FLEXIBLE COMPUTER VISION

Methods and apparatus for image matching using local features, in particular a method and apparatus for flexible interest point computation. The method involves producing multiple octaves of a digital image, wherein each octave of said multiple scale octaves comprises multiple layers; initiating a process comprising detection and description of interest points, wherein said process is programmed to progress layer-by-layer over said multiple layers of each of said multiple octaves, and to continue to a next octave of said multiple octaves upon completion of all layers of a current octave of said multiple octaves; upon the detection and the description of each interest point of said interest points during said process, recording an indication associated with said interest point in a memory, such that said memory accumulates indications during said process; and upon interruption to said process, returning a result being based at least on said indications.