Abstract: A search system specifies an image of a product according to a preference of a user conveniently and accurately using a sensibility word and displays the product image so that information of the product image is intuitively understood by the user. In a client terminal, sensibility word data is specified by a user and sent to a server system. In the server system, the sensibility word data is received, a physical amount of a product associated with the sensibility word data is acquired, image data of the product associated with the physical amount of the product is acquired, and display information data indicating a display aspect for the image is generated. The image data of the product and the display information data are transmitted from the server system to the client terminal, and the image data of the product is displayed based on the display information data in the client terminal.

Abstract: In a preferred aspect of the present invention, in a product search apparatus in which, if a search based on a sensibility word of a product is received from a user, the received sensibility word is converted into the physical measurement value based on a relationship between the received sensibility word and the physical measurement value, and a corresponding product group is searched for from a product database based on the converted physical measurement value, the sensibility word of the product received at the time of searching and the physical measurement value of the image of the product for which request content of a user is received are recorded in association with each other if a request such as an order for any of products in the product group that has been searched for is performed.

Abstract: Disclosed are an event-specific taken picture arrangement device, a control method thereof and a control program thereof capable of efficiently observing the status of a change of a specific object by event. Multiple pictures P are divided into event picture groups ga1, gb1, gc1, and the like by event using a picture-taking date. The event picture groups ga1 and the like are further grouped into a plurality of groups of taken picture Ev1 to Ev6 by identical event. The taken pictures P of the identical event are consecutively arranged in an electronic album by identical event.

Abstract: The visual matching of two images is facilitated. An inspection tablet image and a genuine tablet image are each scanned by a local filter, correlation values between partial images and the local filter are calculated for every position of the local filter, and luminance images are generated using the calculated correlation values as luminance values. Multiple feature points where the luminance values are equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value are determined in the luminance images and, based upon the multiple feature points, a registration parameter for eliminating relative offset between first and second images is calculated. The first luminance image and the second luminance image are brought into positional registration using the registration parameter calculated.

Abstract: A feature point is a point at which a correlation value is greater than a threshold value, wherein the correlation value is calculated between a template and partial image within an area that is one portion of each genuine tablet image. With regard to a cross-check image, which represents a tablet the authenticity of which is to be verified, a correlation value is calculated between a partial image within an area that is one portion of the cross-check image and the template image, and multiple feature points of the cross-check image at which the calculated correlation value is greater than a predetermined threshold value are extracted. The degree of similarity between the cross-check image and the genuine tablet image is calculated using a geometric characteristic of the extracted multiple feature points and a geometric characteristic of the stored multiple feature points of the genuine tablet image.

Abstract: A family electronic album is created. Representative face images of a family are displayed. The representative face images are dragged and dropped onto corresponding areas among areas that identify family attributes (“father”, “mother”, etc.). Since the family attributes of the representative face images can be ascertained, the family attributes of face images that resemble these face images can be determined. Since images that include all family members and images that include some family members can be determined from among images that include face images the family attributes of which have been determined, these images are laid out in the electronic album.

Abstract: A drug inspection support apparatus inspects drugs that are prepared based on prescription information and are packaged in a prescription bag. A drug database stores drug master images of drugs that can be prepared. A first drug determination section compares drug master images from the drug database with a captured image obtained by capturing an image of prepared drugs, and determines drugs present in the captured image and the number of drugs. A list creation section creates a list displaying drug master images of drugs, which are prepared according to a prescription, and drug area images, which are determined to be respective drugs in a captured image, so that the positions thereof are aligned with one another.

Abstract: A drug inspection apparatus inspects drugs that are prepared based on prescription information and are packaged in a prescription bag. A drug database includes drug images of drugs that can be prepared. A comparison target selection section acquires drug images of drugs, which are prepared according to the prescription, and drugs similar thereto from the drug database. A first drug determination section compares captured images of prepared drugs with the drug images acquired from the drug database, and determines drugs present in the captured images and the number thereof. An inspection result determination section determines whether or not the prepared drugs and the number thereof match the prescription information based on the prescription information.

Abstract: When scores of classifiers for discriminating an image to be discriminated are sequentially obtained in a predetermined order, positions of saturated pixels in the image to be discriminated are detected. For each classifier which outputs the score based on pixel values at the detected position, the score is obtained by obtaining a value determined based on a difference between a discontinuing threshold set in advance correspondingly to the identified classifier and a discontinuing threshold set in advance correspondingly to a classifier immediately before the identified classifier. For each of the other classifiers, the score is obtained by obtaining an output obtained by applying the classifier to the image to be discriminated. A sum of the scores obtained so far is compared with the discontinuing threshold. If the sum exceeds the discontinuing threshold, the score of the next classifier is obtained.

Abstract: Efficient and accurate estimation of the position and size of an object is achieved. Convolution of an image with a smoothing filter is repeated to generate a plurality of smoothed images L(x, y, ?i) of different scales. Then, a differential image G(x, y, ?i) between each pair of the smoothed images L(x, y, ?i) of scales ?i and ?i×2 is generated. Then, a combined image AP is generated by combining the differential images G(x, y, ?i), and a position estimating unit estimates the position of the object based on the combined image AP.

Abstract: The present invention provides a video in which a subject image looks clear while reducing the amount of transmitted data. An image capturing apparatus includes: an image capturing section that successively captures a plurality of images under a plurality of image capturing conditions different from each other; an image generating section that generates an output image by overlapping the plurality of captured images captured under the plurality of image capturing conditions; and an output section that outputs the output image generated by the image generating section. The image capturing section may successively capture the plurality of images by means of exposure in different exposure time lengths from each other. The image capturing section may successively capture the plurality of images also by means of exposure in different aperture openings from each other.

