Patent ID: 7202908

Claim:
A method of generating missing pixels to fill in interline gaps in a field of pixels of video information, the method comprising: (a) determining whether pixels surrounding a missing pixel exhibit a predetermined gradient characteristic, and if the surrounding pixels exhibit the predetermined gradient characteristic then storing a first missing pixel gradient value associated with the missing pixel, whereas if the pixels surrounding the missing pixel do not exhibit the predetermined gradient characteristic then storing a second missing pixel gradient value associated with the missing pixel; (b) repeating step (a) for each of a plurality of missing pixels of a block of missing pixels and thereby generating a plurality of missing pixel gradient values; (c) examining the plurality of missing pixel gradient values generated in (a) and (b) and determining whether a first predetermined pattern of missing pixel gradient values exists in the plurality of missing pixels, the first predetermined pattern of missing pixel gradient values being indicative of a first tilt gradient condition; (d) if the first predetermined pattern of missing pixel gradient values is determined to exist in (c) then applying a first tilt spatial interpolation method to generate each of the missing pixels of the block of missing pixels; (e) if the first predetermined pattern of missing pixel gradient value is not determined to exist in (c) then examining the plurality of missing pixel gradient values generated in (a) and (b) and determining whether a second predetermined pattern of missing pixel gradient values exists in the plurality of missing pixels, the second predetermined pattern of missing pixel gradient values being indicative of a second tilt gradient condition; and (f) if the second predetermined pattern of missing pixel gradient values is determined to exist in (e) then applying a second tilt spatial interpolation method to generate each of the missing pixels of the block of missing pixels.