Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and providing medium therefor

An apparatus for estimating motion of a motion picture, the motion picture comprising a plurality of images, the apparatus comprising:

• means for estimating from a k-th image and a (k+1)-th image a motion parameter corresponding to each pixel of the k-th image to generate a first-order motion distribution image corresponding to the k-th image, the first-order motion distribution image corresponding to the k-th image represented by the motion parameters corresponding to the pixels of the k-th image;
• means for estimating from at least the (k+1)-th image a motion parameter corresponding to each pixel of the (k+1)-th image to generate a first-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+1)-th image, the first-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+1)-th image represented by the motion parameters corresponding to the pixels of the (k+1)-th image;
• means for updating the first-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+1)-th image to generate a second-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+1)-th image;
• means for predicting, from the image second-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+1)-th image, a third-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+2)-th image;
• and
• means for interpolating the third-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+2)-th image to generate a fourth-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+2)-th image, where k is an integer, and
• wherein the means for updating updates the first-order motion image distribution image corresponding to the (k+1)-th image using a higher than first-order motion distribution image generated from the k-th image.

An apparatus for estimating motion of a motion picture, the motion picture comprising a plurality of images, the apparatus comprising:

• a circuit for estimating from a k-th image and a (k+1)-th image a motion parameter corresponding to each pixel of the k-th image to generate a first-order motion distribution image corresponding to the k-th image, the first-order motion distribution image corresponding to the k-th image represented by the motion parameters corresponding to the pixels of the k-th image;
• a circuit for estimating from at least the (k+1)-th image a motion parameter corresponding to each pixel of the (k+1)-th image to generate a first-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+1)-th image, the first-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+1)-th image represented by the motion parameters corresponding to the pixels of the (k+1)-th image;
• a circuit for updating the first-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+1)-th image to generate a second-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+1)-th image;
• means for predicting, from the image second-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+1)-th image, a third-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+2)-th image;
• and
• a circuit for interpolating the third-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+2)-th image to generate a fourth-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+2)-th image, where k is an integer, and
• wherein the circuit for updating updates the first-order motion image distribution image corresponding to the (k+1)-th image using a higher than first-order motion distribution image generated from the k-th image.

An apparatus for estimating motion of a motion picture, the motion picture comprising a plurality of images, the apparatus comprising:

• a first estimator for estimating from a k-th image and a (k+1)-th image a motion parameter corresponding to each pixel of the k-th image to generate a first-order motion distribution image corresponding to the k-th image, the first-order motion distribution image corresponding to the k-th image represented by the motion parameters corresponding to the pixels of the k-th image;
• a second estimator for estimating from at least the (k+1)-th image a motion parameter corresponding to each pixel of the (k+1)-th image to generate a first-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+1)-th image, the first-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+1)-th image represented by the motion parameters corresponding to the pixels of the (k+1)-th image;
• an updater for updating the first-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+1)-th image to generate a second-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+1)-th image;
• a predictor for predicting, from the image second-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+1)-th image, a third-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+2)-th image;
• and
• an interpolator for interpolating the third-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+2)-th image to generate a fourth-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+2)-th image, where k is an integer, and
• wherein the updater updates the first-order motion image distribution image corresponding to the (k+1)-th image using a higher than first-order motion distribution image generated from the k-th image.

A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for estimating motion of a motion picture, the method steps comprising:

• estimating from a k-th image and a (k+1)-th image a motion parameter corresponding to each pixel of the k-th image to generate a first-order motion distribution image corresponding to the k-th image, the first-order motion distribution image corresponding to the k-th image represented by the motion parameters corresponding to the pixels of the k-th image;
• estimating from at least the (k+1)-th image a motion parameter corresponding to each pixel of the (k+1)-th image to generate a first-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+1)-th image, the first-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+1)-th image represented by the motion parameters corresponding to the pixels of the (k+1)-th image;
• updating the first-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+1)-th image to generate a second-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+1)-th image;
• predicting, from the image second-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+1)-th image, a third-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+2)-th image;
• and
• interpolating the third-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+2)-th image to generate a fourth-order motion distribution image corresponding to the (k+2)-th image, where k is an integer, and
• wherein the step of updating updates the first-order motion image distribution image corresponding to the (k+1)-th image using a higher than first-order motion distribution image generated from the k-th image.