Abstract: A method includes overlaying a grid on a set of dynamic PET, SPECT, CT or MR data, so as to define a set of voxels defining a plurality of cluster seeds; extracting a respective time activity curve (TAC) for dynamic PET or SPECT data or time varying signals in the case of dynamic CT or MR data, for each voxel based on the data; selecting a subset of the cluster seeds defined by the grid as initial cluster centroids of a set of clusters; assigning each TAC to a respective cluster in the set of clusters; computing a respective average TAC of each cluster; generating a parametric image based on the respective average TACs for the clusters; repeating the overlaying, determining, selecting, assigning, computing, and generating; and averaging the generated parametric images.

Abstract: There are provided systems and methods for generating a visually consistent alternative audio for redubbing visual speech using a processor configured to sample a dynamic viseme sequence corresponding to a given utterance by a speaker in a video, identify a plurality of phonemes corresponding to the dynamic viseme sequence, construct a graph of the plurality of phonemes that synchronize with a sequence of lip movements of a mouth of the speaker in the dynamic viseme sequence, use the graph to generate an alternative phrase that substantially matches the sequence of lip movements of the mouth of the speaker in the video.

Abstract: Devices and methods of creating an image of a biological object are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention there is a plane wave ultrasonic pulse generator, an ultrasonic wave manipulation device, an ultrasonic detector and an image generator. In a method according to the invention, a biological object is imaged by emitting an unfocussed ultrasonic energy wave front, reflecting at least a portion of the ultrasonic energy wave front from the object, altering a direction of the ultrasonic energy, detecting that energy, and using the detected energy to create an image of the object.

Abstract: Method, computer program product, and apparatus are provided for identifying a graphic symbol within an image obtained by optical scanning. An image intensity is measured for each of a plurality of columns of the image, wherein each column has a length that extends across the graphic symbol in a first direction, and wherein the plurality of columns collectively extend across the graphic symbol in a second direction. The graphic symbol is then identified by matching a profile of the image intensity to a predetermined image intensity profile associated with a given graphic symbol. Optionally, the image is a digital image and the image intensity for each column is the sum of the image intensity for each pixel in that individual column. An image intensity differential between adjacent columns may be calculated for matching with a predetermined differential profile or comparison with an electronic profile generated by a magnetic scan.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an image information decoding apparatus adapted for performing intra-image decoding based on resolution of color components and color space of an input image signal. An intra prediction unit serves to adaptively change block size in generating a prediction image based on a chroma format signal indicating whether resolution of color components is one of 4:2:0 format, 4:2:2 format, and 4:4:4 format, and a color space signal indicating whether color space is one of YCbCr, RGB, and XYZ. An inverse orthogonal transform unit and an inverse quantization unit serve to also change orthogonal transform technique and quantization technique in accordance with the chroma format signal and the color space signal. A decoding unit decodes the chroma format signal and the color space signal to generate a prediction image corresponding to the chroma format signal and the color space signal.

Abstract: A photographic subject determination method includes: a binarization step of creating a plurality of binarized images of a subject image, based upon color information or luminance information in the subject image; an evaluation value calculation step of, for each of the plurality of binarized images, calculating an evaluation value that is used for specifying at least one of a position, a size, and a shape of a photographic subject within the subject image; and a photographic subject specification step of specifying at least one of the position, the size, and the shape of a photographic subject within the subject image, based upon the evaluation value.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an image information encoding apparatus adapted for performing intra-image encoding based on resolution of color components and color space of an input image signal. An intra prediction unit serves to adaptively change block size in generating a prediction image based on a chroma format signal indicating whether resolution of color components is one of 4:2:0 format, 4:2:2 format, and 4:4:4 format, and a color space signal indicating whether color space is one of YCbCr, RGB, and XYZ. An inverse orthogonal transform unit and an inverse quantization unit serve to also change orthogonal transform technique and quantization technique in accordance with the chroma format signal and the color space signal. An encoding unit encodes the chroma format signal and the color space signal to generate a prediction image corresponding to the chroma format signal and the color space signal.

Abstract: An acquisition unit acquires feature vectors (the number is N). A first selection unit selects first neighbor features (k (1?k?N)) of each feature vector in order of higher similarity from the feature vectors. A second selection unit generates a plurality of groups each including similar feature vectors from the feature vectors, and selects second neighbor features (u (1?k+u?N?2)) of each feature vector in order of higher similarity. Each of the second neighbor features is differently included in a group. A determination unit calculates a density of each feature vector by using a threshold, the first neighbor features and the second neighbor features, and determines feature vectors to be classified into the same class as each feature vector by using the density and a threshold. A classification unit classifies the feature vectors into a plurality of classes by using the selection result. A control unit controls each threshold.

Abstract: A system and method for mapping interpersonal relationships, the method including processing a multiplicity of images and contextual information relating thereto including creating and prioritizing a list of a plurality of candidate persons having at least a predetermined relationship with at least one person connected to at least one image, using multi-dimensional information including visually sensible information in the multiplicity of images and contextual information relating thereto and searching the list of a plurality of candidate persons based at least in part on the prioritizing to select at least one of the candidate persons as having at least a predetermined relationship with the at least one person.

