Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing method, an image processing apparatus and an image processing program for dealing with inverted characters (outlined characters) constituted by white pixels on a black ground in a tree structure same as that of normal characters constituted by black pixels on a white ground. In the present invention, black pixel blocks and white pixel blocks are sampled recursively from a binary image, tree structure data indicating a positional relation between the sampled black pixel blocks and white pixel blocks is created, an inverted image is created by white-black-inverting the insides of black pixel blocks that can include inverted characters, of black pixel blocks included in the tree structure data, white pixel blocks and black pixel blacks are sampled from the created inverted image, and data regarding the sampled white pixel blocks and black pixel blocs is added to corresponding nodes of the tree structure data.

Abstract: 17-valued data of a pixel in a multi-valued image is divided into two divisions for a two-pass printing, obtaining the division data. Next, by using an index pattern where arrangements of the numerals of 1 to 16 are dispersed, each dot data of C, M and Y in the division data is arranged. First, six dot data of C are assigned to the respective minor pixels of the numerals of 1 to 6 in accordance with a value of C1=6. Next, four dot data of M are assigned to the respective minor pixels of the numerals of 7 to 10 in accordance with a value of M1=4. Further, one dot data of Y is assigned to the minor pixel of the numerals of 11 in accordance with a value of Y1=1.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus that can be connected to an image-forming apparatus, a method, and a program used for the information processing apparatus are disclosed. The information processing apparatus comprises a control unit for controlling print-setting information set for document data to be printed, a recognition unit for recognizing information about a first function specified by the print-setting information by translating the print-setting information controlled by the control unit, an obtaining unit for obtaining information about a second function of the image-forming apparatus connected to the information processing apparatus, a determination unit for determining whether or not the image-forming apparatus can perform the first function recognized by the recognition unit based on the second-function information obtained by the obtaining unit, and a modification unit for modifying the print-setting information controlled by the control unit based on the determination result.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, methods and systems for determining the number of members in a group as well as changes over a period of time. Using an image of the scene, an overlap area is calculated by projecting portions of the image onto spaced apart and parallel planes. A filter correlates the overlap area to the number of members.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, an arrangement and a computer readable storage medium for determining an image based at least in part on first data having a first representation is provided. The approach comprises determining a projection of an imaging element on the first representation, the imaging element being arranged to at least partly overlap with the first representation, determining a first subset of data as the subset of the first data corresponding to the projection of the imaging element on the first representation, and determining the image based at least in part on the first subset of data.

Abstract: In a computer system in which information represented by digital data is output to plural pages of recording medium, and then information on the plural pages of recording medium is read to use digital data representing the read information, authentication information is embedded in information of a start page selected by the computer system; a page number of the start page embedded the authentication information is notified to a user; information on the plural pages of recording medium is read, wherein the start page is positioned so as to be read first; digital data read from the plural pages of recording medium is authenticated based on the authentication information embedded in the start page; and a process for the digital data read from the plural pages of recording medium is controlled in accordance with a result of the authentication.

Abstract: The described implementations relate to computer vision. In one case image data is received. Resource constraints associated with processing the image data are evaluated. Further, a visual recognition and detection processing strategy is selected for the image data based at least in part on the evaluated resource constraints.

Abstract: An optical reader with a single optical assembly that receives images from at least two different environments. For example, one environment may be constructed in a first chamber into which a document or bulk item with a bar code may be placed. The other environment may be constructed in a second chamber with an active drive mechanism that transports a document with optical readable markings to a reading location. The environments may be separated by a baffle that prevents light from leaking between the environments, and the electronics and software are constructed to read and decode information that is found in the images from both environments either sequentially or simultaneously.

Abstract: A method for the imaging of protein expression and location in biological samples using optical segmentation is provided. The steps comprise acquiring a fluorescent image of a biological sample, analyzing the image and generating a masking pattern corresponding to a specific structure within the biological sample, transforming the masking pattern into the spatial coordinates of a digital micro-mirror device (DMD) which may then be projected onto the biological sample and obtaining a masked fluorescent image. Also provided is an image analysis system for imaging of protein expression and location in biological samples using optical segmentation.

