Abstract: An object is to correct gradations in such a manner that both halo reduction effect and Retinex calculation effect are satisfied. Each JND value corresponding to each obtained luminance value to be assigned to each unit gradation of a panel is obtained. A pixel value corresponding to the each JND value is obtained for each of the unit gradations of the panel. A threshold ? is obtained by inverse gamma-correcting the ratio between discernible JND values corresponding to the unit gradations of the panel and the maximum output value of the panel. Linear function-based approximations are obtained using least squares. The threshold ? is determined as an increasing function of a pixel value on the basis of the allowable number of JND steps. The threshold ? is changed using this function. The threshold ? can be changed according to the center pixel value.

Abstract: An image layout generating apparatus includes: a first image arranging unit for extracting a first piece of image data from a plurality of image data, and arrange a first image; an image data extracting unit for extracting a new piece of image data; an arranged image selecting unit configured to calculate an inter-image distance between the new piece of image data and image data of each arranged image, and select one of the arranged images; a second image arranging unit configured to arrange a new image to be above, below, left, or right of the selected arranged image by adjusting a size while maintaining an aspect ratio of the new image; and a size adjusting unit configured to adjust the sizes while maintaining the aspect ratios of all the arranged images so as to configure one set of images in which all of the arranged images overall form a rectangle.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a generation unit configured to generate a plurality of layouts by arranging at least one image on a template; a decision unit configured to decide a display order of the plurality of layouts generated by the generation unit such that a similarity between two layouts that are successive in the display order becomes not more than a predetermined similarity; and a display control unit configured to cause a display device to display the plurality of layouts in accordance with the display order decided by the decision unit.

Abstract: Feature selection is provided for geometry data in an image-based based location determination. For example, one or more computing devices may receive information collected for a particular area. The one or more computing devices may identify one or more features and associated location from the received information. Given ones of the identified one or more features are selected based on a characteristic of a user. The selected ones of the one or more features and the associated locations are used to generate a set of geometry data for the particular area.

Abstract: In one embodiment, panoramic images, images bubbles, or any two-dimensional views of three-dimensional subject matter are enhanced with one or more alternate viewpoints. A controller receives data indicative of a point on the two-dimensional perspective and accesses a three-dimensional location based on the point. The controller selects an image bubble based on the three-dimensional location. The three-dimensional location may be determined according to a depth map corresponding to the point. A portion of the image bubble is extracted and incorporated into the two-dimensional perspective. The resulting image may be a seamless enhanced resolution image or include a picture-in-picture enhanced resolution window including subject matter surrounding the selected point.

Abstract: A geo-registration system with a camera receives an image of a scene, identifies features in the image, and computes vectors for each feature based on the known location and orientation of the camera. The system then compares the computed vectors to vectors associated with the same features identified in prior images. The geo-registration system then uses stochastic kriging techniques to create a geo-registration model based on the vectors.

Abstract: Techniques for detecting one or more documents that are duplicate or near-duplicate of a first document are provided. The techniques include obtaining a first document, obtaining one or more additional documents, retrieving a set of one or more document signatures for each document, and detecting one or more documents that are duplicate or near-duplicate of the first document by detecting each of the one or more additional documents that have at least a minimum number of signatures in common with the first document, wherein detecting each of the one or more additional documents that have at least a minimum number of signatures in common with the first document comprises dynamically using at least one of a user-configurable similarity definition and a user-configurable similarity threshold value.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to reduce the size of encoded feature descriptors.

