Texture replacement in video sequences and images

A method for replacing original texture in a set of frames included in a video sequence with synthesized texture such that a bit rate of the video sequence that includes the synthesized texture is less than a bit rate of the original video sequence, the method comprising:

• selecting original texture from an initial frame within the set of frames;
• removing the selected original texture from the set of frames in the video sequence;
• analyzing the removed texture to compute texture parameters;
• synthesizing new texture using the texture parameters;
• and
• inserting the synthesized texture into the set of frames.

In a system that distributes a video sequence over a network, a method for replacing original texture of a video sequence with synthesized texture in order to reduce a bit rate of the video sequence, the method comprising:

• removing original texture from a set of frames included in the video sequence, wherein the original texture is identified from a single frame included in the video sequence;
• analyzing the removed texture by computing texture parameters that include statistical texture descriptors;
• generating synthesized texture using the texture parameters and qualitative constraints;
• and
• replacing the original texture in the set of frames with the synthesized texture.

A method for replacing original texture in a plurality of frames that are included in a video sequence with synthesized texture, the method comprising:

• selecting a region of interest in an initial frame, wherein the region of interest has color characteristics;
• identifying an original texture in the initial frame using the color characteristics of the region of interest, wherein some of the pixels in the frame that have color characteristics that are similar to the color characteristics of the region of interest are included in the original texture;
• removing the original texture from the frame;
• computing texture parameters from the original texture;
• creating synthesized texture using the texture parameters, wherein the synthesized texture is distinguishable from the original texture;
• and
• inserting the synthesized texture into a set of frames that includes the initial frame.

A computer program product for implementing a method for replacing original texture in a set of frames included in a video sequence with synthesized texture such that a bit rate of the video sequence that includes the synthesized texture is less than a bit rate of the original video sequence, the computer program product comprising:

• a computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method, the method comprising:
• selecting original texture from an initial frame included in the video sequence;
• removing the selected original texture from a set of frames in the video sequence, wherein the set of frames includes the initial frame;
• analyzing the removed texture to compute texture parameters;
• synthesizing new texture using the texture parameters;
• and
• inserting the synthesized texture into the set of frames.