Abstract: Systems and methods for recognizing a face are disclosed and includes receiving images of faces; generating feature vectors of the images; generating clusters of feature vectors each with a centroids or a cluster representative; for a query to search for a face, generating corresponding feature vectors for the face and comparing the feature vector with the centroids of all clusters; for clusters above a similarity threshold, comparing cluster members with the corresponding feature vector; and indicating as matching candidates for cluster members with similarity above a threshold.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose method and apparatus for processing a depth image. The method comprises: obtaining the depth image and a captured image corresponding to the depth image; segmenting the depth image to obtain a plurality of segmentation units; calculating a corresponding depth reference value for each segmentation unit; determining a standard range of depth value for the each segmentation unit based on the corresponding depth reference value; and adjusting a depth value of each pixel of the depth image to the standard range of depth value corresponding to the segmentation unit in which the each pixel is located. The method and the apparatus of embodiments of the present invention can improve the quality of the depth image and cause the depth image to be easily identified.

Abstract: A method is provided for recognition of a sky portion, a vertical object portion and a ground portion in an image. The image into a plurality of pixel sets by the electronic system. Expected values of each pixel sets with a sky distribution function, a vertical object distribution function and a ground distribution function by the electronic system are calculated and compared for each pixel set for determine each pixel set belonging to one of the sky portion, the vertical object portion or the ground portion.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing multi-layer reversible data hiding are disclosed. According to the methods and systems, multi-layer reversible data hiding process may be implemented in two stages. The first stage provides embedding of the sensitive data on a secret layer and hiding the secret layer behind single or multiple layers for secure transmission for intended recipient. Subsequently, the second stage is concerned about retrieving or extracting the hidden sensitive data through proper authentication. In the extraction process, the recipient needs to provide the right authentication code for each of embedded layer in order to reach to the secret layer. Upon unsuccessful authentication of any embedded layer, the proposed method enables an intelligent security technique termed as SMART (Suspect Malicious Activity on Rich Tract), which ensures to protect the sensitive data by suspecting the attempts of theft and intrusion.

Abstract: Provided are a method and an apparatus for recognizing a tire by using an image of a tire captured by using a terminal. The apparatus recognizes a tire by converting an image of a round tire included in the image into a linear image, extracting an area of a character to be recognized from the linear image, and determining a character for learning, which is most similar to the extracted area of the character to be recognized from among a pre-constructed group of characters for learning, as a character in the area of the character to be recognized.

Abstract: Techniques for weather information extraction using image data are described herein. In accordance with the present disclosure, economical weather data collection devices may be installed in any places on the earth, and form a dense network of weather data collection devices. Preferably, these weather data collection devices include image capture components that may capture series of sequential images over time (i.e., image streams) from any particular locations. The disclosed techniques include extracting a sky portion from a series of time-sequenced images. The extracted sky portion may be used for determining cloud coverage, a sun track, and so on, thereby enabling to provide accurate weather forecast as well as other weather data mining abilities.

Abstract: A mechanism is described for facilitating management of image noise in digital images using a smart noise management filter according to one embodiment. A method of embodiments, as described herein, includes detecting a digital image of an object, where detecting further includes detecting a pattern signal associated with the digital image. The method may further include measuring a spread function relating to at least one of the digital image and an imaging system of a computing device, where measuring further includes determining deconvolution of the spread function, and where measuring further includes computing a pre-shaping filter based on the deconvolution of the spread function. The method may further include executing the pre-shaping filter to apply the pattern signal to the deconvolution of the spread function to obtain a pre-shaped projection pattern of the digital image.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image processor includes a processor. The processor implements acquiring a first image and first information. The first information indicates a condition of a first projection surface. The first information includes a first color gamut of the first projection surface. The processor implements deriving a second color gamut according to the first color gamut derived by using the first information. The processor implements converting a chromaticity of the first image to obtain a second image. Each pixel of the second image has a color included in the second color gamut. The processor implements generating a first converted image by correcting the second image based on the first color gamut.

Abstract: A unified image processing algorithm results in better post-processing quality for combined images that are made up of multiple single-capture images. To ensure that each single-capture image is processed in the context of the entire combined image, the combined image is analyzed to determine portions of the image (referred to as “zones”) that should be processed with the same parameters for various image processing algorithms. These zones may be determined based on the content of the combined image. Alternatively, these zones may be determined based on the position of each single-capture image with respect to the entire combined image or the other single-capture images. Once zones and their corresponding image processing parameters are determined for the combined image, they are translated to corresponding zones each of the single-capture images. Finally, the image processing algorithms are applied to each of the single-capture images using the zone-specified parameters.

Abstract: A method for efficiently grouping electronic documents that are likely textual near-duplicates includes processing first and second electronic documents to determine respective sets of character sequence counts. The processing may include, for each document, identifying a plurality of non-contiguous character sequences expressed within the document text, with each character sequence including at least one character from each of at least two different words in the text, and determining character sequence counts for each unique character sequence within the identified character sequences. The method also includes generating one or more similarity metrics, at least by comparing the sets of character sequence counts determined for the first and second electronic documents. The method may also include using the similarity metric(s) to calculate a similarity score, and assigning, based on the similarity score, the second electronic document to a same document group as the first electronic document.

