Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for controlling the compression ratio of digital images. This process consists of compressing a digitized image by means of a conventional process such as that known by the abbreviation JPEG. The compression ratio of the image is modified by modifying a parameter of the JPEG process, called the scale factor. According to the invention this scale factor is modified until the compression ratio obtained lies in a range of tolerance of the desired compression ratio. The process uses and approximation to the actual curve of the compression ratio as a function of the scale factor, in order to minimize the number of iterations needed to attain the desired compression ratio.

Abstract: A method and system for recording and verifying three-dimensional dose distributions administered during stereotactic radiosurgery using an anthropomorphic film phantom are provided. The method provides a phantom (11) including a head-shaped hollow shell (12), which mounts a cassettebox therein (14), which in turn may contain a simulated lesion (16) similar to the lesion to be treated. An image is taken of the head-shaped shell including the cassettebox and the simulated lesion using, for example, a CT or MRI scanner. The image is used to develop a stereotactic radiosurgery plan, which includes creating an intended three-dimensional dose distribution map to “treat” the simulated lesion. Thereafter, the simulated lesion is removed from the cassettebox and the cassettebox is loaded with multiple layers of film (42) separated by spacers (44) having tissue-equivalent characteristics.

Abstract: A document image data storing and controlling system including a document image data storing unit for storing document image data as partial image data which are areas divided according to the attributes such as a text, a graphic, a table, etc.; and a document image data rewriting unit for reducing the amount of the document image data by deleting the partial image data whose degree of importance of information is low, or by lowering its resolution in the document image data. By employing this system, for example, in a portable storage device whose storage amount is limited, a storage amount for new data can be secured while leaving effective information of the document image data.

Abstract: A method for producing a compressed digital image from an input digital image is disclosed, wherein the compressed digital image is organized into layers corresponding to increasing visual quality levels. The input digital image is decomposed to produce a plurality of subbands, each subband having a plurality of subband coefficients. The plurality of subband coefficients of each subband of the decomposed input digital image are quantized to produce a quantized output value for each subband coefficient of each subband. At least one bit-plane is formed from the quantized output values of the subband coefficients of each subband. Each bit-plane of each subband in at least one pass is entropy encoded to produce a compressed bit-stream corresponding to each pass, wherein each subband is entropy encoded independently of the other subbands.

Abstract: A color-space conversion processor converts input digital image data into YUV color space, and a wavelet conversion processor performs wavelet conversion processing on the data. A face-area recognition processor extracts a face area in the image based on the obtained conversion coefficients. A quantization processor performs quantization processing on the input conversion coefficients while changing quantization coefficients used in the quantization processing in and out of the extracted face area. A variable-length coding processor encodes the quantized coefficients. A code synthesizing processor synthesizes the obtained respective color component code data with information indicating the face area extracted by the face-area recognition processor, and outputs the synthesized data as a code string.

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: A method of deriving from an existing selective image smoothing filter either a corresponding filter for selective image sharpening, or a corresponding filter for both selective smoothing and selective image sharpening. The selective sharpening filter can be implemented quickly by using implementations of the existing selective smoothing filter and a derived matching non-selective smoothing filter as black boxes and combining their outputs in a simple manner. Alternatively, the derived selective sharpening filter can be implemented by inlining the combination of the implementations of the existing selective smoothing.

Abstract: In a method of embedding a hidden message in digital data, employing plurality of orthogonal random arrays of numbers as carriers for the bits of the hidden message, the random arrays are generated by applying a plurality of unique cyclical shifts to a single random array. In a preferred embodiment, the method is applied to digital image data and the cyclical shifts are defined as locations in a shift template, wherein the shift template has a highly peaked autocorrelation. The shift template is employed to recover the hidden message from the image without the need for calibration signals to indicate the boundaries of the hidden message.

Abstract: An image forming system includes a first image forming apparatus which can be connected to a host computer as an image data supplying source and also connected to a second image forming apparatus so that the host computer can be selectively and reliably connected to one of the first and second image forming apparatuses. The first image forming apparatus is connected to the host computer so as to print the image data provided from the host computer. The second image forming apparatus is operatively connectable to the host computer via the first image forming apparatus so as to print the image data sent from the host computer. A switching device is provided in the first image forming apparatus. The switching device switches a connection of the host computer so that one of the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus is operatively connected to the host computer.

Abstract: When a segment of a compressively coded stream of moving-picture data is rendered unusable by an error, usable decoded data are discarded in a range adjacent to the unusable segment, to avoid picture defects that might result from the use of incorrectly decoded data. The discarding range may extend from one end or from both ends of the unusable segment. When the data are coded in two or more different modes, two or more corresponding ranges of different lengths may be set.