Abstract: System and method for identification of ownership to media objects through analysis of semantic information in the media objects are disclosed Semantic information is a term that can be used to describe aspects of the content of a media object that are apparent to a human viewing or listening to the content One embodiment of the invention includes extracting semantic information from a specified media object, matching said semantic information of the specified media object against known semantic information of known media objects, and taking action based on the result of the companson.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid jet scalpel comprising a nozzle (12) for discharge of pressurized liquid (14) in the direction of tissue (16) that is to be manipulated, and a distance measuring device (18) for measuring the distance between the nozzle (12) and the tissue (16) that is to be manipulated. The invention further relates to a method for operating a liquid jet scalpel.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments relate to systems and methods for facilitating retrieval of information from an image. The one or more image characteristics are modified to degrade the original image. The degraded image is provided as a first task to at least one first remote worker, the first task corresponds to an activity of tagging one or more regions of interest in the degraded image by the at least one first remote worker. Further, one or more second images are generated based on the one or more tagged regions of interest and are provided as one or more second tasks to at least one second remote worker, the one or more second tasks correspond to an activity of retrieving information from the one or more second images.

Abstract: Belief propagation and affinity measure techniques are described. In one or more implementations, beliefs may be formed to solve a labeling problem for a node, such as to perform image processing. An affinity measure may be calculated that describes how similar the node is to another node. This affinity measure may then be used as a basis to determine whether the share the belief formed for the node with the other node to solve a labeling problem for the other node.

Abstract: A vehicle identification system and method comprising (a) Calculating vehicle image and reference image of each vehicle by algorithm, in order to obtain respectively the first feature point set and second feature point set. (b) Comparing first feature point with second feature point to calibrate the vehicle image of each vehicle. (c) Establishing plurality of vehicle model image with a gradient bevel distance of the base of the conversion of such vehicles. (d) Capturing instant image of the vehicle. (e) Calculating instant image and reference image by algorithm to obtain respectively the third feature point and the second feature point. (f) Comparing the second feature point and the third feature point to calibrate the instant vehicle image. (g) The instant judgments greatest body image and the gradient of each pixel in each of the base vehicle model for each pixel of the image of the product to determine the real-time vehicle body image should compare of the vehicle model image of one of them.

Abstract: There is provided a data similarity calculation method. The method includes: (a) acquiring a first waveform; (b) storing time series data; (c) converting the stored time series data into a waveform on two-dimensional coordinates, wherein the two-dimensional coordinates consists of a time axis and an a value axis representing values of the time series data, and the time axis is orthogonal to the value axis; (d) shifting the converted waveform in both directions of the time axis and the value axis so as to generate a second waveform; (e) calculating a similarity between the first waveform and the second waveform; and (f) extracting a shift amount in the direction of the time axis and a shift amount in the direction of the value axis when the similarity is the highest by repeatedly performing steps (d) and (e).

Abstract: Techniques are described for visualizing a product at the actual location in the environment at which the product is to be used or displayed. An embodiment of the approaches described herein may be used in the context of a computer-based system that can receive and store digital images, receive a request to manufacture a custom framed product including an identification of an image to be framed and a type of mat and/or frame, and display a preview image of the custom framed product that simulates the actual appearance of the product as closely as possible. With such a system, the preview image may be highly realistic under idealized lighting and display conditions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for proving sign information are disclosed. The sign information providing method includes: extracting a first sign from an input image, wherein the first sign is pre-defined; extracting a second sign representing information corresponding to the first sign around the location of the first sign, from the input image; and providing at least one piece of information of information about the first sign and information about the second sign in the form of voice. Accordingly, a user may correctly recognize information expressed by a sign.

Abstract: In general, the invention is directed to techniques for reducing deadlocks that may arise when performing fabric replication. For example, as described herein, a network device includes packet replicators that each comprises a plurality of resource partitions. A replication data structure for a packet received by the network device includes packet replicator nodes that are arranged hierarchically to occupy one or more levels of the replication data structure. Each of the resource partitions in each of the plurality of packet replicators is associated with a different level of the replication data structure. The packet replicators replicate the packet according to the replication data structure, and each of the packet replicators handles the packet using the one of the resource partitions of the packet replicator that is associated with the level of the replication data structure occupied by the node that corresponds to that particular packet replicator.

