Abstract: An image processing apparatus including an image storage for storing image data is disclosed. A first managing section generates first management information for managing the image data, which are to be stored in the image storage, on a single unit image basis. A second managing section generates second management data for managing one or more unit images as a single image file. An image data managing method for the image processing apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a defect detection method and its apparatus which can adjust sensitivity easily by managing both reduction in the number of false reports and highly-sensitive detection of a defect using single threshold value setting in comparison inspection that compares an image to be inspected with a reference image to detect a defect judging from a difference between the images. According to the present invention, adjusting the brightness before inspection so that a difference becomes small at the edges of a high-contrast pattern in a target image enables reduction in the number of false reports caused by an alignment error, and achievement of highly-sensitive defect inspection using a low threshold value, without increasing the threshold value.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting and tracking humans, such as pedestrians, in low visibility conditions or otherwise. A night vision camera periodically captures a an infrared image of a road from a single perspective. A pedestrian detection module determines a position of a pedestrian in the frame by processing the captured image. The pedestrian detection module includes a support vector machine to compare information derived from the night vision camera to a training database. A pedestrian tracking module estimates pedestrian movement of the detected pedestrian from in subsequent frames by applying filters. The tracking module uses Kalman filtering to estimate pedestrian movement at periodic times and mean-shifting to adjust the estimation. An output display module interleaves detection frames and tracking frames in generating output video for the display.

Abstract: Compression and reconstruction of a digital image are both performed by accessing a plurality of color caches corresponding to different chromatic contexts, selecting a color cache for a pixel value being processed, and using information in the selected color cache to predict a value for the pixel being processed.

Abstract: A system and method for editing digital images are described. The system for editing digital images forms an image template containing a selected record of one or more image editing operations performed on a first image to obtain a first edited image. The image template also contains the first edited image. The system then applies the image template to one or more second images.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extracting information from symbolically compressed document images. A deciphering module generates first and second text strings by deciphering respective sequences of template identifiers in first and second symbolically compressed document images. A conditional n-gram module receives the first and second text strings from the deciphering module and extracts n-gram terms therefrom based on a predicate condition. A comparison module generates a measure of similarity between the first and second symbolically compressed document images based on the n-gram terms extracted by the conditional n-gram module.

Abstract: The image processing device 1 generates edge image data from input image data, measures the distances between edge pixels in the main and secondary scanning direction, and interpolates between the edge pixels where said distances are less than a specified number of pixels in order to generate connecting edge image data of a group of connecting edge pixels. Next, it extracts a rectangular area circumscribing said group of connecting edge pixels as a local area, extracts diagonal direction edge components of said input image data that belong to said local area, and identifies said local area if the content of said diagonal direction edge components is within a specified range. The image processing device according to the present invention makes it possible to identify character areas correctly even in case of character images on complex color area reproduced by a screen, etc., and also extract character areas without causing problems such as partially missing defective characters.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a retrieval method for searching a first character element string obtained by subjecting a character string to character recognition for a second character element string. The first character element string includes a first character element and the second character element string includes a second character element. A distance relevant to a similarity between the first character element and the second character element is predetermined between the first character element and the second character element. The retrieval method comprises the steps of comparing the distance with a predetermined reference distance, and determining whether the second character element matches the first character element based on a result of the comparison of the distance with the predetermined reference distance.

Abstract: A method and system for discovering from a database an object which is confusingly similar with a known object. A database, such as the internet, is searched for objects which, when discovered, may be duplicated and stored. A determination is then made if any object from the database is confusingly similar with a known object. A computer-readable storage medium storing program for causing a processing system to perform the steps of duplicating objects from a database to produce duplicated objects; storing the duplicated produce to produce stored duplicated objects; and determining if any stored duplicated object is confusingly similar with a known object.

Abstract: A method and apparatus generates data concerning a partition of land such as farmland based on an observation image of the surface of the earth photographed by a high-altitude flying vehicle such as a satellite or airplane at high speed while reducing the burden on the user. The method comprises the steps of extracting edges in the observation image; extracting a rectangle region on the image by determining and connecting points of intersection of a plurality of straight lines extending radially from a point on the image and the edges; and adjusting the extracted rectangle region by refining and correcting it.

Abstract: A print (e.g., on paper) user interface (PUI) device for decoding an embedded message to activate a function is described. The PUI can be used for transforming an embedded message into cognizable human sensory inputs. The device includes a reader and a processor. The reader can sense light from a pattern of pixels on a printed surface and determines the pixel values of the pixels. The pattern of pixels constitutes a foreground visual image that conveys cognizable information to an observer. The primary function of the embedded message need not be to launch a Web-site but to display more information related to the cognizable information.

