Patent ID: 6591011
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: G06K,G06T

Abstract:
An image processing method comprising:a feature extracting step of extracting feature points of two or more images; a matching step of comparing feature points of one of the two or more images to those of other images for effecting matching; a computing step of performing computations for varying the relative position between said one image and the other image based on the results of said matching step; wherein said matching step detects the largest one of common point sets between a feature point group made up of all feature points on said one image and feature point groups made up of all feature points on said other images; and wherein said matching step includes a distance computing step of computing all of distances of the feature points making up the feature point group of said one image and the feature points making up the feature point groups of the other images; a selecting step of selecting a common distance having the smallest number of the repetitive distances from common distances common to the distances of the feature points making up a feature point group for said one image, as computed by said distance computing step, and to the distances of the feature points making up feature point groups for the other images, similarly as measured by said distance computing step; and a testing step of testing all positions equal in number to twice said smallest number of the repetitive distances; said matching step detecting said largest common point set.