Patents by Inventor Tomio Echigo

Tomio Echigo has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230258503
    Abstract: A temperature distribution learning apparatus learns a temperature distribution including a temperature at at least a first point in air of a target space. The temperature distribution learning apparatus includes a learning model. The learning model learns the temperature distribution, which is an objective variable, and a thermal image, which is an explanatory variable and is related to the target space, in association with each other. The learning model learns based training data including the temperature distribution and the thermal image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Tomio ECHIGO, Seiichi TAGAWA
  • Patent number: 8005279
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a capsule endoscope image display controller (26) including: an image-to-image similarity calculating unit (36) that calculates, for each image included in an image sequence captured by a capsule endoscope which moves within the digestive organs, a similarity between the image and its temporally consecutive image; an amount-of-movement calculating unit (47) that calculates, for each image included in the image sequence, an amount of movement of a feature area included in the image; a video state classifying unit (41) that classifies, for each image included in the image sequence, a video state of the image into one of the following states, based on the video state, the similarity, and the amount of movement of the image: (a) “stationary state” indicating that the capsule endoscope is stationary, (b) “digestive organs deformation state” indicating that the digestive organs are deformed, and (c) “capsule moving state” indicating that the capsule endoscope is moving, based on the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Osaka University
    Inventors: Yasushi Yagi, Tomio Echigo, Ryusuke Sagawa, Hai Vu
  • Patent number: 7971217
    Abstract: Meta data about content is converted into characteristic values. Each characteristic value is associated with one or more content segments of content. The content can be audio, video, or other data or combinations of data. Importance levels for content segments are determined from content scores. Content scores are generally an indication of how one person would rate a particular characteristic value. The content scores may be estimated by using previously determined scores of similar content segments. The similarity is preferably determined by a particular metric. A user may also supply his or her own content scores for content segments. The user profile content scores can be combined with the determined content scores or completely supplant these scores. Based on the importance levels for content scores for content segments, content segments may be packaged into a content digest that a user may view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Masumitsu, Tomio Echigo, Takaaki Murao, Masayoshi Teraguchi
  • Patent number: 7922652
    Abstract: An endoscope that is free from a dead area and capable of preventing the physician from overlooking any nidus is an endoscope for taking the inside of digestive organs, and the endoscope is provided with an omnidirectional camera (32), a light (34), a forceps (36) and a rinse water injection port (38) at the tip (24). The omnidirectional camera (32) is a device for taking the inside of digestive organs, and is able to take 360-degree images of its surroundings. A probe-type endoscope (20) is provided with a receiver (26) composed of orthogonal coils, and the receiver (26) is used for estimating the position and attitude of the probe-type endoscope (20). An image taken by the omnidirectional camera (32) is presented on a display unit (28) of an image processing device (22) connected to the probe-type endoscope (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Osaka University
    Inventors: Yasushi Yagi, Tomio Echigo, Ryusuke Sagawa
  • Patent number: 7796781
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for extracting an image region segment from a video image, a system for extracting an image region segment, a program for extracting an image region segment, a method for distributing an extracted video image, and a method for generating content. Motion compensation data is calculated using sequential video images captured by a video camera, and the sequential video images are employed to prepare an estimation of the video camera operation. Based on the estimated camera operation, the center position (xc, yc) of an area that is aimed at in a video image is estimated under predetermined conditions (rules), an image feature is designated in the vicinity of the center position of the target area, and an image segment is specified that includes this image feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tomio Echigo, Ken Masumitsu, Masayoshi Teraguchi, Takaaki Murao
  • Publication number: 20090157897
    Abstract: To implement more appropriate QoS control by compressing contents data distributed via a network taking into consideration meaning of contents and preferences of users. A network system comprises a content provider that provides content and client that acquires the content. The content provider attaches information on communication priorities to the content based on the content's importance which is determined from the meaning of the content's and sends the content to the client using a protocol which controls quality of service based on the priority and the client receives the content transmitted by the content provider.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tomio Echigo, Ken Masumitsu, Masayoshi Teraguchi
  • Publication number: 20090103810
