Method of estimating image format and orientation based upon vanishing point location

Claim 3

The method claimed in claim 1 , wherein the image has x′ and y′ axes and the predetermined criteria is: | x G |<T 1 and | y G |>T 2 ; OR | y G |<T 1 and | y G |>T 2 where the vanishing points are represented by vanishing point vectors v G =(x G , y G , z G ) with relation to a Gaussian sphere located on a z-axis with respect to the image at a distance f away from the image plane, f representing an approximation of the focal length of a camera lens employed to photograph the image; and T 1 and T 2 are predetermined constants.

Claim 4

The method claimed in claim 2 , wherein 0.01<T 1 <0.2 and 0.2<T 2 <0.95.

Claim 5

The method claimed in claim 3 , wherein T 1 =0.05 and T 2 =0.55.

Claim 6

A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 4 .

Claim 7

A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 2 .

Claim 8

A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 3 .

Claim 9

The method claimed in claim 1 , wherein the image has x′-axis and y′-axis and wherein the predetermined criteria is a threshold operation to select a vanishing point that is close to one of the axes of the image.

Claim 10

A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 8 .

Claim 11

The method claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the step of detecting the orientation of the image based on the selected vanishing point location.

Claim 12

The method claimed in claim 10 , wherein the image has x′ and y′ axes and the predetermined criteria is: If |x G |<T 1 and y G >T 2 , then the negative y′-axis is determined to be at the top of the image; If |x G |<T 1 and y G <−T 2 , then the positive y′-axis is determined to be at the top of the image; If |y G |<T 1 and x G >T 2 , then the negative x′-axis is determined to be at the top of the image; and If |y G |<T 1 and x G <−T 2 , then the positive x′-axis is determined to be at the top of the image, where the vanishing points are represented by vanishing point vectors v G =(x G , y G , z G ) with relation to a Gaussian sphere located on a z-axis with respect to the image at a distance f away from the image plane, f representing an approximation of the focal length of a camera lens employed to photograph the image; and T 1 and T 2 are predetermined constants.

Claim 13

The method claimed in claim 11 , wherein 0.01<T 1 <0.2 and 0.2<T 2 <0.95.

Claim 14

The method claimed in claim 12 , wherein T 1 =0.05 and T 2 =0.55.

Claim 15

A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 13 .

Claim 16

A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 10 .

Claim 17

A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 11 .

Claim 18

A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 12 .

Claim 19

The method claimed in claim 1 , wherein the image is rectangular and further comprising the step of identifying the format of the image based on the relation of the vertical axis to the rectangular axes of the image.

Claim 20

A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 18 .

Claim 21

The method claimed in claim 1 , wherein the image has x′ and y′ axes and the predetermined criteria is: | x G |<T 1 and T 2 <|y G |<T 3 ; OR | y G |<T 1 and T 2 <|x G <T 3 ; where the vanishing points are represented by vanishing point vectors v G =(x G , y G , z G ) with relation to a Gaussian sphere located on a z-axis with respect to the image at a distance f away from the image plane, f representing an approximation of the focal length of a camera lens employed to photograph the image; and T 1 and T 2 are predetermined constants, whereby both the format and orientation of the image can be determined.

Claim 22

The method claimed in claim 20 , wherein: If |x G |<T 1 and y G >T 2 , then the negative y′-axis is determined to be at the top of the image; If |x G |<T 1 and y G <−T 2 , then the positive y′-axis is determined to be at the top of the image; If |y G |<T 1 and x G >T 2 , then the negative x′-axis is determined to be at the top of the image; and If |y G |<T 1 and x G <−T 2 , then the positive x′-axis is determined to be at the top of the image, where the vanishing points are represented by vanishing point vectors v G =(x G , y G , z G ) with relation to a Gaussian sphere located on a z-axis with respect to the image at a distance f away from the image plane, f representing an approximation of the focal length of a camera lens employed to photograph the image; and T 1 and T 2 are predetermined constants.

Claim 23

A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 21 .

Claim 24

The method claimed in claim 20 , wherein 0.01<T 1 <0.2 and 0.2<T 2 <0.95 and 0.8<T 3 <0.999.

Claim 25

A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 23 .

Claim 26

The method claimed in claim 20 , wherein T 1 =0.05 and T 2 =0.55 and T 3 =0.95.

Claim 27

A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 25 .

Claim 28

A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 20 .

Claim 29

A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1 .

