Intelligent zoom method and video system implementing same

1. A computer-implemented method for implementing a zoom function associated with a video, the method comprising:

analyzing un-stitched images generated by each of a plurality of imaging sensors for the presence of a face;

determining a region of interest for the zoom function comprising:

dividing the un-stitched images into a plurality of zones;

implementing a mapping function for each of the plurality of zones based on a number of consecutive frames in which the presence of a face was analyzed and a minimum number of frames in which a face was detected;

setting a left edge for the region of interest to coincide with coordinates associated with a face detected in a left most zone of the un-stitched images;

setting a right edge for the region of interest to coincide with coordinates associated with a face detected in a right most zone of the un-stitched images.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising setting scaling parameters based on the region of interest.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said scaling parameters includes a scaling factor, and a coordinate associated with each of the faces detected in the left most zone and the right most zone.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said analyzing of the un-stitched images comprises marking the zones of said un-stitched images as true in cases a face is detected therein, and false otherwise based on the mapping function.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of zones is defined by a rectangular zone.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said coordinates comprise coordinates associated with a bounding box generated by a face detection engine whenever a face is detected in the un-stitched images.

7. A video system, comprising:

a plurality of image signal processors, each associated with an imaging sensor;

an image stitching engine configured to:

analyze un-stitched images generated by each of a plurality of imaging sensors for the presence of a face;

divide the unstitched images into a plurality of zones; and

implement a mapping function for each of the plurality of zones based on a number of consecutive frames in which presence of a face is analyzed and a minimum number of frames in which a face was detected;

a zoom engine configured to:

determine a region of interest, wherein said region of interest includes a left edge and a right edge,

wherein said left edge is set based on coordinates associated with a face detected in a left most zone of the unstitched images, and

wherein said right edge is set based on coordinates associated with a right most face detected in a right most zone of the unstitched images.

8. The video system of claim 7 , further comprising a face detection engine for detecting the left most face and the right most face.

9. The video system of claim 8 , wherein the face detection engine maps the plurality of zones of the unstitched images as true whenever a face is detected therein, and false otherwise based on the mapping function.

10. The video system of claim 8 , wherein said the plurality of zones comprises rectangular zones associated with the unstitched images generated by each of the imaging sensor.

11. The video system of claim 8 , wherein the zoom engine is configured to generate scaling parameters for the region of interest.

12. The video system of claim 11 , wherein said scaling parameters comprises a scale factor for the zoom function.

13. The video system of claim 7 , wherein said face detection engine is implemented in each of the image signal processor.