Average with limited data validity

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In image analysis, the average with limited data validity is an image filter for feature-preserving noise removal, consisting in a smoothing filter that only involves pixels satisfying some validity criterion. If some feature of noise elements is known, it is possible to use it to define a criterion to detect invalid pixels, and selectively smooth only invalid pixels using data coming only from valid pixels, thus avoiding to affect other features of the image. [1]

Possible criteria are: [2]

This approach allows to effectively remove extraneous elements that have different intensity from the rest of the image, with blurring limited to valid parts of the image which share intensity values with the extraneous elements, or portions of edges that were previously covered by such extraneous artefacts.

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