Patent ID: 6163627
Filing Date: 2000-12-19
Classification: G06T,H04N

Abstract:
A method for encoding a video signal of a contour of an object, comprising the steps of:dividing the contour into a multiplicity of contour segments, and approximating each contour segment by a line segment joining two end points of said each contour segment, thereby determining positions of vertices on the contour;encoding the positions of the vertices on the contour;calculating a set of errors for said each contour segment, wherein the set of errors represents a difference between said each contour segment and the line segment corresponding thereto;coding the set of errors to provide a set of coded errors;estimating an approximation error between said each contour segment and the line segment corresponding thereto;if the approximation error is larger than a threshold value TH, providing the set of coded errors and the set of encoded positions of the vertices on the contour as encoded data for the contour; andif the approximation error is smaller than or equal to the threshold value TH, providing the set of the encoded positions of the vertices on the contour as encoded data for the contour.