Abstract: A pattern retrieving unit includes an acquiring unit that acquires a representative pattern image; a setting unit that sets a use condition of a type of shape feature of the representative pattern image; a receiving unit that receives a query pattern image used as a query; a determining unit that determines the type of shape feature of the representative pattern image to be the type of shape feature of the query pattern image, based on the use condition; a retrieving unit that retrieves a pattern image identical or similar to the query pattern image, using determined type of shape feature; and an output unit configured to output a result of retrieval by the retrieving unit.

Abstract: A multimedia integrated retrieval apparatus includes a feature value extracting unit calculating a feature value of single media data; a media information storage unit storing the feature value and storing composite media data in association with the single media data; a retrieval processing unit identifying other pieces of single media data corresponding to the single media data; a retrieval controlling unit, generating structural body data that includes a first node indicative of the single media data, a second node indicative of the another piece of single media data, a first link connecting the first node to the second node, a third node indicative of another composite media data, and a second link connecting the third node to the second node, if the another piece of composite media data including the another piece of single media data is present; and a display unit displaying the structural body data.

Abstract: Thumbnails of pages of a key document are arranged sequentially according to a page order in a row. Thumbnails of pages of a target document are arranged sequentially according to a page order in a row parallel to the row of the key document. A key page of the key document is compared with each page of the target document. When a page of the target document that is most similar to the key page is found, the row of the target document is shifted in a horizontal direction so that the page of the target document that is most similar to the key page is positioned next to the key page.

Abstract: An image retrieval method includes reading from a first database a first image group mapped to an object as a retrieval target, and extracting an image feature quantity of a plurality of images of the first image group. A second image group mapped to an object as a search key is read from a second database and an image feature quantity of a plurality of images of the second image group is extracted. Similarity is determined between the first image group and the second image group, based on the image feature quantity of the plurality of images of the first image group and the image feature quantity of the plurality of images of the second image group. On an output device, as retrieval results, the plurality of images of the first image group are displayed in order of similarity of the object as the retrieval target based on determined similarity.

Abstract: An information navigation system for supporting browsing of data which are linked mutually includes an starting point determination supporter, a browsing supporter, and a positioning supporter. The starting point determination supporter supports detection of first data being a starting point for an information navigation. The browsing supporter displays the first data and second data linked to the first data as in a virtual space, to allow a user to select data to be browsed next. The positioning supporter displays a current browsing position on a map which indicates a relation between all data.

Abstract: A symbol display device that displays a symbol for data while disposing the symbol at a coordinate position indicated by the data concerned, includes a pre-movement image position obtaining unit that records into a recording unit a pre-movement coordinate position at which the symbol is disposed; an image moving unit that moves the symbol to a coordinate position indicated by an instruction upon reception of the instruction; a post-movement image position obtaining unit that records, into the recording unit, a post-movement coordinate position of the symbol moved by the image moving unit; and a connection line drawing unit that connects the post-movement coordinate position and a pre-movement coordinate position by a line, and changing the line thickness of the connecting line or the size of the symbol.

Abstract: A television personal computer 40, when saving video data 43 by recording a video content, extracts a section containing a predetermined type of scene from within the video content, and displays, when instructed to reproduce the video data, a picture framing area and a time line. The time line includes blocks specifying the section containing the predetermined type of scene together with this type of scene, and an indicator indicating a reproducing point is displayed on the time line.

Abstract: A television personal computer 40, when saving video data 43 by recording a video content, extracts a section including a predetermined type of scene from within the video content, then specifies, when accepting a skip instruction from an operator during reproduction of the video content, a resuming point based on a relationship between the section extracted from the video content and the reproducing point, and resumes the reproduction of the video content from the resuming point.

Abstract: A computer-readable recording medium that stores a program for causing a computer to edit an electronic document including a plurality of hierarchically arranged objects. The program makes a computer execute extracting an object from the electronic document including the hierarchically arranged objects representing one of a text, an image, a drawing and a table; determining whether the extracted object is superimposed by a user specified area serving as a masking area of a target document input by a user; and converting, into different information, information included in an area of the object determined to be superimposed by the user specified area.

Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method of operating an apparatus having a display device for analyzing a plurality of images each representing a similar item, includes the steps of: displaying the plurality of the images in parallel by the display device; enabling a user to select partial regions of the images such that each of the partial regions represents a similar portion of the each item; extracting information associated with each of the partial regions of the images; and displaying data of the information of each of the partial regions in parallel in a format different from that appeared in the images.