Abstract: A vehicle side image recognition method and apparatus inputs images containing recognized vehicles captured by a camera apparatus; sorts images with the recognized vehicles located at left and right sides of the camera apparatus from the input images; performs vehicle side image recognition processing on the sorted images to acquire side image information of each of the recognized vehicles; and outputs the acquired side image information of each of the recognized vehicles. An assisted driving system may use the vehicle side image information to analyze the relative movement of an object vehicle and other vehicles more comprehensively, thus greatly improving the traveling security of a vehicle.

Abstract: A system for classifying different types of sheeting materials of road signs depicted in a videostream compares estimated retroreflectivity values against known minimum retroreflectivity values for each of a plurality of colors. Once a road sign has been identified in the videostream, the frames associated with that road sign are analyzed to determine each of a plurality of colors present on the road sign. An estimated retroreflectivity for each of the plurality of colors present on the road sign is then determined. By comparing the estimated retroreflectivity for each of the plurality of colors against known minimum retroreflectivity values for the corresponding color for different types of sheeting materials, an accurate determination of the classification of the sheeting material of the road sign is established. Preferably, certain conditions of gross failure of the sheeting material are filtered out before classification of the sheeting material is determined.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product that involves receiving and initializing a digital image. Quantization is preformed on the digital image using at least two multiplication operations. Finally, a compressed version of the digital image is presented for viewing and/or storage or transport.

Abstract: In an intelligent video surveillance system, video processing software performs a number of operations on video data received from a camera, including foreground extraction, shadow removal and object tracking. The foreground extraction stage classifies each pixel of a received frame as representing either foreground or background. Since shadow regions can be wrongly classified as foreground, a two-branch shadow removal operation is employed, comprising weak shadow removal (32) and strong shadow removal (33). The purpose of weak shadow removal (32) is to remove only the most severe shadows in each frame. Conversely, the purpose of strong shadow removal (33) is to remove substantially every shadow present in each frame. By comparing the overlap of foreground regions in the two resulting images, it is possible to identify foreground regions that have fragmented due to strong shadow removal, and thereafter classify them as representing a common foreground object.

Abstract: A character string recognition method for recognizing a character string may include a first step in which a first projection data of image data are calculated in a direction of the character string and a second step in which a position of the character string is detected on the basis of the first projection data. In the first step, the image data are divided into a plurality of segments in the direction of the character string and projection in the segment is calculated. The method may further include a third step in which a second projection data in the segment are calculated on the basis of the position of the character string and a fourth step in which a position where the second projection data exceeds a threshold value is detected as a boundary position of a character, and the threshold value may be changed according to pixel number between both ends of the character string.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a real-time nighttime vehicle detection and identification system comprises an illuminant object image segmentation device 1, an illuminant object classifying device 2, a vehicle lighting object identification device 3, a vehicle position determining device 4 and a vehicle tracking device 5. Under various circumstances of road lighting during nighttime, the system can efficiently and accurately demarcate and identify the lamps of oncoming and preceding vehicles and accurately provides the driver with auxiliary information needed to analyze the traffic conditions in front of the vehicle during the conditions met on the road at that time.

Abstract: The image processing device performs processing on a shadow in an image of an object, and includes: an image information obtaining unit obtaining information about an image of the object, the information including luminance information about luminance of light from the object and polarization information about polarization of the light from the object; a shadow area extracting unit extracting an attached shadow area and a cast shadow area from the image of the object based on the luminance information and the polarization information, the attached shadow area appearing on the surface of the object depending on an angle of incidence light, and the cast shadow area appearing on the surface of a material body other than the object when the light is blocked by the object; and an output unit outputting information identifying the attached shadow area and cast shadow area.

Abstract: A system, method and computer readable medium for adjusting font pitch during a print process is disclosed. The method on a computer system includes observing a print command issued by an application. The method further includes generating an output file in response to the print command and modifying the output file to conform to a template. The method further includes determining the type of each character in the output file and adjusting the font pitch of characters in the output file based on their type. The method further includes sending the output file to an output destination. In one alternative, the method includes determining whether each character in the output file is at least one of a numerical character and an alphabetic character and 1) adjusting the font pitch of numerical characters to be fixed font pitch, and 2) adjusting the font pitch of alphabetic characters to be variable font pitch.

