Patents Examined by Yon Couso
  • Patent number: 9311342
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods and computer program products for storing images in a computer memory, and in particular to a method and computer program product for storing a plurality of JPEG encoded images in a tree data structure, wherein common parts of images in upper tree nodes are utilized for compressing images in lower parts of the tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Jimmy Engström
  • Patent number: 9311818
    Abstract: A dynamic fusion method of images includes: receiving broadcast information from surrounding vehicles of a host vehicle; determining whether at least one of the surrounding vehicles travels in the same lane as the host vehicle to become a neighboring vehicle of the host vehicle according to the broadcast information; determining whether the neighboring vehicle is too close to the host vehicle and blocks the view of the host vehicle; and performing a transparentization or translucentization process on the neighboring vehicle in an image captured by the host vehicle when the neighboring vehicle blocks the view of the host vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Che-Tsung Lin, Yu-Chen Lin
  • Patent number: 9311339
    Abstract: A terminal apparatus includes a first execution unit. The first execution unit includes an acquisition unit that acquires a captured image captured by an image capturing unit, a transmitting unit that transmits the captured image acquired by the acquisition unit to an image search system including a storage unit, in which objects and associated information associated with each other are stored, and an image search server that retrieves associated information associated with an object contained in the transmitted captured image and transmit the retrieved associated information to a transmission source of the captured image, a receiving unit that receives the associated information transmitted from the image search system based on the captured image transmitted from the transmitting unit, and a presenting unit that presents associated information corresponding to an externally-fed parameter, among the associated information received by the receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventor: Hidenobu Kishi
  • Patent number: 9305379
    Abstract: A method for processing an image of a series of images includes receiving first data representing a first previously reconstructed image and receiving second data representing a second image. A second image is reconstructed in accordance with the first data, the second data and a noise model. The noise model is a likelihood estimation. The second image is reconstructed in accordance with a penalty function. The penalty function is a roughness penalty function. The penalty function is updated by iteratively adjusting an image volume estimate. The penalty function is updated by iteratively adjusting a registration term. The penalty function is a prior image penalty function and the prior image penalty function and a registration term are jointly optimized. The penalty function is determined in accordance with a noise model. The function is a p-norm penalty function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Joseph Webster Stayman, Jeffrey H. Siewerdsen
  • Patent number: 9292541
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of providing online information using image, including separating each of a target image, received from a user terminal, and an original image, received from an information provider apparatus, into a text region and a graphic region; selecting an important text region from the text region; extracting features from the text region, the graphic region, and the important text region, respectively; searching for the original image corresponding to the target image using the features of the text region, the graphic region, and the important text region; and searching for supplementary information related to the retrieved original image and provided the retrieved supplementary information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jae Cheol Sim, Kang Yong Lee
  • Patent number: 9292763
    Abstract: A method includes determining a position and length of a non-zero run in a row of a pixel map. The method also includes determining a number of neighbors for the non-zero run in a preceding row, based at least in part on the position and the length. In addition, the method includes updating a correspondence map of the non-zero run and a correspondence map of a first neighbor of the non-zero run, based at least in part on a correspondence map of a second neighbor of the non-zero run, in response to a determination that the non-zero run has at least two neighbors in the preceding row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: ANALOG DEVICES GLOBAL
    Inventors: Bijesh Poyil, Ramandeep Singh Kukreja, Anil M. Sripadarao
  • Patent number: 9280560
    Abstract: Various embodiments may increase scalability of image representations stored in a database for use in image matching and retrieval. For example, a system providing image matching can obtain images of a number of inventory items, extract features from each image using a feature extraction algorithm, and transform the same into their feature descriptor representations. These feature descriptor representations can be subsequently stored and used to compare against query images submitted by users. Though the size of each feature descriptor representation isn't particularly large, the total number of these descriptors requires a substantial amount of storage space. Accordingly, feature descriptor representations are compressed to minimize storage and, in one example, machine learning can be used to compensate for information lost as a result of the compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: A9.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Simant Dube, Sunil Ramesh, Xiaofan Lin, Arnab Sanat Kumar Dhua, Colin Jon Taylor, Jaishanker K. Pillai
  • Patent number: 9262689
