Abstract: The image processing device is designed to retrieve a predetermined data section from data composing a first image, to retrieve a coefficient value from a predetermined table using a value of the retrieved data section as an index, and to subject the first image to image processing using the coefficient value. This allows alteration of the degree of anti-aliasing depending on the luminance of an image (e.g., luminance of an edge portion), extensive reduction in jaggedness at the edge portions having a high luminance which tends to make flicker visually prominent, and reduction in the cost and size of the device.

Abstract: In an image decoding apparatus that generates a decoded image from a code sequence. The decoding apparatus has a bus, a computer and a memory, wherein the computer and the memory are connected to each other via the bus. The code sequence is generated by performing orthogonal transform, quantization and entropy coding on image data, which is stored in the memory. The decoding apparatus includes an entropy decoding unit, achieved by the computer, for reading one code out of the code sequence, which is stored in the memory, via the bus and performing entropy decoding on the read code in to generate a decode value. The apparatus also includes a coefficient generating unit, achieved by the computer, for generating at least one orthogonal transform coefficient according to the generated decode value. Also, a writing unit is achieved by the computer, for writing the generated at least one orthogonal transform coefficient into the memory via the bus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selecting layers for quantization based on sideband information is described. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a codestream of compressed image data organized in multiple layers. Each of the layers comprises coded data that adds visual value to the image. The method also includes selecting one or more of the layers for quantization based on sideband information accompanying the codestream and decompressing non-quantized layers of the codestream.

Abstract: Systematic use of infrared imaging characterizes marks made on items and identifies the particular marking tool with better accuracy than use of visual imaging. Infrared imaging performed in total darkness eliminates shadows, glint, and other lighting variations and artifacts associated with visible imaging. Although normally used to obtain temperature measurements, details in IR imagery result from emissivity variations as well as thermal variations. Disturbing an item's surface texture creates an emissivity difference producing local changes in the infrared image. Identification is most accurate when IR images of unknown marks are compared to IR images of marks made by known tools. However, infrared analysis offers improvements even when only visual reference images are available.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for decoding multiple-coded symbols from a coded input symbol stream in a single clock cycle. The method constructs an original Huffman look-up table by extending the associated Huffman tree to decode multiple symbols in one clock cycle in a first embodiment and decodes multiple DCT coefficient symbols in an alternate embodiment. An advantage of the method is that the depth of the new Huffman tree is adjustable thereby making the method easily adaptable to various hardware architectures. A further advantage of the present invention is that the decoding process speed is significantly increased while the size of the lookup table is nominally increased.

Abstract: Current methods of embedding hidden data in an image inevitably distort the original image by noise. This distortion cannot generally be removed completely because of quantization, bit-replacement, or truncation at the grayscales 0 and 255. The distortion, though often small, may make the original image unacceptable for medical applications, or for military and law enforcement applications where an image must be inspected under unusual viewing conditions (e.g., after filtering or extreme zoom). The present invention provides high-capacity embedding of data that is lossless (or distortion-free) because, after embedded information is extracted from a cover image, we revert to an exact copy of the original image before the embedding took place. This new technique is a powerful tool for a variety of tasks, including lossless robust watermarking, lossless authentication with fragile watermarks, and steganalysis. The technique is applicable to raw, uncompressed formats (e.g., BMP, PCX, PGM, RAS, etc.

Abstract: A system and a method for rapidly tracking multiple faces uses a face-like region generator to find a face-like region by skin color, motion, and silhouette information. A face tracking engine tracks faces based on new and old faces, and skin colors provided by the face-like regions. The tracked face is fed into a face status checker for determining whether the face-like regions are old faces tracked in a previous frame or are possible new faces. If the face-like regions are old faces, a face verification engine checks whether there exists a predefined percentage of overlapping area between an old face and a skin region. If yes, the old face is still in the current frame and its position is in the center of the skin region, otherwise, the position of the old face is found by a correlation operation.

Abstract: In an image encoding apparatus, an image area separating section determines for each pixel whether an input original image is a line image or a plane image and outputs separation information representing a type of image for each pixel. A line image position information encoding section encodes the separation information and outputs coded line image position information. A line image generating section extracts a line image from the input original image on the basis of the separation information. A line image color information quantizing section quantizes the line image and outputs quantized line image color information. A line image color information encoding section encodes the quantized line image color information and outputs coded line image color information. A plane image generating section extracts a plane image from the input original image on the basis of the separation information. A plane image quantizing section quantizes the plane image and outputs quantized plane image information.

Abstract: A watermark and extracting method and a watermark hardware structure used in an image compression system. A series of data is generated by random variables, such that duplication is avoided. According to characteristics of the human vision system, weighted value of each block is analyzed by classification in the frequency domain. According to the specific weighted value for each block, a watermark intensity is embedded, such that the embedded watermark is not easily observed, while the robustness is retained. Therefore, the original figure is not required for extraction. In addition, the watermark embedding hardware structure can be incorporated in a joint photographic experts group (JPEG) system, so that the image itself contains the watermark data while being intercepted.

Abstract: A threshold value assigning unit assigns a threshold value corresponding to color information of a considered pixel. A labeling unit compares color information of adjacent pixels and assigns the pixels the same label when the distance between the color information of the pixels is less than a threshold value assigned by the threshold value assigning unit.

