Abstract: Cell phones and other portable devices are equipped with a variety of technologies by which existing functionality can be improved, and new functionality can be provided. Some relate to visual search capabilities, and determining appropriate actions responsive to different image inputs. Others relate to processing of image data. Still others concern metadata generation, processing, and representation. Yet others relate to coping with fixed focus limitations of cell phone cameras, e.g., in reading digital watermark data. Still others concern user interface improvements. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described that categorizes images by extracting regions and describing the regions with a set of 15-dimensional image patch feature vectors, which are concatenations of color and texture feature vectors. By comparing the image patch feature vectors in images with similarly-obtained image patch vectors in a Gaussian mixture based model pool (obtained in an image patch modeling phase), the images may be categorized (in an image patch recognition phase) with probabilities relating to each image patch. Higher probabilities are likelier correlations. The device may be a single or multiple core CPU, or parallelized vector processor for characterizing many images. The images may be photographs, videos, or video stills, without restriction. When used real-time, the method may be used for visual searching or sorting.

Abstract: A correlation processing apparatus that obtains a correlation value between an image and a subimage, the apparatus including: N arithmetic circuits, each of the N arithmetic circuits performing an arithmetic operation on a first image pixel value of a first image pixel of the image and a second image pixel value of a second image pixel of the subimage; a rectangular pattern selection circuit selecting a rectangular pattern among a plurality of predetermined rectangular patterns, the rectangular pattern including Q elements, the smallest number of divisions is obtained if the image is divided by the rectangular pattern; a control circuit activating Q arithmetic circuits among the N arithmetic circuits and identifying Q first image pixel values and Q second image pixel values on which the arithmetic operations are performed by the Q arithmetic circuits; and an accumulator accumulating the results of the arithmetic operations performed by the Q arithmetic circuits.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed. Previously stored images of one or more geographic areas may be viewed by online users. A new low-resolution image may be acquired and aspects of the new low-resolution image may be compared with a corresponding one of the previously stored images to determine an amount of change. A determination may be made regarding whether to acquire a new high-resolution image based on the determined amount of change and a freshness score associated with the one of the previously stored images. In another embodiment, a new image may be captured and corresponding location data may be obtained. A corresponding previously stored image may be obtained and compared with the new image to determine an amount of change. The new image may be uploaded to a remote computing device based on the determined amount of change and a freshness score of the previously stored image.

Abstract: A store system includes a reading unit that includes an image acquiring unit and an image output unit, and a sales registration apparatus that includes a similar image detection unit and a sales registration unit. The image acquiring unit acquires an image that is captured by an image capturing unit. The image output unit outputs the acquired image. The similar image detection unit detects an image of a product that is similar to at least a portion of the output image by referencing product management information in which information relating to sales registration of a product and an image of the product are associated for each product. The sales registration unit registers sales of a product based on information relating to the sales registration associated with the image of the detected product.

Abstract: A technique for use in automatic validation of a media item involves accessing a template that comprises multiple one-class classifiers, each corresponding to one of multiple classes to which the media item might belong, and then applying each of the one-class classifiers to an image of the media item to generate a result set for each of the multiple classes. The result set for each media class is then analyzed to assess whether the media item belongs to that class.

Abstract: An automatic document classification system is described that uses lexical and physical features to assign a class ci?C{c1, c2, . . . , ci} to a document d. The primary lexical features are the result of a feature selection method known as Orthogonal Centroid Feature Selection (OCFS). Additional information may be gathered on character type frequencies (digits, letters, and symbols) within d. Physical information is assembled through image analysis to yield physical attributes such as document dimensionality, text alignment, and color distribution. The resulting lexical and physical information is combined into an input vector X and is used to train a supervised neural network to perform the classification.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for processing and metrically quantifying images of objects containing clusters of points/spots, such as biological specimens comprising cluster of cells, in particular of human or animal origin, or images thereof.

Abstract: A face illumination normalization method includes acquiring a digital image including a face that appears to be illuminated unevenly. One or more uneven illumination classifier programs are applied to the face data to determine the presence of the face within the digital image and/or the uneven illumination condition of the face. The uneven illumination condition may be corrected to thereby generate a corrected face image appearing to have more uniform illumination, for example, to enhance face recognition.

Abstract: A blur classification module may compute the probability that a given pixel in a digital image was blurred using a given two-dimensional blur kernel, and may store the computed probability in a blur classification probability matrix that stores probability values for all combinations of image pixels and the blur kernels in a set of likely blur kernels. Computing these probabilities may include computing a frequency power spectrum for windows into the digital image and/or for the likely blur kernels. The blur classification module may generate a coherent mapping between pixels of the digital image and respective blur states, or may perform a segmentation of the image into blurry and sharp regions, dependent on values stored in the matrix. Input image data may be pre-processed. Blur classification results may be employed in image editing operations to automatically target image subjects or background regions, or to estimate the depth of image elements.

