Microsoft technology licensing, llc (20240119700). CLOUD REMOVAL BY ILLUMINATION NORMALIZATION AND INTERPOLATION WEIGHTED BY CLOUD PROBABILITIES simplified abstract

CLOUD REMOVAL BY ILLUMINATION NORMALIZATION AND INTERPOLATION WEIGHTED BY CLOUD PROBABILITIES

Organization Name

microsoft technology licensing, llc

Inventor(s)

Peder Andreas Olsen of Cortlandt Manor NY (US)

Roberto De Moura Estevao Filho of Rio de Janeiro (BR)

Leonardo de Oliveira Nunes of Rio de Janeiro (BR)

CLOUD REMOVAL BY ILLUMINATION NORMALIZATION AND INTERPOLATION WEIGHTED BY CLOUD PROBABILITIES - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 20240119700 titled 'CLOUD REMOVAL BY ILLUMINATION NORMALIZATION AND INTERPOLATION WEIGHTED BY CLOUD PROBABILITIES

Simplified Explanation

The patent application describes a method for replacing clouds in a satellite image with a prediction of what was occluded by those clouds. This involves interpolating the cloudy portion of the image from a series of satellite images taken over time, some of which are cloud-free in the target image's cloudy portion. The method also removes the effect of illumination on each image before interpolating the cloudy portion, taking into account pixel availability.

• Clouds in satellite images are replaced with predictions of occluded areas.
• Cloudy portions of images are interpolated from a series of satellite images over time.
• Illumination effects are removed before interpolating cloudy areas.
• Pixel availability is considered in removing clouds and illumination effects.

Potential Applications

This technology could be applied in weather forecasting, environmental monitoring, and land cover analysis.

Problems Solved

This technology solves the problem of accurately analyzing satellite images with occluded areas due to clouds.

Benefits

The benefits of this technology include improved image analysis accuracy, better data interpretation, and enhanced decision-making in various fields.

Potential Commercial Applications

Potential commercial applications of this technology include satellite imagery services, agricultural monitoring, and disaster response.

Possible Prior Art

One possible prior art could be the use of image processing techniques to enhance satellite images by removing occluded areas caused by clouds.

How does this technology handle variations in cloud cover density across different images?

The technology uses a combination of cloud-free images and pixel availability measures to accurately interpolate the cloudy areas in satellite images.

What is the impact of different illumination levels on the accuracy of cloud removal and interpolation?

The technology removes the effect of illumination before interpolating the cloudy areas, ensuring accurate predictions of occluded regions in satellite images.

Original Abstract Submitted

clouds in a satellite image are replaced with a prediction of what was occluded by those clouds. the cloudy portion of the image is interpolated from a series of satellite images taken over time, some of which are cloud-free in the target image's cloudy portion. in some configurations, clouds are removed taking into account each pixel's availability—a measure of certainty that a pixel is cloud-free. furthermore, these images may have been taken under different amounts of illumination, making it difficult to determine whether a difference between two images is due to a change in illumination or a change to the location. the effect of illumination on each image is removed before interpolating the cloudy portion of the image. in some configurations, removing the effect of illumination also takes into account pixel availability.