Apparatus and method for image processing in symbolic space

A method for enhancing a partially occluded first visual image comprising the steps of:

• capturing a second visual image as a second digital image;
• decomposing the second digital image into image primitives;
• adding the image primitives of the decomposed second digital image to a knowledge base as grammar primitives;
• capturing a first digital image of the first visual image that is partially occluded;
• decomposing the first digital image to form image primitives of the first digital image;
• comparing the image primitives of the first digital image with the grammar primitives in the knowledge base of the second digital image;
• comparing the image primitives of the first digital image with the grammar primitives to determine differences;
• removing from the first digital image the differences between the first digital image and the second digital image that have a texture consistent with an unwanted occlusion;
• and
• filling in the removed portions of the first digital image with corresponding portions of the second digital image based on the grammar primitives therefor.

An apparatus for processing an image comprising:

• a camera for capturing a visual image in a scope-of-view window;
• a video-to-digital converter coupled to the camera for converting the visual image to a digital image;
• a computer coupled to the video-to-digital converter for receiving the digital image therefrom;
• the computer having memory and software for processing the image, wherein the processing comprises:
• (A) passing a decomposition window through the scope-of-view window with a predetermined search pattern until a portion of the image is detected,
• (B) tracing the portion of the image that has been detected until a change in gradient greater than a first predetermined threshold is reached to define a first segment,
• (C) recording image primitives for the first segment,
• (D) continuing the trace if a segment gradient is being sensed by the decomposition window at the end point of the first segment until a change in gradient greater than the first predetermined threshold is reached to define a next segment,
• (E) recording image primitives for the next segment,
• (F) repeating (D) and (E) until no segment gradient is sensed in the decomposition window;
• (G) masking the recorded segments from the search pattern, and
• (H) continuing to pass the decomposition window through the scope-of-view window until locating another portion of the image and then repeating (B) through (G) or until the end of the search pattern is reached;
• and
• (I) processing the image by processing image primitives.

A method for processing an image comprising the steps of:

• (A) capturing a visual image in a scope-of-view window;
• (B) converting the visual image to a digital image;
• (C) decomposing the digital image into image primitives by:
• (i) passing a decomposition window through the scope-of-view window with a predetermined search pattern until a portion of the image is detected,
• (ii) tracing the portion of the image that has been detected until a change in gradient greater than a first predetermined threshold is reached to define a first segment,
• (iii) recording image primitives for the first segment,
• (iv) continuing the trace if a segment gradient is being sensed by the decomposition window at the end point of the first segment until a change in gradient greater than the first predetermined threshold is reached to define a next segment,
• (v) recording image primitives for the next segment,
• (vi) repeating steps (C)(iv) and (v) until no segment gradient is sensed in the decomposition window;
• (vii) masking the recorded segments from the search pattern, and
• (viii) continuing to pass the decomposition window through the scope-of-view window until locating another portion of the image and then repeating steps (C)(ii) through (vii) until the end of the search pattern is reached;
• and
• (D) processing the image by processing the image primitives.