Abstract: A method of processing an image includes the steps of receiving selection of the first region of interest (ROI) of an image, processing the first image data related to the first ROI, displaying the first image ROI based on the first image data, receiving selection of the second ROI of the image, which at least partially overlapping the first ROI, processing the second image data related to a portion of the second ROI that does not overlap the first ROI, combining the processed second image data with the processed first image data that overlaps the second ROI, and displaying the second image ROI based on the combined processed second image data and the processed first data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding/decoding an image are provided. The method includes partitioning an image into a plurality of areas, allocating the partitioned plurality of areas to views of multi-view image sequences, and encoding the allocated plurality of areas. By doing so, the method can efficiently encode a large-screen image or a high-pixel image, without using a separate codec.

Abstract: A method of encoding an image includes checking a storage status of a buffer storing encoded data, at every data unit equal to or less than at least one macroblock; rearranging information about a macroblock so that encoded data of the macroblock is reduced, based on the storage status of the buffer; and storing data encoded by using data of the image and the information about the macroblock, which is rearranged based on the storage status of the buffer, in the buffer.

Abstract: A rate control unit performs data truncation on a code sequence having been sorted and bit shifted as shown in FIG. 10 so that a desired noise reduction effect is achieved. The data truncation occurs in sequence from the rightmost bit. For example, in FIG. 10, data is truncated from data of bit 0 in a subband VHL4 downwardly in sequence through data of bit 0 in a subband YHH5, and so on. If the desired noise reduction effect can be achieved by truncation of up to bit data in the subband YHH1, data in those subbands in a dotted area in FIG. 10 will be truncated. If the desired noise reduction effect cannot be achieved by truncation of up to bit data in the subband YHH1, data will then be truncated from data of bit 0 in a subband VLL4 downwardly in sequence.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product are provided for progressively encoding a digitized color image using a data processing system, the digitized color image being provided by assigning each of the M distinct colors to at least one pixel in the set of pixels. This involves initializing and growing the tree structure by selecting a leaf node n to become a non-leaf node n linked to two new leaf nodes based on an associated achievable cost, wherein the associated achievable cost is based on 1) a determined associated change in distortion resulting from turning the leaf node into the non-leaf node linked to the two new leaf nodes; and 2) a determined associated increase in entropy rate resulting from turning the leaf node into the non-leaf node linked to the two new leaf nodes.

Abstract: A method for compression and/or decompression of bio-medical images such as DNA sequencing images is provided. The method comprises regeneration of a complete image using multiple distribution functions generated on the fly. The compression ratio achieved is in the order of 10 to 20 times, and is near lossless with respect to the clinically relevant information; which makes it well suited for these DNA sequencing images.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method which make it possible to transmit image data with high quality and low delay. A wavelet transform unit 101 applies wavelet transform to image data using a reversible filter that performs data transform with a reversible method that completely ensures forward direction and backward direction transform. An entropy coding unit 103 encodes coefficient data using a predetermined entropy coding scheme, with a reversible method that completely ensures forward direction and backward direction transform. The present invention is applicable to, for example, an encoding apparatus or a decoding apparatus.

Abstract: An image processing system that can reduce the amount of operations for compression processing includes a characteristic region detecting section that detects a characteristic region from an image and a compressing section that compresses the image by compressing each prescribed partial region. The compressing section compresses an image of a partial region included in a characteristic region by using pixel values of pixels, the number of which is larger than the number of pixels used for compressing an image of a partial region included in a region other than the characteristic region.

Abstract: A curvature-preserving filter having a null covariance matrix is applied to an input image to produce a denoised output image for output to a graphic display device or to a machine analysis tool. In one embodiment, the input image is a small kernel consisting of a limited number of pixels and the filter is applied to the input image by direct summation. In another embodiment, a digital image is input into an image processor that executes a Fourier transform to produce a Fourier-transformed signal. The curvature-preserving filter is applied to the Fourier-transformed signal in Fourier space to produce a denoised signal, then the denoised signal is transformed by an inverse Fourier transform to generate a denoised output image In an alternate embodiment, the filter further produces a deblurred signal by including an inverse point-response function.

