Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to the creation and management of a secondary identification to avoid identify theft. Identity theft may occur over the internet, the purchase of goods and services by credit, and many other forms not yet known. The present invention creates a secondary identification for a person by creating one or more of the following secondary identifications which include a secondary email address, a secondary postal address, a secondary phone number, and any other identifying secondary information. The present invention describes methods and systems to create a secondary identification. Further, the present invention may be used to create a credit card containing the requestor's secondary identification.

Abstract: An image match-point detection apparatus has a pattern detection part, a pattern storage part, a characteristic-point extraction part and a match-point detection part. The match-point detection part determines whether the pattern numbers of the pattern information extracted as the characteristic-point pattern information for the bitmap images are identical to one another and detects a plurality of the pattern information comprising the identical pattern number, as match-point information.

Abstract: An original image including therein a predetermined periodic pattern is read out by sampling the original image at a frequency higher than a desired sampling frequency, and an initial image signal is thus obtained. The initial image signal is then re-sampled at the desired sampling frequency to generate a final image signal. The final image signal is generated so that the aliasing distortion components due to the predetermined periodic pattern come to be of a frequency not lower than a predetermined frequency.

Abstract: A face image processing apparatus, includes: a face region detecting unit configured to detect a face feature point of a person from a plurality of images picked up by a plurality of imaging units respectively, to detect a face region; a face feature extracting unit configured to extract a face feature from an image of the face region detected by the face region detecting unit; a person recognizing unit configured to calculate a similarity measure based on a face feature of a specific person being previously registered and the face feature extracted by the face feature extracting unit to recognize the person; and an output apparatus which outputs a recognition result in the person recognizing unit.

Abstract: A glass container inspection machine is disclosed for inspecting glass stippled bottles for defects. Stippled bottles are supported at an inspection station and are illuminated with a light source. The stippled bottle is imaged a pixel matrix with the pixels of the image varying in intensity from bright to gray at the points of stippling. A computer evaluates the pixels of the image including a look up table for values to be assigned to specific light intensities from light to black, the plot of the look up table having a high gain portion from black to gray and a continuous low gain portion from gray to white.

Abstract: A background color estimation system and method for estimating a background color of a scanned image. The background color estimation method includes generating a list of candidate background colors present in the image, determining the most common candidate color from the list, and designating the most common candidate background color as the estimated background color. Candidate colors are extracted from the scanned image by examining lines of pixels in the image and generating frequency distributions (such as histograms) of pixel colors within the lines. The frequency value of the most common pixel color in the frequency distribution is compared to a frequency threshold. If the frequency value is greater than the frequency threshold, the most common pixel color is considered a candidate background color. In addition, a variance of the estimated background color is obtained and can be used to intelligently select a threshold for additional image processing techniques.

Abstract: A method for processing data includes identifying a time signature of an infra-red (IR) beacon. Image data associated with the IR beacon is identified using the time signature.

Abstract: A linearizing correction unit (104) carries out a linearizing correction process on the output of an image sensor (8) based upon linearizing correction data stored in a linearizing correction data holding unit (102), and a light-irregularity correction unit (108) carries out a light-irregularity correction process on the image sensor output that has been subjected to the linearizing correction process based upon light-irregularity correction data stored in a light-irregularity correction data holding unit (106). A refection factor calculation unit (110) calculates an integral value of the in-plane reflection factor of a test piece by using the output that has been subjected to the linearizing correction and light-irregularity correction with respect to pixel outputs of the image sensor (8) obtained when the test piece having in-plane density irregularities is measured.

Abstract: A portable electronic device, a digital camera associated with the portable electronic device, and software configured to run on the portable electronic device and to derive handwriting and control information from hand motion of a writing instrument in the vicinity of the digital camera.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recognizing and searching for a face using 2nd-order independent component analysis (ICA) are provided. The method for describing feature points uses 2nd-order ICA d to describe a facial image space and improve recognition performance in various illumination conditions. According to the method and apparatus, use of pose or illumination invariant face descriptor enables retrieval of human faces and authentication of a specific individual.