Abstract: A pixel processing method includes: selecting a first plurality of color component values of a first plurality of pixels within a pixel block in a buffering device, performing a first color component process upon a first target pixel in the first plurality of pixels to determine a first target color component value of the first target pixel; and selecting a second plurality of color component values of a second plurality of pixels within the pixel block at the same time as the first color component process is performed, and performing a second color component process upon a second target pixel in the second plurality of pixels according to the second plurality of color component values to determine at least one underdetermined target color component value of the second target pixel, wherein the second target pixel has been processed by the first color component process.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that facilitate identifying objects in a document (e.g., a PDF document) for automatic image enhancement (AIE). A PDF document is “chunked” or segmented into chunks, and boundaries between chunks are identified as real or imaginary. Chunks sharing imaginary boundaries are combined, while real boundaries are retained, to generate “de-chunked” objects. These objects are then classified, and an AIE application is executed on objects meeting pre-specified classification criteria. In this manner, objects of r which AIE is not desired are not subjected to the AIE application, thereby saving time and processing resources associated with enhancing the document.

Abstract: A method performed by a software process executing on a computer system includes selecting a first set of pixels in a digital image in the RGB color space. The pixels are selected such that, for each pixel in the set, a red component is a highest value component and a blue component is a lowest value component. The method also includes identifying at least a subset of the first set as a region of orange hue in the digital image.

Abstract: A method for modeling an object, particularly suited to complex objects such as anatomical objects, and manipulating the modeled object in a CAD environment includes obtaining volumetric scan data of a region and segmenting the scan data to identify a first object to produce a first set of signed distance values on a grid. Wavelet analysis of the first set of signed distance values provides a function-based representation of the object. A signed distance value model of a second object is obtained, and one or both sets of signed distance values are manipulated to perform a CAD operation.

Abstract: A method for scaling an image includes providing a set of filters based upon a low-resolution data set and a high-resolution data set suitable for up-scaling a low resolution image to a high resolution image. The filters are collectively representative of at least a portion of an image space and a substantial number of the filters are representative of a different at least one selected from a volume and a shape within the image space. A low-resolution image is received and generates a corresponding high-resolution image based up the filters.

Abstract: An image enhancement method and system are provided. The image enhancement method and system are capable of improving image quality by performing gamma corrections on global and local illuminations and reflectance estimated from an input image, in consideration of dynamic range and contrast of the image, respectively. Particularly, in a case of a color image, the red, green, and blue (RGB) component images are converted into hue, saturation, and value (HSV) component images, and the global and local illuminations and reflectance estimated from the V component image. By converting the hue (H), saturation (S), and enhanced value (V) into RGB, an enhanced color image can be obtained.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing image processing. For one embodiment of the invention, an image processing apparatus is arranged to process a first relatively underexposed and sharp image of a scene, and a second relatively well exposed and blurred image, nominally of the same scene, the first and second images being derived from respective image sources. The apparatus provides a portion of the relatively first underexposed image as an input signal to an adaptive filter; and a corresponding portion of the second relatively well exposed image as a desired signal to the adaptive filter. The adaptive filter produces an output signal from the input signal and the desired signal; and an image generator constructs a first filtered image from the output signal, relatively less blurred than the second image.

Abstract: A vein authentication apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus may include an imaging unit having a plurality of imaging sections. Each imaging section may be configured to image light reflected from a vein plexus inside a finger and light transmitted through the vein plexus. The apparatus may also include an illumination source located on the same side as the imaging unit with respect to the vein plexus and configured to emit near-infrared light. The apparatus may further include a controller. The controller may be configured to perform authentication processing on the basis of an image imaged by the imaging unit and vein information previously stored. The controller may also be configured to control the illumination source such that the near-infrared light emitted from the illumination source is scattered behind a vein section corresponding to an imaging section being in an imaging period among the plurality of imaging sections.

Abstract: A method for canceling the impact of the physical property variability on the image quality performance of a digital imaging system, obtained during quality control (QC) analysis using a serial numbered quality control (QC) target by applying physical property deviation controlled behavior model corrections to the raw image quality performance. The serial numbered QC-target used for the QC analysis comprises target-specific, measured physical property data encoded in- or outside of QC-target.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating saliency models are discussed. Saliency models can be applied to visual scenes to generate predictions on which locations in the visual scenes are fixation locations and which locations are nonfixation locations. Saliency models are learned from fixation data on the visual scenes obtained from one or more subjects.

Abstract: In various embodiments, old flood maps may be compared to new flood maps to determine which areas of the flood map have changed. These changed areas may be correlated against geographic area descriptions that are within changed areas of the flood map. The changed areas may also be analyzed to determine whether each area has had a change in status (e.g., from a high risk flood zone to a non-high risk flood zone or vice versa) or a change in zone within a status (e.g., from one flood zone to another flood zone). The information on type of change (or no change) may be used to populate a database that includes geographic area description identifiers. In some embodiments, detection of certain types of changes may initiate a manual comparison of the old and new flood maps to verify the change.