System for, and method of, processing an image

Abstract

A software development kit prioritizes certain aspects of an acquired image and introduces the prioritized aspects to a main processor. Alternatively, a coprocessor, or the coprocessor and the development kit, manipulate(s) the acquired image and introduce(s) the manipulated image to the processor. The reprogramming of either one of the development kit and the coprocessor may be initiated by either one of them or by the processor and the programming may be provided by the main processor. A central station and a gate array may also be individually reprogrammable by the main processor which sets up, programs and controls an intelligent imaging platform in accordance with the individual reprogrammings. A reprogramming of an audio acquisition stage may also be initiated by that stage and any of the other stages and the processor and may be provided by the processor. The audio information may be related to the acquired image.

1 . An apparatus for processing an image to obtain desired results, comprising:
 an image acquirer for acquiring information concerning the image,   software responsive to the information from the image acquirer and reprogrammable in accordance with the processing desired of the image for providing information concentrating on certain aspects of the image, and   hardware responsive to the information provided by the software for reprogramming the software, the reprogramming being initiated by the hardware or the software on the basis of a decision made by the hardware or the software regarding the acquired image.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an intelligent imaging platform, and   a central station responsive to the information from the software and reprogrammable by the hardware or the software on the basis of a decision made by the hardware or software regarding the acquired image for enhancing the operation of the hardware in controlling the operation of the intelligent imaging platform.   
     
     
         3 . An apparatus for processing an image to obtain desired results, comprising:
 an image acquirer for acquiring information concerning the image,   software responsive to the information from the image acquirer and reprogrammable in accordance with the processing desired of the image for providing information concentrating on certain aspects of the image,   hardware responsive to the information provided by the software for reprogramming the software to provide the information concentrating on certain aspects of the image, and   a coprocessor reprogrammable by any one of the hardware, the software and the coprocessor on the basis of a decision made by the hardware, the software or the coprocessor regarding the acquired image for manipulating the information acquired from the image in accordance with the results desired to be obtained from the acquired image.   
     
     
         4 . An apparatus for processing an image, comprising:
 an image acquirer for acquiring video information concerning the image,   an audio acquirer for acquiring audio information related to the image,   an event generator responsive to the audio information for indicating that a predetermined audio event has occurred,   an event responder responsive to an indication from the event generator for making a decision on a responsive action based upon the indication from the event generator and for providing a notification representing the decision, and   a processor for processing the image in response to the notification from the event responder to obtain the desired results.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein each of the event generator and the event responder is reprogrammable, the reprogramming being initiated by the event generator, the event responder or the processor on the basis of a decision made by any one of the event generator, the event responder, or the processor, regarding the acquired audio information. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 each of the event generator and the event responder is reprogrammable by any of the event generator, the event responder, or the processor in accordance with the results desired to be obtained in the acquired image.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 an intelligent imaging platform,   the image acquirer, the event generator, the event responder, the processor, and the audio acquirer being disposed in the intelligent imaging platform.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a central station for controlling the intelligent imaging platform, and wherein the notification is provided to the central station. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the event generator and event responder are programmed in software. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for processing an image, comprising:
 an image acquirer for acquiring information concerning the image;   a communications network including one or more communications channels for receiving information from an external source;   an event generator responsive to the information from the communications network for indicating that a predetermined event has occurred;   an event responder responsive to an indication from the event generator for making a decision on a responsive action based upon the indication from the event generator; and   a processor for processing the image in response to the notification from the event responder to obtain desired results.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 an intelligent imaging platform,   the image acquirer, the event generator, the event responder, the processor and the communications network being disposed in the intelligent imaging platform.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein each of the event generator and the event responder is reprogrammable, the reprogramming being initiated by the event generator, the event responder or the processor on the basis of a decision made by any one of the event generator, the event responder, or the processor, regarding the information from the communications network. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a central station for controlling the intelligent imaging platform, and wherein the information from the communications network is provided to the central station. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the event generator and event responder are programmed in software. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for processing an image, comprising:
 an image acquirer for acquiring video information concerning the image,   one or more inputs for autonomously receiving real time non-image information,   an event generator responsive to the non-image information for indicating that a predetermined event has occurred,   an event responder responsive to an indication from the event generator for making a decision on a responsive action based upon the indication from the event generator and for providing a notification representing the decision, and   a processor for processing the image in response to the notification from the event responder to obtain the desired results.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein each of the event generator and the event responder is reprogrammable, the reprogramming being initiated by the event generator, the event responder or the processor on the basis of a decision made by any one of the event generator, the event responder, or the processor, regarding the non-image information. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 an intelligent imaging platform,   the image acquirer, the event generator, the event responder, the processor, and the inputs being disposed in the intelligent imaging platform.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a central station for controlling the intelligent imaging platform, and wherein the notification is provided to the central station. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the event generator and event responder are programmed in software. 
     
     
         20 . A method for processing an image, comprising the steps of:
 acquiring information concerning the image;   processing the information in an intelligent imaging platform having one or more reprogrammable stages;   controlling the intelligent imaging platform with a central station; and   automatically reprogramming at least one of the reprogrammable stages while the system is operating. the reprogramming being initiated by the central station based upon a decision made by the central station regarding real time information being gathered autonomously and processed by the central station.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the real time information includes audio and video information. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the real time information is non-image information. 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus for processing an image, comprising:
 an image acquirer for acquiring information concerning the image;   an intelligent imaging platform for processing the information concerning the image, said intelligent imaging platform including one or more reprogrammable stages; and   a central station for providing at least one of the steps of setting up, programming and controlling the intelligent imaging platform;   the reprogramming of the reprogrammable stages being initiated automatically by the central station while the system is operating on the basis of a decision made by the central station regarding real time information being gathered autonomously and processed by the central station.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the real time information is gathered autonomously by one or more sensors. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the real time information is non-image information. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the decision is made by the central station regarding real time information being gathered autonomously from a plurality of sensors. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the sensors are disposed in the intelligent imaging platform. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the sensors are disposed outside the intelligent imaging platform. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the sensors are disposed remotely from the intelligent imaging platform. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the central station is reprogrammable, and the reprogramming of the central station is self-initiated by the central station on the basis of the decision made by the central station regarding the information being processed by the central station. 
     
     
         31 . An apparatus for processing an image, comprising:
 an intelligent imaging platform,   one or more inputs in the intelligent imaging platform for autonomously receiving real time non-image signals from external devices,   one or more reprogrammable stages responsive to signals from the inputs, and   a main processor in the intelligent imaging platform for providing a controlled operation of the intelligent imaging platform in processing the image in accordance with the signals provided by the inputs,   each of the reprogrammable stages being included in the intelligent imaging platform, the reprogramming of the reprogrammable stages being initiated by any of the reprogrammable stages or the main processor while the system is operating on the basis of a decision made by the reprogrammable stage or the main processor regarding the signals from the inputs.