Abstract: A method for compressing and decompressing image information. An encoder receives initial image information and transforms said initial information using a linear transform to produce coefficients. These are then locally normalized using a neighborhood masking weighting factor, quantized and coded to result in a compressed bit stream. The compressed bit stream is received at a decoder and an inverse process is applied to reconstruct said image data from the compressed bitstream. Alternatively, the neighborhood-masking factor can be applied after quantization in the rate-distortion optimization process.

Abstract: A method for processing an input image includes applying one or more transformations to the input image, whereby different shifts are applied to different pixels in the input image, so as to generate an output image. A region containing content of interest is selected in the output image, and the region corresponding to the selected region in the output image is located in the input image. The content of the located region in the input image is substituted for the content of the selected region in the output image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for identifying differences between a stored pattern and a matching image subset, where variations in pattern position, orientation, and size do not give rise to false differences. The invention is also a system for analyzing an object image with respect to a model pattern so as to detect flaws in the object image. The system includes extracting pattern features from the model pattern; generating a vector-valued function using the pattern features to provide a pattern field; extracting image features from the object image; evaluating each image feature, using the pattern field and an n-dimensional transformation that associates image features with pattern features, so as to determine at least one associated feature characteristic; and using at least one feature characteristic to identify at least one flaw in the object image. The invention can find at least two distinct kinds of flaws: missing features, and extra features.

Abstract: A filtering method and apparatus improve resolution of an ultrasound image in an ultrasound imaging system. The filtering method includes the steps of obtaining magnitude of at least one lateral direction signal component among ultrasound filed characteristics which lowers resolution of an image, using Fourier transform, and scaling a signal focused in a mainlobe direction according to a ratio between the magnitude of the obtained lateral direction signal component and that of the signal focused in the mainlobe direction. The filtering apparatus includes a lateral direction signal calculator and a filtering unit.

Abstract: The method for locating a mobile unit relatively to an intermittent lighted beacon consists in calculating, on the basis of data concerning the mobile movement, the position of the discrete scatterer on the linear barrette obtained by a point by point subtraction of two linear images of the same image field, one wherein the beacon is alight and one wherein it is not alight, and the derivative of the position. On the basis of said data, the distance separating the beacon thus represented and a mark related to the mobile unit is calculated, and the beacon angular position relative to said mark linked with the mobile.

Abstract: An image processing technique of achieving color matching in terms of image colors respectively observed at sending and receiving ends. A first image processing apparatus transmits image data to a second image processing apparatus which performs color adaptation conversion on the basis of output image illumination light source information and input image illumination light source information. The first image processing apparatus includes an input device which inputs input image illumination light source information and profile information of a source device, and a transfer device which transfers the input image illumination light source information, the profile information, and image data representing an input image in a form depending on the source device, to the second image processing apparatus. The second image processing apparatus performs color adaptation conversion through a communication line.

Abstract: A color image processing apparatus comprises a memory for storing first LCH color coordinate data which are LCH color coordinate data corresponding to a cross point address of a color converting LUT, a color adjustment section for adjusting the first LCH color coordinate data to output second LCH color coordinate data, a first converting section for converting the second LCH color coordinate data into first CMY color coordinate data, a renewal section for renewing the color converting LUT based on the first CMY color coordinate data, and a second converting section for converting input RGB image data based on the color converting LUT to output second CMY image data. With this apparatus, it is possible to also realize the color adjustment in generating color converting LUT.

Abstract: An input image is subjected to transform by a DCT transforming unit 20. A coefficient analyzing unit 30 compares a predetermined coefficient and coefficient data 120, and obtains low-frequency image data 150 of the input image by a high-frequency coefficient masking unit 50 and an inverse DCT unit 60 on the basis of a result of that comparison. A pixel subsampling unit 70 receives this low-frequency image data 150, and generates a subsampled image on the basis of the aforementioned result of comparison. The subsampled image and coefficient information are transmitted to a decoding side. A decoding apparatus decodes an image on the basis of the subsampled image and the coefficient information.

Abstract: The invention provides an image processing apparatus having a device for inputting image data, a color distribution recognition device for recognizing a color distribution in a color space and position information in an image space of the image data input through the input device, and a device for determining one or more color reproduction parameters of the image data based on the color distribution and position information recognized by the color distribution recognition device and a color reproduction range of an output device.

Abstract: A vehicle video imaging system comprises a white-light LED array for illuminating retro-reflective painted parts of a vehicle's license plate, a powerful flash with a visual spectrum cutout filter and a polarizing filter for illuminating any non-retro-reflective license plate paint and the vehicle itself. A video camera with a polarizing filter turned 90° relative to the one in front of the flash receives the illuminated image of the vehicle and its license plate. The retro-reflective paint of a license plate will return polarized light as it is received, so the white-light LED array will provide all the illumination needed by the camera to get a good high-contrast picture of the license plate. The polarizing filters will combine to block out most of the light from the flash that was returned still-polarized by the retro-reflective-paint license plate.