Abstract: Certain aspects of a method and system for motion compensated temporal filtering using both finite impulse response (FIR) and infinite impulse response (IIR) filtering may include blending at least one finite impulse response (FIR) filtered output picture of video data and at least one infinite impulse response (IIR) filtered output picture of video data to generate at least one blended non-motion compensated output picture of video data. A motion compensated picture of video data may be generated utilizing at least one previously generated output picture of video data and at least one current input picture of video data. A motion compensated picture of video data may be blended with at least one current input picture of video data to generate a motion compensated output picture of video data. The generated motion compensated output picture of video data and the generated non-motion compensated output picture of video data may be blended to generate at least one current output picture of video data.

Abstract: An image rectification method includes the steps of: detecting edges in an image by using a Canny filter; performing Hough transform on the edges to detect lines in the image; selecting a candidate quadrangle from quadrangles formed by the detected lines; obtaining a transform matrix for transforming the candidate quadrangle to a rectangle by homographic transform; rectifying the image by using the transform matrix; and enhancing the rectified image.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for determining control parameters for image enhancement. In one embodiment a method for determining control parameters includes receiving image data for a first frame and calculating an adaptive threshold value based on the image data. The method includes determining a pixel slope distribution for a pixel window of the image data, wherein the pixel window is selected based on the adaptive threshold value and determining a spectrum estimation coefficient based on the pixel distribution, wherein the spectrum estimation coefficient is determined based on the spectral components of the image data. The method may then include determining one or more control parameters for enhancement of the image data based on the spectrum estimation coefficient, wherein the one or more control parameters relate to filtering parameters for adaptive enhancement of image data.

Abstract: The described methods and corresponding apparatus are for use in highlight recovery in a set of image data. The image data is inverted, treated by a digital lighting process, the subsequently inverted again. This allows the set of data image to be treated for dynamic range compression of detail in both the dark regions and the light regions by the same algorithm. In other words, the process applied to the dark regions can be performed by a correction algorithm and the process applied to the light regions performed by the same algorithm, but with the image data negated before and after the correction algorithm is applied.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods for determining mixedness of batch material for making ceramic ware, and methods for obtaining substantially consistent mixedness of batch material for making ceramic ware.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus electrically corrects distortion of an input image to generate an output image. The image processing apparatus includes a correction processing section operable to sequentially read data of the input image for each pixel in an order of scanning, and perform distortion correction for each pixel of the output image using the read data of the pixel. The correction processing section outputs data of a pixel which distortion correction is completed, in an order different from an order of scanning.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing image processing. For one embodiment of the invention, a digital image is acquired. One or more relatively large candidate red eye defect regions are detected in at least a portion of the image. Face detection is applied to at least a portion of the image to eliminate non-face regions and one or more relatively small candidate red eye defect regions are identified in at least a portion of the image not including the eliminated non-face regions.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method and circuit for correcting defect pixels in an image signal. First, the invention generates a luminance histogram for all pixels in the image signal and then selects N candidate defect pixels from all pixels according to the luminance histogram and a first threshold. Afterward, the invention sets a window for each candidate defect pixel and then calculates N averaged luminance corresponding to the N windows. Further, the invention judges whether an absolute difference between the luminance of each candidate defect pixel and the corresponding averaged luminance is larger than a second threshold. If it is YES, the candidate defect pixel is recorded as a real defect pixel. Finally, the invention utilizes at least one non-defect pixel around the real defect pixel to correct the real defect pixel. The invention not only compensates the defect pixels accurately and effectively but also reduces required time in correction.

Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for removing image noise. The method includes: separating an input image signal into a signal component and a noise component; converting the noise component into a decorrelated noise component that is spatiotemporally decorrelated from neighboring pixels; and generating an image signal by adding the decorrelated noise component to the signal component.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide scene-based non-uniformity correction for infrared images, in accordance with one or more embodiments. For example in one embodiment, a method of processing infrared images of a scene captured by an infrared image sensor comprising a plurality of sensor elements includes receiving a first frame comprising a first plurality of pixel data of a first infrared image; receiving a second frame comprising a second plurality of pixel data of a second infrared image; determining frame-to-frame motion between the first frame and the second frame, wherein the frame-to-frame motion identifies portions of the first and second pixel data corresponding to identical scene coordinates captured by different sensor elements for the first and second frames; determining irradiance differences between the first and second portions of pixel data; and determining pixel offset information for scene based non-uniformity correction terms based on the irradiance differences and the frame-to-frame motion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a picture quality evaluation system. The system calculates the difference between data that represent a feature value of a pixel set that constitutes a first image and data that represent a feature value of a pixel set that constitutes a second image. The system then uses at least the first image or the second image to determine the main area of focus of an image that has a specific feature and then calculates the main area of focus. The system then weights the difference in the feature value in the pixel set contained in the main area of focus and calculates the picture quality value of the first image, based on the weighted difference.