    Abstract: Embodiments of the subject technology provide for determining a region of a first acquired image based at least on a viewing mode and a set of respective positions of graphical elements to decrease the pre-processing time and perceived latency for the first image. One or more regions of text in the first image are detected, and a set of regions of text that overlap with the region of the image is determined and pre-processed. The subject technology may then pre-process an entirety of a subsequent image (e.g., to pick up missing text from the region of the first image). Thus, additional OCR results may be provided to the user by using the subsequent image(s) and merging subsequent results with previous results from the first image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Avnish Sikka, David Paul Ramos, Matthew Daniel Hart, Yue Liu, Emilie Noelle McConville
  • Patent number: 9256952
    Abstract: A vehicle speed calculator includes a vehicle speed calculation unit for calculating a vehicle speed from a traveled distance per unit time of a feature point in a captured image shot by a camera for capturing a road surface, a reference distance mark irradiation unit and an image reference distance detection unit. The reference distance mark irradiation unit irradiates a reference distance mark to the road surface in parallel with an optical axis of the camera. The reference distance mark is formed in such a manner as to have a reference distance in a longitudinal direction of a motorcycle. The image reference distance detection unit detects an image reference distance, the longitudinal length of the reference distance mark in the shot image. The vehicle speed calculation unit calculates the vehicle speed from the traveled distance using the image reference distance and the reference distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Ono
  • Patent number: 9256939
    Abstract: A method and system of aligning plurality of physically scaled mammography images within at least one viewport comprising: categorizing each mammography image to a corresponding mammography view; determining the image dimensions of each image based on the pixel spacing; choosing a first mammography image for each mammographic view based on the image dimensions; centering the first mammography image of each mammographic view within the at least one viewport; generating a virtual line across the at least one viewport along a boundary of the first mammography image; and aligning subsequent mammography images of the same mammographic view such that a boundary of the mammography image is aligned to the virtual line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: AGFA Healthcare
    Inventors: Mehmet Bediz, Ronald Dale Hitzelberger
  • Patent number: 9245313
    Abstract: A semiconductor device 1 includes an image input unit 11 and an image output unit 12. The image input unit 11 receives first image data from a camera 91 and outputs second image data to a memory unit 93 through a shared bus 130. The image output unit 12 receives the second image data stored in the memory unit 93 through the shared bus 130 and outputs third image data to a monitor 92. The third image data is generated by performing an affine-conversion on the first image data. Magnification processing in the affine-conversion is not performed in the image input unit 11. In this way, it is possible to provide an excellent semiconductor device suitable for image processing or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Yamamoto, Hiroyuki Hamasaki
  • Patent number: 9230353
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for encoding images, more particularly to an encoding unit in conjunction with a library of pictorial entities and image qualifiers. The method and apparatus provide encoding an image by using a code factor table in conjunction with a set of element codes. The resulting image code allows the set pictorial elements of an image and their associated image, qualifiers to be represented by a compact code uniquely representing a given configuration of pictorial elements. The use of the resulting image code facilitates the transmission and storage of images requiring only the code to be sent or stored. The invention further provides a computer readable medium comprising a program element that direct a computer to implement the encoding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Recognicorp, LLC
    Inventor: Pierre Cote
  • Patent number: 9230339
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring distances related to a target object depicted in an image and the construction and delivery of supplemental window materials for fenestration. A digital image is obtained that contains a target object dimension and a reference object dimension in the same plane. The digital image may contain a target object dimension identified by an ancillary object and a reference object dimension in different planes. Fiducial patterns on the reference and optional ancillary objects are used that are recognized by an image analysis algorithm. Information regarding a target object and its immediate surroundings is provided to an automated or semi-automated measurement process, design and manufacturing system such that customized parts are provided to end users. The digital image contains a reference object having a reference dimension and calculating a constraint dimension from the digital image based on a reference dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: WexEnergy Innovations LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Myron Wexler, John Patrick Spence, Jiebo Luo
  • Patent number: 9230162
    Abstract: An identification control method and system for a valuable document. The system comprises a collection part, an identification part, a control part, a transmission part and an upper computer. In the identification part, complete identification information about a valuable document is split into basic identification information and high-grade identification information. Only the basic identification information which is required by the control part is sent to the control part, and the information which is not required by the control part is directly sent to the upper computer by the identification part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: GRG Banking Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rongqiu Wang, Tuowen Xiang, Chaoyang Xu