Abstract: A set of straight lines that associate a top parallel geodesic projection positioned at an upper end with a bottom parallel geodesic projection positioned at a lower end, among sets of parallel geodesic projections, is extracted as a set of ruled-line candidate projections as a search target of a set of ruled line projections. A deviation of neighborhood, which is a distance between a cross ratio vector of the ruled-line candidate projection and a cross ratio vector of a neighboring line obtained by shifting the ruled-line candidate projection by a predetermined interval, is calculated for each ruled-line candidate projection. A set of straight lines having the smallest sum total of deviations of neighborhood, in the set of straight lines, which do not intersect with each other, among the sets of ruled-line projection candidates is extracted as a set of ruled line projections by continuous dynamic programming.

Abstract: A failure analysis system includes an obtaining portion that obtains read-in image information that is image information obtained by reading an output image, a memory that stores fundamental image reduction information that is information in which an information amount of fundamental image information is reduced, the fundamental image information serving as a fundamental of the output image, a calculating portion that calculates a characteristic value of a projecting waveform by use of differential information between read-in image reduction information and the fundamental image reduction information, the read-in image reduction information being information in which the information amount of the read-in image information obtained by the obtaining portion is reduced, the fundamental image reduction information being stored in the memory; and a determining portion that determines a defect type group that is a group of defect types of elements included in the output image by use of a clustering process.

Abstract: Printed material is electronically read, and electronic data of that printed material is input as a comparison source image. From the comparison source image, a plurality of partial regions are extracted. Layout comparison between partial regions of the comparison source image and a comparison destination image stored in a storage unit is executed under a condition in which the positional deviation amount in the center of gravity direction of an image is looser than those in other directions.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for creating an ordered set of shoreline boundary points by transforming data from remotely sensed imagery of shorelines is provided. A water data set and an edge data set are transformed into a set of 3-point boundary segments having a specific head and tail point and the segments are ordered from tail to head in a clockwise or counterclockwise manner relative to the water. Once the 3-point segments are created they are easily linked together into larger segments. These large multi-point segments in turn are linked together to create the shorelines for rivers or coastal areas.

Abstract: Image display methods and systems are provided wherein for each of a plurality of still images of a motion picture, rendering a respective sequence of sub-frames such that in each sub-frame one or more portions of the still image is altered with the sequence of sub-frames summing to the still image, and for each pair of consecutive still images that is one of a plurality of pairs of still images of the plurality of still images of the motion picture, the pair comprises first and second consecutive still images and there is a variation in the rendering of the respective sequence of sub-frames between the first and second consecutive still images. Intensity compensation may be applied such that when sub-frames are displayed, an image substantially equivalent to the still image is perceptible.

Abstract: An apparatus includes: a reading unit that obtains image data by reading a document through a reading glass; a detecting unit that detects a dirty place on the reading glass; a determining unit that determines a type of each area in the image data; an edge enhancing unit that applies an edge enhancement to each area based on the type determined; and a control unit that controls, when the type of an area determined is a text area, and when the area overlaps the dirty place detected, an amount of the edge enhancement for the area.

Abstract: In order to increase the recognition rate of a shadow area contained in the image of an aerial photograph, a central control portion performs the processes of: comparing a shadow-produced angle with the angles of segments constituting the polygons generated by a polygon-generating portion to judge whether or not there are the segments coinciding with the shadow-produced angle, of the segments constituting the polygon; judging whether or not the ratio of the length of the segment constituting the shadow to the length of the segment constituting the feature coincides with a shadow-extended ratio; judging whether or not the color tone of the area surrounded by the segments constituting the shadow is darker than that of all the adjacent polygons; and identifying the area surrounded by the segments constituting the shadow as “shadow area.” The polygon of the identified shadow area is generated.

