Abstract: A device and a method for image processing make it possible to significantly improve the contrast and the sharpness of the whole image, in comparison with the ordinary. By amplifying the portions other than the edges, while conserving the edges with the pixel values which change abruptly out of input image data, it is possible to enhance and display the portions other than the edges, and so it is possible to significantly improve the contrast and the sharpness of the whole image, in comparison with the ordinary.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an image processing apparatus includes an original image data input unit 11 for receiving the original low resolution image data; a connection detector 13 for detecting a connection of a target pixel in the original image data and neighboring pixels; a rule application unit 17 for employing a relationship between a coordinate position of a pixel in the original image data and a coordinate position of a resultant pixel in the expansion image data to define a plurality of types into which the relationship can be sorted, and for applying a specific rule for the plurality of types; and a results output unit 19 for determining the value of the resultant pixel in accordance with the rule, and for outputting the expansion image data, wherein, when the connection detector 13 ascertains that the target pixel constitutes a one-pixel width line, the rule application unit 17 applies a rule that will maintain the one-pixel width even in the expansion image data.

Abstract: A method for implementing sliding-window image processing for associative operators such as MIN, MAX, AND, and OR is disclosed. For one dimension, the present method divides the image into blocks according to the sliding window size and for each block calculates two sets of partial results, one working from the left boundary of the block and the other working from the right boundary of the block. The partial results from two adjacent blocks can then be combined in one operation to give a final value for any window straddling two adjacent blocks. The total number of operations is proportional to 3M; where M is the scan length as compared to (n−1)M using prior art; where n is the length of the sliding window. The present invention can be extended to two-dimensional arrays and can be extended to support arbitrary window sizes.

Abstract: System consistent with this invention comprise a first coding part configured to code a map signal indicative of the position and shape of a content in a screen inputted for every square block of picture signals to be coded, a subband dividing part configured to divide the picture signals into a plurality of subband picture signals, a resolution transform part configured to perform the resolution transform of the map signal into the resolution of each of the subband picture signals divided by the subband dividing part, and a second coding part configured to code each of the subband picture signals divided by the subband dividing part when blocks are inside of the content, and coding only the signals inside of the content when the blocks contain the boundary portion of the content in the subband picture signals according to the map signal resolution-transformed by the resolution transform part.

Abstract: A decoding apparatus and method capable of improving the functionality and simplifying the constitution are realized. The decoding apparatus comprises compressing means for compressing image data decoded by the decoding means to be supplied to storing means and extending means for extending the image data compressed by the compressing means which has been stored in the storing means to be supplied to the decoding means. Also, the decoding method comprises a first step for storing the image data decoded by decoding processing in the storing means and a second step for reading and extending the compressed image data stored in the storing means and for decoding the encoded data based on the extended image data.

Abstract: A semantic object tracking method tracks general semantic objects with multiple non-rigid motion, disconnected components and multiple colors throughout a vector image sequence. The method accurately tracks these general semantic objects by spatially segmenting image regions from a current frame and then classifying these regions as to which semantic object they originated from in the previous frame. To classify each region, the method performs a region based motion estimation between each spatially segmented region and the previous frame to compute the position of a predicted region in the previous frame. The method then classifies each region in the current frame as being part of a semantic object based on which semantic object in the previous frame contains the most overlapping points of the predicted region. Using this method, each region in the current image is tracked to one semantic object from the previous frame, with no gaps or overlaps.

Abstract: A method for designating a local representative color value and automatically determining image searching algorithm for a color based image searching system is disclosed. A method for designating a local representative color values generally includes the steps of dividing a color image area; and obtaining a color histogram for each block, obtaining a color group from hue histograms of each block, or obtaining a maximum color group value to designate the representative color value. Also, a method determining a search algorithm generally includes the steps of detecting the number of color blocks CB having color information from the blocked information of a reference image; comparing the number of the color blocks with a determined reference value and assigning different weights to at least two search algorithm according to the comparison results; and performing a comparison search of an image by the search algorithm based on the determined weight.

Abstract: A method of controlling the reproduction of copyrighted images, includes the steps of: a) providing an image medium having a predetermined pattern of micro-dots; b) steganographically embedding a reproduction authorization signal within some copyrighted digital images and not in others; c) printing the copyrighted digital images on the image medium to produce copyrighted images; d) in an image reproduction apparatus, attempting to detect the predetermined pattern of micro-dots and the authorization signal in an image to be reproduced; e) if the authorization signal is detected, or the pattern of microdots is not detected, permitting reproduction of the image to be reproduced; and f) if the authorization signal is not detected and the pattern of microdots is detected, preventing the reproduction of the image to be reproduced.

Abstract: A wavelet-based image compression system and method are presented. Compression is accomplished by performing a wavelet transformation of an input digital image. The resulting wavelet coefficients are compared to a threshold value. Coefficients falling below the threshold are discarded. The remaining coefficients are quantized. The quantized coefficients are then compressed using an entropy encoding technique, such as arithmetic, run length, or Huffman encoding, or a combination of Huffman and run length encoding. The wavelet transform can be an integer wavelet transform derived using a lifting scheme or correction method, while the quantization scheme can be sub-band oriented. Input color image pixels can be reduced using a color table. In addition, color pixels can be transformed between color spaces prior to wavelet transformation.

