Range estimation via multidimensional segmentation

A new graph-theoretic algorithm for stereo range estimation, utilizing a Mumford-Shah variational, multidimensional segmentation of a 3D or 4D spatio-(temporal)-parallax space to implicitly solve the stereo correspondence problem, is described. Initial results and comparison with an area correlation range estimation algorithm demonstrate that it is capable of producing very accurate boundary demarcation including alpha coverage information, suggesting its applicability to foreground/background separation and range keying applications.