Abstract: A method for generating an output image by reducing the size of an input image by determining for a pixel location (i,j) in the output image a corresponding areaxy in the input image, fetching the input image areaxy pixel values, calculating an output pixel value Dij for the pixel location (i,j) using a size reducing algorithm, inserting Dij in the output image and repeating the previous steps for each pixel location (i,j) in the output image. The value Di,j is obtained by adding to the lower resolution background representation A of the input image area pixel values with a value obtained by amplifying MED, representing the pixel value in the input image area that most deviates from said lower resolution background representation A, by means of a significance factor SF.

Abstract: When a first DMA unit and a second DMA unit transfer image data in a memory to be divided into units composed of a plurality of lines, a transfer number of lines for an enlargement section is controlled for each unit on the basis of a magnification of an image which has been set. Even if any magnification is set, the number of output lines of a second reduction section can always be made coincident with a number of lines specified in a JPEG encoder. In addition, there is no need for providing an additional circuit configuration such as a buffer memory in the second reduction section in order to match number of lines each other.

Abstract: Provided are an image processing apparatus and a computer-readable storage medium capable of adjusting to an optimum bit rate. In a case where an average bit rate is smaller than a target bit rate, a mobile communication terminal sets an encoding parameter for high image quality in an internal register of an encoding parameter manager to increase the bit rate. In a case where the average bit rate is larger than the target bit rate, the mobile communication terminal sets an encoding parameter for low image quality in the internal register of the encoding parameter manager to reduce the bit rate. Therefore, the mobile communication terminal can encode YUV data at an optimum bit rate.

Abstract: A method for identifying an iris image can include obtaining an iris image of an eye, segmenting the iris image, generating, from the segmented iris image, a normalized iris image, and generating, from the normalized iris image, an iris template. The method can also include generating a modified iris template by extracting a portion of the iris template, comparing the modified iris template with a plurality of previously stored other modified iris templates and matching the modified iris template with one of the plurality of previously stored other modified iris templates. The method can also include generating a modified iris template by extracting a portion of the iris template, comparing the modified iris template with a plurality of previously stored other modified iris templates, and matching the modified iris template with one of the plurality of previously stored other modified iris templates.

Abstract: A method for rapidly building image space relation using plane filtering limitation is provided. The method comprises first getting a plurality of continuous image data taken from different shooting angles. Then, a plurality of feature points of the image data is initialized. Next, a number of feature points of those image data is randomly extracted and compared to determine whether the compared feature points are coplanar or not. When the selected feature points are not coplanar, an epipolar fundamental matrix is calculated according to the selected feature points. On the contrary, when the selected feature points are coplanar, a medium error value for all the feature points is set as a maximum value.

Abstract: A method for content-aware image retargeting generates an energy image from a source image according to an energy function. From the energy image, one or more seams are determined according to a minimizing function such that each seam has a minimal energy. Each seam is applied to the source image to obtain a target image that preserves content and a rectangular shape of the source image.

Abstract: Provided is an encoding method capable of reducing a blocking phenomenon that occurs when moving-images are encoded and decoded. The method includes: performing a first encoding operation on an input image using a first quantization coefficient; generating a reconstructed image of the encoded image; calculating a difference between corresponding partial images of the reconstructed image and the input image; and performing a second encoding operation on the calculated difference using a second quantization coefficient smaller than the first quantization coefficient. Using the second encoded difference, a decoding unit can reconstruct an image of a block boundary portion more elaborately with a small number of bits, thereby significantly reducing the blocking phenomenon in the decoding operation.

Abstract: For improving the grey scale portrayal, several dithering methods are used: Cell-based dithering, multi-mask dithering or error diffusion. Each of them has specific disadvantages. A simple combination of them does not bring expected advantages. However, an improvement is obtained if the result of the multi-mask dithering is used for controlling the error diffusion by a switch, for example.

Abstract: A method for examining images on a computer display comprising the steps of: a) defining a geographic area of interest for a plurality of images; b) selecting a set of images from the plurality of images within the geographic area of interest for display; c) ordering the set of images according to their acquisition date and/or acquisition time; d) examining the set of images across a spatial domain; and e) examining the set of images across one or more time domains.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving qualities of motion and still images to be output in a mobile communication terminal. An error-reflected-value table is provided to reduce a computation amount while applying an error diffusion process. The table includes quantization-error-reflected values pre-computed according to maximum values of quantization errors and error-reflected ratios of neighboring pixels. When quantization errors of a specific pixel of an original image selected in a process procedure are computed, error-reflected values of neighboring pixels are determined. Pixel-by-pixel error values are stored by accumulating error-reflected values related to pixels. When error-reflected values of neighboring pixels around all the pixels of the original mage are completely computed, an image in which quantization errors are diffused is generated when the error-reflected values are added on a pixel-by-pixel basis.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for obtaining the location of a landmark in an MR image of a brain. In a first step, a region of interest in a plane within the MR image containing the landmark is defined. In a second step, the ROI is binarised into foreground and background voxels based on at least one threshold selected using anatomical knowledge. In a third step a set of object voxels is identified from the foreground voxels, excluding voxels which were only classified as object due to proximity of cortical and non-cortical structures. This can be done by morphological processing which reclassifies voxels which may have been incorrectly classified as object, followed by restoring voxels due to the partial volume effect and/or morphological erosion/opening. In a fourth step, an automatic process is then carried out to identify one or more landmarks in the modified binarised image.

