A new robust algorithm for video text extraction

We report on the development and implementation of a robust algorithm for extracting text in digitized color video. The algorithm first computes maximum gradient difference to detect potential text line segments from horizontal scan lines of the video. Potential text line segments are then expanded or combined with potential text line segments from adjacent scan lines to form text blocks, which are then subject to filtering and refinement. Color information is then used to more precisely locate text pixels within the detected text blocks. The robustness of the algorithm is demonstrated by using a variety of color images digitized from broadcast television for testing. The algorithm also performs well on images after JPEG compression and decompression, and on images corrupted with different types of noise. (C) 2002 Pattern Recognition Society. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.