  • Patent number: 9215345
    Abstract: A method and system generates a reconstructed gray scale image of pixels from a binary image of pixels by reverse propagating an error, in a diffused manner, to the pixels of the binary image to create pixels representing a reconstructed gray scale image. The reverse propagation of the error determines if a current pixel has a first predetermined value; sets an error value to a first error value if the current pixel has the first predetermined value; sets the error value to a second error value if the current pixel does not have the first predetermined value; and propagates a diffused error value to a pixel neighboring the current pixel to create an error diffused pixel, the diffused error value being a product of the set error value and a weighting coefficient associated with the pixel neighboring the current pixel. A Gaussian filter may be utilized to filter the pixels representing a gray scale image to create a filtered reconstructed gray scale image of pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Dhevendra alagan Palanivel, Sainarayanan Gopalakrishnan, Clara Cuciurean-Zapan
  • Patent number: 9208396
    Abstract: In image processing of multi-viewpoint image data including image data captured with different focal lengths, an image of high quality, distance information with high precision, etc., are obtained by utilizing image data with different angles of view (focal lengths). An image processing device for generating combined image data using multi-viewpoint image data including image data acquired with different focal lengths, includes a resolution converting unit configured to perform resolution conversion for at least part of image data in multi-viewpoint image data in accordance with a focal length to be output and an image combining unit configured to generate combined image data with the focal length to be output using the resolution-converted image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomohiro Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 9202286
    Abstract: The image processing apparatus for detecting a moving object in a moving image includes a background generation unit configured to generate a background image of the moving image while updating the background image over time. The background generation unit includes a model derivation unit configured to derive a mixed distribution model having one or more distribution models for each pixel of interest, and a background value derivation unit configured to derive one or more background pixel values respectively corresponding to the one or more distribution models. The model derivation unit is configured to generate a new distribution model from pixel values of a plurality of pixels within a local region containing the pixel of interest in a first frame, and update the existing distribution model using a pixel value of the pixel of interest in a second frame that is different from the first frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: NK WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koji Kita
  • Patent number: 9202283
    Abstract: A method for detecting a fall of a person by analysis of a stream of video images originating from an image capture device, including: acquisition of successive images of a determined scene; selection of at least one point of the scene in the images; determination of the movement of each point selected by analysis of the displacement of the point in the successive images in the form of a temporal succession of vectors oriented proportionally to the instantaneous velocity of the movement of the point; computation of the instantaneous acceleration of each point associated with each vector representing the instantaneous velocity; detection of a fall when the determined instantaneous velocity is above a predefined threshold velocity and the instantaneous acceleration is above a predefined threshold acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: CASH SYSTEMS SECURITY
    Inventor: Larbi Ramzi
  • Patent number: 9202269
    Abstract: A user terminal device, a server device, a system and a method for assessing quality of media data are described. The user terminal device is used for extracting artifact features from the media data and for communicating the features to the server device which is then used for determining a quality score using the artifacts and an artifact/quality score database accessible by the server device. The score, transmitted to the user terminal device, is presented to a user from which a subjective quality score and a request for re-determination are received which the user terminal device communicates to the server device. This in turn is used for re-determining the quality score and for transmitting back the re-determined quality score wherein the quality score is re-determined using the received artifacts, the received subjective quality score and the artifact/quality score database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Kai Xie, Xiao Dong Gu, Zhibo Chen
  • Patent number: 9202266
    Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment a method, apparatus and computer program product are provided. The method comprises determining a plurality of first pixels having resemblance with a second pixel associated with an image based on a depth information of the image. The method further comprises replacing the second pixel by at least one first pixel of the plurality of first pixels based on a determination that the at least one first pixel is not associated with the at least one image defect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Krishna Annasagar Govindarao, Gururaj Gopal Putraya, Mithun Uliyar, Basavaraja S V