Abstract: A geospatial modeling system may include a geospatial database for storing geospatial data points each having respective elevations associated therewith. The system may further include a processor for data thinning the geospatial data points by selecting discriminant points therefrom.

Abstract: An apparatus, and a corresponding method, are usable for speeding up Retinex processing of an input image. The apparatus includes a down sample module having a sub-sampling algorithm, where sub-sampled images of the input image are produced, and a non-linear illumination estimation module that receives the sub-sampled images and produces corresponding interim illumination estimations. Finally, the apparatus includes an up sample module including one or more up-sampling algorithms. The interim illumination estimations are interpolated to produce an illumination estimation, and the illumination estimation is usable to perform a Retinex correction to the input image.

Abstract: A method factorizing a sequence of images acquired of a scene into lighting components. The scene is illuminated by a moving light source. An appearance profile is constructed for each pixel in the sequence of images. The appearance profile is a vector representing intensities of the pixel at instances in time. The appearance profiles are factorized into a shadow component, a skylight component, and a sunlight component.

Abstract: The normal vector information generating device generates normal vector information on the surface of an object, and includes: an image information obtaining unit obtaining information about an image of the object, the information including luminance information about luminance of light from the object and polarization information about polarization of the light; a shadow area extracting unit extracting an attached shadow area and a cast shadow area from the image based on the luminance information and the polarization information, the attached shadow area appearing on the surface of the object depending on an angle of incidence light, and the cast shadow area appearing on the surface of a material body when the light is blocked by the object; and a normal vector information generating unit generating normal vector information identifying a normal vector on the surface of the object in the attached shadow area using the polarization information.

Abstract: The present invention deals with text comprising image parsed to graphemes. A result of character recognition is creation of one or more versions of characters for each grapheme. All possible words versions are obtained using all characters versions, and all parsing versions are examined. A supplementary data of several types is applied successively in the preliminarily prescribed order to the examined words. The processing with the use of supplemental data may be represented as a three times repeated processing of the same text fragment with the use of supplementary information becoming available at each time. The examination comprises three steps. 1) A set of chains LPG is built using all obtained recognized grapheme-to-character versions. 2) All obtained versions are analyzed with the successive application of subsequent supplemental data types in connection with the preliminarily assigned order or with a joint application thereof. 3) A supplementary space recognition correction.

Abstract: A method to detect anchorperson segment in news reporting by using visual characteristics to provide the basis to divide news into various categories includes steps of providing news image for skin color detection on the image with color space; applying morphology depending on whether the object in the image subject to skin color detection is moving to eliminate noise surrounding the image of the face to solve the region of the face of the anchorperson; and performing anchorperson detection once again by detecting the probable anchorperson segment.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method for generating fees using a receiving device, involves distributing censored video from a distributor video to a receiving device; and uncensoring the censored video using the receiving device upon payment of a fee. The receiving device uses overlay data received from the distributor to uncensor the censored video by overlaying the overlay data over the censored video using a video overlay frame to overlay a video frame containing the censored video data in accordance with boundaries determined by an alpha plane within the receiving device. This abstract should not be considered limiting since embodiments consistent with the present invention may involve more, different or fewer elements.

Abstract: A method tracks an object. A sequence of visible images and a sequence of infrared images are acquired concurrently of a scene. A visible background image is maintained from each current visible image, while an infrared background image is maintained from each current infrared image. Each current visible image and the visible background image, and each current infrared image and the infrared background image are compared to generate corresponding changed pixels. Shadow pixels and reflectance pixels are discarded from the changed pixels to identify foreground pixels associated with an object in the scene.

Abstract: Image display methods and systems are provided wherein only portions of a still image of a motion picture, generated for display during an image time interval, are displayed during respective sub-intervals of the image time interval. A still image is thereby separated into portions and displayed separately during corresponding sub-intervals. Preferably, no single portion of the image includes all of the content of the entire image. However, the sum of all of the portions preferably includes all of the content of the image, and all of the portions are displayed within the image time interval. Although an image displayed in this manner can be correctly perceived by a viewer, recording of such an image may capture fewer than all of the portions of the image to thereby degrade the quality of recorded copies of the image and thus the motion picture. Intensity compensation is performed such that a consistent brightness is perceived by a user notwithstanding the fact that some portions are displayed for less time.