Claim 30

Apparatus for determining the vertical axis of an image, comprising the steps of: a) means for detecting a set of vanishing points related to the image; by means for selecting a vanishing point based on a predetermined criteria of the image; and c) means for identifying the vertical axis with the selected vanishing point; wherein the predetermined criteria is a threshold operation to select a vanishing point that is greater than a predetermined distance from the center of the image.

Claim 31

Apparatus for determining the vertical axis of an image, comprising the steps of: a) means for detecting a set of vanishing points related to the image; by means for selecting a vanishing point based on a predetermined criteria of the image; and c) means for identifying the vertical axis with the selected vanishing point; wherein the predetermined criteria is a threshold operation to select a vanishing point that is greater than a predetermined distance from the center of the image.

Claim 32

The apparatus claimed in claim 28 , wherein the image has x′ and y′ axes and the predetermined criteria is: | x G |<T 1 and | y G |>T 2 ; OR | y G |<T 1 and | x G |>T 2 where the vanishing points are represented by vanishing point vectors v G =(x G , y G , z G ) with relation to a Gaussian sphere located on a z-axis with respect to the image at a distance f away from the image plane, f representing an approximation of the focal length of a camera lens employed to photograph the image; and T 1 and T 2 are predetermined constants.

Claim 33

The apparatus claimed in claim 30 , wherein 0.01<T 1 <0.2 and 0.2<T 2 <0.95.

Claim 34

The apparatus claimed in claim 31 , wherein T 1 =0.05 and T 2 =0.55.

Claim 35

The apparatus claimed in claim 29 , wherein the image has x′-axis and y′-axis and wherein the predetermined criteria is a threshold operation to select a vanishing point that is close to one of the axes of the image.

Claim 36

The apparatus claimed in claim 29 , further comprising the step of detecting the orientation of the image based on the selected vanishing point location.

Claim 37

The apparatus claimed in claim 34 , wherein the image has x′ and y′ axes and the predetermined criteria is: If |x G |<T 1 and y G >T 2 , then the negative y′-axis is determined to be at the top of the image; If |x G |<T 1 and y G <−T 2 , then the positive y′-axis is determined to be at the top of the image; If |y G |<T 1 and x G >T 2 , then the negative x′-axis is determined to be at the top of the image; and If |y G |<T 1 and x G <−T 2 , then the positive x′-axis is determined to be at the top of the image, where the vanishing points are represented by vanishing point vectors v G =(x G , y G , z G ) with relation to a Gaussian sphere located on a z-axis with respect to the image at a distance f away from the image plane, f representing an approximation of the focal length of a camera lens employed to photograph the image; and T 1 and T 2 are predetermined constants.

Claim 38

The apparatus claimed in claim 35 , wherein 0.01<T 1 <0.2 and 0.2<T 2 <0.95.

Claim 39

The apparatus claimed in claim 36 , wherein T 1 =0.05 and T 2 =0.55.

Claim 40

The apparatus claimed in claim 29 , wherein the image is rectangular and further comprising the step of identifying the format of the image based on the relation of the vertical axis to the rectangular axes of the image.

Claim 41

The apparatus claimed in claim 29 , wherein the image has x′ and y′ axes and the predetermined criteria is: | x G |<T 1 and T 2 <|y G |<T 3 ; OR | y G |<T 1 and T 2 <|x G |<T 3 ; where the vanishing points are represented by vanishing point vectors v G =(x G , y G , z G ) with relation to a Gaussian sphere located on a z-axis with respect to the image at a distance f away from the image plane, f representing an approximation of the focal length of a camera lens employed to photograph the image; and T 1 and T 2 are predetermined constants, whereby both the format and orientation of the image can be determined.

Claim 42

The apparatus claimed in claim 39 , wherein: If |x G |<T 1 and y G >T 2 , then the negative y′-axis is determined to be at the top of the image; If |x G |<T 1 and y G <−T 2 , then the positive y′-axis is determined to be at the top of the image; If |y G |<T 1 and x G >T 2 , then the negative x′-axis is determined to be at the top of the image; and If |y G |<T 1 and x G <−T 2 , then the positive x′-axis is determined to be at the top of the image, where the vanishing points are represented by vanishing point vectors v G =(x G , y G , z G ) with relation to a Gaussian sphere located on a z-axis with respect to the image at a distance f away from the image plane, f representing an approximation of the focal length of a camera lens employed to photograph the image; and T 1 and T 2 are predetermined constants.

Claim 43

The apparatus claimed in claim 39 , wherein 0.01<T 1 <0.2 and 0.2<T 2 <0.95 and 0.8<T 3 <0.999.

Claim 44

The apparatus claimed in claim 39 , wherein T 1 =0.05 and T 2 =0.55 and T 3 =0.95.