Abstract: A method of accurately locating a sub-pixel maximum on a two-dimensional grid having an x axis and a y axis is provided. The method, which is especially suitable for locating a sub-pixel maximum, which falls intermediate grid point locations, begins by identifying a grid point having a maximum grid point value. Then, a quadrangle containing the sub-pixel maximum is determined by locating neighboring grid points along the x and y axes, which have the next greatest grid point values. Next, four one-dimensional, fractional maxima are computed along each side of a quadrangle. Next, two lines connecting one-dimensional maxima along the opposite sides of the quadrangle are computed. Finally, a location for the sub-pixel maximum is calculated where the two computed lines intersect.

Abstract: A technique for compression and expansion of a function defined upon an M-dimensional manifold embedded in N-dimensional space uses a second generation wavelet transform and a modified zerotree bit-encoding scheme. Typically, a function is defined upon a two-dimensional manifold embedded in three-dimensional space, such as a sphere. A geometric base is chosen as a coarse initial model of the manifold. Second generation wavelets for the function are calculated using a triangular subdivision scheme in order to subdivide the geometric base in order to produce a refined triangular mesh. The wavelet coefficients are defined at the vertices of the triangles in the triangular mesh. A tree structure is created in which each node of the tree structure represents an associated triangle of the triangular mesh. Each triangle in the mesh is recursively subdivided into four subtriangles and each associated node in the tree structure also has four children, which correspond to the four subtriangles.

Abstract: A scanner that scans an object using a one-dimensional image sensor in order to capture a two-dimensional object is provided with a detachable remote control device. The scanner is controlled such that scanning will only be performed when the remote control device is detached from the scanner.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for displaying partial results of full context handwriting recognition. As handwritten characters are entered into a system, a shape matcher associates the character with a plurality of alternate code points, with each alternate code point having probability information associated therewith. The alternate code points are placed at the end of a queue, and a cost is determined from each alternate code point to any immediately preceding alternate in the queue. The cost is based on the probability information of the alternates and a transition cost therebetween. Then, the lowest cost path back from each of the alternates at the end of the queue to an alternate at the beginning of the queue is determined. If each lowest cost path back converges to a common alternate in the queue, the common alternate and any previous alternates on the path back are recognized as the code points for each of the handwritten characters associated therewith.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extracting cluster shape features in two and three-dimensional images in a single scan is provided. The images, consisting of one or more classes, may be unbounded in one of their dimensions. As an image is scanned, each cluster fragment is assigned with one or more cluster labels. These labels are used to merge the cluster fragments into larger cluster fragments. An enhanced Hoshen-Kopelman algorithm is employed to determine the cluster shape features for the merged cluster fragments. Cluster label reuse is employed to enable the processing of substantially large images including unbounded images. After completing the scanning of an image section, cluster shape features data are outputted for completed clusters that extended into the section previous to said section. Optionally, cluster shape features of cluster fragments and completed clusters that extend into the said section can also be outputted.

Abstract: A method for automatically generating a knowledge database in an object classification system having a digital image data source, and a computer, includes the steps of inputting digital image data corresponding to a plurality of training images, and characterizing the digital image data according to pre-defined variables, or descriptors, to thereby provide a plurality of descriptor vectors corresponding to the training images. Predetermined classification codes are inputted for the plurality of training images, to thereby define object class clusters comprising descriptor vector points having the same classification codes in N-dimensional Euclidean space. The descriptor vectors, or points, are reduced using a similarity matrix indicating proximity in N-dimensional Euclidean space, to select those descriptors vectors, called extreme points, which lie on the boundary surface of their respective class cluster. The non-selected points interior to the class cluster are not included in the knowledge database.

Abstract: A reference image R is selected and a region of interest (ROI) is interactively selected encompassing a desired structure from a sequence of images of a moving structure. This ROI is cross-correlated with other real-time images by multiplication in the Fourier frequency domain, to determine if the desired structure is present in the image. If the structure is present, this image may be averaged with other images in which the structure is present to produce higher resolution adaptively averaged images. This invention is particularly useful in imaging coronary vessels. In an alternative embodiment, the offset of the desired structure may be calculated in a series of images. The images may then be sorted by this offset, and played back in that order to provide a "movie-like" display of the desired structure moving with the periodic motion.