Abstract: A method for extracting a linear feature from remotely sensed imagery, including selecting by user interface anchor points for the linear feature, the anchor points being identified with a geographic location; using image-based logic to automatically calculate a vector set associated with the anchor points, the vector set comprising a path associated with the linear feature; automatically attributing a material type to the path; automatically attributing a geometry to the path; selecting by user interface anchor points for a successive linear feature; using image-based logic to calculate a successive vector set associated with the anchor points for the successive linear feature, the successive vector set comprising a successive path; using a geometric relationship between the vector set and the successive vector set to automatically adjust the vector set to create an adjusted vector set, the adjusted vector set correcting the path associated with the first linear feature.

Abstract: An image generating apparatus includes a color correcting unit, a setting unit and an image generating unit. The color correcting unit corrects a drawing color of each image element. When at least one of color components of the corrected drawing color of each image element meets a predetermined condition, the setting unit sets the at least one of the color components to a predetermined value. The image generating unit draws each image element with the drawing color subjected to the correcting and the setting, to generate an image. When the image element, which is to be drawn with the drawing color including the at least one of the color components, is drawn to overlap another image element, the image generating unit draws a color component, which is same as the at least one of the color components, of a drawing color of the other image element without overwriting.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems for and methods of registering (i.e., aligning) a deformable image with a reference image subject to a spatially variant flexibility model and/or a non-Gaussian smoothing model. These systems and methods allow for the consideration of differences between the ways in which structures of interest may move within a patient. The registration includes modifying the deformable image to match similar features in the reference image. The systems include a deformation engine configured for performing a deformation algorithm subject to the spatially variant flexibility and/or smoothing models.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing an ultrasound image of a target object including a periodically moving object, including: an ROI setting unit for setting regions of interest (ROIs) to each of frames constituting ultrasound volume data acquired from a target object; a VOI setting unit for selecting a predetermined number of first reference frames from the ultrasound volume data and setting a predetermined number of volumes of interest (VOIs) by combining ROIs of the first reference frames with ROIs of frames adjacent to the reference frames; a motion compensating unit for processing the VOIs to compensate a motion of the target object; a correlation coefficient curve calculating unit for calculating a correlation coefficient curve for a predetermined interval at each VOI; a period setting unit for setting a moving period of the moving object based on the correlation coefficient curve in the volume data; and an ultrasound volume data reconstructing unit for reconstructing the ultras

Abstract: An apparatus and a concomitant method for detecting and recognizing text information in a captured imagery. The present method transforms the image of the text to a normalized coordinate system before performing OCR, thereby yielding more robust recognition performance. The present invention also combines OCR results from multiple frames, in a manner that takes the best recognition results from each frame and forms a single result that can be more accurate than the results from any of the individual frames.

Abstract: A technique for generating high-resolution bitmaps from low-resolution bitmaps. A low-resolution bitmap is magnified to form a magnified image. Edge detection is performed on the magnified image to find high contrast edges. A plurality of image patches of the magnified image are generated. These images patches are analyzed by performing connected components analysis on each of them using the high contrast edges to produce a plurality of foreground and background decisions determining whether a portion of an image patch is a background or a foreground region. Then the contrast of one or more pixels in each of the plurality of image patches is enhanced based on the foreground and background decisions. Finally, the system and method of the invention combines the luminance of the enhanced output pixels with the color values generated by the magnification algorithm. This produces a high-resolution bitmap from the contrast-enhanced pixels.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus accurately and automatically determines whether a page to be printed out or rendered is a color page or a monochrome page. In order to efficiently output the page, color/monochrome determination is performed to the page by examining all the pixels forming a bitmap image based on the bitmap image and an attribute bitmap image.

