Method and apparatus for mosaic image construction

A method according to claim 81, wherein the multiresolution alignment techniques include the steps of:

• defining respective pyramid representations of overlapping portions of the aligned mosaic image;
• processing image data in the overlap region using respective pyramid levels which are at a level that is higher than a predetermined pyramid level in pyramid representation to provide an initial transformation;
• transforming the mosaic according to the initial transformation;
• generating pyramid representations of sub-mosaic images representing respective portions of the overlap regions;
• processing image data of the sub-mosaic images using the pyramid levels to provide a refined transformation.

A computer implemented method of aligning a plurality of source images comprising the steps of:

• a) analyzing the source images to select ones of the source images to align and to form an initial alignment of the source images;
• b) analyzing the selected source images to establish a coordinate system for the image mosaic;
• c) aligning ones of the selected source images to the coordinate system including the steps of:
• calculating an error function which includes alignment errors for all of the selected source images with respect to the coordinate system;
• and
• warping ones of the selected source images to reduce the error function.

A system for constructing an image mosaic comprising:

• means for receiving a plurality of source images;
• selecting means for analyzing the received source images to select ones of the source images to use in the image mosaic and to form an initial alignment of the source images;
• referencing means for analyzing the selected source images to establish a coordinate system for the image mosaic;
• aligning means for aligning ones of the selected source images to the coordinate system including:
• means for calculating an error function which includes alignment errors for all of the selected source images with respect to the coordinate system;
• and
• means for warping ones of the selected source images to reduce the error function;
• and
• means for merging the aligned images to form the image mosaic.

A system for aligning a plurality of source images comprising:

• a) selection means for analyzing the source images to select ones of the source images to align and to form an initial alignment of the source images;
• b) reference means for analyzing the selected source images to establish a coordinate system for the image mosaic;
• c) aligning means for aligning ones of the selected source images to the coordinate system including
• means for calculating an error function which includes alignment errors for all of the selected source images with respect to the coordinate system;
• and
• means for warping ones of the selected source images to reduce the error function.

A computer readable medium containing a program which causes a computer to generate an image mosaic of aligned source images, the program causing the computer to perform the steps of:

• a) analyzing the source images to select ones of the source images to align and to form an initial alignment of the source images;
• b) analyzing the selected source images to establish a coordinate system for the image mosaic;
• c) aligning ones of the selected source images to the coordinate system including the steps of:
• calculating an error function which includes alignment errors for all of the selected source images with respect to the coordinate system;
• and
• warping ones of the selected source images to reduce the error function.