Method, device and computer program product for performing a gamut based white balance of a digital image

1. A method for performing a color gamut based white balancing of a digital image, the method comprises:

generating candidates that have chromaticity value pairs within a chromaticity space in which a black body line is horizontal;

determining at least one filtering parameter based upon a relationship between the candidates and color gamuts that are associated with different illumination conditions; wherein each candidate represents a pixel area;

selecting selected candidates by filtering the candidates; wherein the filtering is responsive to at least one filtering parameter;

calculating at least one white balance compensation parameter in response to pixel information of the selected pixel areas; and

providing a compensated digital image by applying at least one white balance compensated parameter.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the determining is responsive to candidates that have chromaticity value pairs that are located outside a color gamut but in proximity to the color gamut.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the determining is responsive to weights assigned to candidates that have chromaticity values that are located outside a color gamut but are proximate to the color gamut; wherein the weight of a candidate is inversely proportional to a distance between the chromaticity value pair of the candidate and a proximate color gamut.

4. The method according to claim 1 comprising generating one-dimensional representations of color gamuts of different illumination conditions.

5. The method according to claim 1 comprising determining a relationship between candidates and boundaries of one-dimensional representations of color gamuts of different illumination conditions.

6. The method according to claim 1 comprising generating a two-dimensional representations of color gamuts of different illumination conditions that share a horizontal upper boundary and a horizontal lower boundary.

7. The method according to claim 1 comprising determining the relationship between candidates and boundaries of two-dimensional representations of color gamuts of different illumination conditions that share a horizontal upper boundary and a horizontal lower boundary.

8. The method according to claim 1 comprising generating partially overlapping low-complexity two-dimensional representations of color gamuts of different illumination conditions that cover a substantial part of a chromaticity space.

9. The method according to claim 1 comprising determining the relationship between candidates and boundaries of partially overlapping low-complexity two-dimensional representations of color gamuts of different illumination conditions that cover a substantial part of a chromaticity space.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the determining is responsive to a location of outmost chromaticity values.

11. A device having color gamut based white balancing capabilities, the device comprises a processor and a memory unit; wherein the memory unit stores the digital picture; wherein the processor is adapted to:

generate candidates that have chromaticity value pairs within a chromaticity space in which a black body line is horizontal;

determine at least one filtering parameter based upon a relationship between the candidates and color gamuts that are associated with different illumination conditions; wherein each candidate represents a pixel area;

select selected candidates by filtering the candidates; wherein the filtering is responsive to at least one filtering parameter;

calculate at least one white balance compensation parameter in response to pixel information of the selected pixel areas; and

provide a compensated digital image by applying at least one white balance compensated parameter.

12. The system according to claim 11 wherein the processor is adapted to determine at least one filtering parameter in response to candidates that have chromaticity value pairs that are located outside a color gamut but in proximity to the color gamut.

13. The system according to claim 12 wherein the processor is adapted to determine at least one filtering parameter in response to weights assigned to candidates that have chromaticity values that are located outside a color gamut but are proximate to the color gamut; wherein the weight of a candidate is inversely proportional to a distance between the chromaticity value pair of the candidate and a proximate color gamut.

14. The system according to claim 11 wherein the processor is adapted to generate at least one filtering parameter in response to generating one-dimensional representations of color gamuts of different illumination conditions.

15. The system according to claim 11 wherein the processor is adapted to determine a relationship between candidates and boundaries of one-dimensional representations of color gamuts of different illumination conditions.

16. The system according to claim 11 wherein the processor is adapted to generate a two-dimensional representations of color gamuts of different illumination conditions that share a horizontal upper boundary and a horizontal lower boundary.

17. The system according to claim 11 wherein the processor is adapted to determine the relationship between candidates and boundaries of two-dimensional representations of color gamuts of different illumination conditions that share a horizontal upper boundary and a horizontal lower boundary.

18. The system according to claim 11 wherein the processor is adapted to generate partially overlapping low-complexity two-dimensional representations of color gamuts of different illumination conditions that cover a substantial part of a chromaticity space.

19. The system according to claim 11 wherein the processor is adapted to determine the relationship between candidates and boundaries of partially overlapping low-complexity two-dimensional representations of color gamuts of different illumination conditions that cover a substantial part of a chromaticity space.

20. The system according to claim 11 wherein the processor is adapted to determine at least one filtering parameter in response to a location of outmost chromaticity values.

21. A computer program product the comprises a tangible computer readable medium that stores code that once executed by a computer cause the computer to: generate candidates that have chromaticity value pairs within a chromaticity space in which a black body line is horizontal; determine at least one filtering parameter based upon a relationship between the candidates and color gamuts that are associated with different illumination conditions; wherein each candidate represents a pixel area; select selected candidates by filtering the candidates; wherein the filtering is responsive to at least one filtering parameter; calculate at least one white balance compensation parameter in response to pixel information of the selected pixel areas; and provide a compensated digital image by applying at least one white balance compensated parameter.