Fuzzy image segmentation

A digital image processing system for automatically classifying a set of input image signals into a combination of at least three predetermined classes of imagery and producing output image signals in accordance with the classes, the set of input image signals forming part of a video image generated by an image input terminal, comprising:

• a mixing circuit;
• a data buffer for receiving the set of input image signals;
• a classification circuit for characterizing properties of each of the input signals, said classification circuit producing, as a function of the properties of each of the input image signals, a plurality of non-zero probability values, each non-zero probability value representing a likelihood that one of the input image signals of the set of input image signals is a member of a respective one of the at least three predetermined classes of imagery, and transmitting probability signals indicative thereof to said mixing circuit;
• and
• a plurality of image processing circuits receiving the set of input image signals from the data buffer, each of said plurality of image processing circuits being adapted to process the input image signals in accordance with a process identified for one of the at least three predetermined classes of imagery, said mixing circuit combining the signals from at least two of said plurality of image processing circuits in accordance with the probability signals received from said classification circuit to form a single set of output image signals, wherein a subset of the output image signals, representing input image signals from a transition zone where there is no high degree of certainty associated with any of the predetermined classes of imagery, comprise signals processed by the at least two of said plurality of image processing circuits so as to account for gradual shifts between regions of the input image representing the different classes of imagery.