Abstract: Systems and methods for map generation for an environment based on captured images are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method includes capturing a first image of an environment. The method also includes identifying a reference in the first image. Further, the method includes generating, based on the identified reference, a map of the environment to use for physically orienting a computing device within the environment based on a second image including the reference.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for identifying similar images. In some implementations, a method is provided that includes receiving a collection of images and data associated with each image in the collection of images; generating a sparse feature representation for each image in the collection of images; and training an image similarity function using image triplets sampled from the collection of images and corresponding sparse feature representations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system of embedding data in text documents. The method includes obtaining a document having dimensions and at least a first character and a second character and determining a length between the first character and the second character to define an inter-character space. A reference length is determined, where the reference length is a function of the dimensions of the text document. A threshold length is determined, where the threshold length is a minimum length wherein information is not encoded in the inter-character space if the inter-character space is not within the threshold length. The information is encoded into an altered inter-character space wherein a length of the altered inter-character space is an integral multiple of the reference length or a non-integral multiple of the reference length.

Abstract: A method of defining data patterns for object handling includes obtaining an image of an input data area, processing the image to obtain image data, and comparing the image data with a pattern, wherein the pattern identifies spatial information of corresponding pattern fields of the pattern. The method further includes determining a confidence level of the comparison of the image data according to a success in matching the image data with the pattern fields, comparing the confidence level with a confidence threshold associated with the pattern, and selecting the pattern. A pattern output associated with the selected pattern is identified, wherein the pattern output corresponds to a canonical return format, and the pattern output is applied to the image data.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for identifying result images for a query image. One or more labels that are associated with the query image are obtained. Candidate images matching the query labels are identified. Visual similarity scores are generated for the candidate images. Each visual similarity score represents the visual similarity of a respective candidate image to the query image. Relevance scores are generated for each of the candidate images based on the visual similarity scores. Each relevance score represents a measure of relevance of the respective candidate images to the query image. The candidate images are ranked based on the relevance scores, a highest ranking subset of the candidate images being identified as result images and referenced by image search results. The result images can be candidate images that satisfy a similarity condition relative to the query image and other result images.

Abstract: A video segment including interactive links to information about an actor appearing in the segment may be prepared in an automatic or semi-automatic process. A computer may detect an actor's face appearing in a frame of digital video data by processing the video file with a facial detection algorithm. A user-selectable link may be generated and activated along a track of the face through multiple frames of the video data. The user-selectable link may include a data address for obtaining additional information about an actor identified with the face. The video data may be associated with the user-selectable link and stored in a computer memory. When later viewing the video segment via a media player, a user may select the link to obtain further information about the actor.

Abstract: Techniques for identifying a salient object with respect to its context are described. A process receives an input image that includes a salient object. The process segments the input image into multiple regions and calculates a saliency value for each of the segmented regions based on scale image levels. The process constructs saliency maps based at least in part on the calculated saliency value, and combines the saliency maps to construct a total saliency map. Next, the process connects a set of line segments computed from the input image and utilizes the total saliency map to compute a closed boundary, which forms a shape prior from the closed boundary, and extracts the salient object from the total saliency map and the shape prior.

Abstract: The image signature extraction device includes an extraction unit and a generation unit. The extraction unit extracts region features from respective sub-regions in an image in accordance with a plurality of pairs of sub-regions in the image, the pairs of sub-regions including at least one pair of sub-regions in which both a combination of shapes of two sub-regions of the pair and a relative position between the two sub-regions of the pair differ from those of at least one of other pairs of sub-regions. The generation unit generates, based on the extracted region features of the respective sub-regions, an image signature to be used for identifying the image.

Abstract: One or more systems and/or techniques are provided to identify objects comprised in a compound object without segmenting three-dimensional image data of the potential compound object. Two-dimensional projections of a potential compound object (e.g., Eigen projections) are examined to identify the presence of known objects. The projections are compared to signatures, such as morphological characteristics, of one or more known objects. If it is determined based upon the comparison that there is a high likelihood that the compound object comprises a known object, a portion of the projection is masked, and it is compared again to the signature to determine if this likelihood has increased. If it has, a sub-object of the compound object may be classified based upon characteristics of the known object (e.g., the compound object may be classified as a potential threat item if the known object is a threat item).

