Apparatus, Method, and Computer Program Product for Generating Interpolated Images

An interpolated image generating method that generates an interpolated image to be inserted between a source image and a destination image, the method comprising:

• estimating a motion vector from the source image to the destination image;
• calculating a motion vector reliability level indicating reliability of the motion vector, a value of the motion vector reliability level being determined in such a manner that the stronger a correlation is between an area in the source image and an area in the destination image that are brought into correspondence with each other by the motion vector, the larger is the value;
• calculating a failure-preventing vector reliability level indicating reliability of a failure-preventing vector that is a predetermined vector used for preventing image failures;
• and
• generating the interpolated image by obtaining a motion compensated image by performing a motion compensating process based on the motion vector, obtaining a failure-preventing image by performing a motion compensating process based on the failure-preventing vector, and by blending the motion compensated image and the failure-preventing image according to a weighted average of the motion compensated image and the failure-preventing image that has been calculated by using a weighting factor based on the motion vector reliability level and the failure-preventing vector reliability level.

A computer program product having a computer readable medium including programmed instructions for generating an interpolated image to be inserted between a source image and a destination image, wherein the instructions, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform:

• estimating a motion vector from the source image to the destination image;
• calculating a motion vector reliability level indicating reliability of the motion vector, a value of the motion vector reliability level being determined in such a manner that the stronger a correlation is between an area in the source image and an area in the destination image that are brought into correspondence with each other by the motion vector, the larger is the value;
• calculating a failure-preventing vector reliability level indicating reliability of a failure-preventing vector that is a predetermined vector used for preventing image failures;
• and
• generating the interpolated image by obtaining a motion compensated image by performing a motion compensating process based on the motion vector, obtaining a failure-preventing image by performing a motion compensating process based on the failure-preventing vector, and by blending the motion compensated image and the failure-preventing image according to a weighted average of the motion compensated image and the failure-preventing image that has been calculated by using a weighting factor based on the motion vector reliability level and the failure-preventing vector reliability level.