Abstract: A “Finite Element Preconditioner” provides locally adapted hierarchical basis functions for preconditioning large data optimization problems. For example, a few of the many typical graphics applications that make use of iterative optimization solutions include tone mapping, gradient domain blending, colorization, and scattered data interpolation. Preconditioning image data for such optimization problems allows those image optimization problems to be solved using less computational overhead and therefore to produce better quality image outputs with less computational overhead. The Finite Element Preconditioner evaluates data, such as image data, to adapt hierarchical basis functions to inhomogeneous problems for preconditioning large optimization problems.

Abstract: A system and method synthesizing images of a locale to generate a composite image that provide a panoramic view of the locale. A video camera moves along a street recording images of objects along the street. A GPS receiver and inertial navigation system provide the position of the camera as the images are being recorded. The images are indexed with the position data provided by the GPS receiver and inertial navigation system. The composite image is created on a column-by-column basis by determining which of the acquired images contains the desired pixel column, extracting the pixels associated with the column, and stacking the columns side by side. The composite images are stored in an image database and associated with a street name and number range of the street being depicted in the image. The image database covers a substantial amount of a geographic area allowing a user to visually navigate the area from a user terminal.

Abstract: A system and method for managing the archival and retention of data in a multiple-node PACS network. Data is distributed among network nodes such that a secondary node will not delete a received image study it has received from a primary node if the primary node is an originating source. Instead, the secondary node will execute data retention. Data retention is achieved by including a delete retention attribute within the metadata associated with the received image data on the secondary node and requiring that the secondary node enforce data retention if a data retention attribute is identified within the metadata stored on the secondary node.

Abstract: A method for non-rigid multi-modal registration of digitized images includes providing a reference image and an alignment images acquired from different imaging modalities to a graphics processing unit (GPU), initializing a deformation field for registering said reference image and said alignment image, computing marginal and joint intensity histograms of the reference image and the alignment image as registered by said deformation field, computing gradients of the reference and registered alignment images and of their respective marginal and joint intensity histograms, smoothing said histograms and gradients using Gaussian filters, calculating a new deformation field using said smoothed gradients, and registering said alignment image to said reference image using said deformation field.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for unobtrusively estimating the characteristics of a projection surface, in order to correct the distortion of images resulting from the characteristics of the projection surface in the case of a projector. The method includes projecting at least one reference pixel and at least one counterbalance pixel corresponding to the reference pixel onto consecutive image frames, and correcting an image frame to be projected using correction information determined based on photographic information of the reference pixel.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that facilitate grey level magnification to improve details and contrast for a dark scene of video on a digital display system. Preferably implemented over a limited pixel level range, the video enhancement process counts the number of pixels corresponding to each level within the range in a frame and then, based on the percent level distribution of the pixels, calculates the stack of percentage distribution. From the stack of percentage distribution, a transformation process is performed to reassign the pixel values over a dark level range and to expand the distribution of the pixels. The result of transformation enhances the details and contrast of the dark area significantly without affecting the bright scene. By only applying the algorithm to dark scenes, computation loads are reduced compared with some of the full picture processing methods. Lower computational loads are important to reduce motion artifacts in high speed video applications.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method adaptively compresses the dynamic range of an image from a sensor by rescaling the value of every pixel to fit within the dynamic range of a low dynamic range display while preserving local image contrast and global scene appearance.

Abstract: Methods for pre-processing video sequences prior to compression to provide data reduction of the video sequence. Also, after compression of the pre-processed video sequence, the bit rate of the pre-processed and compressed video sequence will be lower than the bit rate of the video sequence after compression but without pre-processing. Pre-processing may include spatial anisotropic diffusion filtering such as Perona-Malik filtering, Fallah-Ford filtering, or omni-directional filtering that extends Perona-Malik filtering to perform filtering in at least one diagonal direction. Pre-processing may also include performing filtering differently on a foreground region than on a background region of a video frame. This method includes identifying pixel locations having pixel values matching characteristics of human skin and determining a bounding shape for each contiguous grouping of matching pixel locations.