Abstract: An improved method for verifying whether a character-recognition technology has correctly identified which characters are represented by character images involves displaying the uncertain character images in place of their respective hypothesis characters in a document being read a verifier. The verifier may mark incorrectly spelled words containing the uncertain character images. Based on the markings, a system adjusts a confidence level associated with the hypothesis about the uncertain character in order to obtain a confirmed hypothesis linked to the uncertain character.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for selecting an image dynamic range conversion operator from among a set of image dynamic range conversion operators by optimizing a quality criterion, each image dynamic range conversion operator being applied to an original image to obtain an image, called the modified image, whose dynamic range is lower than that of the original image, wherein said quality criterion is calculated, for each image dynamic range conversion operator, as a function of a distortion calculated from a reconstructed version after coding and decoding the original image modified by said image dynamic range conversion operator.

Abstract: Techniques for a system, article, and method of low-complexity histogram of gradients generation for image processing may include histogram of gradients generation for image processing including the following operations: obtaining image data including horizontal and vertical gradient components of individual pixels of an image; associating the horizontal and vertical gradient components of the same pixel with one of a plurality of angular channels depending on the values of the horizontal and vertical gradient components; determining a gradient magnitude and a gradient orientation of individual angular channels after the horizontal and vertical gradient components are assigned to the channels; and generating a histogram of gradients by using the gradient direction and gradient magnitude of the angular channels.

Abstract: A method and system for image processing is disclosed. An image processing system disposed on a data processing system generates a first thumbnail corresponding to an original image in response to an image display request. The image processing system decodes a first thumbnail in order to display the first thumbnail. The image processing displays the decoded first thumbnail on the data processing system. Region information corresponding to the first thumbnail is generated in the operation of decoding the first thumbnail. The region information indicates locations of a plurality of regions forming the original image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for segmenting an object from a three-dimensional image are disclosed. According to the method, first, a surface of the object is estimated using scale estimation processes such as Laplacian-of-Gaussian filters in one, two or three dimensions. Second, the estimated surface is transformed by having a shrink function applied to it independently in each dimension to give a regularly shaped (preferably substantially spherical), non-isotropic shape. The object is segmented from the volume around it, and is inverse-transformed to obtain the original shape, which shape is then isolated from the image volume.

Abstract: The invention provides a method, server apparatus and terminal apparatus for providing an image, which can achieve an image search in accordance with a color, helps to make a user obtain an image of a color desired thereby, and can help a buyer to obtain a product of a color desired thereby in a comparatively accurate manner upon an application to the e-commerce field. The method comprises: a server receiving analysis data of color main components of an image to be inquired transmitted by a terminal device, then comparing the analysis data of the color main components of the image to be inquired with analysis data of color main components of a plurality of images in an image database, and transmitting identifications of the plurality of images having the greatest degree of similarity of a main color tone to the image to be inquired in the image database to the terminal device so that the terminal device acquires the images in accordance with the identifications.

Abstract: Enhanced defect detection of a sample includes acquiring two or more inspection images from a sample from two or more locations of the sample for a first optical mode. The defect detection also generates an aggregated defect profile based on the two or more inspection images from the two or more locations for the first optical mode for a selected defect type and calculating one or more noise correlation characteristics of the two or more inspection images acquired from the two or more locations for the first optical mode. Defect detection further includes the generation of a matched filter for the first optical mode based on the generated aggregated defect profile and the calculated one or more noise correlation characteristics.

Abstract: A method for detecting texts included in a specific image is disclosed. The method includes steps of: (a) an apparatus detecting or allowing another device to detect one or more text candidates in the specific image by referring to feature values of pixels in the specific image; (b) the apparatus classifying or allowing another device to classify one or more weak texts in the specific image as strong texts by referring to information on at least one text classified as the strong text in another image related to the specific image if more than a certain percentage of the detected text candidates are classified as the weak texts as a result of comparison between at least one threshold value and at least one feature value of at least one pixel selected in a region where the detected text candidates are included or a value converted from the feature value.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods, and computer storage media directed at image synthesis utilizing an active mask. In one embodiment, input is received that identifies a target region within an image that is to be synthesized. A patch synthesis technique can then be performed to synthesize the target region based on portions of a source region that are identified by the patch synthesis technique. In embodiments, the patch synthesis technique includes, for at least one iteration, generating an active mask that indicates one or more portions of the target region as inactive. This active mask can be utilized by at least one process of the patch synthesis technique to ignore the one or more portions indicated as inactive by the active mask for the at least one iteration of the patch synthesis technique. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an image processing method and apparatus, where the method includes: determining a Gaussian mixture model of a first area in a first image, where the first area belongs to a background area of the first image, and the first image is a first frame of image in a video; determining a distance from a first pixel in a second image to the Gaussian mixture model; and when the distance from the first pixel to the Gaussian mixture model is less than or equal to a first preset threshold, determining that the first pixel belongs to a background area of the second image. In the embodiments of the present invention, an area to which a pixel belongs can be directly determined according to a distance from the pixel to a Gaussian mixture model, so that image foreground segmentation can be completed efficiently.