Abstract: Apparatus and method for identifying the color image of an object. The object's image is digitized and a cut-off portion of the image containing the object is determined. The cut-off portion image data is normalized. Selected pixels of the normalized image are subjected to an averaging process to provide an averaged image containing R, G, and B color components. H, V, and C components of the averaged image data are computed, and their V, c, and d components are computed from the H, V, and C components. A color feature extractor computes from the c and d component data a parameter representative of the object to be identified. This parameter is provided to a memory controller to retrieve from a memory that stores target images one or more images categorized according to the computed parameter. A matching section matches each retrieved target image with the Vcd component data and determines which target image is most similar.

Abstract: An automatic mail processing apparatus comprises a physical quantity detection section for detecting physical quantities of mail with a stamp, such as the weight and dimensions of the mail, a postage determining section for determining the valid postage for the mail with reference to a table in which valid charges are previously stored on the basis of the information items indicating physical quantities, and a stamp detection section for detecting the amount paid on the basis of the information on the stamp contained in the image of the mail, and a processing section for verifying the determined postage with the amount paid to detect a surplus or deficit of the amount paid, and to identify the kind of the mail, classify the mail, and compile statistics data on the mail.

Abstract: A pattern extracting apparatus extracts a pattern of a desired color from an object containing a plurality of color patterns. In the apparatus, the object is irradiated by light to provide data relating to color components and the data relating to color components are converted into Munsell color data H (Hue), V (Value) and C (Chroma). After that, a pattern of a specific color is extracted from the object based on the Munsell color data.