Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for reducing the image acquisition time in a digital imaging device by processing segments of the image through an image processing pipeline and storing the processed image segments. Processing segments of the image allows the digital imaging device to write processed data segments to a storage medium while other image segments are being processed. Any portion of the image processing pipeline may be divided to perform parallel processing on the image segments to increase processing speed.

Abstract: Computerized method for studying alterations in the location of an object, said method comprising the steps of computing successive shapes by means of a dynamic contour model algorithm, whereby the dynamic contour model algorithm develops successive shapes and determines a correlation between two successive shapes and for stopping the reiteration of the algorithm when said determined correlation is lower than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method for removing noise regions in a stereo 3D image, which includes a first eye image and a second eye image is achieved by calculating a maximum offset value and turning a horizontal synchronization signal and a display enable signal of the CRT timing parameters.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, an input image is synthesized with a stored image supplied from a storage unit and having been shifted so that the positions of the pixels in the image areas of the input image and of the stored image, associated with a telop, will coincide. The level distribution of the pixel values of the input image is maintained in the telop.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for embedding information in a host signal based on the positioning of watermarks within the host signal. An embedder provides (i.e. embeds) a plurality of watermarks in the host signal. A processor associated with the embedder is provided for determining a relative position for embedding of at least two of the plurality of watermarks within the host signal such that the relative position of the watermarks represents the embedded information. The present invention also includes corresponding methods and apparatus for extracting the embedded information from the host signal based on the detected relative positions of the watermarks within the host signal, as well as computer readable medium containing the host signal which carries the embedded information.

Abstract: There is disclosed a digital information system which has a digital contents protection function using WM information. The system uses the WM information during a first ripping processing to execute a first verification processing for verifying validity regarding use of contents. In this case, ID information of music contents as a ripping object is registered. The system uses the ID information to execute a second verification processing for verifying the validity regarding the use of the contents without executing the first verification processing using the WM information during the ripping processing of the music contents corresponding to the registered ID information.

Abstract: A method is developed for automatic analysis of the reliability of an automatic registration of perfusion cardiovascular MR images. A parameter, for example, a similarity measure between the successive images, is calculated first in order to quantify the success of the registration process between these images for the data set. A criterion is then introduced, for example a threshold is imposed on the similarity measure. The successively registered images that have a calculated similarity measure that exceeds the defined threshold are automatically accepted for further analysis.

Abstract: Processes and apparatus for improving the state of the art for watermarking and data protection. The disclosure includes feature-based watermarks, auto- and cross-correlation techniques for determining scaling and rotation, transitions in time based watermarking, autocorrelation watermarks for images, and dynamic content scrambling of static files.

Abstract: Collation can be carried out at a high speed without reducing the accuracy thereof, whereby processing of identifying documents is accurately performed at a high speed. To this end, characteristic data of a predetermined pattern is registered in advance. Characteristic data in a first area greater than an area of the predetermined pattern registered in advance in an image to be identified is compared and collated with characteristic data of the predetermined pattern. A second area smaller than the first area is cut out from the first area based on the result of comparison, so that characteristic data of an image in the second area is compared and collated with the characteristic data of the predetermined pattern, thus making it possible to identify the predetermined pattern contained in the image based on the result of comparison.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a curve fit on a plurality of data points. In an initial phase, a subset Pmax of the plurality of points which represents an optimal curve is determined. This phase is based on a statistical model which dictates that after trying at most Nmin random curves, each connecting a randomly selected two or more points from the input set, one of the curves will pass within a specified radius of the subset Pmax of the input points. The subset Pmax may then be used in the second phase of the method, where a refined curve fit is made by iteratively culling outliers from the subset Pmax with respect to a succession of optimal curves fit to the modified subset Pmax at each iteration. The refined curve fit generates a refined curve, which may be output along with a final culled subset Kfinal of Pmax.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for processing data in which inputs of a plurality of records including respective entries in a first field and in a second field are received. At least some of the records are processed so as to find a relation between the entries in the first and second fields in the at least some of the records. One of the records comprising first and second entries in the first and second fields respectively is selected. Thereafter, the first and second entries are compared to the relation in order to verify the first and second entries.

