Abstract
A constrained disparity estimation method is proposed which uses a directional regularization technique to efficiently preserve edges for stereo image coding. The proposed method smoothes disparity vectors in smooth regions and preserves edges in object boundaries well, without creating an oversmoothing problem. The differential pulse code modulation (DPCM) technique for disparity map coding is used prior to entropy coding, in order to improve the overall coding efficiency. The proposed disparity estimation method can also be applied to intermediate view reconstruction. Intermediate views between a left image and a right image provide reality and natural motion parallax to multiviewers. Intermediate views are synthesized by appropriately exploiting an interpolation or an extrapolation technique according to the characteristics of each region after identifying the regions as occluded regions, normal regions, and regions having ambiguous disparities.
The experimental results show that the proposed disparity estimation method gives close matches between a left image and a right image and improves coding efficiency. In addition, we can subjectively confirm that the application of our proposed intermediate view reconstruction method leads to satisfactory intermediate views from a stereo image pair.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
O. K. Al-Shaykh, E. Miloslavsky, T. Nomura, R. Neff and A. Zakhar, Video compression using matching pursuits,IEEE Trans. Circuits and Systems Video Technol. 9(1), 123–143, February 1999.
M. C. Chen and A. N. Willson, Rate-distortion optimal motion estimation algorithms for motion-compensated transform video coding,IEEE Trans. Circuits and Systems Video Technol., 8(2), 147–158, April 1998.
H. Fan and K. N. Ngan, Disparity map coding based on adaptive triangular surface modelling,Signal Process. Image Comm., 14, 119–130, 1998.
N. Grammalidis and M. G. Strintzis, Disparity and occlusion estimation in multiocular systems and their coding for the communication of multiview image sequences,IEEE Trans. Circuits and Systems Video Technol., 8(3), 329–343, June 1998.
M. E. Izquierdo, Stereo image analysis for multi-viewpoint telepresence applications,Signal Process. Image Comm., 11, 231–254, 1998.
M.-H. Kim, K. Sohn, and S.-H. Park, Intermediate view reconstruction using interpolation and extrapolation techniques in stereoscopic imaging system,Proc. 3-D Image Conference 99, 187–192, June 1999.
A. Mancini, Disparity estimation and intermediate view reconstruction for noble applications in stereoscopic video, Masters thesis, McGill. University, February 1998.
J. S. McVeigh, M. W. Siegel, and A. G. Jordan, Intermediate view synthesis considering occluded and ambiguously referenced image regions,Signal Process. Image Comm., 9(1), 21–28, November 1996.
S. Okubo, K. McCann, and A. Lippman, MPEG-2 requirements, profiles and performance verification-framework for developing a generic video coding standard,Signal Process. Image Comm., 7, 201–209, 1995.
M. G. Perkins, Data compression of stereopairs,IEEE Trans. Comm., 40(4), 684–696, April 1992.
Puri, R. V. Kollarits and B. G. Haskell, Basics of stereoscopic video, new compression results with MPEG-2 and a proposal for MPEG-4,Signal Process. Image Comm., 10, 201–234, 1997.
P. Skerjanc and J. Liu, A three camera approach for calculating disparity and synthesizing intermediate pictures,Signal Process. Image Comm., 4, 55–64, 1991.
D. Tzovaras, M. G. Strintzis, and H. Sahinoglou, Evaluation of multiresolution block matching technique for motion and disparity estimation,Signal Process. Image Comm., 6(1), 59–67, March 1994.
D. Tzovaras and M. G. Strintzis, Motion and disparity field estimation using rate-distortion optimization,IEEE Trans. Circuits and Systems Video Technol., 8(2), 171–180, April 1998.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work was supported by the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) under Grant No. 99HI-054.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kim, SS., Son, JY., Huh, Y. et al. Edge-preserving disparity estimation and disparity-compensated intermediate view reconstruction for stereo images. Circuits Systems and Signal Process 20, 185–207 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01201138
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01201138