Abstract: For the purpose of enhancing a difference between pixels relating to a substantial structure in an image and other pixels, with each pixel constituting an image defined as a pixel of interest, the variance of pixel values is determined in a local region to which the pixel of interest belongs (508); and the pixel value of the pixel of interest is maintained when the variance of pixel values is significantly larger than the variance of noise, otherwise the pixel value of the pixel of interest is suppressed (510, 512).

Abstract: An image processing system which compresses an image including both a binary image and a continuous tone image by a sub-band transform method with a high compression rate. A 2×2 pixel matrix block is extracted from image data. A transform factor having a plurality of frequency components is obtained from the 2×2 pixel matrix block data. The transform factor is quantized by a fixed-length quantizing method by deleting a predetermined number of lower order bits of each of the frequency components.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for processing image data create a third image of large pixel number and large channel number by combining two images obtained by photographing an identical subject, a first image being of large pixel number and small channel number and a second image being of small pixel number and large channel number. The method and apparatus perform principal component analysis on the image data in a specified region including a point in the second image which corresponds to a pixel of interest at a specified point in the first image, determine coefficients in linear sums so that the linear sums of a specified number of principal component vectors obtained by the principal component analysis render output values of the pixel of interest in the first image and determine spectral information of said pixel of interest based on the coefficients to create the third image. The recording medium is loaded with a program for executing the above method.

Abstract: The image processing device is configured including: a Y/C separator section for separating image data into chromaticity data BYxy, RYxy and luminosity data YYxy; a chromaticity noise removing section for smoothing the chromaticity data BYxy, RYxy: a luminosity noise removing section for smoothing the luminosity data YYxy; and a noise-removing-rate computing section for computing a distribution parameter DP representative of a variation of the luminosity data YYxy in two-dimensional coordinate space and computing, for each unit area of an image, a rate of the smoothing of the chromaticity data BYxy, RYxy and a rate of the smoothing of the luminosity data YYxy according to the distribution parameter DP as outputs to the chromaticity noise removing section and the luminosity noise removing section respectively. The image processing device can execute image processing on digital image data to reduce a coarse look caused by film particles without blurring edges in the image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing selective quantization by manipulation of refinement bits is described. In one embodiment, the method comprises performing a refinement coding pass to bit-planes of a code block to create refinement bits and setting refinement bits to the more probable symbol (MPS).

Abstract: System and method for display of ink representing a sequence of one or more handwirtten and hand printed (“hand entered”) alphanumeric characters on a portion of a touch screen that receives and displays hand entered characters. When a character (or word) is hand entered using a stylus with a single stroke, ink for the corresponding character is optionally displayed for a first time interval before conversion and re-display of the character as standard text. When a multi-stroke character (or word), such as “t” or “x” or “4”, is hand entered, a time interval for display of the hand entered version is extended so that the user can supply the additional strokes needed to complete the character, before the character is converted and re-displayed as standard text. Hand printed characters and cursive characters are processed in a similar manner. Overwriting an earlier-entered character with a later (unrelated) character causes the earlier-entered character to be promptly removed from the screen.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing apparatus that efficiently identifies input characters and the like by an intensity image analysis based on range information. The image processing apparatus performs distance measurement by performing three-dimensional measurement by pattern projection to characters written to a manuscript, whiteboard, and the like, gets an intensity image used as a so-called actual image and an image for distance measurement in parallel, and identifies input characters by an intensity image analysis based on range information. The image processing apparatus picks up characters, patterns, and the like written onto paper or the like with a pen, performs geometric transformation for picked-up images, and performs natural input character analysis and reading processing. Furthermore, by comparing images picked up in a time-series, noise elimination and manuscript position modifications become possible.

Abstract: The present invention extends the generalized Lloyd algorithm (GLA) for vector quantizer (VQ) codebook improvement and codebook design to a new linearly-constrained generalized Lloyd algorithm (LCGLA). The LCGLA improves the quality of VQ codebooks, by forming the codebooks from linear combinations of a reduced set of base codevectors. The present invention enables a principled approach for compressing texture images in formats compatible with various industry standards. New, more flexible compressed texture image formats are also made possible with the present invention. The present invention enhances signal compression by improving traditional VQ approaches through the integrated application of linear constraints on the multiple pattern and signal prototypes that represent a single pattern or block of signal samples.

Abstract: A three-dimensional shape modeling of a real object that reduces the limitations on the target shape and color. The rough shape of the target object is determined by a silhouette method (which has limitation on the target shape) and, at the same time, the detailed shape of the target object is determined by a triangulation method or the like (which has limitation on the target color). By using both sets of information, the consistency between the rough and detailed shape information are checked. For the portions where the consistency is not satisfied (points where detailed shape information is absent or points where detailed shape section is present outside the rough shape), rough shape is assumed to be the final object information and for other portions, the detailed shape is taken as the final object information. In this manner, three-dimensional shape modeling with reduced limitations on the target shape and color can be performed.

Abstract: A method and system for image resample by spatial interpolation. The method and system allow more than simple angle interpolation by allowing spatial interpolation to be performed on small angle edges. Multiple interpolation directions are established. Once an interpolation direction is selected, verifications are performed on the selected interpolation direction in order to rule out erroneous selection. If the selected interpolation direction passes all verification, then spatial interpolation will be performed along the selected interpolation direction. Otherwise, a default interpolation direction is used as the interpolation direction.