Patent Document ID: 9177381
Application ID: 13330883
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A method for determining a depth estimate for at least one pixel in a reference image, the reference image being one of a plurality of images of a three dimensional scene, the method including: a) providing access to a depth analysis engine comprising a device interface; b) obtaining, by the depth analysis engine, a plurality of images including a reference image representative of a scene via the device interface, wherein each of the plurality of images comprises a different perspective of the scene; c) determining first depth estimates for first pixels in a first resolution of the reference image using a parallax method, the first resolution being a lowest resolution; d) determining, by the depth analysis engine, current depth estimates for current pixels in a current resolution of the reference image by using previous depth estimates for equivalent previous pixels in a previous resolution of the reference image, the previous resolution being lower than the current resolution; and e) deriving, by the depth analysis engine, a refined depth estimate by refining the current depth estimate for at least one current pixel via: i) determining a plurality of candidate depths at least in part using the current depth estimates of the neighboring pixels and not that of the current pixel; ii) determining consistency scores for at least some of the candidate depths, the consistency score being indicative of the similarity of the current pixel with at least one candidate pixel in a first image and a second, different image from the plurality of images; iii) updating the current depth estimate of the current pixel using the consistency scores; and f) configuring a device to initiate an action as a function of the refined current depth estimate.