Abstract: An image searching apparatus which searches for an image that is similar to a query image from among a plurality of images is provided. The apparatus derives a color similarity that denotes a degree of similarity and a luminance similarity that denotes a degree of similarity between the query image and each of the images to be compared with. Then, the apparatus transforms the luminance similarity of each of the grayscale images to be compared with and the query image into an integrated similarity that is integrated in accordance with a correspondence between the color similarity and the luminance similarity of each of the color images to be compared with, and outputs the images to be compared in order by similarity, using the color similarity of the color images to be compared and the integrated similarity of the grayscale images to be compared.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: a calculation unit adapted to analyze an image and calculate an intermediate value; a setting unit adapted to set a feature extraction region in the image, using the intermediate value; and an extraction unit adapted to extract a local feature of the feature extraction region, reusing the intermediate value used by the setting unit.

Abstract: An image retrieval apparatus includes a designation unit configured to designate a query area of an image based on a user's designation operation, a display unit configured to display an area where a local feature amount is difficult to be extracted in the query area designated by the designation unit as a feature non-extractable area, and a retrieval unit configured to retrieve, based on a local feature amount extracted from an area which is not displayed as the feature non-extractable area in the query area by the display unit, image feature data with which a local feature amount and the image are associated and which is stored in a storage device.

Abstract: An image processing section 10 calculates degree of similarity among a plurality of image frames of dynamic image data, determines scene-change frames based on the calculated degree of similarity, and performs automatic editing and preparation of a digest dynamic image of the dynamic image data by merging a specified duration of frames, giving priority to scenes whose scene-change frame has a low degree of similarity to an immediately preceding frame or some preceding frames, or by merging, from scenes delimited by a scene change, a specified duration of frames having a degree of similarity in keeping with the user's indication of whether or not a “little change digest” or a “much change digest” is to be prepared.

Abstract: An image search apparatus, which determines a similarity between an input query image and a registered comparison destination image and searches an image similar to the query image, extracts a plurality of corresponding pairs of feature points in two images based on feature points selected from the both images. A coordinate transformation coefficient to execute a coordinate transformation process is decided so that coordinates of the feature point of one of the two images match coordinates of the feature point of the other image, in relation to each pair. Only if an amount of transformation of coordinates satisfies the constraint conditions designated in advance, the coordinate transformation process using the coordinate transformation coefficient is executed in relation to the plurality of pairs of feature points, and coordinates of the feature points after the transformation of one image are compared with coordinates of the corresponding feature points of the other image.

Abstract: An image search apparatus extracts a symmetric partial image based on acquired pairs of feature points, and divides the partial image at a symmetry axis of the partial image to decide two partial areas, as a first area and a second area based on the tendency of image features in the partial image. In determining the similarity between the query image and a comparison destination image, a coordinate transformation coefficient for a coordinate transformation process is set based on pairs of feature points extracted from the partial area decided as the first area of the two images, the coordinate transformation process using the coordinate transformation coefficient is applied to the pairs of feature points extracted from areas including areas other than the first area of the two images, and coordinates of the pairs of feature points after the coordinate transformation process are compared.

Abstract: An image retrieval apparatus configured so as to enable a global feature method and a local feature method to complement each other is provided. After obtaining a retrieval result candidate using the local feature method, the image retrieval apparatus further verifies global features already registered in a database, with regard to the retrieval result candidate image. A verification position of the global features is estimated using the local features.

Abstract: There is provided an image compression data processing method, including: dividing compressed image data into plurality of compressed partial image data and describing the plurality of compressed partial image data in an arbitrary order; and describing, in any of the compressed image data and additional data associated with the compressed image data, information about a decoding order of the plurality of compressed partial image data and information about a storage address of each of the plurality of compressed partial image data.

Abstract: The horizontal and vertical projection histograms of an image to be processed are calculated. The autocorrelation values of the calculated horizontal and vertical projection histograms are calculated, and horizontal and vertical object sizes until the autocorrelation values decrease to predetermined thresholds are calculated. The aspect ratio estimate value of the circumscribed rectangle of an object serving as a comparison region candidate in the image to be processed is calculated on the basis of the calculation results. The comparison region candidate is corrected on the basis of the aspect ratio estimate value, determining a final comparison region.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus reduces two input images to be compared by the predetermined number of times to generate two image groups, extracts a plurality of feature points and a local feature amount of each feature point from these image groups, and determines a combination of feature points in which local feature amounts are similar to each other, between the image groups. Then, the image processing apparatus determines a relation of a reasonable combination, assigns high weights to the reasonable combination, and calculates a similarity degree between the two input images.

