Accelerated image processing

1. A method of processing image data comprising a plurality of video frames of at least one image, the method comprising:

dividing a block of data into a plurality of sub-blocks, the block of data corresponding to a first one of the video frames of the at least one image, the plurality of sub-blocks respectively including only a portion of the block of data, wherein different ones of the plurality of sub-blocks correspond to different portions of the block of data;

selecting at least one of the sub-blocks according to a predetermined sequence;

identifying a plurality of features of interest only in the at least one selected sub-block;

processing only the at least one selected sub-block to provide information regarding at least one of the features of interest;

selecting a different sub-block from another one of the video frames according to the predetermined sequence;

identifying a plurality of features of interest in the different sub-block;

processing only the different sub-block to provide information regarding at least one of the features of interest from the different sub-block; and

performing the selecting, identifying and processing for a plurality of different sub-blocks from other respective ones of the video frames.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising

selecting the plurality of different sub-blocks in the predetermined sequence until an entire image area has been processed.

3. The method of claim 2 , comprising

repeatedly performing the selecting, identifying and processing according to the predetermined sequence for subsequent pluralities of video frames.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the processing comprises

selecting respective portions of a set of sub-blocks that are adjacent to the selected sub-block; and

including the selected portions with the selected sub-block when processing the at least one selected sub-block.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the processing includes determining whether a position of at least the features of interest in the processed at least one selected sub-block corresponds to a position of a corresponding feature in a reference image; and

the processing provides information regarding a location of a source of the block of data relative to a location represented by the reference image.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein

the reference image corresponds to a map image of the location; and

the source of the block of data comprises a camera associated with a mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the sub-blocks are arranged in a matrix having a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns; and

the preselected sequence is different than a sequential movement across one of the rows or a sequential movement along one of the columns.

8. A device for processing image data comprising a plurality of video frames of at least one image, the device comprising:

a processor that is configured to

divide a block of data into a plurality of sub-blocks, the block of data corresponding to a first one of the video frames of the at least one image, the plurality of sub-blocks respectively including only a portion of the block of data, wherein different ones of the plurality of sub-blocks correspond to different portions of the block of data;

select at least one of the sub-blocks according to a predetermined sequence;

identify a plurality of features of interest only in the selected sub-block;

process only the selected sub-block to provide information regarding at least one of the features of interest;

select a different sub-block from another one of the video frames according to the predetermined sequence;

identify a plurality of features of interest in the different sub-block;

process only the different sub-block to provide information regarding at least one of the features of interest from the different sub-block; and

wherein the processor is configured to use the predetermined sequence to select and process a plurality of different sub-blocks from other respective ones of the video frames.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to

select the plurality of different sub-blocks in the predetermined sequence until an entire image area has been processed.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to

repeatedly perform the selecting, identifying and processing according to the predetermined sequence for subsequent pluralities of video frames.

11. The device of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to

select respective portions of a set of sub-blocks that are adjacent to the selected sub-block; and

include the selected portions with the selected sub-block when processing the selected sub-block.

12. The device of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to

determine whether a position of at least the features of interest in the processed sub-block corresponds to a position of a corresponding feature in a reference image; and

wherein the processing provides information regarding a location of a source of the block of data relative to a location represented by the reference image.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein

the reference image corresponds to a map image of the location; and

the source of the block of data comprises a camera associated with a mobile device.

14. The device of claim 8 , wherein

the sub-blocks are arranged in a matrix having a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns; and

the preselected sequence is different than a sequential movement across one of the rows or a sequential movement along one of the columns.

15. The device of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to

determine whether a sub-block processing mode is appropriate by:

determining whether a number of key points in the at least one image correspond to points in a reference image;

determining if the number exceeds a predetermined threshold; and

using the sub-block processing if the number exceeds the predetermined threshold.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the processor is configured to use a full-image processing mode if the number does not exceed the predetermined threshold.

17. The method of claim 1 , comprising

determining whether a number of key points in the at least one image correspond to points in a reference image;

determining whether the number exceeds a predetermined threshold; and

processing the at last one image using sub-block processing if the number exceeds the predetermined threshold.

18. The method of claim 17 , comprising

processing the at least one image in a full-image mode if the number does not exceed the predetermined threshold.