Method and computer system of white point detection

1. A method of white point detection for an image, comprising:

determining a plurality of pixels of the image as a plurality of white point candidates;

estimating a plurality of candidate confidences according to a plurality of brightness values corresponding to the plurality of white point candidates; and

determining a plurality of white points of the image according to the plurality of candidate confidences;

wherein the image includes a plurality of regions, and each of the plurality of regions includes at least one pixel having a largest channel value;

wherein the step of estimating the plurality of candidate confidences according to the plurality of brightness values corresponding to the plurality of white point candidates comprises:

finding a maximal brightness value of the plurality of brightness values nearby each of the plurality of white point candidates; and

converting the maximal brightness value of the white point candidate to the candidate confidence.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of white points has a largest channel value in a range, and the each of the plurality of white points is a center of the range.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the range is a circle or a square, and a size of the range is related to the image.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the center is a centroid or an in-center of the range.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the plurality of white points of the image according to the plurality of candidate confidences comprises:

rejecting candidate confidences corresponding to white point candidates of low confidence from the plurality of candidate confidences; and

determining remaining candidate confidences within the plurality of candidate confidences as the plurality of white points of the image.

6. A computer system capable of performing white point detection in an image, comprising:

a processing device; and

a memory device coupled to the processing device, for storing a program code instructing the processing device to perform a process, wherein the process comprises:

determining a plurality of pixels of the image as a plurality of white point candidates;

estimating a plurality of candidate confidences according to a plurality of brightness values corresponding to the plurality of white point candidates; and

determining a plurality of white points of the image according to the plurality of candidate confidences;

wherein the image includes a plurality of regions, and each of the plurality of regions includes at least one pixel having a largest channel value;

wherein the step of estimating the plurality of candidate confidences according to the plurality of brightness values corresponding to the plurality of white point candidates comprises:

finding a maximal brightness value of the plurality of brightness values nearby each of the plurality of white point candidates; and

converting the maximal brightness value of the white point candidate to the candidate confidence.

7. The computer system of claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of white points has a largest channel value in a range, and the each of the plurality of white points is a center of the range.

8. The computer system of claim 7 , wherein the range is a circle or a square, and a size of the range is related to the image.

9. The computer system of claim 7 , wherein the center is a centroid or an in-center of the range.

10. The computer system of claim 6 , wherein the step of determining the plurality of white points of the image according to the plurality of candidate confidences comprises:

rejecting candidate confidences corresponding to white point candidates of low confidence from the plurality of candidate confidences; and

determining remaining candidate confidences within the plurality of candidate confidences as the plurality of white points of the image.