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: A digital watermark embedding device and a digital watermark detecting device are obtained, which can realize stable digital watermark detection using fewer, and embed and detect a larger amount of digital watermark information with an identical number of pixels used for digital watermark embedding in a conventional technology.

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 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: 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: 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: 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: 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.

Abstract: The digital watermark embedding apparatus includes: a storing unit (15) for storing in advance at least one embedding function, at least one image converting program, and at least one image processing program that are required for a digital watermark embedding process, and storing in advance combination process information in which a process ID is assigned to each combination of those processing functions; an embedding process selecting unit (12) for selecting, as particular combination process information, one of a plurality of pieces of the combination process information; and an embedding unit (14) for obtaining from the storing unit (15) the embedding function, the image converting program, and the image processing program which are included in the selected particular combination process information, embedding particular embedding information into multimedia data, and generating determination information including the process ID corresponding to the particular combination process information.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus extends the edge portion of an image in a prescribed range, detects, from the image, a plurality of feature points that each indicate a setting position of a local region, sets a local region corresponding to each of the feature points in the image on which region extension has been performed, and calculates a local feature amount corresponding to each feature point based on image information in the local region.

Abstract: Provided are a program, a method, and an apparatus for decoding coded data, capable of completely restoring an original stream when decoded data is coded again by causing a computer to function as: means for receiving an input of a signal coded by lossy compression and orthogonally projecting an optional real number vector on one convex aggregate X in a first vector space in which the decoded signal is present; means for judging convergence of convex projection and obtaining a real number vector x belonging to the aggregate X to output the same as a decoded signal when the convergence of the convex projection is judged; and means for orthogonally projecting an optional vector of the first vector space on one convex aggregate Y in a second vector space different from the first vector space when the convergence of the convex projection is not judged, and then repeating orthogonal projection on the aggregate X and the aggregate Y with the coded signal set as an initial value.

Abstract: A digital watermark detecting device includes an extracting unit to extract pixels embedded as a digital watermark from an input image and to output an extracted pixel value row, a generating unit to generate a set of orthogonal patterns, a detecting unit to calculate a correlation using an integration result of the orthogonal patterns and the extracted pixel value row, to determine detected values corresponding to the orthogonal patterns and a standard deviation for detected values excluding a maximum detected value with a maximum absolute value from the calculated detected values, to calculate a quotient by dividing the maximum detected value by the standard deviation, a discriminating unit to output information corresponding to the result of comparison between a threshold parameter and the quotient, and a unit to convert the detected value inputted from the detecting unit into predetermined information, when the reliability of the detected values satisfies a standard.

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 encoded data modification device and the like are obtained which are capable of modifying a signal with a small delay. There is provided the encoded data modification device, including: an operational buffer that stores inputted encoded data formed of a plurality of encoded units; a decoder circuit that decodes the encoded data stored in the operational buffer; a modification circuit that modifies a first encoded unit of the decoded data and modifies following decoded encoded units according to the modification; an encoder circuit that re-encodes the modified data; an operational circuit that judges whether the modification is contained in the data in the buffer; and a write control circuit that rewrites the encoded data stored in the operational buffer to the data modified by the modification circuit and re-encoded by the encoder circuit when the operational circuit judges that the modification is contained in the data in the buffer.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an additional information conversion means for converting a text of related information into additional information and outputting this additional information, and for outputting an amount of additional information for each point of interest, an embedding region allocating means for outputting region management information including the amount of additional information, for allocating an embedding region for the additional information in an original digital input image on the basis of image size information and the amount of additional information, and for outputting information on the embedding region as region information, and an information embedding means for embedding the region management information in a predetermined region in the original digital input image, and also embedding the additional information in the original digital input image on the basis of the region information to generate and output a watermarked image.

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 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: 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.