AUTOMATED LAYER EXTRACTION AND PIXEL ASSIGNMENT FROM IMAGE SEQUENCES

Automated layer extraction from 2D images making up a 3D scene, and automated image pixel assignment to layers, to provide for scene modeling, is disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method determines a number of planes, or layers, and assigns pixels to the planes. The method can determine the number of planes by first determining the high-entropy pixels of the images, and then determining a 1-plane through a predetermined n-plane estimation, such as via a robust estimation, and a most likely x-plane estimation, where x is between 1 and n, such as via a Bayesian approach. Furthermore, the method can assign pixels via an iterative EM approach based on classifying criteria.