Abstract: An image processing apparatus for reducing fluctuations due to a heat haze in an image including a stationary region and a moving object obtains histogram of gradation distribution for each of a target image to be corrected and a frame for correction, and corrects the target image by using the frame for correction while changing a mixing ratio between the target image and the frame for correction depending on similarity between histograms. To adaptively control a size of image blocks for the histograms, the apparatus calculates two indices having different robustness to deformation of an object from image blocks of each of the target image and the frame for correction, and determines suitability of the image block size based on a relationship of the indices. The difference between the histograms and the sum of absolute differences (SAD) between the pixel values can be used as the two indices.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an imaging unit which outputs an imaging result as a time-series image and an image correction unit, to which the time-series image outputted from the imaging unit is inputted as an input image, for correcting image fluctuation in the input image. The image correction unit includes a temporally-smoothed image generation section which generates a temporally-smoothed image by smoothing time-series input images, a similarity determination section which sets a local area for the temporally-smoothed image and determines similarities between the local area and partial areas of the time-series input images; and a corrected image generation section which selects a partial area having the highest similarity to the local area, and generates a corrected image based on the selected partial area.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for reducing fluctuations due to a heat haze in an image including a stationary region and a moving object obtains histogram of gradation distribution for each of a target image to be corrected and a frame for correction, and corrects the target image by using the frame for correction while changing a mixing ratio between the target image and the frame for correction depending on similarity between histograms. To adaptively control a size of image blocks for the histograms, the apparatus calculates two indices having different robustness to deformation of an object from image blocks of each of the target image and the frame for correction, and determines suitability of the image block size based on a relationship of the indices. The difference between the histograms and the sum of absolute differences (SAD) between the pixel values can be used as the two indices.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for correcting for shimmer due to thermal turbulence, even for moving subjects, on a time smoothed base. The device is provided with: a movement compensation means that, for a correction-targeted block of a correction-targeted image within an input image, uses a temporally proximate correction image to derive movement information about a moving object, performs motion compensation, and outputs a correction block and a cost value; and a shimmer correction means that carries out time averaging processing, in accordance with the cost value, of the correction-targeted block and the correction block, and outputs a corrected block in which shimmer of the moving object has been corrected, and correction information. Through two-stage motion detection, the movement compensation means extracts and compensates for movement of a moving object, in a manner unaffected by thermal turbulence.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an imaging unit which outputs an imaging result as a time-series image and an image correction unit, to which the time-series image outputted from the imaging unit is inputted as an input image, for correcting image fluctuation in the input image. The image correction unit includes a temporally-smoothed image generation section which generates a temporally-smoothed image by smoothing time-series input images, a similarity determination section which sets a local area for the temporally-smoothed image and determines similarities between the local area and partial areas of the time-series input images; and a corrected image generation section which selects a partial area having the highest similarity to the local area, and generates a corrected image based on the selected partial area.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for correcting for shimmer due to thermal turbulence, even for moving subjects, on a time smoothed base. The device is provided with: a movement compensation means that, for a correction-targeted block of a correction-targeted image within an input image, uses a temporally proximate correction image to derive movement information about a moving object, performs motion compensation, and outputs a correction block and a cost value; and a shimmer correction means that carries out time averaging processing, in accordance with the cost value, of the correction-targeted block and the correction block, and outputs a corrected block in which shimmer of the moving object has been corrected, and correction information. Through two-stage motion detection, the movement compensation means extracts and compensates for movement of a moving object, in a manner unaffected by thermal turbulence.

Abstract: There is provided an image data compression apparatus capable of effectively suppressing an image data volume after compression processing. A bit rate value is detected according to the image data volume after the compression processing. According to the bit rate size value detected, a quantization step size value used in the compression processing is modified. According to the quantization step size value, a skip frame number is set and a frame skip of the image data before or after the compression processing is performed according to the number of frame skip frames which has been set.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided that efficiently performs compression and encoding when an image obtained from an image pickup device is compressed and encoded for distribution. The image processing apparatus includes an image dividing unit for dividing an image into a plurality of areas, an image compression and encoding unit for compressing and encoding the image for each area generated by dividing the image by the image dividing unit, an image transmission request receiving unit for receiving an image transmission request from a client via a network, a transmission image area selection unit for selecting areas of an image to be transmitted to the client based on the image transmission request from the client; and a selected area image transmission unit for transmitting a compressed and encoded image, corresponding to the areas selected by the transmission image area selection unit, to the client.

Abstract: There is provided an image data compression apparatus capable of effectively suppressing an image data volume after compression processing. A bit rate value is detected according to the image data volume after the compression processing. According to the bit rate size value detected, a quantization step size value used in the compression processing is modified. According to the quantization step size value, a skip frame number is set and a frame skip of the image data before or after the compression processing is performed according to the number of frame skip frames which has been set.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided that efficiently performs compression and encoding when an image obtained from an image pickup device is compressed and encoded for distribution. The image processing apparatus includes an image dividing unit for dividing an image into a plurality of areas, an image compression and encoding unit for compressing and encoding the image for each area generated by dividing the image by the image dividing unit, an image transmission request receiving unit for receiving an image transmission request from a client via a network, a transmission image area selection unit for selecting areas of an image to be transmitted to the client based on the image transmission request from the client; and a selected area image transmission unit for transmitting a compressed and encoded image, corresponding to the areas selected by the transmission image area selection unit, to the client.

Abstract: A compressed image transmission system wherein desired one of a plurality of pieces of compressed video data transmitted onto a network from a plurality of transmission devices is selected at one of receiver terminals connected to the network and received to the receiver terminal. The transmission devices transmit reference images corresponding to the associated compressed video data to the network. Each of the receiver terminals displays the received reference image on a monitor, and an operator specifies the compressed video data to be received on the basis of the display state of the reference image.

Abstract: A compressed image transmission system wherein desired one of a plurality of pieces of compressed video data transmitted onto a network from a plurality of transmission devices is selected at one of receiver terminals connected to the network and received to the receiver terminal. The transmission devices transmit reference images corresponding to the associated compressed video data to the network. Each of the receiver terminals displays the received reference image on a monitor, and an operator specifies the compressed video data to be received on the basis of the display state of the reference image.

Abstract: An image data conversion method and apparatus capable of real time output of moving pictures and simplifying the control circuit. This apparatus includes a central processing unit (CPU) for decoding compressed data and transferring the decoded data at the same line frequency as that of a receiver, and an image inverse-conversion processor for converting the data transferred from the CPU to an image size that can be displayed on the receiver. The CPU controls the decoded data so that it is decimated by eliminating predetermined lines so as to have the same number of lines as that of the receiver displaying apparatus, and be transferred to the image inverse-conversion processor. The image inverse-conversion processor includes a converter circuit common to the conversion to odd and even fields.