Method of capturing, processing, and rendering images

A computer-implemented method for capturing and processing a series of images, comprising:

• capturing a first image frame incorporating a surface having a plurality of markers varying in texture or color using a plurality of cameras to obtain a plurality of image representations;
• designating a plurality of alignment tracking points obtained from the plurality of markers using one of the plurality of image representations;
• and
• utilizing the plurality of alignment tracking points in a first image frame to locate a position of a first marker in a second, succeeding image frame, the first marker reused in the second, succeeding image frame if located, wherein if the first marker is not located:
• searching a defined region surrounding the position of the first marker for a second marker matching the first marker in texture or color, the second marker used in the second, succeeding image frame if located within the defined region, and, if the second marker is not located within the defined region:
• interpolating a best guess position of the first marker by processing translation information of a third marker geometrically interconnected to the first marker.

A computer program product:

• including a non-transitory computer usable medium including a computer usable program code for capturing and processing a series of images, the computer program product comprising;
• computer usable program code for capturing a first image incorporating a surface having a plurality of markers varying in texture or color to obtain an image representation;
• computer usable program code for designating a plurality of alignment tracking points obtained from the plurality of markers;
• and
• computer usable program code for utilizing the plurality of alignment tracking points in a first image frame to locate a position of a first marker in a second, succeeding image frame, the first marker reused in the second, succeeding image frame if located, wherein if the first marker is not located:
• computer usable program code for searching a defined region surrounding the position of the first marker for a second marker matching the first marker in texture or color, the second marker used in the second, succeeding image if located within the defined region, and, if the second marker is not located within the defined region:
• computer usable program code for interpolating a best guess position of the first marker by processing translation information of a third marker geometrically interconnected to the first marker.

A computer system for capturing and processing a series of images, comprising:

• a memory device;
• and
• a processing device electrically connected to the memory device, wherein the processing device:
• captures a first image incorporating a surface having a plurality of markers varying in texture or color, generating an image representation stored on the memory device,
• designates a plurality of alignment tracking points obtained from the plurality of markers, and
• utilizes the plurality of alignment tracking points in a first image frame to locate a position of a first marker in a second, succeeding image frame, the first marker reused in the second, succeeding image frame if located, wherein if the first marker is not located, the processing device:
• searches a defined region surrounding the position of the first marker for a second marker matching the first marker in texture or color, the second marker used in the second, succeeding image if located within the defined region, and, if the second marker is not located within the defined region, the processing device:
• interpolates a best guess position of the first marker by processing translation information of a third marker geometrically interconnected to the first marker.