Patent US6950130B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6950130B1
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Method of image background replacement
Assignee: Rakuten Group Inc
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Filing: 1999-01-05
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Granted: 2005-09-27
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Expires: 2019-01-05
Abstract
Abstract A method for background replacement. The method takes an input image of one or more frames of video, or a still image, and performs an initial classification of the pixels ( 14 ) as foreground or background pixels. The classification is refined ( 16 ) using one of several techniques, including anisotropic diffusion or morphological filtering. After the refined classification is completed, a feathering process ( 18 ) is used to overlay the foreground pixels from the original image on the pixels of the new background, resulting in a new output image ( 20 ).
Inventors
- 👤 Richard J. Qian
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:51
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/222; H04N5/262; H04N5/272; H04N7/00; H04N7/14; H04N7/141; H04N9/00; H04N9/64; H04N9/74; H04N9/75
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
A method for background replacement in image capture systems, the method comprising: recording a background of an image with no foreground object with an image capture device, wherein the background is used as an input to a probability function; using said image capture device to capture an input image having a foreground object; classifying each pixel in said input image as a foreground pixel or a background pixel wherein classification results from calculating the probability function directly from a formula using chromatic component values and intensity values in the probability function for each pixel in the input image producing a classification and a probability map simultaneously; refining said classification and probability map to ensure proper classification; replacing said background pixels with pixels from a different background, wherein said replacing is performed with feathering using weighted values for pixel values of the input image and the different background determined by the probability map; and producing an output image comprised of said foreground pixels and said pixels from a different background.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
169 words
A method for background replacement in image capture systems, the method comprising: recording a background of an image with no foreground object with an image capture device, wherein the background is used as an input to a probability function; using said image capture device to capture an input image having a foreground object; classifying each pixel in said input image as a foreground pixel or a background pixel wherein classification results from calculating the probability function directly from a formula using chromatic component values and intensity values in the probability function for each pixel in the input image producing a classification and a probability map simultaneously; refining said classification and probability map to ensure proper classification; replacing said background pixels with pixels from a different background, wherein said replacing is performed with feathering using weighted values for pixel values of the input image and the different background determined by the probability map; and producing an output image comprised of said foreground pixels and said pixels from a different background.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 where refining is performed in the normalized RGB chromatic color space.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein refining is performed in YCbCr color space.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said input image comprises one frame of video data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said input image comprises more than one frame of video data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said input image comprises a still image.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said refining is performed with anisotropic diffusion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said refining is performed with morphological filtering.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said output image is a video image.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said output image is a still image.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-09-26 | 2009-03-28 | 2009-09-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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