Abstract: A video segment is processed to identify frames representing shot boundaries in the video segment. Initially, a partial block-based comparison technique is used to determine the amount of change (i.e., a first difference) that occurs between a pair of distant (i.e., not consecutive) frames. Additionally, edge and/or color differences are computed between the pair of frames to confirm that a change has occurred. If the change is confirmed, a step variable technique is used to locate the change between two consecutive frames between the distant frames. If the partial block-based comparison technique obtains a difference between the consecutive frames that exceeds the first threshold, then an abrupt change is detected. Otherwise, the edge and/or color differences are used to determine whether a gradual transition has occurred.

Abstract: When authentication data of a person O to be authenticated is registered as dictionary data, this authentication data of the person to be authenticated is acquired and collated with the registered dictionary data. In accordance with the collation result, the dictionary data is updated.

Abstract: A multilevel Chain-And-Tree model provides a framework for an image based decision system. The decision system enables separation of effects of defects within one component from other components within a common subject. The framework provides for linking of structure constraints of components of a common subject and for checking and resolving their consistency. The framework allows discrimination between subtle image changes and natural variations of the subject. The framework for standard data representation facilitates production process control.

Abstract: A method for automatically recognizing one or more structures in digitized image date includes determining sub-jets of the image graph at the nodes defined by its structure. The sub-jets correspond to at least part of the determined sub-jets of the specific reference graph. The projection of the net-like structure of the specific reference varies until a graph comparison function, which compares the jets of the image graph with the corresponding jets of the specific graph, becomes optimal. The structure is associated with a reference image corresponding to the reference graph for which the graph comparison function is optimal, with respect to the optimal image graph determined for the reference graph.

Abstract: An edge detection system and method implement a recursive polar algorithm process to generate an edge image from an input image. The edge detection system may include a polar filter to recursively perform low-pass filtering along edge contours of a gradient pixel grid and generate a gradient image output. An edge thinner may be included to find gradient field peaks along a direction of gradient vectors of the gradient image output and generate thinned gradient pixels. An edge path segmenter may group the thinned gradient pixels into edge segments, and a segment classifier may determine whether the edge segments are edge paths or clutter. The edge detection system and method may improve automated image processing in medical diagnostics, reconnaissance, missile guidance, hazard or threat warning systems, security systems, access control systems (e.g., face recognition), navigation, geographic mapping, manufacturing quality inspection, robot vision, and search and rescue.

Abstract: A method and system for performing automated biological identification. The system including a preprocessing module with a histogram transform for locally and globally enhancing biological data such as fingerprints. An enhancement module with a fast smoothing and enhancement function. A feature extraction module with a fingerprint oriented thinning function. A matching module with a resolution-enhanced Hough transform function for fingerprint registration and matching score function.

Abstract: An object detection system for detecting instances of an object in a digital image includes an image integrator and an object detector, which includes a classifier (classification function) and image scanner. The image integrator receives an input image and calculates an integral image representation of the input image. The image scanner scans the image in same sized subwindows. The object detector uses a cascade of homogenous classification functions or classifiers to classify the subwindows as to whether each subwindow is likely to contain an instance of the object. Each classifier evaluates one or more features of the object to determine the presence of such features in a subwindow that would indicate the likelihood of an instance of the object in the subwindow.

Abstract: A method and apparatus (10) for determining a best focus position of an object (30) relative to a reference position (e.g., axis A) of a dark-field optical imaging system (20), with an effective focusing range up to 10 times of the depth of field of the system. The method includes the steps of first forming a dark-field image of the object at different focus positions (zm). Each dark-field image has a corresponding image intensity distribution with an average intensity and a variance of intensity. The next step is forming a set of contrast values by calculating a contrast value (Cm) for each dark-field image based on the variance and the average intensity. The last step is determining the best focus position by fitting a Lorentzian function to the set of contrast values plotted as a function of the different focus positions and identifying the focus position associated with the maximum contract value (Cmax).

Abstract: A method for inspecting a display panel includes capturing images of a portion of a plurality of display panels having display elements with an image acquisition device having sensor elements, each image comprising an image of approximately a first number of display elements captured with approximately a second number of sensor elements, the first number different from the second number, each image including a Moiré artifact pattern, combining the images of the portion of the plurality of display panels to form a reference image including a Moiré artifact pattern reference, capturing a sample image of a portion of a sample display panel having display elements with the image acquisition device, the sample image comprising an image of approximately the first number of display elements on the sample display captured with approximately the second number of sensor elements, the sample image including a sample Moiré artifact pattern, combining the sample image with the reference image to inhibit the sample Moiré a