Image enhancement

1. A computer-implemented method of enhancing a video image, comprising:

extracting a sequence of video frames;

upsampling each of the video frames;

interpolating the upsampled video frames;

detecting at least one region of interest in the video frames;

aligning the interpolated video frames using the detected at least one region of interest in the video frames; and

creating a single image from the aligned video frames.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said upsample step is by a factor of 4.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said align step comprises aligning the video images in an x direction and a y direction in a center portion of interest in each video frame.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising extracting the sequence of video frames at 30 frames/sec.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sequence of video frames includes 5 video frames.

6. The method of claim 1 , comprising correlating the upsampled video images.

7. The method of claim 6 , comprising averaging a pixel intensity from each of the upsampled video frames.

8. The method of claim 1 , comprising compensating for platform movement and rotation zoom.

9. The method of claim 1 , comprising identifying commonality from one individual frame to the next and overlapping the individual frames and displaying an image representing a continuous area.

10. The method of claim 9 , comprising extracting the sequence of video frames at 30 frames/sec.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the sequence of video frames includes 5 video frames.

12. The method of claim 11 , comprising correlating the upsampled video images.

13. The method of claim 12 , comprising averaging a pixel intensity from each of the upsampled video frames.

14. The method of claim 13 , comprising compensating for platform movement and rotation zoom.

15. The method of claim 14 , comprising identifying commonality from one individual frame to the next and overlapping the individual frames and displaying an image representing a continuous area.

16. The method of claim 15 , comprising extracting the sequence of video frames at 30 frames/sec.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein said comparing step includes comparing pixel values within detected regions of interest; and

wherein said setting step includes setting said frame-to-frame distance offset based on said compared pixel values.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting step includes counting the number of on pixels within a region of interest and comparing the number to a preset threshold value to determine a region of interest.

19. A computer architecture, comprising:

extracting means for extracting a sequence of video frames;

upsampling means for upsampling each of the video frames;

interpolating means for interpolating the upsampled video frames;

detecting at least one region of interest in the video frames;

aligning the interpolated video frames using the detected at least one region of interest in the video frames; and

creating means for creating a single image from the aligned video frames.

20. An article, comprising:

at least one sequence of machine executable instructions;

a medium bearing the executable instructions in machine form, wherein execution of the instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to:

extract a sequence of video frames;

upsample each of the video frames;

interpolate the upsampled video frames;

detect at least one region of interest in the video frames;

align the interpolated video frames using the detected at least one region of interest in the video frames; and

create a single image from the aligned video frames.

21. A computer system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to said processor, the memory having stored therein sequences of instructions, which, when executed by said processor, causes said processor to perform the steps of:

extract a sequence of video frames;

upsample each of the video frames;

interpolate the upsampled video frames;

detect at least one region of interest in the video frames;

align the interpolated video frames using the detected at least one region of interest in the video frames; and

create a single image from the aligned video frames.