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for extracting an image region segment from a video image, a system for extracting an image region segment, a program for extracting an image region segment, a method for distributing an extracted video image, and a method for generating content. Motion compensation data is calculated using sequential video images captured by a video camera, and the sequential video images are employed to prepare an estimation of the video camera operation. Based on the estimated camera operation, the center position (xc, yc) of an area that is aimed at in a video image is estimated under predetermined conditions (rules), an image feature is designated in the vicinity of the center position of the target area, and an image segment is specified that includes this image feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Tomio Echigo, Ken Masumitsu, Masayoshi Teraguchi, Takaaki Murao
  • Patent number: 7492944
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for effectively identifying the occlusion of objects, such as persons, having a high degree of freedom. In an example embodiment, after initialization, an image is input, and an image region is extracted from image data. The distance is employed that is obtained when the shape of a two-dimensional histogram in the color space is transformed into the feature space. A graph is formed by using the regions between the frames. A confidence factor is provided and image features are provided as weights to the edges that connect the nodes. Processing is performed and the confidence factor is examined. A connection judged less possible to be a path is removed. When there is only one available connection for the occlusion point, this connection is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ajith Kumar Narayanan, Alberto Tomita, Jr., Takaaki Murao, Tomio Echigo
  • Patent number: 7490342
    Abstract: To implement more appropriate QoS control by compressing contents data distributed via a network taking into consideration meaning of contents and preferences of users. A network system comprises a content provider that provides content and client that acquires the content. The content provider attaches information on communication priorities to the content based on the content's importance which is determined from the meaning of the content's and sends the content to the client using a protocol which controls quality of service based on the priority and the client receives the content transmitted by the content provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tomio Echigo, Ken Masumitsu, Masayoshi Teraguchi
  • Publication number: 20080119691
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a capsule endoscope image display controller (26) including: an image-to-image similarity calculating unit (36) that calculates, for each image included in an image sequence captured by a capsule endoscope which moves within the digestive organs, a similarity between the image and its temporally consecutive image; an amount-of-movement calculating unit (47) that calculates, for each image included in the image sequence, an amount of movement of a feature area included in the image; a video state classifying unit (41) that classifies, for each image included in the image sequence, a video state of the image into one of the following states, based on the video state, the similarity, and the amount of movement of the image: (a) “stationary state” indicating that the capsule endoscope is stationary, (b) “digestive organs deformation state” indicating that the digestive organs are deformed, and (c) “capsule moving state” indicating that the capsule endoscope is moving, based on the
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventors: Yasushi Yagi, Tomio Echigo, Ryusuke Sagawa, Hai Vu
  • Patent number: 7313278
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for extracting an image region segment from a video image, a system for extracting an image region segment, a program for extracting an image region segment, a method for distributing an extracted video image, and a method for generating content. Motion compensation data is calculated using sequential video images captured by a video camera, and the sequential video images are employed to prepare an estimation of the video camera operation. Based on the estimated camera operation, the center position (xc, yc) of an area that is aimed at in a video image is estimated under predetermined conditions (rules), an image feature is designated in the vicinity of the center position of the target area, and an image segment is specified that includes this image feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tomio Echigo, Ken Masumitsu, Masayoshi Teraguchi, Takaaki Murao
  • Patent number: 7251364
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for effectively identifying the occlusion of objects, such as persons, having a high degree of freedom. In an example embodiment, after initialization, an image is input, and an image region is extracted from image data. The distance is employed that is obtained when the shape of a two-dimensional histogram in the color space is transformed into the feature space. A graph is formed by using the regions between the frames. A confidence factor is provided and image features are provided as weights to the edges that connect the nodes. Processing is performed and the confidence factor is examined. A connection judged less possible to be a path is removed. When there is only one available connection for the occlusion point, this connection is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alberto Tomita, Jr., Takaaki Murao, Tomio Echigo
  • Publication number: 20070161853