Abstract: An apparatus for extracting feature information from each of a plurality of electronic documents that constitutes a group of documents, for each of a plurality of viewpoints includes an extracting unit that extracts feature information from each of the electronic documents for each of the viewpoints, a calculating unit that calculates a score for each of the viewpoints with respect to the feature information that is extracted from more than one viewpoint, and a determining unit that determines the viewpoint for the feature information that is extracted from more than one viewpoint, based on the score calculated.

Abstract: Color reproducibility is improved by enabling one to control a smoothing condition for each of plural positions on color space. When a color correction table is formed by using smoothing, the smoothing conditions respectively corresponding to the plural positions on the color space are set, and then the smoothing is performed according to the smoothing conditions.

Abstract: In a biometrics authentication device which uses biometrics information to authenticate individuals, guidance is provided such that image capture of biometrics information is performed appropriately. An image capture device is caused to perform a plurality of image capture operations (including distance measurement) at short intervals. And when image capture NG occurs frequently, a control unit stacks the NG results, and if image capture NGs are not resolved even after a prescribed number of image capture operations, judges that the relation between the body part and the image capture device must be corrected, analyzes the stacked image capture NG causes, and displays a guidance screen on a display device according to the analysis result.

Abstract: An image processing method and system using a low-complexity scheme is provided. According to one aspect of the method, input components from a RGB model are used directly to calculate the down-sampled components of a YCbCr model. In an exemplary instance where average down-sampling and a down-sampling rate of “4:2:0” are used, the following equations are used to derive the down-sampled components of the YCbCr model: Y l ? = ? 0.29900 ? R i + 0.58700 ? G l + 0.11400 ? B l Cb ? = ? - 0.04219 ? ? i = 0 3 ? ? R l - 0.082815 ? ? i = 0 3 ? ? G l + 0.12500 ? ? i = 0 3 ? ? B l + 2 SP / 2 Cr ? = ? 0.12500 ? ? i = 0 3 ? ? R i - 0.10467 ? ? i = 0 3 ? ? G i - 0.02033 ? ? i = 0 3 ? ? B i + 2 SP / 2 where Ri, Gi and Bi are three input components of the color conversion for the pixel i and “SP” represents a specified sample precision under the RGB model.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus extracts DC components of an image, generates a histogram of the extracted DC components, and detects a background level of the image based on the histogram.

Abstract: It is detected whether or not a face image is included in an image represented by applied image data. When the face image is detected, an image area including the detected face image is cut out. A plurality of rectangular projection information creating windows are set radially from the center of the cut image. With respect to each of image portions within the plurality of projection information creating windows, projection information is created and the projection information is converted into data representing the distance from an ideal skin color. With respect to each of the image portions within the plurality of projection information creating windows, a boundary position between a skin color image and an image other than the skin color image is determined on the basis of the distance data for each unit pixel position.

Abstract: A system for capturing images of a target area on which information is recorded includes a boom assembly adapted to extend outwardly from a generally vertical surface. At least one digital camera is mounted on the boom assembly at a location spaced from the surface. The at least one digital camera is oriented so that the field of view thereof encompasses a target area on the surface. A controller is in communication with the at least one digital camera. The controller conditions the at least one digital camera to acquire an image of the target area. The image acquired by the at least one digital camera is conveyed to the controller and is processed to determine if an obstacle blocking the target area is in the captured image. If so, the captured image is not further processed and additional images are acquired until an image of the target area is captured without the obstacle therein.

Abstract: Coding quantized transform coefficients as occur in image compression combines a position identifying method to identify the relative position of clusters of consecutive non-zero-valued coefficients, an amplitude event identifying method to identify amplitude events in the clusters of non-zero-valued coefficients, and a coding method to code the position events, amplitude events, and signs of the amplitudes in the clusters. The method is particularly applicable to a series of quantized transform coefficients where clusters are likely to occur.

Abstract: A system is provided in which the spatial values (S1 to Sn) of the physical quantity are represented by measurement pulses (I1 to In), the temporal ordering of which represents the values, which are processed by processing units (U1 to Un) arranged in at least one row and each include an output (SOR1 to SORn). During successive processing cycles, a measurement pulse processed therein can be delivered to form the output signal (SU) of the system. Each processing unit includes an inhibiting unit (BI) for, in other units and during a given processing cycle, inhibiting the passage to the outputs of the other units respective measurement pulses processed therein and hence preventing them from forming the output signal, if the measurement impulses are temporally ordered later in the given processing cycle than the one processed in the unit concerned.