Rim-Wise Function Estimation

A device for analysing an image composed of pixels by estimating a continuous function of a selected pixel attribute, the continuous function being centred on a selected pixel position, the device being configured to perform the steps of:

• determining a series of nested sets of pixels, each set being centred on a common pixel;
• estimating a discrete weighting for each set of pixels in accordance with the continuous function;
• mapping the sets of pixels onto pixels of the image with the common pixel mapped on to the selected pixel position;
• for each set of pixels, forming a combined value in dependence on the values of the selected pixel attribute for the pixels of the set in the image;
• and
• estimating the function as a sum of the combined values for each set weighted by the respective discrete weighting.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon computer readable instructions that, when executed at a computer system, cause the computer system to perform a method for analysing an image composed of pixels by estimating a continuous function of a selected pixel attribute, the continuous function being centred on a selected pixel position, the method comprising:

• determining a series of nested sets of pixels, each set being centred on a common pixel;
• estimating a discrete weighting for each set of pixels in accordance with the continuous function;
• mapping the sets of pixels onto pixels of the image with the common pixel mapped on to the selected pixel position;
• for each set of pixels, forming a combined value in dependence on the values of the selected pixel attribute for the pixels of the set in the image;
• and
• estimating the function as a sum of the combined values for each set weighted by the respective discrete weighting.