Abstract: A character recognition system and method implement a classification system according to which each character of a set of characters is identifiable at least partially on the basis of a set of character feature types indicative of the identity of the character, the set of character feature types including (i) bars; (ii) lakes and (iii) bays. A character image is algorithmically scanned in each direction of a predetermined set of scan directions in order to extract data relating to bars, lakes and/or bays. A feature vector is assembled based on the algorithmically extracted data and rendered accessible to character recognition apparatus. The character recognition apparatus is adapted to recognize a character corresponding to an assembled feature vector at least partially on the basis of the quantity of each of (i) bars; (ii) lakes and (iii) bays indicated in the feature vector and to provide an output identifying the recognized character.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for identifying differences between a stored pattern and a matching image subset, where variations in pattern position, orientation, and size do not give rise to false differences. The invention is also a system for analyzing an object image with respect to a model pattern so as to detect flaws in the object image. The system includes extracting pattern features from the model pattern; generating a vector-valued function using the pattern features to provide a pattern field; extracting image features from the object image; evaluating each image feature, using the pattern field and an n-dimensional transformation that associates image features with pattern features, so as to determine at least one associated feature characteristic; and using at least one feature characteristic to identify at least one flaw in the object image. The invention can find at least two distinct kinds of flaws: missing features, and extra features.

Abstract: The orientation of a camera associated with a first image is determined based on a shape of a perimeter of a corrected version of the first image. The corrected version of the first image has less perspective distortion relative to a reference image than the first image. The shape of the perimeter of the corrected version of the first image is also different from the shape of the perimeter of the first image. The first image is then projected onto a surface based on the orientation of the camera.

Abstract: The image information processing system includes a radiation image generating device for generating a radiation image, an image information processing device having a function of inputting patient information, a function of receiving the radiation image and a function of performing predetermined image processing on the received radiation image, an external memory device for temporarily storing at least one of the radiation image and the processed radiation image in relation to the patient information and an image display device for displaying at least one of the radiation image and the processed radiation image. The image information processing device has a function for making a copy of capture items which include at least the patient information and capture information relevant to the radiation image when there is an indication that the radiation image is a damaged picture.

Abstract: A method of enhancing a source image for analysis. The method comprises the steps of digitizing the source image to obtain pixel data comprising location data and density data, generating a three-dimensional model of the pixel data with the location data represented in first and second axes and the density data represented in a third axis, and analyzing the three-dimensional model to determine features of the source image.

Abstract: A system and method for object-order reformatting of a volume having data slices includes a coordinate transformation unit for transforming coordinates of an oblique surface through the volume from image-order to object-order, an object-order slice traversal unit for traversing the slices in accordance with the object-order of the transformed coordinates, and a slice-pair interpolation unit for interpolating voxel values of a pair of adjacent slices to render pixel values for an image of the oblique plane.

Abstract: A method and system for enhancing the resolution of an image sensing device, including the steps of attaching a mask to a panel of detectors in an image sensing device, generating multiple fields of view, related to one another by sub-pixel shifts, acquiring multiple images with the image sensing device from the multiple fields of view, and combining the multiple images into an enhanced image of higher pixel resolution than the pixel resolutions of the multiple images.

Abstract: Systems and methods that accurately detect and locate an edge or boundary position based on a number of different characteristics of the image, such as texture, intensity, color, etc. A user can invoke a boundary detection tool to perform, for example, a texture-based edge-finding operation, possibly along with a conventional intensity gradient edge-locating operation. The boundary detection tool defines a primary region of interest that will include an edge or boundary to be located within a captured image of an object. The boundary detection tool is useable to locate edges in a current object, and to quickly and robustly locate corresponding edges of similar objects in the future.

Abstract: The invention performs handwriting recognition using mixtures of Bayesian networks. A mixture of Bayesian networks (MBN) consists of plural hypothesis-specific Bayesian networks (HSBNs) having possibly hidden and observed variables. A common external hidden variable is associated with the MBN, but is not included in any of the HSBNs. Each HSBN models the world under the hypothesis that the common external hidden variable is in a corresponding one of its states. The MBNs encode the probabilities of observing the sets of visual observations corresponding to a handwritten character. Each of the HSBNs encodes the probabilities of observing the sets of visual observations corresponding to a handwritten character and given a hidden common variable being in a particular state.