Image Processing Oriented Multiprocessor System with a Multipurpose Video Processor

Abstract

Although pictorial data processing has been considered to be one of the most promising areas of application of parallel and distributed computer systems for some time, the hardware realization of such systems for really serious applications has been quite difficult. The recent advent of LSI and microprocessor technologies, however, allows us to attempt implementing specialized image processing hardware with fairly large parallel processing capabilities with a relatively small effort. Some of the typical proposed or experimental systems have been reviewed by Fu (1978). There is always an increasing need for processing power both in space and time as well as flexible input/output capabilities. One of the main objectives of developing the system presented in this chapter is to ease this situation by taking advantage of current semiconductor device technologies.