average color of each micro-image comprises calculating a square difference between the average color of the one tile region and the average color of each micro-image.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein said selecting a group of the micro-images comprises selecting the group of the micro-images having square differences less than a predetermined threshold.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said comparing the average colors of the subregions of the one tile region and the average colors of corresponding subregions of each micro-image comprises calculating a mean square difference between the average colors of the subregions of the one tile region and the average colors of the corresponding subregions of each micro-image.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein said selecting one micro-image from the group comprises selecting the one micro-image having the smallest mean square difference.
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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) | 2006-04-14 | 2006-10-14 | 2007-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-04-14 | 2010-10-14 | 2011-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-04-14 | 2014-10-14 | 2015-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |