초록 ▼

A method encodes a contour image of an object expressed in a video signal. First, a centroid for the contour of the object is detected by averaging pixel positions on the contour. A set of primary vertices on the contour are determined based on the centroid. Subsequently, a set of secondary vertices

A method encodes a contour image of an object expressed in a video signal. First, a centroid for the contour of the object is detected by averaging pixel positions on the contour. A set of primary vertices on the contour are determined based on the centroid. Subsequently, a set of secondary vertices on the contour are determined based on the set of primary vertices. The set of primary vertices, the set of secondary vertices and the centroid are encoded to provide a digitally coded contour signal.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [21.] An apparatus for encoding a contour of an object expressed in a video signal, which comprises:means for detecting a centroid for the contour of the object by averaging pixel positions on the contour;means for determining a set of primary vertices on the contour based on

[ What is claimed is:] [21.] An apparatus for encoding a contour of an object expressed in a video signal, which comprises:means for detecting a centroid for the contour of the object by averaging pixel positions on the contour;means for determining a set of primary vertices on the contour based on the centroid, the contour being approximated by connecting each pair of immediate adjacent primary vertices with a straight line;means for encoding the set of primary vertices and the centroid to thereby provide a digitally coded contour signal;means for determining a set of secondary vertices on the contour based on the set of primary vertices; andmeans for encoding the set of secondary vertices, wherein said primary vertex determining means includes:means for drawing M number of radial lines including a reference radial line formed in a predetermined manner, from the centroid, wherein the angle between each pair of immediate adjacent radial lines is (2.pi.M) radian with M being an integer larger than 1;mean for determining the set of primary vertices, each primary vertex representing an intersection point between the contour and a radial line; andmeans for indexing the set of primary vertices starting from the primary vertex for the reference radial line.