Patent ID: 7643698

Claim:
A machine-implemented method comprising the steps of: generating a first blurred image of an original image; and generating a second blurred image based on the first blurred image; generating a sharpened image based on the original image and a third blurred image; wherein the step of generating the first blurred image comprises: determining a first set of neighbor pixels of a first pixel in the original image, and assigning to a first blurred pixel in the first blurred image a set of one or more values that are based on averaging a set of one or more values associated with said first set of neighbor pixels; wherein the step of generating the second blurred image comprises: determining a second set of neighbor pixels of a particular pixel in the first blurred image, and assigning to a second blurred pixel in the second blurred image a set of one or more values that are based on averaging a second set of one or more values associated with said second set of neighbor pixels; wherein the third blurred image is either the second blurred image or a blurred image that is generated based on the second blurred image; wherein the steps are performed by one or more computing devices.