System and method for mapping colors of a color calibrated image or video

1 . A method comprising the steps of:

color calibrating a video, wherein the color calibrating step comprises:

capturing a video of a subject on a recording device, wherein the captured video comprises a sequence of frames, wherein each respective frame of the sequence of frames comprises a still image, wherein one or more of the frames of the sequence of frames includes a calibration slate appearing in the still image of the one or more frames, wherein the calibration slate has a print run number and a color chart comprising at least one color, wherein the print run number identifies a batch of printed calibration slates which includes the calibration slate appearing in the still image of the one or more frames,

measuring a numeric color value from the at least one color of the color chart of the calibration slate appearing in the still image of the one or more frames,

reading the print run number,

associating the print run number with the batch of printed calibration slates which includes the calibration slate appearing in the still image of the one or more frames, wherein each printed calibration slate in the batch of printed calibration slates is substantially similar, wherein the measured numeric color value from the at least one color of the color chart has a corresponding known numeric color value associated with the batch of printed calibration slates,

comparing the measured numeric color value of the at least one color of the color chart to the corresponding known numeric color value associated with the batch of printed calibration slates,

calculating a variance between the measured numeric color value of the at least one color of the color chart and the corresponding known numeric color value associated with the batch of printed calibration slates,

calculating a calibration factor based on the variance between the measured numeric color value of the at least one color of the color chart and the corresponding known numeric color value associated with the batch of printed calibration slates, and

color calibrating the captured video by adjusting one or more captured colors of the still image of each respective frame of the sequence of frames to produce a color calibrated video in which the still image of each respective frame of the sequence of frames has one or more calibrated colors, wherein the one or more captured colors of the still image of each respective frame of the sequence of frames are adjusted by applying the calibration factor to a numeric color value measured from the still image of each respective frame of the sequence of frames;

after color calibrating the captured video, selecting a target color having a known numeric color value associated with the target color;

selecting a color value tolerance relating to the known numeric color value associated with the target color;

measuring a numeric color value of the one or more calibrated colors of the still image of each respective frame of the sequence of frames of the color calibrated video;

comparing the measured numeric color value of the one or more calibrated colors to the known numeric color value associated with the target color;

determining whether the measured numeric color value of the one or more calibrated colors is within the color value tolerance of the known numeric color value associated with the target color; and

mapping an area of the still image of each respective frame of the sequence of frames of the color calibrated video in which the one or more calibrated colors are within the color value tolerance of the known numeric color value associated with the target color.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

selecting a second target color having a known numeric color value associated with the second target color;

selecting a second color value tolerance relating to the known numeric color value associated with the second target color;

comparing the measured numeric color value of the one or more calibrated colors to the known numeric color value associated with the second target color;

determining whether the measured numeric color value of the one or more calibrated colors is within the second color value tolerance of the known numeric color value associated with the second target color; and

mapping a second area of the still image of each respective frame of the sequence of frames of the color calibrated video in which the one or more calibrated colors are within the second color value tolerance of the known numeric color value associated with the second target color.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising the step of calculating a percentage of each area of the still image of each respective frame of the sequence of frames of the color calibrated video based on a total area that includes each area.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of measuring a numeric color value of the one or more calibrated colors of the still image of each respective frame of the sequence of frames of the color calibrated video comprises measuring the numeric color value of the one or more calibrated colors within a plurality of discrete image units of the still image of each respective frame of the sequence of frames of the color calibrated video.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein each of the image units comprises one or more pixels.

6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the step of mapping an area of the still image of each respective frame of the sequence of frames of the color calibrated video comprises grouping image units of the plurality of image units that are within the color value tolerance and visually delineating the area that includes the grouped image units on the still image of each respective frame of the sequence of frames of the color calibrated video.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining a size measurement of the area based on known measurements of one or more objects printed on the calibration slate appearing in the still image of the one or more frames of the sequence of frames.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the color calibrated video is a video related to the medical field, wherein the target color is selected based on a tissue color of tissue appearing in the color calibrated video.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of associating the calibration slate appearing in the still image of the one or more frames of the sequence of frames with a patient based on patient identification information.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the calibration slate also has a unique identifier that individually identifies the calibration slate appearing in the still image of the one or more frames of the sequence of frames, wherein the method further comprises the steps of reading the unique identifier and validating the calibration slate based on the unique identifier.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the unique identifier is in the form of a machine-readable bar code.

12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of embedding a hash code within a file containing data related to the color calibrated video, wherein the hash code is designed to change automatically if the data is altered.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the color calibrated video includes a graphically displayed icon that visually indicates that the hash code has not changed.

14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of certifying the color calibrated video by embedding a unique certification number within the color calibrated video.

15 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of graphically displaying a second color chart within the color calibrated video, wherein the second color chart comprises a set of colors having known numeric color values, wherein each color in the set of colors of the second color chart is substantially similar to a respective corresponding color associated with the batch of calibration slates.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the calibration slate appearing in the still image of the one or more frames of the sequence of frames further includes a focus chart comprising concentrically arranged shapes, wherein the focus chart is configured such that it can be used for grading the focus of the still image of each respective frame of the sequence of frames, wherein the method further comprises the step of focusing the still image of the one or more frames of the sequence of frames using the focus chart before capturing the captured video.

17 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of displaying a watermark within the color calibrated video, wherein the watermark is configured to indicate that the color calibrated video has been color calibrated.