Abstract: A difference emphasizing apparatus aligns a first three-dimensional model and a second three-dimensional model in orientation and position in accordance with a predetermined rule, and gets data of respective apices of the first three-dimensional model and the second three-dimensional model. Based on the gotten data, the apparatus finds a corresponding point on the first three-dimensional model, which corresponds to the apex of the second three-dimensional model in a direction of a particular axis. When the corresponding point is detected, the apparatus calculates a difference between the first three-dimensional model and the second three-dimensional model in the direction of the particular axis based on the corresponding point and the apex of the second three-dimensional model. The apparatus enlarges the difference in the direction of the particular axis, and calculates a position of the apex of the second three-dimensional model after the enlargement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to three-dimensional model retrieval apparatus and method.

Abstract: This invention discloses an image retrieval apparatus. The image retrieval apparatus comprises an unlabelled image selector for selecting one or more unlabelled image(s) from an image database; and a main learner for training in each feedback round of the image retrieval, estimating relevance of images in the image database and a user's intention, and determining retrieval results, wherein the main learner makes use of the unlabelled image(s) selected by the unlabelled image selector in the estimation. In addition, the image retrieval apparatus may also include an active selector for selecting, in each feedback round and according to estimation results of the main learner, one or more unlabelled image(s) from the image database for the user to label.

Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method for searching a set of image data from a database which contains a plurality of sets of image data, at least one of the sets of the image data being associated with text data, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining keyword information; detecting first set of image data in said database associated with text data corresponding to said keyword information; and detecting second set of image data in said database on the basis of the feature of an image represented by said first set of image data.

Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method for searching image data representing an image from a database by using a query image, the image data including information indicative of a shape of a contour of the image, comprising: obtaining a query image data representing the query image; extracting information indicative of a shape of a contour of the query image; and determining the image data in the database on the basis of correlation of the topological characteristics of the shapes of the contours of the images and the query image.

Abstract: A computer readable recording medium stores an information attachment program for attaching meta-information to multimedia data executed by a computer. The program causes the computer to perform an acquisition step of acquiring a search word of a text search done at a search site; a monitoring step of monitoring whether or not a search frequency of the search word acquired in the acquisition step satisfies a predetermined criterion; a determination step of determining whether or not at least a portion of the search word matches a character recognition processing result of the multimedia data when the search frequency of the search word is determined to satisfy the predetermined criterion in the monitoring step; and a registration step of registering the search word as meta-information of the multimedia data when, as a determination result of the determination step, the search word matches the character recognition processing result.

Abstract: A design support apparatus extracts feature data corresponding to design data to be searched upon receiving the design data to be searched. The apparatus checks the extracted feature data against the feature data associated with the feature associated information, ordering the design data associated with the feature associated information in descending order of similarity to the design data to be searched, retrieving one piece of the ordered design data. The apparatus generates a classification hierarchy consisting of pieces of classification data obtained by classifying a set of the retrieved design data based on a degree of feature similarity using the feature data associated with the feature associated information. The apparatus selects the design information closely associated with the classification data by fetching the design information corresponding to the design data contained in the classification data from the design associated information associating the design data and the design information.

Abstract: This invention is to enable retrieving of a content the searcher imagines in mind. The search method includes: obtaining a query brain image representing a brain activity state of a searcher when perceiving or imagining the content to be retrieved; identifying the content corresponding to the query brain image by using a structure associating a content with a brain image representing the brain activity state when perceiving the content; and outputting the content corresponding to the query brain image. Thus, by using the query brain image, without specifically indicating the content such as a drawing, the searcher can extract the pertinent content only by imaging the content.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a shape comparison apparatus and method based on contour decomposition and correspondence. The apparatus comprises a polygonal approximation unit for approximating an image object contour as a polygon, namely representing the image object contour into an ordered contour primitive sequence; an attribute generation unit for calculating attribute value for contour primitive and contour primitive composition; and a comparison unit for establishing correspondence of polygons and hence calculating similarity between contours. Preferably, the apparatus further comprises an image object contour extraction unit for extracting, in the case the input into the apparatus is an image object rather than an image object contour, an image object contour of an image object inputted into the apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a manufacturing method of high precision titanium compressor wheel in which by removing pads attached on an entire surface entirely as a machining allowance in manufacturing process, dimensional accuracy at the time of manufacturing is intensified, and correction work of dynamic balance (rotation balance) is simplified or omitted so as to improve yield of products and suppress boosting of manufacturing cost. The outer peripheral face of a front cast boss portion of a cast titanium product is fixed with a chuck of lathe. A plurality of receiving plates projecting from the lathe are positioned between respective cast blades and front ends thereof are pressed against a disc-like large-diameter front end face formed on a rear half portion of a cast core portion. With a large-diameter front end face of the cast core portion and the outer peripheral face of the front cast boss portion as reference plane, the cast titanium product is held by the chuck and receiving plates and rotated.