Abstract: A data resolution synthesis algorithm takes low resolution source input data (e.g., data degraded from compression or data acquired from low quality imaging devices) to synthesize high resolution output data. In an exemplary embodiment for color printing, the algorithm is performed by characterizing a multi-pixel area, or window, around a pixel that can benefit from resolution enhancement. To interpolate to a high resolution output a set of spatial filters is applied to the data area based on the window characterization. The output of the resolution synthesizer is a set of multiple pixels for each input pixel, representing the source input pixel in a higher resolution enhanced version. The filters are chosen from a stored data base (generic or specifically applicable data base for each type input device) created to fit input/output device requirements.

Abstract: A fast position tolerant and economical fingerprint verification algorithm and software implementation is disclosed. The algorithm has very important advantages in comparison to existing fingerprint verification algorithms like minutia extraction or full image analysis based on a series of two dimensional fast Fourier transforms (FFT's) and two dimensional cross correlation in speed, compactness of the biocript and finger positioning for verification. It is based on a small "yardstick" pattern being moved inside the image to be verified, and when a match is found the rest of the verification process is started. The software code implements the algorithm in the most efficient way for utilization on a digital signal processor architecture. A main area of application is in fingerprint identification and verification, but it could be implemented with same success in other image verification systems like iris, eye, face etc., where two images should be compared.

Abstract: An improved method and mechanism for recognizing chirographs (handwritten characters) input into a computer system. A primary recognizer is provided for converting chirographs to code points, and secondary recognizers such as binary CART trees are developed and trained to differentiate chirographs which produce certain code points at the primary recognizer. Each such secondary recognizer is associated with each selected code point. When a chirograph is received, the chirograph is provided to the primary recognizer whereby a code point corresponding thereto is received. If the code point corresponds to one of the secondary recognizers, the chirograph is passed to the secondary recognizer, and a code point is returned from the secondary recognizer. If not, the code point provided by the primary recognizer is returned.

Abstract: An image processing coefficient determination method of an image processing system comprising the steps of:outputting test pattern image data having one or more image areas each containing a specific spatial frequency component by an image output device for preparing an output image,measuring a spatial frequency characteristic of the output image, anddetermining spatial frequency processing coefficients from a relationship between a spatial frequency characteristic of the test pattern image data and the measurement result of the spatial frequency characteristic of the output image.

Abstract: A method for matching objects based on spatial layout of regions based on a shape similarity model for detecting similarity between general 2D objects. The method uses the shape similarity model to determine if two objects are similar by logical region generation in which logical regions are automatically derived from information in the objects to be matched, region correspondence, in which a correspondence is established between the regions on the objects, pose computation in which the individual transforms relating corresponding regions are recovered, and pose verification in which the extent of spatial similarity is measured by projecting one document onto the other using the computed pose parameters. The method of the invention can be carried out in a microprocessor-based system capable of being programmed to carry out the method of the invention.

Abstract: A method and system of image modulation detection of an aircraft or missile exhaust plume or explosives by time sequence differentiation is provided. The method comprises the steps of forming two sequential images of the field of view in which an exhaust plume to be detected is located, and forming a differential image from the sequential images showing components of the aircraft's exhaust plume that are modulating at a rate greater than the frame rate of the detection system. The detection system permits a selection of frame rates so that unwanted (non-modulating) items in the field of view may be eliminated from detection by the threat warning system. The nonmodulating components such as the sky, hills, and even the missile body are eliminated from the differential image. Only the plume remains and only the plume is detected. Each image is formed by a plurality of pixels, wherein each pixel images a portion of the field of view.

