Watershed parallel algorithm for asynchronous processors array

A joint algorithm-architecture analysis leads to a new version of picture segmentation system adapted to multimedia mobile terminal constraints. The asynchronous processors network, with a granularity level of one processor per pixel, based on data flow model, takes less than 10 μs to segment a SQCIF $88*72 pixels - image (about 2000 times faster than the classical sequential watershed algorithms). The main originality of the proposed algorithm is only one global synchronization point is needed in order to complete the segmentation transformation, instead of the three (or more) classical points: minima detection, labelization and flooding. Our system tends to cope with multimedia mobile phones constraints, i.e. real time computing circuit, low power. We have simulated and validated this system thanks to "SystemC" library; VHDL synchronous prototyping shows up results accordingly.