Abstract: A system and method synthesizing images of a locale to generate a composite image that provide a panoramic view of the locale. A video camera moves along a street recording images of objects along the street. A GPS receiver and inertial navigation system provide the position of the camera as the images are being recorded. The images are indexed with the position data provided by the GPS receiver and inertial navigation system. The composite image is created on a column-by-column basis by determining which of the acquired images contains the desired pixel column, extracting the pixels associated with the column, and stacking the columns side by side. The composite images are stored in an image database and associated with a street name and number range of the street being depicted in the image. The image database covers a substantial amount of a geographic area allowing a user to visually navigate the area from a user terminal.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide methods and systems for use in transforming content, such as multimedia content. Some embodiments provide method for use in image compression. These methods receive digital image data comprising a plurality of pixel data, separate the plurality of pixel data of the digital image data according to color components, condense the pixel data of the same color component defining a plurality of condensed pixel data each corresponding with a color component, cooperate the condensed pixel data defining representative image data, and transform the representative image data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating a magnified composite image of a microscope specimen comprises making error corrections for imprecise movements of the specimen relative to an objective lens when capturing data for first and second images. A correction offset is computed based on a comparison of data for overlapped portions of the first and second images and then the specimen is moved through a distance modified by the correction offset for capture of a subsequent tiled image. Image center portions are retained as the data structure tile. The area about the center portion is used to align images and to compensate for stage inaccuracies and to provide a feedback signal for a drive system. Differences in X, Y coordinates for macro and micro view images may be used as navigation offsets to view a selected point for the micro image marked on the macro image.

Abstract: A method including acquiring images of medical slides at a plurality of different focus positions, determining a position which produces a maximum value of pixel values relative to a pixel value mean, wherein said determining comprises using a pixel value mean as a coarse estimate of coarse focus position, and subsequently refining said coarse focus position to find a fine focus position, and wherein said refining comprises fitting to a polynomial, and using a specified portion of the polynomial as a fine estimate of focus position, and producing a focus control signal that is related to said maximum value to control a focus position.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus detects personal information, (a name, a contact address or the like) from image data obtained by scanning a document. Personal information stored in a database, or DB personal information, associated with an and retrieved personal information have a difference and the DB personal information is information later than the personal information detected from the image data then the personal information in the image data is modified with the retrieved DB personal information.

Abstract: A method of reducing noise in an image comprises decomposing the image to generate wavelet coefficients at different scales. The wavelet coefficients are then modified based on the energy of the wavelet coefficients at the different scales. The image is reconstructed based on the modified wavelet coefficients.

Abstract: A system and method for flare cancellation and image contrast restoration includes generating a histogram of pixel response values of pixels of an image and generating an adjustment signal having a luminance adjustment value responsive to the histogram. The system and method also includes adjusting the pixel response values of pixels of the image responsive to the adjustment signal to produce an adjusted image.

Abstract: There is provided an image outputting apparatus for generating an album by selecting adequate images for an appreciator out of a plurality of images.

Abstract: The method includes the following units: a coefficient number detecting unit (109) for detecting the number of coefficients which has a value other than 0 for each block according to the generated coefficient, a coefficient number storing unit (110) for storing the number of coefficients detected, a coefficient number coding unit (111) for selecting a table for variable length coding based on the numbers of coefficients in the coded blocks located on the periphery of a current block to be coded with reference to the selected table for variable length coding so as to perform variable length coding for the number of coefficients.

Abstract: A method of sharpening a full-color image of a scene includes capturing an image of the scene using a two-dimensional sensor array having both color and panchromatic pixels; forming the full-color image in response to the captured color pixels and forming a reference panchromatic image in response to the captured panchromatic pixels; forming a high-frequency panchromatic image from the reference panchromatic image; and providing a sharpened full-color image in response to the high-frequency panchromatic image and the full-color image.

Abstract: An apparatus includes unit acquiring, from an image source, an image represented by pixel values indicating brightness levels, unit setting, as a reference frame, one frame, unit sequentially setting, to be target pixels, each of pixels in one or more frames, unit setting target-image regions including the target pixels, unit searching the reference frame for similar-target-image regions similar to each of the target-image regions in a change pattern of pixel values, unit selecting, from the similar-target-image regions, corresponding points corresponding to each of the target pixels, unit setting sample values concerning brightness at the corresponding points to a pixel value of a target pixel corresponding to the corresponding points, and unit computing pixel values in a high-resolution image corresponding to the reference frame, based on the sample values and the corresponding points, the high-resolution image containing a larger number of pixels than pixels in the reference frame.

Abstract: A method of compensating for distortion within a composite image is disclosed. A biometric surface is sensed with a swipe imager. The images so provided are assembled into a composite image of the biometric surface. The composite image is then adjusted by insertion or deletion of rows therein to result in an image with a different number of rows.