Abstract: In a moving image playback apparatus, periods A which represent human utterance periods, and other periods B are determined on the basis of sub-information contained in moving image data. Based on the moving image data, periods A undergo high-speed moving image playback with playback voice within the speed range from a normal speed to a predetermined speed (e.g., 1.5 to 2 times of the normal speed) at which the user can recognize playback contents, while periods B undergo high-speed moving image playback with at least playback voice in a small tone volume or silent high-speed moving image playback at a speed (e.g., 5 to 10 times of the normal speed) higher than the predetermined speed. During the playback, the moving image playback speeds can be adjusted in accordance with user attribute information registered in a user profile (14).

Abstract: A position and an area of a region to be processed, that is, a region from which image feature parameters are to be extracted, are obtained, and the number of pixels required for obtaining the usable image feature parameters is determined in accordance with types of the image feature parameters to be extracted. Then, a required resolution is calculated in accordance with the determined number of pixels and the area of the region to be processed, an image having a minimum resolution which is equal to or higher than the required resolution and which is usable to extract the usable image feature parameters is selected, and the image feature parameters are extracted from a region to be processed in the selected image.

Abstract: When retrieving an image from an archive of stored images that is similar to an inputted image, an image-processing apparatus (200) extracts more than one characteristic point from the inputted image (S504), computes a characteristic amount for the characteristic points thus extracted (S505), and evaluates the fluctuation in the characteristic amount when a prescribed alteration is applied to the inputted image (S506). The image-processing apparatus selects a characteristic point from among the characteristic points thus extracted from the inputted image, and retrieves (S508) a stored image that is similar to the inputted image, in accordance with the characteristic amount of the characteristic point thus selected.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus which decides a comparison position for performing similarity comparison between a comparison source image and a comparison destination image. A comparison source image and comparison destination image are divided into a plurality of blocks. Feature amounts of the images are calculated for each divided block. The similarity distance between the images are calculated after shifting on the basis of the feature amounts of corresponding blocks in the images. A position correction amount for correcting the comparison positions of the images is calculated on the basis of the size of the block and a position shifting pattern. Every time the position correction amount is calculated, the designated block division count is incremented, and the process is recursively executed. When recursive processing is determined to be ended, a comparison position at this time is finalized as the final comparison positions of the images.

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: This invention is to simplify operations for photographing a subject and acquiring radio tag information. In this invention, when a radio tag information registration photographing mode is selected, and it is detected that the photographing button (shutter button) is pressed halfway, a radio tag detector generates a radio wave that excites a radio tag. Whether a response from the radio tag is received is then determined. When a response is received from the radio tag, and a radio tag ID can uniquely be decided, a status “photographing OK” is indicated. When the photographing button in the half-pressed state is pressed completely, image sensing processing is executed. Radio tag information and obtained image information are stored in an information format, in which they are paired.

Abstract: Even if there are many printed images similar to a query image, this invention can effectively use a display window with a limited size and support to specify the print request source of each similar image by classifying and displaying the images according to additional information containing information indicating the print request source which has issued a print request for the image. Therefore, when a query image is input and images similar to the query image are found, the similar images are classified according to the user names of users who have printed them. The numbers of times of printing of the similar images and maximum similarities are displayed for the respective user names.

Abstract: Brightness feature information on the brightness of an image to be processed is extracted, and color feature information on the color of the image is extracted. A determination unit determines whether color information of the image to be processed is sufficient. When color information of a reference comparison image is sufficient as a result of determination, a color feature information comparison unit performs a similarity comparison between color feature information of the reference comparison image and that of a target comparison image. When the color information of the reference comparison image is insufficient, a brightness feature information comparison unit performs a similarity comparison between brightness feature information of the reference comparison image and that of the target comparison image. A retrieval result display displays an image serving as a retrieval result on the basis of the comparison result.

Abstract: In a moving image playback apparatus, periods A which represent human utterance periods, and other periods B are determined on the basis of sub-information contained in moving image data. Based on the moving image data, periods A undergo high-speed moving image playback with playback voice within the speed range from a normal speed to a predetermined speed (e.g., 1.5 to 2 times of the normal speed) at which the user can recognize playback contents, while periods B undergo high-speed moving image playback with at least playback voice in a small tone volume or silent high-speed moving image playback at a speed (e.g., 5 to 10 times of the normal speed) higher than the predetermined speed. During the playback, the moving image playback speeds can be adjusted in accordance with user attribute information registered in a user profile (14).

Abstract: A moving image processing apparatus gives an ID to a video segment obtained by dividing moving image data, and stores information for associating a section of each video segment with the ID as video segment section information. Here, meta-data corresponding to each video segment is managed by associating the meta-data with the ID given to each video segment. In editing operations, editing in units of a video segment is performed, and an arrangement of video segment IDs is manipulated. Therefore, even if the editing is performed, there arises no inconsistency in referring to meta-data information so that it is equivalent to having the meta-data updated in synchronization with the moving image editing. Thus, it is possible to have virtual editing of the moving image automatically followed by an update of the meta-data and also alleviate a burden of reediting the meta-data of an editor.

