Monocular vision-based depth map extraction method for 2D to 3D video conversion

Due to the demand of 3D visualization and lack of 3D video content, a method converting the 2D to 3D video plays an important role. In this paper, a low-cost and high efficiency post processing method is presented to enjoy the vivid 3D video. We present two semi-automatic depth map extraction methods for stereo video conversion. For the static background video sequence, we proposed a method which combined the foreground segmentation with vanishing line technology. According to the separated foreground and background results from foreground segmentation algorithm, the viewer can use their acquired visual experience to initiate this operation with some depth information of background. Moreover, we proposed another conversion method for the dynamic background video sequence. Foreground segmentation was replaced by the relative velocity estimation based on the motion estimation and motion compensation. Combining the depth map from this work and the original 2D video, a vivid 3D video is produced.