SCENE SEGMENTATION USING A COMBINED CRITERION OF MOTION AND INTENSITY

An image segmentation algorithm for segmentation-based video sequence coding is presented. The method uses a new criterion based on similari ties in both motion and brightness. Brightness and motion information are incorporated in a single segmentation procedure. The actual segmen tation is accomplished using a region-growing technique based on the w atershed algorithm. It comprises the processes of extracting the initi al regions called seeds and their growing by merging similar neighbori ng pixels. In addition, a tracking technique is used in subsequent fra mes to achieve a coherent segmentation through time. Simulation result s show that the proposed method is effective in determining object bou ndaries not easily found using the static criterion alone. (C) 1997 So ciety ni Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.