Abstract: There are provided a copying machine executing the processing for reading image data from a document and the processing for printing the image data, a computer for editing image data read by the copying machine, and a memory board having a memory for storing therein image data to which an image data bus of the copying machine and an internal bus of the computer are connected respectively, and the copying machine executes the processing for reading image data from a document and writing the image data in a memory, the computer executes the processing for reading the image data from a memory, editing the image data, and writing the edited image data again in the memory, the copying machine executes the processing the reading the edited image data from the memory and printing the image data, and the memory board controls the operations for reading and writing the image data by the copying machine.

Abstract: The invention is a method of right justifying a line in an address field to be printed on a mail piece. A list of addresses is submitted as part of a mail piece print job, and a first address is selected from the list. The printing system initializes the vertical edge of the address field; and, after initialization one or more fonts are selected for printing the address field on the mail piece. The address field is scanned by the printing system and an end of line position of the Optional Endorsement Line (OEL) is determined relative to the right vertical edge of the print field. If the end of the line is past the initialized right edge, then the end of line position becomes the new vertical edge delineation and the line is a justified line. If, however, the end of line position is not past the vertical edge, then the initialized edge is retained as the right-most reference point of the print field. Each of the subsequent lines in the address field is scanned for length and an end of line position determined.

Abstract: A method of locating handwritten words in handwritten text images under a variety of transformations including changes in document orientation, skew, noise, and changes in handwriting style of a single author which avoids a detailed search of the image for locating every word by pre-computing relevant information in a hash table and indexing the table for word localization. Both the hash table construction and indexing can be done as fast operations taking time quadratic in the number of basis points. Generally, the method involves four stages: (1) Pre-processing where features for word localization are extracted; (2) Image hash table construction; (3) Indexing where query word features are used to look up hash table for candidate locations; and (4) Verification, where the query word is projected and registered with the underlying word at the candidate locations. The method has applications in digital libraries, handwriting tokenization, document management and OCR systems.

Abstract: An object detecting system based on multiple-eye images, comprises an image sharpening unit receiving a plurality of images having substantially the same optical axis and different focus positions, for generating one sharpened image, a focus information and a cluster information, a mask generating unit receiving the focus information for generating a first objection detecting information, a region integrating unit receiving the cluster information for generating an integrated cluster information, a region selecting unit receiving the first objection detecting information and the integrated cluster information for generating a second objection detecting information, and an object extracting unit receiving the sharpened image and the second objection detecting information for extracting an object image from the sharpened image in accordance with the second objection detecting information.

Abstract: An image processing system and a concomitant method for rapid image processing. The system generates special image format containing a plurality of subimages. When an image is edited, the system uses the information in the subimages to calculate a depiction of the image on the display appropriate to display resolution, given the current pan and zoom. Image alterations are stored within a computer file as an expression tree. Each node in the expression tree defines a particular editing operation that resulted in modifications to the image. To display the image upon a computer monitor display, the expression tree defining the alterations is evaluated to form a composite output image having a resolution appropriate to display an accurate rendition of the edited image. Once edited, the output image can be printed on a high resolution printer by combining the expression tree with a full resolution image to produce a high resolution output image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for presenting and gathering text entries in a pen based input device. The apparatus and method allows for the entry of textual information into a computing device using either handwriting recognition, character selection, or expression selection. Individual entry and selection fields for each of these methods are provided to the user in a coordinated comprehensive method of displaying and gathering the textual information. Handwriting recognition functionality is used to facilitate character recognition. Furthermore, lists of expressions allow the text entry method and apparatus to anticipate the next character or expression to be entered by the user.

Abstract: A device and method for detecting a motion vector of an image. The device comprises a horizontal edge extractor, a one-line accumulator, a delay register, a vertical line memory, a sign decision memory, a vertical correlation arithmetic unit, a horizontal edge extractor, a first horizontal line memory, a second horizontal line memory, a comparator, and a horizontal correlation arithmetic unit. Directional edges are used to enhance the accuracy of a motion vector. Since correlation values are calculated as soon as a scan is completed for a field image, it is possible to detect a motion vector at high speed. The device realizes a simple circuit by economizing memory.