Abstract: A method for an automatic inspection of a plurality of plate-like plastic carriers, whereby each plastic carrier is closed by a cover and has a unique identification code and a culture medium. A storage container including a multiplicity of plastic carriers is provided, and a computer-controlled handling unit including an optical inspection system is provided. While performing the automatic inspection in an inspection routine, a plastic carrier is removed from the storage container with the aid of the handling unit, the cover of the plastic carrier is subsequently removed, the plastic carrier is supplied to the inspection system, the identification code is read, and at least one image of the plastic carrier, including the surface of the culture solution is recorded. The image is evaluated for a growth of germs and/or faults in the plastic carrier and the result of the evaluation is stored for each plastic carrier.

Abstract: It is provided a method for verifying digitized images of persons and apparatuses for performing the method. The method is particularly usable for verifying the suitability of an image of a person for identification of the person. The method comprises the steps: segmenting the image of a person in a background area and a head or face area, analyzing the head or face area, to detect at least one characteristic value, comparing the at least one characteristic value with at least one predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A method of processing digitized picture data includes providing an hierarchical structure graph which is applied to the picture data in that, starting with the lowermost level, at least one node is processed. The provided hierarchical structure graph includes nodes, a specified number of levels, with at least one node located in each level, and edges connecting pairs of predetermined nodes of different levels and defining, for each pair of nodes, a lower father node and an upper son node. Processing of a node includes matching of its at least one picture matching model to the picture data by variation of the model parameters, determination of a matching quantity for each parameter variation, and determination of an assessment for each parameter variation. The assessment found for each parameter variation is applied as a criterion for the processing of a son node of the processed node.

Abstract: It is provided a method for verifying digitized images of persons and apparatuses for performing the method. The method is particularly usable for verifying the suitability of an image of a person for identification of the person. The method comprises the steps: segmenting the image of a person in a background area and a head or face area, analyzing the head or face area, to detect at least one characteristic value, comparing the at least one characteristic value with at least one predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing digitized image data by adapting image adaptation models.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reversibly rendering at least one object in an image unrecognizable, whereby each object to be rendered unrecognizable is automatically detected in an original image and at least one data set is generated comprising image information for the representation of the image in which each object to be rendered unrecognizable is, in fact, rendered unrecognizable, and additional information that permits the restoration of each object that has been rendered unrecognizable in the image.