Abstract: In a moving image playback apparatus, periods A which represent human utterance periods, and other periods B are determined on the basis of sub-information contained in moving image data. Based on the moving image data, periods A undergo high-speed moving image playback with playback voice within the speed range from a normal speed to a predetermined speed (e.g., 1.5 to 2 times of the normal speed) at which the user can recognize playback contents, while periods B undergo high-speed moving image playback with at least playback voice in a small tone volume or silent high-speed moving image playback at a speed (e.g., 5 to 10 times of the normal speed) higher than the predetermined speed. During the playback, the moving image playback speeds can be adjusted in accordance with user attribute information registered in a user profile (14).

Abstract: A reference comparison image obtained from a printed material is input. The grayscale feature amount of the reference comparison image is extracted. Using the extracted grayscale feature amount, a target comparison image corresponding to the reference comparison image is retrieved from a plurality of electronic data stored as target comparison images in a storage medium. The retrieved image is extracted from the storage medium and processed.

Abstract: A moving image processing apparatus gives an ID to a video segment obtained by dividing moving image data, and stores information for associating a section of each video segment with the ID as video segment section information. Here, meta-data corresponding to each video segment is managed by associating the meta-data with the ID given to each video segment. In editing operations, editing in units of a video segment is performed, and an arrangement of video segment IDs is manipulated. Therefore, even if the editing is performed, there arises no inconsistency in referring to meta-data information so that it is equivalent to having the meta-data updated in synchronization with the moving image editing. Thus, it is possible to have virtual editing of the moving image automatically followed by an update of the meta-data and also alleviate a burden of reediting the meta-data of an editor.

Abstract: A reproduction apparatus and method for reproducing selected digital data reproduces digital data selected by a user, detects remaining power of a battery, and determines whether the selected digital data can be reproduced to the end or not based on the detected remaining power. Before the selected digital data is reproduced, if it is determined that there is sufficient battery power to reproduce the selected digital data to the end, then the selected digital data is reproduced. If not, a warning is provided and the user selects either a first reproduction mode or a second reproduction mode. If the first reproduction mode is selected, the selected digital data is reproduced. If the second reproduction mode is selected, summary data that includes a summary of the selected digital data is reproduced.

Abstract: This invention provides a document processing apparatus and method for searching, for a specific document image, a database in which a plurality of document images are registered in correspondence with the attributes of partial regions. A document image associated with search is segmented into partial regions. The attribute of each partial region of the segmented document image associated with search is determined. At least one document image is selected from document images registered in the database on the basis of the number of partial regions for each attribute in the document image associated with search.

Abstract: Of the feature amounts of respective regions on an image, a region having a feature amount which is similar to that of a region of interest on a image is specified (S1307). Of the OCR results of the respective regions on the image, a region having an OCR result which matches that of the region of interest on the image is specified (S1308). Regions corresponding to respective regions on the image of the respective regions are specified based on the layout order of the specified regions (S1311). Of the regions obtained by combining neighboring regions on the image, a region corresponding to an inclusion region that includes each specified region is specified (S1314).

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: A reproduction apparatus includes a prediction unit that predicts a reproducible time based on remaining power of a battery and a decision unit that decides whether the digital data selected by the user can be reproduced to the end or not based on the reproducible time, wherein when the digital data cannot be reproduced to the end, an alarm is issued indicating that the digital data cannot be reproduced to the end.

Abstract: A reproduction apparatus comprising a communication unit adapted to receive digital data distributed by a distribution apparatus, a reproduction unit adapted to reproduce the digital data received by the communication unit, a prediction unit adapted to predict a reproducible time using remaining power of a battery before the reproduction apparatus requests the distribution apparatus to distribute the digital data, and a determination unit adapted to determine whether the digital data can be reproduced to the end or not based on the reproducible time predicted by the prediction unit. If the determination unit determines that the digital data can be reproduced to the end, the reproduction apparatus requests the distribution apparatus to distribute the digital data to be reproduced by the reproduction unit, and if the determination unit determines that the digital data cannot be reproduced to the end, the reproduction apparatus issues an alarm indicating that the digital data cannot be reproduced to the end.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus which decides a comparison position for performing similarity comparison between a comparison source image and a comparison destination image. A comparison source image and comparison destination image are divided into a plurality of blocks. Feature amounts of the images are calculated for each divided block. The similarity distance between the images are calculated after shifting on the basis of the feature amounts of corresponding blocks in the images. A position correction amount for correcting the comparison positions of the images is calculated on the basis of the size of the block and a position shifting pattern. Every time the position correction amount is calculated, the designated block division count is incremented, and the process is recursively executed. When recursive processing is determined to be ended, a comparison position at this time is finalized as the final comparison positions of the images.