Abstract: A method for identifying a table image in a document image includes identifying a frame image in the document image, identifying white areas within the frame image, identifying broken lines within the frame image, calculating horizontal and vertical grid lines based on the identified white areas and the identified broken lines, and determining whether the frame is a table image based on the calculated horizontal and vertical grid lines.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for determining the rotational orientation of an object. An image of the object is digitally captured. The digital image is filtered through an edge detection operation to enhance the edge information contained in the image. The filtered image is rotated through a series of incremental angles to produce a series of rotated images. Each rotated image is projected onto an x-axis and y-axis defined by pixel grid axes defined by the original image. The projection of the rotated images produces projected pixel counts formed by the summation of pixel value differences of the x-axis and y-axis on the projected image. For each rotated image, a score corresponding to the sum of the difference of gray-scale values for adjacent projected pixels is computed. The scores for the projections of each rotated image are plotted on a score-angle graph. A curve which includes the highest score and the neighboring next highest scores is interpolated to determine the peak score.

Abstract: A method and device for monitoring the quality of distributed digital images coded by blocks of pixels in which a false contour phenomenon may be generated when the image is reproduced. An image average for pixels represented by at least one luminance respectively chrominance components is calculated and a false contour effect on the basis of a criterion for discriminating the luminance or chrominance component difference between adjacent pixels of adjacent groups of pixels is detected in at least one reference direction of each current image. A visibility coefficient of at least one current image is calculated from the value of the image average speed vector and psycho-visual criteria relating to the existence of the false contour effect in the reference direction.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for automatically scaling an image, comprising initially scanning an original image at an initial scanning resolution, detecting the relative positions of lateral edges of the original image, determining the width of the original image based upon the positions of the lateral edges, making an initial size presumption of the original image based upon the determined width, making a first scanning resolution determination based upon the initial size presumption, and continuing scanning of the original image based upon the first scanning resolution determination.

Abstract: A digital image processor for a medical imaging system enhances acquired images and corrects the images for non-uniformities in the data acquisition process. The non-uniformity correction includes calculating a non-uniformity correction function h in an iterative process in which two input parameters V and S are adjusted until an optimal correction function h is produced. The acquired image is corrected using the optimal correction function h.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for determining visually noticeable differences between two input images. A first contrast image is generated from the first input image and a second contrast image is generated from the second input image. A contrast difference image is then formed from the two contrast images. A mean absolute difference is calculated between blocks of pixels of the first and second input image. Pixels in the contrast difference image which exceed a first threshold produce a first threshold signal and if the mean absolute difference exceeds a second threshold so a second threshold signal is produced. A detection signal is produced from the threshold signals.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for embedding information within an indexed color image such that the existence of the data is not recognizable by the human eye. The method includes the steps of altering color image data, such that it will not cause a large color change in the representing image, and hiding information using an information hiding method. The altering step is accomplished via a color set changing method. The color set changing method involves first decomposing the image in to a set of color component images, embedding data in the color component or components, which the human visual system is most sensitive to, then merging representative colors until the number of representative colors is less than or equal to the target number of colors and reformatting the resulting image into indexed color image format.

Abstract: Method for generating intra-particle crystallographic parameter maps and histograms of a chemically pure crystalline particulate substance. Spectral imaging, in general, and focus-fusion multi-layer spectral imaging, in particular, combined with pattern recognition classification analysis are performed on individual particles for forming sets of single-particle spectral fingerprint data, characterized by single-particle spectral fingerprint spectra. Spectral shifts are identified in the single-particle spectral fingerprint data, for forming intra-particle crystallographic region groups each featuring sub-sets of intra-particle spectral fingerprint pattern data, where selected data elements in each sub-set are shifted relative to corresponding data elements in remaining sub-sets in the same intra-particle crystallographic region group.

Abstract: In an image data coding and/or decoding system, a coding system performs the two-dimensional orthogonal transform of picture signals of all the pixels with respect to inside blocks and of only picture signals of pixels contained in a content with respect to edge blocks, in accordance with a map signal indicative of the position and shape of the content, and it codes the map signal. A decoding system selects an orthogonal transform coefficient necessary to reproduce an image of a desired resolution, from coded orthogonal coefficients on the basis of a coded and resolution-transformed map signal, and it performs the two-dimensional inverse orthogonal transform of all the coefficients with respect to the inside blocks and of only the coefficients contained in the content with respect to the edge blocks, to derive a resolution-transformed regenerative signal.

Abstract: A controller allocates a bit size for a current frame in a group of pictures of a first compression-encoded digital video signal that is to be spliced following transmission of the group of pictures with a second compression-encoded digital video signal. The signals are spliced after a predetermined switching time. The spliced signals are buffered by a decoder buffer and then decoded by a decoder. When the second signal has a variable bit-encoding rate and the current frame is not decoded until after the predetermined switching time, the maximum bit size is determined in accordance with an estimate of the decoder buffer fullness at the predetermined switching time. When the second signal has a predetermined maximum variable bit-encoding rate and the current frame is not decoded until after the predetermined switching time, the minimum bit size is determined in accordance with the predetermined maximum bit-encoding rate of the second signal.

Abstract: Portions of an input measurement sequence are classified into a plurality of regimes by associating each of a plurality of dynamic models with one a switching state such that a model is selected when its associated switching state is true. In a Viterbi-based method, a state transition record is determined, based on the input sequence. A switching state sequence is determined by backtracking through the state transition record. Finally, portions of the input sequence are classified into different regimes, responsive to the switching state sequence. In a variational-based method, the switching state at a particular instance is also determined by a switching model. The dynamic model is then decoupled from the switching model. Parameters of the decoupled dynamic model are determined responsive to a switching state probability estimate. A state of the decoupled dynamic model corresponding to a measurement at the particular instance is estimated, responsive to the input sequence.