Patent ID: 7342963

Claim:
Method for constructing at least one interpolated image between a preceding image and a following image in a moving sequence of images, said images comprising at least two objects, wherein the method comprises the steps of: detecting, in said preceding image and/or in said following image, at least one zone, called occlusion zone, corresponding to a zone where a first of said objects is at least partially overlapped by a second of said objects, and providing for a corresponding occlusion information defining said occlusion zone; determining an approximate preceding image, respectively an approximate following image, in view of said occlusion information, by removing in said preceding image, respectively said following image, at least one region corresponding to one of said at least one occlusion zone; applying motion estimation to the objects of said approximate preceding image and/or said approximate following image, to provide said at least one intermediate image, wherein each of said images is associated to a mesh and wherein said motion estimation is applied to said mesh, said motion estimation comprising the steps of: excluding, for each occlusion zone in said preceding image or said following image respectively, a region of said mesh encompassing at least one mesh point corresponding to said occlusion zone, called an encompassing region, so as to obtain an approximate preceding image, or an approximate following image respectively; determining motion vectors, called forward motion vectors or backward motion vectors respectively, using forward estimation or backward estimation respectively, enabling determination of said approximate following image or preceding image respectively, from said approximate preceding image or following image respectively; constructing an intermediate image from said approximate preceding image, or approximate following image respectively, and said forward motion vectors or backward motion vectors respectively.