Abstract: A method and system for collecting and analyzing photoemission data wherein illumination and photoemission images are acquired for a plurality of die, such as for each die on a wafer. Then, the images are overlaid, aligned, and assembled in a mosaic, thereby allowing analysis of the photoemission occurring across a plurality of die, such as across the entire wafer. Preferably, gathering this data allows statistical analysis of the photoemission such as analysis of commonly emitting locations to identify structures/cells that are sensitive to the manufacturing process.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a method of performing motion estimation for an array of image values obtained from a current image. The method starts with an initial estimate of the motion of the current image. The method then determines whether the initial estimate of the motion of the current image array between the current image and a reference image is acceptable. If not, the method specifies a first value for a parameter for performing the motion estimation. Otherwise, the method specifies a second value for the parameter. The method then performs a motion estimation operation based on the specified value of the parameter. One example of a specified parameter is the size of the window that the motion estimation operation uses. Another example is the starting level for a hierarchical motion estimation operation that it performs. A hierarchical motion estimation operation searches the reference frame at several different levels of granularity.

Abstract: In a method for monitoring a thermodynamic process in an installation, in which image material (5) of the process is produced and the image material (5) is subjected to image evaluation, an eigen value problem approach is used, at least in large part, for automatic image evaluation.

Abstract: A data classifier classifies a plurality of input pattern data into one or more clusters. For each pattern data, a cluster to which the pattern data belongs is provisionally determined. For each cluster, a predetermined correlation value is calculated between one or more pattern data belonging to the cluster and observational pattern data which is a target to be classified into a cluster. A cluster to which the observational pattern data belongs is determined based on the correlation values.

Abstract: An image input device 1 includes a rotating roller 4 supported so as to be freely rotatable around a rotational axis thereof, wherein the roller 4 includes a line image sensor 3 and a Selfoc lens array 6 which are mounted not to rotate in the rotating roller 4 by a holder 51. The holder 51 functions as a light guide to introduce the light emitted from light emitting elements 52 to a finger 200 which is pressed against the peripheral surface of the rotating roller 4. Selfoc lens array 6 forms a one-dimensional optical image of the portion of the finger 200 which is in contact with the peripheral surface of the rotating roller 4, on the line image sensor 3, so that the line image sensor 3 obtains the one-dimensional optical image. Then, the one-dimensional optical images are combined by a composite buffer 15 in order, to create a two-dimensional optical image of the finger 200.

Abstract: A face model having outer and inner facial features is matched to that of first and second models. Each facial feature of the first and second models is represented by plurality of points that are adjusted for each matching outer and inner facial feature of the first and second models using 1) the corresponding epipolar constraint for the inner features of the first and second models. 2) Local grey-level structure of both outer and inner features of the first and second models. The matching and the adjusting are repeated, for each of the first and second models, until the points for each of the outer and inner facial features on the respective first and second models that are found to match that of the face model have a relative offset there between of not greater than a predetermined convergence tolerance. The inner facial features can include a pair of eyes, a nose and a mouth. The outer facial features can include a pair of eyebrows and a silhouette of the jaw, chin, and cheeks.

Abstract: An image processing method and an image processing apparatus are disclosed, in which curved linear objects and uneven linear objects as well as rectilinear objects can be detected easily and accurately. Edge pixels P1 extracted from a gray-scale image to be processed are sequentially considered to search for an edge pixel having an opposite direction of density gradient to each of the edge pixels P1 within the range of a predetermined length W along the direction orthogonal to the edges. Once an edge pixel P2 meeting these conditions is extracted, a line segment having a length L is set extending in the direction C parallel to the edge of the edge pixels P1 from an intermediate point Q between the extracted edge pixel P2 and the edge pixel P1 under consideration.

Abstract: A statistical formulation estimates two-dimensional human pose from single images. This is based on a Markov network and on inferring pose parameters from cues such as appearance, shape, edge, and color. A data-driven belief propagation Monte Carlo algorithm performs efficient Bayesian inferencing within a rigorous statistical framework. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the method in estimating human pose from single images.

Abstract: Feature locations are determined in an array image obtained from reading a chemical array comprising multiple features arranged in a polygon and which array optionally includes sub-arrays within the array. A complete image of the array or a sub-array is presented on a display. Magnified images of corner regions of the displayed complete image are simultaneously presented on the display with the complete image. A user selection of corners for the array or sub-array are received and an array or sub-array actual outline is generated by linearly connecting the user selected corners. The generated actual outline is presented on the magnified image and may also be simultaneously presented on the complete image. Feature locations in the array or sub-array image may be determined based on the actual outline.

Abstract: A method of processing one or more detected signal images each acquired from a field of view of a chemical array reader. A location correction is determined based on different detected signals at different image regions which represent regions in the field of view having the same actual signal. Alternatively or additionally, a location correction is applied to a detected signal at an image region. The location correction reduces detected signal discrepancy between different regions in an acquired image which represent different regions in the field of view having the same actual signal. An array reading system and computer program products are also provided.