Abstract: Disclosed is a computer-assisted method for analyzing the surroundings of a display device. At least two different patterns are displayed successively on a display device connected to a computer. A camera is also connected to the computer and is directed towards objects in front of the display device. Each time a pattern is displayed on the display device, at least one image of the surroundings is captured. The captured images are combined to create a difference image. The difference image is analyzed to interpret the objects in the surroundings. For example, calculations may be performed to segment the foreground from the background of the surroundings or to estimate the range (distance) of the objects from the display device. An apparatus for performing this computer-assisted method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A dividing portion divides input image data into a plurality of block data, a block expressed by each of said plurality of block data comprising a pixel matrix of the same predetermined size. A transform portion transforms each of the plurality of block data by a frequency transform method so as to produce a transform factor. A quantizing portion, having a plurality of quantization tables, quantizes the transform factor using one of the plurality of quantization tables. An encoding portion encodes an output of the quantizing portion. A reverse transform portion restores image data from the output of the quantizing portion. A measuring portion measures an error between the input image data and the image data restored by the reverse transform portion. The quantizing portion quantizes the transform factor again using another one of the plurality of quantization tables when the error measured by the measuring portion exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: When a user enters control information for controlling a printing device, the information is stored in a user information storage unit. All combinations of items of the control information capable of being set by the user and values of items incapable of being set by the user, these having been selected so as to be the optimum values for the combinations, are stored as preset values in a combined information storage unit. An information storage unit compares a value in the user information storage unit with a value in the combined information storage unit. If a combination for which agreement is achieved is found in the combined information storage unit, this value is stored in a printing information storage unit and transmitted to the printing device. Thus, an optimum value can be selected and sent to the printing device even with regard to an item incapable of being selected by the user.

Abstract: A threshold value assigning unit assigns a threshold value corresponding to color information of a considered pixel. A labeling unit compares color information of adjacent pixels and assigns the pixels the same label when the distance between the color information of the pixels is less than a threshold value assigned by the threshold value assigning unit.

Abstract: An image authentication method by embedding digital watermarks into images, comprising: providing an original image and a watermark image; applying pseudo-random permutations to the watermark image for generating a dispersed watermark image; applying block-based permutations to the original image and the dispersed watermark image in order to form a plurality of original image blocks with each of the watermark blocks dispersed over the corresponding image block only; applying FDCT (Forward Discrete Cosine Transform) on each of the original image blocks independently so that each of the original image blocks is transformed into a DCT coefficient block that corresponds to different frequency ranges; embedding said watermark image blocks into said DCT coefficient blocks, in order to form a plurality of combined DCT coefficient blocks; applying IDCT (Inverse Discrete Cosine Transform) to the combined DCT coefficient blocks to form an embedded watermark image.

Abstract: Images may be decomposed into separate layers each containing a limited number of types of image element (text, line art, or photographic). Each layer can then be compressed separately with a process that is optimal for the type of image element included in the layer. Images are decomposed into foreground, background, and mask layers. A method is provided for generating the out-of-layer pixels and, as a result, generating a layer having a limited color palette that is to be compressed with a palette based lossless compression method. A plurality of neighboring pixels is identified for each pixel selected from the image. If the neighboring pixels are out-of-layer pixels, the spatially corresponding pixel in the decomposition layer is assigned a default value. If the neighboring pixels include in-layer pixels, the pixel of the decomposition layer spatially corresponding to the selected pixel is assigned the predominant color of the in-layer neighbors.

Abstract: A document contains zones in which to write at least one character per zone, and directions as to the information that is required in the zones. The directions are printed in the zones such that the written characters constituting the required information overlap the printed directions.

Abstract: An image processor that calculates values that are related to distortion between two image parts. The values are detected in a previous calculation. Those values are then used in the next calculation cycle to detect an early exit. That value, called least, divided by the number of accumulators, and its negative is loaded into the accumulators. When the accumulators reach zero, an early exit is established.

Abstract: An iris registration unit being capable of preventing a double registration of a same person is provided. An iris degree of similarity judging device, when iris data to be newly registered is inputted into an iris data base, is adapted to judge similarity to all registered iris data stored in the iris data base. Only when the result of the judgement shows that no registered iris data having similarity exceeding a degree of predetermined similarity exist, the inputted iris data is allowed to be registered in the iris data base.

Abstract: A filtering circuit for image signal processing has a high frequency filtering circuit and a low frequency filtering circuit. The high frequency filtering circuit only includes one adder to obtain a high frequency component. The low frequency filtering circuit includes one adder and utilizes the high frequency component generated by the high frequency filtering circuit to obtain a low frequency component.

Abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of a cell includes adjusting a current set of projection images according to a priori knowledge to produce adjusted projection images, for example, based on probability masks and/or Bayesian analysis of multiple similar objects in the same sample. A reconstruction algorithm processes the adjusted projection images to generate a 3D image. The 3D image is further adjusted according to the a priori knowledge to generate an adjusted 3D image. Criteria for process completion are applied to determine whether the adjusted 3D image is adequate. Otherwise, a set of pseudo projections are computationally created at the same projection angles as the current set of projection images and then compared to the current set of projection images to produce a set of new projections, wherein the new projections are input again to the reconstruction algorithm and the steps of the method are repeated until the adequacy criteria are met.

