Patent ID: 7551754
Filing Date: 2009-06-23
Classification: G06K,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method of disqualifying a stored image as unsatisfactory for further image processing, comprising: (a) acquiring and storing a present image of a scene including a key feature region; (b) extracting information from the stored image during post-acquisition digital image processing; (c) identifying one or more groups of pixels corresponding to the key feature region; (d) determining whether one or more details regarding said key feature region are unsatisfactory; and if so, then (e) rejecting the present image for further post-acquisition digital image processing; (f) wherein the identifying comprises identifying one or more groups of pixels corresponding to the key feature; and the determining comprises determining whether the key feature is significantly blocked, occluded or shadowed; and if so, then the rejecting comprises disqualifying the image as a candidate for further processing, as well as any other temporally proximately captured images that are similarly blocked, occluded or shadowed, (g) wherein the present image comprises a full resolution capture image, and the method further comprises assembling a combination image including pixels from the present image and non-blocked, non-occluded or non-shadowed pixels corresponding to the key feature from a different image; and wherein a processor is used to perform the method.