Abstract: Disclosed is a camera image compensating apparatus for a vehicle, including a detecting unit which detects a base line and a vehicle body contour line; a coordinate storing unit which stores a first reference image coordinate value and a second reference image coordinate value; a first coordinate calculating unit which calculates a first base line image coordinate value and calculates a first vehicle body contour line image coordinate value; a coordinate comparing unit which compares the first reference image coordinate value and the first base line image coordinate value and compares the second reference image coordinate value and the first vehicle body contour line image coordinate value; and a correcting unit which calculates angle change information of the camera, calculates correction information based on the angle change information, and corrects the camera parameter using the correction information.

Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for generating sequences of face and expression aligned images are presented. An embodiment includes determining a plurality of candidate images, computing a similarity distance between an input image and each of the candidate images based on facial features in the input image and the candidate images, comparing the computed similarity distances, selecting a candidate image based on the comparing, and adding the selected candidate image to an image sequence for real-time display. Embodiments select images from the image sequence as they are being added to the image sequence and scale, rotate and translate each image so that a face appearing in a selected image is aligned with a face appearing in a subsequently selected image from the image sequence. In this way, embodiments are able to render arbitrarily large image collections efficiently and in real time to display a face and expression aligned movie.

Abstract: A network apparatus in a collaboration system with a plurality of participants, the apparatus comprising: a processing structure; and a memory including computer program code, wherein the memory and the computer program code are configured, with the processing structure, to cause the network apparatus to at least: present content on a display coupled to the processing structure; select a portion of the display for sharing, the portion having the shared content; simultaneously send said shared content to said display and to an encoder for encoding; automatically discover a network server configured to distribute the shared content with the plurality of participants; couple the apparatus to the network server and transmit the shared content to the network server for distribution to at least one of the plurality of participants, such that the shared content is encoded and decoded, and displayed in real-time.

Abstract: Provided are an age estimation apparatus, an age estimation method, and an age estimation program capable of obtaining a recognition result closely matching the result perceived by human. An age estimation apparatus 10 for estimating an age of a person on image data includes a dimension compressor 11 for applying dimension compression to the image data to output low dimensional data; and an identification device 12 for estimating an age of a person on the basis of a learning result using a feature amount contained in the low dimensional data, wherein a parameter used for the dimension compression by the dimension compressor 11 and the feature amount used for age estimation by the identification device 12 are set on the basis of a result of an evaluation of a generalization capability using a weighting function that shows a degree of seriousness of an age estimation error for every age, and learning of the identification device 12 is performed on the basis of the weighting function.

Abstract: A system for contextualizing noisy samples by substantially minimizing noise induced variance may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory is operative to store exemplars. The processor is operative to receive, via the interface, a sample which includes exemplar content corresponding to one of the exemplars, and noise. Variance induced by the noise may differentiate the sample from one or more of the exemplars. The processor may generalize the sample and the exemplars in order to substantially minimize the variance. The processor may compare the generalized sample to the generalized exemplars to identify the exemplar corresponding to the exemplar content of the sample. The processor may contextualize the sample based on a document type of the identified exemplar. The processor may present the contextualized sample to a user to facilitate interpretation thereof, and in response thereto, receive data representative of a user determination associated with the noise.

Abstract: An information processing device includes: a recognizer configured to recognize a predetermined part of a body of a person from an input image including the person; an evaluator configured to evaluate a difference between a recognized input part and a reference part serving as a basis; and a notifying unit configured to notify information relating to the difference of the input part from the reference part based on an evaluation result.

Abstract: Evaluating an image is disclosed. A plurality of attributes of the image is analyzed. A determination is made that a portion of the attributes of the image imperfectly matches a reference attribute signature corresponding to a device. It is distinguished whether the imperfect match likely corresponds to a modification of the image.

