Reassembling and repairing torn image pieces

摘要

Assembling pieces of an image 200, comprising: scanning a plurality of image sections 202-1 – 202-4; generating a mask (Fig. 3, 302-1 – 302-4) for each image section, describing the respective shape; determining first matching image sections, based on respective shapes of image section masks (Fig. 4); determining second matching image sections, based on the feature content of the image sections (Fig. 5); determining if the first match is unique: if it is unique, reassembling the image sections into composite image(s) using the first matching image sections; if it is not unique, reassembling the image sections into composite image(s) using the first and second matching image sections. Some independent claims directed towards reassembling a single fragmented image, some towards multiple fragmented images. Some independent claims directed towards the pieces being ‘torn’. Some independent claims directed towards compensating reassembled images with material which is absent (Fig. 6). Some independent claims directed towards assigning image sections to one of a plurality of composite images, based upon the first and second matches.