Abstract: It is an object to provide an image of a desired composition in case the user is unsatisfied with the composition of an image already captured. An image capturing apparatus for capturing an image is provided, wherein the apparatus includes an image capturing designation range acquiring unit for acquiring an image capturing designation range designated by a user; an image capturing unit for capturing an image of a range wider than the image capturing designation range; a storing unit for storing information indicative of the image capturing designation range corresponding to the captured image; and an image displaying unit for displaying at least an image within the image capturing designation range out of the captured image by making the user recognize the image capturing designation range.

Abstract: When scores of classifiers for discriminating an image to be discriminated are sequentially obtained in a predetermined order, positions of saturated pixels in the image to be discriminated are detected. For each classifier which outputs the score based on pixel values at the detected position, the score is obtained by obtaining a value determined based on a difference between a discontinuing threshold set in advance correspondingly to the identified classifier and a discontinuing threshold set in advance correspondingly to a classifier immediately before the identified classifier. For each of the other classifiers, the score is obtained by obtaining an output obtained by applying the classifier to the image to be discriminated. A sum of the scores obtained so far is compared with the discontinuing threshold. If the sum exceeds the discontinuing threshold, the score of the next classifier is obtained.

Abstract: In order to appropriately detect abnormalities for the purpose of surveillance with it being possible to prevent an unnecessary increase in data amount of the monitoring images, a monitoring system includes an image capturing section that captures a moving image of a monitored area, a variation reduced image generating section that generates a variation reduced image by reducing a temporal variation in an image, based on a plurality of moving-image making-up images included in the moving image captured by the image capturing section, a condition storing section that stores thereon a condition which is required to be satisfied by a variation reduced image which is generated by using a plurality of moving-image making-up images included in a moving image which is judged to show an abnormality, a satisfaction judging section that judges whether the variation reduced image generated by the variation reduced image generating section satisfies the condition, an output moving image generating section that, when the

Abstract: Provided is an image capturing apparatus capable of outputting an image in a form displayable by a display apparatus, while making use of a space resolution and a temporal resolution of a captured image. A monitoring system includes an image capturing section that captures an image; an output image generating section that generates an output image from the image captured by the image capturing section; a matching determining section that determines whether an object that matches a predetermined condition exists in the image captured by the image capturing section; and an output section that outputs, by embedding in the output image, an image of a subject indicated by the object having a data amount larger than a data amount of an image of the object in the output image.

Abstract: There is provided an output apparatus which is capable of outputting a moving image in such a manner as to enable an observer to easily judge whether a quick movement made by a suspicious individual is an abnormal behavior. The output apparatus includes a moving image obtaining section that obtains a moving image, an output section that outputs the moving image obtained by the moving image obtaining section, a condition storing section that stores thereon a condition to be satisfied by an object which is required to be extracted from a moving image, and an output control section that, when an object satisfying the condition is extracted from the moving image obtained by the moving image obtaining section, controls the moving image obtained by the moving image obtaining section in terms of a play back state in which the moving image is to be played back, and causes the output section to output the controlled moving image.

Abstract: Efficient and accurate estimation of the position and size of an object is achieved. Convolution of an image with a smoothing filter is repeated to generate a plurality of smoothed images L(x, y, ?i) of different scales. Then, a differential image G(x, y, ?i) between each pair of the smoothed images L(x, y, ?i) of scales ?i and ?i×2 is generated. Then, a combined image AP is generated by combining the differential images G(x, y, ?i), and a position estimating unit estimates the position of the object based on the combined image AP.

Abstract: A motion vector at an object pixel position in an object frame in a moving image is measured based on the object frame and a previous frame. At this time, for each object pixel in the object frame, a motion-vector distribution in a motion-vector detection space defined by a predetermined number of pixels is calculated by calculating scores, each representing a correlation between the object pixel and a pixel in the previous frame corresponding to the object pixel, with shifting the previous frame relative to the object frame in a range of the predetermined number of pixels. Then, a motion vector at the object pixel is detected based on differences between the score at the center position in the motion-vector detection space and the scores at positions other than the center position, and whether or not the motion vector is erroneously measured is determined based on the motion-vector distribution.

Abstract: Detection of inadequately trimmed images can be carried out promptly and accurately among a large amount of trimmed images obtained through automatic trimming. The trimmed images generated through the automatic trimming are reproduced three times at an image display rate of 30 images per second. Order of reproduction is changed randomly in each time of reproduction. When an operator carries out input for indicating finding of an inadequately trimmed image in each time of reproduction, 10 images arranged 6 to 15 images backward in a display sequence from the image being displayed at the time of input are marked as an image group including the inadequately trimmed image, in response to the input. Only the trimmed images marked in all the rounds of reproduction are extracted as candidates for the inadequately trimmed image.

Abstract: Correction processing is performed on a region that requires correction processing, in a photographed image obtained by taking a photograph of a subject, and a corrected image is obtained. The degree of effect is calculated in the corrected image. Then, judgment is made, based on the magnitude of the degree of effect, as to whether it is required to check the effect of correction processing performed on the photographed image. If it is judged that it is required to check the effect of correction processing, at least one of the photographed image and the corrected image is displayed to check the effect. Then, the corrected image is printed.