Abstract: The pixels located at equal intervals in a shot image are converted into intensity components and applied with a differential filter. The number of the obtained variations that have values larger than or equal to a certain value among the obtained variations is counted. Then discrimination of a vehicle shot in the target image is executed on the basis of the counted value. The counted value varies depending on a size of a shot object in a shot image. The counted value is large when an occupied area of the object is large, and the counted value is small when the occupied area of the object is small. By so doing, it is advantageously possible to properly discriminate a vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle-type determination apparatus includes a vehicle-portion extracting unit, a hood recognizing unit, and a vehicle-type determining unit. The vehicle-portion extracting unit extracts a vehicle portion from an image of a recognition object. The hood recognizing unit recognizes an area corresponding to a hood in the vehicle portion extracted by the vehicle-portion extracting unit. The vehicle-type determining unit determines the vehicle type based on the degree of inclination of a side of the hood area recognized by the hood recognizing unit.

Abstract: A vehicle search system is provided, which is capable of easily and efficiently searching for a particular vehicle image based on vague and uncertain information. The vehicle search system includes an image database for accumulating vehicle images photographed by a stationary camera placed on the road under a condition that the vehicle images are associated with at least photographing date and time information and photographing place information of the vehicle image; an image recognizing part for extracting feature information (vehicle color, vehicle shape, etc.

Abstract: A vehicle-type determination apparatus includes a vehicle-portion extracting unit, a hood recognizing unit, and a vehicle-type determining unit. The vehicle-portion extracting unit extracts a vehicle portion from an image of a recognition object. The hood recognizing unit recognizes an area corresponding to a hood in the vehicle portion extracted by the vehicle-portion extracting unit. The vehicle-type determining unit determines the vehicle type based on the degree of inclination of a side of the hood area recognized by the hood recognizing unit.

Abstract: The pixels located at equal intervals in a shot image are converted into intensity components and applied with a differential filter. The number of the obtained variations that have values larger than or equal to a certain value among the obtained variations is counted. Then discrimination of a vehicle shot in the target image is executed on the basis of the counted value. The counted value varies depending on a size of a shot object in a shot image. The counted value is large when an occupied area of the object is large, and the counted value is small when the occupied area of the object is small. By so doing, it is advantageously possible to properly discriminate a vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle search system is provided, which is capable of easily and efficiently searching for a particular vehicle image based on vague and uncertain information. The vehicle search system includes an image database for accumulating vehicle images photographed by a stationary camera placed on the road under a condition that the vehicle images are associated with at least photographing date and time information and photographing place information of the vehicle image; an image recognizing part for extracting feature information (vehicle color, vehicle shape, etc.