Patent ID: 8331737

Claim:
A heterogeneous image processing system, comprising: an image co-processor comprising a plurality of distinct multi-core processors (MCPs), the image co-processor being configured to: receive a plurality of images collectively and substantially simultaneously recorded by a plurality of image recordation mechanisms, each image recordation mechanism providing at least one of the plurality of images for acquisition by one of a plurality of image grabbers; distribute distinct portions of the plurality of images from each of the image grabbers across the plurality of MCPs, wherein the distinct portions are different views of an object recorded at substantially a same time by at least two of the plurality of image recordation mechanisms; and collectively and substantially simultaneously process the distinct portions of the plurality of images at the plurality of MCPs to determine associated image data; and receive a selective off-load of at least one library function at a run time, wherein the at least one library function is written for the plurality of MCPs, wherein the at least one library function supports the processing of the distinct portions of the plurality of images, and wherein the at least one library function is one of a plurality of algorithms, an optimization for a processor architecture, and a wrapper for a scripting language.