Abstract: An image processing method performs reduction processing on an input image to acquire a reduced image, extracts a feature point from a group of images including the input image and one or more of the reduced images, determines as a matched feature point the feature point extracted from a matching position in each of two or more images in the group of images, calculates a local feature quantity of the matched feature point determined by the determination unit, and registers the calculated local feature quantity as a local feature quantity of the input image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus executes smoothing processing (reduction conversion) of an input image to acquire a smoothed image (reduced image), acquires a normalization parameter for normalization from the smoothed image, and normalizes pixel values of the input image based on the normalization parameter.

Abstract: The horizontal and vertical projection histograms of an image to be processed are calculated. The autocorrelation values of the calculated horizontal and vertical projection histograms are calculated, and horizontal and vertical object sizes until the autocorrelation values decrease to predetermined thresholds are calculated. The aspect ratio estimate value of the circumscribed rectangle of an object serving as a comparison region candidate in the image to be processed is calculated on the basis of the calculation results. The comparison region candidate is corrected on the basis of the aspect ratio estimate value, determining a final comparison region.

Abstract: A page image is acquired. Area information that includes information on existence or absence of a text area and a picture area is extracted from the acquired page image. The page image is divided into a plurality of blocks. An image feature amount of each of the divided blocks is calculated. Whether the page image includes a picture area is determined on the basis of the extracted area information and the calculated image feature amounts of the blocks.

Abstract: This invention has as its object to allow high-precision and high-speed retrieval in consideration of position information of image feature amounts upon retrieving similar images based on image feature amounts, even when the position information includes some differences. To achieve such object, an image processing apparatus according to this invention has the following arrangement.

Abstract: This invention discloses an image processing apparatus which divides moving image data at appropriate positions and sets key frames at appropriately distributed positions in the entire moving image. This image processing apparatus records action information (e.g., a zoom action) associated with actions made during image sensing and environment information (e.g., rotation information due to a pan action) associated with an image sensing environment during image sensing as additional information of the moving image data. Then, the apparatus divides moving image data for one shot into a plurality of sub-shots (S807, S811) in accordance with at least one of the recorded action information and environment information (S802-S806, S808-S810).

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an extraction unit configured to extract a feature amount from information recorded on a recording medium, an acquisition unit configured to acquire an identification image identifying an operator of the recording apparatus, a storage unit configured to store the feature amount and the identification image, wherein the identification image is associated with the feature amount, a search unit configured to compare a feature amount extracted from a predetermined medium by the extraction unit with the feature amount stored in the storage unit, wherein, based on a result of the comparison, the identification image associated with the stored feature amount is associated with the predetermined medium, and an output unit configured to output the identification image associated with the predetermined medium.

Abstract: This invention realizes, with low cost, an image search apparatus which can quickly obtain adequate search results upon searching for document images which are identical or similar to a predetermined document image. To this end, an image search apparatus of this invention has the following arrangement. That is, an image search apparatus for searching for images similar to a query image, includes a region division unit (204, 209) which extracts a plurality of partial regions which form an image, a region feature extraction unit (205, 210) which calculates the number of partial regions and center of gravity positions, and a feature amount updating unit (206) which saves the calculated number of partial regions and center of gravity positions in an image region management DB (216) as an index.

Abstract: A image processing apparatus extracts a plurality of feature points, comprising a local feature amount, from an inputted image, and a region information that relates to the feature point, identifies at least one of the plurality of feature points, associates the feature point thus identified with a feature point with a high relational degree between the feature point thus identified and a region that is denoted by the region information of the feature point thus identified, and registers the feature point thus identified and associated as an index of the inputted image.

Abstract: A plurality of feature points are extracted from an inputted image, and a feature amount is computed with regard to the feature point thus extracted. A prescribed plurality of alterations, i.e., a rotation, an enlargement, or a reduction, are applied to the inputted image, a plurality of altered feature amounts are estimated with regard to the feature point, and an image is retrieved from among stored images that are stored upon a storage apparatus and that is most similar to the inputted image, in accordance with the plurality of the estimated altered feature amounts.