Apparatus and method for generating an overview image of a plurality of images using an accuracy information

A method for generating an overview image of a plurality of images, wherein each image of the plurality of images comprises associated meta-data, the method comprising:

• preprocessing, by an image preprocessor, a new image by assigning the new image to a position in the overview image based on a position information comprised by the meta-data of the new image;
• storing, by a storage unit, a plurality of preprocessed or processed images of the overview image, wherein each preprocessed or processed image of the plurality of preprocessed or processed images comprises an assigned position in the overview image;
• determining, by an image processor, an overlap region of the preprocessed new image and a stored preprocessed or stored processed image within the overview image based on the assigned position of the preprocessed new image and the assigned position of the stored preprocessed or stored processed image;
• processing, by a controllable processing engine, the preprocessed image by re-adjusting the assigned position of the preprocessed new image based on a comparison of features of the overlap region of the preprocessed new image and the stored preprocessed or stored processed image, wherein a maximal re-adjustment of the assigned position of the preprocessed new image is limited based on an accuracy information of the position information;
• adding, by the storage unit, the processed new image with the re-adjusted assigned position to the plurality of preprocessed or processed images;
• and
• providing, by the storage unit, the overview image containing the plurality of preprocessed or processed images at their assigned positions for displaying, wherein
• processing the preprocessed image includes determining feature points of the preprocessed new image comparing the determined feature points of the preprocessed new image with feature points of a stored processed image to identify common feature points and to obtain 3-dimensional positions of the common feature points, determining common feature points located within a predefined maximum distance of relevance to a reference plane based on the 3-dimensional positions of the common feature points to identify relevant common feature points, and re-adjusting the position of the preprocessed new image in the overview image based on a comparison of an image information of each relevant common feature point of the preprocessed new image with an image information of each corresponding relevant common feature point of the stored processed image without considering common feature points located beyond the predefined maximum distance of relevance to the reference plane;
• and
• at least one of the image preprocessor, the storage unit, the image processor, and the controllable processing engine comprises a hardware implementation.

A non-transitory computer readable medium including a computer program with a program code for performing a method, when the computer program runs on a computer or micro controller, for generating an overview image of a plurality of images, wherein each image of the plurality of images comprises associated meta-data, said method comprising:

• preprocessing a new image by assigning the new image to a position in the overview image based on a position information comprised by the meta-data of the new image;
• storing a plurality of preprocessed or processed images of the overview image, wherein each preprocessed or processed image of the plurality of preprocessed or processed images comprises an assigned position in the overview image;
• determining an overlap region of the preprocessed new image and a stored preprocessed or stored processed image within the overview image based on the assigned position of the preprocessed new image and the assigned position of the stored preprocessed or stored processed image;
• processing the preprocessed image by re-adjusting the assigned position of the preprocessed new image based on a comparison of features of the overlap region of the preprocessed new image and the stored preprocessed or stored processed image, wherein a maximal re-adjustment of the assigned position of the preprocessed new image is limited based on an accuracy information of the position information;
• adding the processed new image with the re-adjusted assigned position to the plurality of preprocessed or processed images;
• and
• providing the overview image containing the plurality of preprocessed or processed images at their assigned positions for displaying, wherein
• processing the preprocessed image includes determining feature points of the preprocessed new image comparing the determined feature points of the preprocessed new image with feature points of a stored processed image to identify common feature points and to obtain 3-dimensional positions of the common feature points, determining common feature points located within a predefined maximum distance of relevance to a reference plane based on the 3-dimensional positions of the common feature points to identify relevant common feature points, and re-adjusting the position of the preprocessed new image in the overview image based on a comparison of an image information of each relevant common feature point of the preprocessed new image with an image information of each corresponding relevant common feature point of the stored processed image without considering common feature points located beyond the predefined maximum distance of relevance to the reference plane.