Abstract: This invention provides an instantaneous method for a user or traveler to obtain a meaning of a symbol that is unfamiliar to said user. The symbol is captured in a format that is easily transmitted to a remote database server. Together with the symbol, the GPS coordinates of the location of the symbol must be sent to the server. The server performs an image matching search, and then uses the location information (GPS) to resolve multiple matches and to determine the meaning of the symbol and instantaneously transmits in the language of their choice the meaning to the user requesting the search.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a method is provided for image categorization. Here, images are displayed. In turn, a user input that describes a characteristic shared between the images from a comparison between the images is received. The user input may then be classified into categorization data.

Abstract: A method is provided for identifying one or more scored candidate objects that may correspond to one or more actual pallets in a gray scale image. The method may comprise: identifying, by a computer, a first plurality of scored candidate objects in the gray scale image; storing, by the computer, a list of the first plurality of scored candidate objects, wherein the list includes a respective record for each of the first plurality of scored candidate objects; determining, by the computer, a subset of the first plurality of scored candidate objects to eliminate from the list based on a comparison amongst the respective records of the first plurality of scored candidate objects; and removing, by the computer, the subset of the first plurality of scored candidate objects from the list to create an updated list for a second plurality of scored candidate objects, wherein the updated list includes a respective record for each of the second plurality of scored candidate objects.

Abstract: A method of performing an image retargeting quality assessment comprising comparing an original image and a retargeted image in a frequency domain, wherein the retargeted image is obtained by performing a retargeting algorithm on the original image. The disclosure also includes an apparatus comprising a processor configured to perform an image retargeting quality assessment, and compare an original image and a retargeted image in a spatial domain, wherein the retargeted image is obtained by performing a retargeting algorithm on the original image, and wherein comparing the original image and the retargeted image in the spatial domain comprises comparing the original image and the retargeted image to determine an amount of shape distortion between the images.

Abstract: Provided are image processing method and apparatus. The method includes selecting one of a plurality of images matched in structure as reference image, and select another of the images as subject image; for a subject pixel in the subject image, determining a pixel corresponding to the subject pixel in the reference image; calculating similarity values of at least part of pixels in the reference image with respect to the pixel corresponding to the subject pixel; establishing weight coefficients based on the similarity values, and weighted averaging the subject pixel in the subject image to obtain a processed pixel value. With the above solutions, it is possible to use structure information of a higher-quality image in processing another image, and thus improve quality of the other image.

Abstract: A printer with integral scanner obtains a digital signature from an article as it is printed. The integral scanner has a coherent source which directs a light beam to illuminate the article and a detector arrangement to collect data points from light scattered from many different parts of the article to collect a large number of independent data points. The digital signature derived from the data points is stored in a database with an image of what was printed on the article. The authenticity of an article purported to be the originally printed article can be verified by scanning the purported genuine article to obtain its digital signature. The database is then searched, to establish whether there is a match. If a match is found, the image is displayed with the matched digital signature to allow a further visual check that the article is genuine.

Abstract: A method of using reference photo setting information for taking a photo image of a current framed image comprises displaying a framed image from an image capture device of an electronic device, performing object recognition for the framed image on a display of the electronic device, identifying location information for the electronic device, presenting one or more reference images related to the framed image based on one or more of the identified location information and object recognition, selecting one of the reference images, and using photo setting information used for capturing the selected reference image for capturing the framed image.

Abstract: Image denoising techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a denoising result is computed by a computing device for a patch of an image. One or more partitions are located by the computing device that correspond to the denoising result and a denoising operator is obtained by the computing device that corresponds to the located one or more partitions. The obtained denoising operator is applied by the computing device to the image.

