Abstract: A context of media content is represented by context description data having a hierarchical stratum. The context description data has the highest hierarchical layer, the lowest hierarchical layer, and other hierarchical layers. The highest hierarchical layer is formed from a single element representing content. The lowest hierarchical layer is formed from an element representing a segment of media content which corresponds to a change between scenes of video data or a change in audible tones. The remaining hierarchical layers are formed from an element representing a scene or a collection of scenes. A score corresponding to the context of a scene of interest is appended, as an attribute, to the element in each of the remaining hierarchical layers. A score relating to the time information about a corresponding media segment and a context is appended, as an attribute, to individual elements in the lowest hierarchical layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a contour extraction apparatus which has an image storing section 1 for storing an image, a contour model storing section 2 for storing a contour model, a contour model transforming section 3 for transforming and shrinking the contour model according to a prescribed rule, a contour model intersection detecting section 4 for detecting a contact or intersection in the contour model, a contour model dividing section 5 for dividing the contour model into contour models based on the detected contact or intersection, and an extraction completion judging section 7 for judging whether or not extraction of the contour of the object has been completed. According to the contour extraction apparatus, even when there are objects whose contours are to be extracted, the contour of the each object can be extracted correctly by predesignating a region only once, or without predesignating a region at all, despite the presence of excessive noise or a discontinuity in the edge.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically generating and adjusting fuzzy reasoning, i.e. logic, rules based on changes in the reasoning error. The apparatus includes a fuzzy reasoning section that performs fuzzy logic based on the fuzzy reasoning rules stored in the a rule memory. The parameters of the fuzzy reasoning rules are adjusted in a parameter tuning section based on the output of the fuzzy reasoning section and predetermined input and output data. A reasoning error calculation section calculates a reasoning error and a change in the reasoning error based on the results from the fuzzy reasoning section and the predetermined input and output data. The reasoning error calculation section also disables the parameter tuning section when the calculated reasoning error is less than a predetermined first threshold value.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically generating and adjusting fuzzy reasoning, rules based on changes in the reasoning error. The apparatus includes a fuzzy reasoning section that performs fuzzy logic based on the fuzzy reasoning rules stored in the a rule memory. The parameters of the fuzzy reasoning rules are adjusted in a parameter tuning section based on the output of the fuzzy reasoning section and predetermined input and output data. A reasoning error calculation section calculates a reasoning error and a change in the reasoning error based on the results from the fuzzy reasoning section and the predetermined input and output data. The reasoning error calculation section also disables the parameter tuning section when the calculated reasoning error is less than a predetermined first threshold value.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention for determining existential conditions of objects on a certain detecting region, includes: a temperature distribution detecting section for obtaining a thermal image including a plurality of elements each having temperature data by detecting the temperature distribution on the detecting region; an element classifying section for classifying the plurality of elements in the thermal image into at least two groups, all elements belonging to one of the groups being in a certain temperature range, the temperature range of the one group being distinct from a temperature range of another one of the groups; a group selecting section for selecting at least one group of a relatively higher temperature range in the thermal image from the at least two groups; an element selecting section for selecting, among elements included in the selected group, elements having temperature data indicative of local temperature peaks in the thermal image; and an output section for outputting the nu