Abstract: Video object cutting and pasting is described. In one implementation, pre-segmentation of video frames into regions is performed prior to a 3-D graph cut segmentation. The 3-D graph cut segmentation uses temporal coherence and a global color model to achieve accuracy of video object boundaries. A 2-D local graph cut segmentation can then be used to refine the boundaries. The boundaries can be tracked within a user-selected sequence of windows and refined using a local color model.

Abstract: A microarray image is segmented into discreet segments for respective spots in the microarray image based on locating microarray image rows and columns by maximizing scores associated with vertical and horizontal image projections. To determine the locations of the rows and columns that extend through artifacts that involve multiple spots and/or multiple columns and rows, the scores may also include contributions from the gaps between adjacent rows and columns. The scores are calculated by stepping windows containing nominally spaced spot-sized row or column boundaries, over the horizontal projection curves. At each step a total row or column score is calculated that represents the areas of the projection curves that fall within the row boundaries. The system then selects the window positions that correspond to the maximum total row score and total column score, and uses the locations of the boundaries as the locations of row and column “stripes” that are sized to the spot diameters.

Abstract: An image processing device, method, and a program capable of obtaining processing results which are even more accurate and even more precise as to events in the real world, taking into consideration the real world where data has been acquired. The image processing device may include a computer configured to compute a product-sum coefficient and a recorder configured to record the product-sum operation coefficient. In another embodiment, the image processing device may include a data continuity detector, a recorder, and a difference computer.

Abstract: Computer software for and method of determining livestock ownership comprising inputting an image of a livestock brand whose ownership is to be determined, automatically determining one or more computed closest fits to the image from a database of livestock brands, and outputting owner information from the database of livestock brands concerning one or more of the one or more computed closest fits.

Abstract: A method for estimating regions of detected candidates identified in a response image of an object created from a scanned Computerized Tomography image is disclosed. The regions are used to generate features. Voxels proximate to a detection center of the object are sampled. A determination is made as to which of the sampled voxels include a region surrounding the detection center. Features that characterize the region are collected.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for detecting a pose of a player in a video game using an input image supplied by a camera. The technique involves calculating a frame difference and/or background difference of an image of a predetermined region of an image captured by the camera which captured image includes a player image representing the pose of the player, and generating operations information corresponding to the pose of the player based on the calculated frame difference and/or background difference.

Abstract: A system for learning an attention model for an image based on user navigation actions while viewing the image is provided. An attention model learning system generates an initial attention model based on static features derived from the image. The learning system logs the actions of users as they view the image. The learning system identifies from the actions of the users those areas of the image that may be of user interest: After the learning system identifies areas that may be of user interest, the learning system attempts to identify attention objects based on those identified areas. After identifying the user attention objects, the learning system updates the attention model for the image to reflect the additional information provided by the user attention objects.

Abstract: An OCR percentage matching algorithm achieves a significant reduction in false mismatches accounting for combinations of unprocessed spaces, missing characters, extra characters and character substitution errors during the OCR scanning processing and allows for a specified percentage of the OCR character scan rather the entire OCR character scan to be the same as the expected character string to declare a match.

Abstract: A method and system are presented for enhancing one or more images of an object, so as to increase the visibility within the images of one or more structures within the object. The object may be an anatomical region of a patient, and may include one or more reference structures, for example skeletal structures or vertebral structures, and one or more treatment targets, for example tumors or lesions. An operator, for example a top-hat filter operator, selects at least a first neighborhood and a second neighborhood within the images. The operator selects within each neighborhood one or more pixels having an optimal pixel value, and eliminates the remaining pixels in these neighborhoods. When the operator is applied to the selected neighborhoods, only the pixels having the greatest pixel values remain in the selected neighborhoods, and the remaining pixels are eliminated in the selected neighborhoods. As a result, desired features can be located and enhanced in the images.

Abstract: A digital micromirror device (“DMD”) is used to alter the shape of light that is projected onto a stage. The DMD selectively reflects some light, thereby shaping the light that is projected onto the stage. The control for the alteration is controlled by an image. That image can be processed, thereby carrying out image processing effects on the shape of the light that is displayed. One preferred application follows the shape of the performer and illuminates the performer using a shape that adaptively follows the performer's image. This results in a shadowless follow spot.