Abstract: The invention described herein is generally directed to methods for analyzing an image. In particular, crowded field images may be analyzed for unidentified, unobserved objects based on an iterative analysis of modified images including artificial objects or removed real objects. The results can provide an estimate of the completeness of analysis of the image, an estimate of the number of objects that are unobserved in the image, and an assessment of the quality of other similar images.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first acquisition unit configured to acquire main object information specifying a main object in generation of a layout image, a second acquisition unit configured to acquire object correlation information specifying an object having a correlation with the main object, an extraction unit configured to extract at least one image including the main object and at least one image including the object having the correlation with the main object from a plurality of images based on the acquired main object information and the acquired object correlation information acquired, and a generation unit configured to generate, using a layout template, a layout image in which the at least one image extracted by the extraction unit and including the main object and the at least one image extracted by the extraction unit and including the object having the correlation with the main object are laid out therein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for assisting multiple users to perform a collection simultaneously. The method includes the steps of: (a) acquiring digital data created with respect to recognition reference information of an object from a terminal of each of the multiple users; (b) determining or recognizing whether the respective digital data on the recognition reference information acquired through the terminals were created within a preset place condition and whether the respective digital data on the recognition reference information acquired through the terminals were created within a preset scope of the time; (c) selecting a specified group of users, including a first to an n-th user among the multiple users, who create the digital data within the preset place condition and within the preset scope of the time; and (d) providing information on rewards corresponding to the object for users included in the specified group of users.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a compliance with an instruction to assemble a figure according to a depiction of the figure on an output device, by presenting image data of the figure, capturing an image of the assembled figure, and comparing the figure captured in the image to the figure depicted on the output device.

Abstract: In some implementations, a method provides color corrections based on multiple images. In some implementations, a method includes determining one or more characteristics of each of a plurality of source images and determining one or more similarities between the one or more characteristics of different source images. The source images are grouped into one or more groups of one or more target images based on the determined similarities. The method determines and applies one or more color corrections to the one or more target images in at least one of the groups.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a printing control terminal apparatus include an input unit to receive printing data, a rendering unit to transform the printing data into bitmap data, an image processor to determine whether the bitmap data includes a transparency pattern and if it is determined that the bitmap data includes the transparency pattern, perform smoothing processing with respect to the bitmap data; and an output unit to output the bitmap data processed by the image processor. Accordingly, an image quality of printing data including a transparency pattern can be improved. In addition, an image forming method includes receiving image data including a plurality of pixels, determining whether an area of pixels is a patterned area including a pattern, determining the patterned area is transparent when the pattern of the patterned area matches a pre-stored pattern, performing a smoothing process on the patterned area, and printing the image data after performing the smoothing.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to image filtering techniques for enhancing image quality. In one embodiment, two filtering techniques are applied on an image. Firstly, an adaptive weighted median filtering operation is performed on an acquired low contrast image corrupted by impulsive noise. Subsequently, a guided image filtering on the image obtained from adaptive weighted median filtering operation to de-blur and enhance the contrast that ultimately assures to preserve the edges of the images. In addition, the image filtering for enhancing image quality is enhanced by several variations of data adaptive guided image filtering and adaptive window sizes for guided image filtering techniques.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed herein. The method includes the step of receiving, at a processing device of a commerce server, at least a video signal from a head mountable unit worn by a consumer in a retail store. The method also includes the step of identifying, with the processing device, an indication of depleted stock in the retail store in response to the video signal received from the head mountable unit. The method also includes the step of transmitting, with the processing device, a restock signal in response to the identifying step.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer storage mediums are provided for matching multiple photographs together. An example method includes receiving a first collection of photographic images. The photographic images in the first collection are clustered into one or more composite sets of photographic images based on a comparison of the metadata associated with each photographic image in the first collection meeting a predetermined similarity threshold. An image overlap is determined between each photographic image within each of the one or composite sets of photographic images. When the image overlap exceeds a predetermined image overlap threshold, a pair of photographic images are matched, for all of the photographic images within each composite set of photographic images to form one or more composite images.