    Abstract: An endoscope that is free from a dead area and capable of preventing the physician from overlooking any nidus is an endoscope for taking the inside of digestive organs, and the endoscope is provided with an omnidirectional camera (32), a light (34), a forceps (36) and a rinse water injection port (38) at the tip (24). The omnidirectional camera (32) is a device for taking the inside of digestive organs, and is able to take 360-degree images of its surroundings. A probe-type endoscope (20) is provided with a receiver (26) composed of orthogonal coils, and the receiver (26) is used for estimating the position and attitude of the probe-type endoscope (20). An image taken by the omnidirectional camera (32) is presented on a display unit (28) of an image processing device (22) connected to the probe-type endoscope (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Inventors: Yasushi Yagi, Tomio Echigo, Ryusuke Sagawa
  • Patent number: 7231088
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to extract from a moving picture and display at least a portion of team play, especially in a field sport, that is considered to be important for detailed analysis, so that the teamwork involved is easily discerned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tomio Echigo, Ken Masumitsu, Takaaki Murao, Masayoshi Teraguchi
  • Patent number: 7199798
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a description method for efficiently representing contents of motion picture with a small data volume. The organization of the present invention (1) represents a trajectory of how each object has moved over time by using reference plane representing position information of each object, (2) sets a description unit based on a type of action of each object by using changes in shape of each object, (3) has actions of each object represented as each behavioral section, and (4) comprises a description facility capable of reading and interpreting definition of an object dependent on video contents, definition of classes of actions, and definition of interpretation of a scene by interaction of plural objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
    Inventors: Tomio Echigo, Masato Kurokawa, Junji Maeda, Alberto Tomita
  • Publication number: 20060280335
    Abstract: The invention provide methods and apparatus for effectively identifying the occlusion of objects, such as persons, having a high degree of freedom. In an example embodiment, after initialization, an image is input, and an image region is extracted from image data. The distance is employed that is obtained when the shape of a two-dimensional histogram in the color space is transformed into the feature space. A graph is formed by using, the regions between the frames. A confidence factor is provided and image features are provided as weights to the edges that connect the nodes. Processing is performed, and the confidence factor is examined. A connection judged less possible to be a path is removed. When there is only one available connection for the occlusion point, this connection is selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Inventors: Alberto Tomita, Takaaki Murao, Tomio Echigo, Ajith Narayanan
  • Patent number: 7072901
    Abstract: An index generator that generates an index, which is data description contents, such as video contents, comprises: an index description device, for defining in advance basic index information concerning an index; a video display device for the input, the display or the output of contents to which an index is to be added; a triggering action input device, for accepting a triggering action in the contents that is displayed or output; and an index determination device, for generating index data based on the basic index information, which is defined by the index description device, and triggering action input history information, which is entered by the triggering action input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Teraguchi, Tomio Echigo, Takaaki Murao, Ken Masumitsu
  • Patent number: 6833849
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for using the trajectory of an object to access video contents, for example, to specify and display a specific video image scene. Such a video contents access method comprises the steps of: extracting objects from video contents; displaying movements of the objects as trajectories on a specific projection screen; specifying locations on the trajectories; and accessing a desired scene of the video contents. An apparatus is so designed that it performs the above method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Masato Kurokawa, Tomio Echigo
  • Publication number: 20030217091
    Abstract: To implement more appropriate QoS control by compressing contents data distributed via a network taking into consideration meaning of contents and preferences of users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Tomio Echigo, Ken Masumitsu, Masayoshi Teraguchi
  • Patent number: 6606412
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for classifying the motion of an object such as a human being in a moving picture. A template is prepared in advance, which includes the Gabor wavelet expansion coefficients of an object image in a plurality of frames of a video image sequence representing each of a plurality of different reference motions of an object in a moving picture. Then, processing is performed to obtain the Gabor wavelet expansion coefficients of an object image in a plurality of frames of a video image sequence representing an unknown motion of the object. Matching factors are calculated based on the expansion coefficients for the unknown motion and the expansion coefficients for the reference motions in the template, and finally the unknown motion is classified based on the matching factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tomio Echigo, Junji Maeda, Hiroki Nakano