Abstract: A method and system for coding a RGB image in an encoder and a decoder. In the encoder, the RGB image components are converted into YUV components. One or more of the lower bit-planes of YUV components are eliminated before the YUV components are transformed by forward wavelet transform and coded into a codestream for transmission. In the decoder, the codestream is decoded and transformed by inverse wavelet transform into a set of reconstructed YUV components. The bit-planes of these reconstructed YUV components are up-shifted so that the up-shifted YUV components are structurally equivalent to the original YUV components before they are adjusted in the encoder. However, the lower bit-planes that come into being due to the up-shifting are all set to zero. The up-shifted YUV components are then converted into the RGB component of the reconstructed image.

Abstract: A digital watermark inserting system for inserting digital watermark information into an input image is disclosed, that comprises a categorizing portion 103 for calculating a feature amount of the input image, categorizing the input image to a category index, a digital watermark characteristic calculating portion 104 for calculating an image deteriorating ratio and a robustness evaluation value corresponding to a digital watermark strength based on a robustness evaluation value calculation parameter and the category index, a digital watermark strength calculating portion 100 for outputting the digital watermark strength to the portion 104, deciding the optimum digital watermark strength based on digital watermark strength restriction information, and outputting the optimum digital watermark strength, and a digital watermark inserting portion 102 for converting input embedding data into digital watermark information, inserting the digital watermark information into the input image.

Abstract: An image processing method, an image processing system and a recording medium capable of reproducing images in colors which are close to those memorized by man including a process to create a histogram of an original image, a process to adequately locate a highlight point on the histogram by comparing peaks of the histogram and setting image processing conditions dependently on a shape of a selected peak.

Abstract: A pattern recognition process including a pattern detection step, a characterization step of the pattern obtained in the detection step, and a recognition step of the pattern obtained in the characterization step, wherein the pattern characterization step is used to obtain invariant descriptors of the pattern with a Fourier-Mellin transform.

Abstract: An image processing circuit includes a processor that receives an encoded portion of a first version of an image. The processor decodes this encoded portion directly into a decoded portion of a second version of the image, the second version having a resolution that is different than the resolution of the first version. Therefore, such an image processing circuit can decode an encoded hi-res version of an image directly into a decoded lo-res version of the image. Alternatively, the image processing circuit includes a processor that modifies a motion vector associated with a portion of a first version of a first image. The processor then identifies a portion of a second image to which the modified motion vector points, the second image having a different resolution than the first version of the first image.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved integrated system for biological marker identification. The system uses Microvolume Laser Scanning Microscopy (MLSC) in order to measure patterns of expression of biological markers in biological fluids. The system includes improved instrumentation for performing MLSC, and also includes improved particle detection and analysis methods. The system further comprises an informatics architecture for the analysis of data obtained from the MLSC in tandem with other medical information.

Abstract: A process for detection of straight-line segments in a stream of digital data that are representative of an image (m, n) in which the contour points of said image each defined by the modulus and the orientation &thgr; of their gradient in relation to a horizontal axis are identified. The stream of digital data is stored in the form of two successive lines, each of n points P(i, j), for each of the lines the n points of said line are extracted successively, and for each point Pc(i, j) extracted, the so-called current point, the three points having inferior coordinates Pa(i−1, j−1), Pb(i, j−1), Pd(i−1, j) directly neighbouring said current point are extracted, successively the value of the orientation of the current point Pc is compared with that of the neighbouring points Pa, Pb and Pd. The values of the orientations of the points Pb and Pd are compared, the result of a comparison is validated if the points are contour points and if the values of their orientation are close.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for detecting an object in the image pickup field by template matching and tracking the detected object. An intruding object is detected from an image acquired by an image pickup device which takes the image of an image pickup field. A template image is formed from the detected object and is stored in a storing unit. A template matching is performed between a present input image of the image pickup field and the template image stored in the storing unit to detect the location of that part of the object which has a maximum degree of coincidence with the template image. An edge detection of the object is performed over a predetermined search area in the present input image which area includes the detected part of the object having a maximum degree of coincidence. Based on results of the edge detection, the detected part of the object is corrected and is determined as the present location of the object.

Abstract: A coding and decoding apparatus is constructed so that the coding side transmits coded data together with identifying information for identifying the device of decoding the coded data, and the decoding side is capable of storing a number of decoding schemes so as to perform decoding based on one of the previously stored schemes. The apparatus further has devices for storing the received tools and tool-correspondent information which numerically represents the capacities of the tools so that it can make a comparison between the decoding capacity and the processing capacities of the tools to determine the possibility of the operations of the received tools. Further, a set of the tools are hierarchized so that the coded data produced by the n-ranked tool can be decoded by the (n+1)-ranked tool.