Abstract: A state estimation apparatus includes an image obtaining unit that obtains a captured image from an imaging device placed to capture an image of a target person to be at a predetermined position, a first analysis unit that analyzes a facial behavior of the target person based on the captured image and obtains first information about the facial behavior of the target person, a second analysis unit that analyzes body movement of the target person based on the captured image and obtains second information about the body movement of the target person, and an estimation unit that estimates a state of the target person based on the first information and the second information.

Abstract: An automated driving assistance apparatus assists automated driving control of a passenger car, and includes a driver monitoring unit and a manual driving recovery level setting unit. The driver monitoring unit monitors the state of the driver that is driving the passenger car. The manual driving recovery level setting unit sets, in a stepwise manner, a level indicating whether or not a switch can be made from automated driving to manual driving in a predetermined switching zone, based on the state of the driver detected by the driver monitoring unit.

Abstract: A character recognition device comprising: a storage means storing a plurality of dictionary databases corresponding to each of a plurality of degradation levels, said databases being generated from images wherein an original character image has been degraded using a plurality of different degradation levels; an image input means that receives input of images; an extraction means that extracts character images from said images; a usage order determination means that determines an usage order for dictionary databases on the basis of degradation degrees for extracted character images; and a character recognition means that uses dictionary databases in accordance with said usage order, recognizes characters included in the extracted character image and, if recognition results for the character recognition fulfill prescribed conditions, outputs the recognition results without performing recognition using the dictionary database next in said usage order.

Abstract: A character recognition device comprising: a storage means storing a plurality of dictionary databases corresponding to each of a plurality of degradation levels, said databases being generated from images wherein an original character image has been degraded using a plurality of different degradation levels; an image input means that receives input of images; an extraction means that extracts character images from said images; a usage order determination means that determines an usage order for dictionary databases on the basis of degradation degrees for extracted character images; and a character recognition means that uses dictionary databases in accordance with said usage order, recognizes characters included in the extracted character image and, if recognition results for the character recognition fulfil prescribed conditions, outputs the recognition results without performing recognition using the dictionary database next in said usage order.

Abstract: An image processing device for performing a preprocessing of an image recognition process to an input image is provided, which includes: a generation element for generating a histogram of luminance values of the input image; a determination element for determining a reference value for the luminance values on the basis of the histogram, and determining a high luminance pixel that is a pixel having a luminance value greater than the reference value; and a conversion element for converting the luminance value of the high luminance pixel into a luminance value that is lower than or equal to the reference value. Thus, even when a high luminance region is present in the input image due to specularly reflected light or the like, high-accuracy character recognition can be performed.

Abstract: A monitoring system has a plurality of monitoring terminals communicably connected to each other. Each monitoring terminal has an imaging portion for imaging a monitoring area allocated to an own-terminal, a tracing portion for processing an imaged image of the imaging portion and tracing a target person traveling in the monitoring area, a tracing information creation portion for creating tracing information associating the target person traced by the tracing portion with tracing start time, tracing stop time, and characteristic information of the target person, a tracing information storage portion for storing the tracing information created by the tracing information creation portion, and a tracing information notification portion for notifying the tracing information created by the tracing information creation portion to the other monitoring terminals.

Abstract: A monitoring system has a plurality of monitoring terminals communicably connected to each other. Each monitoring terminal has an imaging portion for imaging a monitoring area allocated to an own-terminal, a tracing portion for processing an imaged image of the imaging portion and tracing a target person traveling in the monitoring area, a tracing information creation portion for creating tracing information associating the target person traced by the tracing portion with tracing start time, tracing stop time, and characteristic information of the target person, a tracing information storage portion for storing the tracing information created by the tracing information creation portion, and a tracing information notification portion for notifying the tracing information created by the tracing information creation portion to the other monitoring terminals.