Abstract: An image conversion method, a conversion device, and a display system are provided in the embodiments of the present invention. The image conversion method includes: performing word area detection on an image to acquire a detected word area; and performing conversion processing on the image according to the word area to acquire a converted image that has an aspect ratio different from that of an unconverted image. The conversion device includes: a detection unit, configured to perform word area detection on an image to acquire a detected word area; and a conversion unit, configured to perform conversion processing on the image according to the word area to acquire a converted image that has an aspect ratio different from that of an unconverted image. In this way, an important content area of the image may be retained and clearly displayed.

Abstract: Provided are a rolled fingerprint acquisition apparatus and method for accurately registering and synthesizing fingerprints. The rolled fingerprint acquisition apparatus selects a reference frame from among rolled fingerprint frames that are sequentially acquired, calculates the central locations of fingerprints included in the rolled fingerprint frames, sets an order in which the reference frame and rolled fingerprint frames are performed based on the central locations of the fingerprints, and registers and synthesizes the reference frame with the rolled fingerprint frames according to the set order.

Abstract: In one embodiment, L dimensional images are trained, mapped, and aligned to an M dimensional topology to obtain azimuthal angles. The aligned L dimensional images are then trained and mapped to an N dimensional topology to obtain 2N vertex classifications. The azimuthal angles and the 2N vertex classifications are used to map L dimensional images into O dimensional images.

Abstract: There is provided an algorithm that allows one, using a sequence of object images provided at different angles, to generate a 360 degree view model of an object. To generate such a model, the inventive algorithm may involve the following tasks: 1) provide a set of images (the number and size are unlimited), 2) reduce their features to the same brightness and contrast, 3) separate an object from a complex (heterogeneous) background in the images, 4) stabilize the objects in every image with respect to each other, and 5) process the resulting sequence of images to generate a 360 degree view.

Abstract: An image processing device includes: a controller configured to receive information for displaying at least a portion of an image, and in response thereto to generate a scale ratio K for scaling compressed image data corresponding to the image; a partial image decoder configured to receive the compressed image data and the scale ratio and in response thereto to decode and scale the compressed image data by the scale ratio K and to output a portion of the decoded and scaled image data, wherein the portion corresponds to an area of the image to be displayed on a display device; a frame buffer configured to store the portion of the decoded and scaled image data output by the partial image decoder; and a video processor configured to receive the data from the frame buffer and to further scale the data for display on the display device.

Abstract: An image processing device for super resolution is disclosed. The device comprises an upsampling section, a motion compensated image generating section, a blend processing section and an output image generating section wherein filtering processing necessary for generating a difference information is performed twice or less, so that miniaturization of the device and an improvement in processing efficiency are achieved.

Abstract: A method for providing real time service of huge and high quality digital image on internet is disclosed, wherein data relevant to a general life such as a general photo, an advertising leaflet, and a pamphlet and professional image data exhibited in an art gallery, exhibition grounds, a pavilion are made into huge and high quality digital image or scanned and photographed to be digital, thereby processing real time service as an interactive browsing form. In the present invention, data are directly made, edited, constructed, and uploaded on internet, thereby providing various additional information with image through hyperlink and processing high quality digital image service on network without speed delay for huge image.

Abstract: A digital image processing apparatus capable of effective file management during the duplication and movement of a digital image file between digital image processing apparatuses, and a file arranging method used by the digital image processing apparatus. The apparatus stores a digital image file with a name including a serial number under a folder with a name including a part indicating a manufacturing company and a serial number. When the apparatus duplicates or moves a first digital image file stored in a first digital image processing apparatus to a second digital image processing apparatus, the digital image processing apparatus compares a name of a folder containing the first digital image file with a name of a folder of the second digital image processing apparatus, duplicates or moves the first digital image file to the folder, or generates a new folder and duplicates or moves the first digital image file to the new folder.

Abstract: The present invention enables image distribution while maintaining privacy, using a simple configuration. An image distribution apparatus which distributes image data to which location information has been added stores information specifying an inhibited area concerning the location information and determines whether or not a location indicated by the location information added to the image data to be distributed falls within the stored inhibited area. If it is determined that the location indicated by the location information falls within the inhibited area, the image distribution apparatus distributes the image data by deleting the location information from the image data to be distributed. On the other hand, if it is determined that the location indicated by the location information falls outside the inhibited area, the image distribution apparatus distributes the image data with the location information added.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a storage device which stores face thumbnail indexing information including face images and time stamp information, extracting module configure to assign time zones to a video content data and to extract face images belonging to each time zone based on a time stamp information, classifying module configure to classify facial images of the same person from the extracted facial images, calculating module configure to calculate a frequency of appearance of each classified facial image, and facial image indication module configure to display a list of the facial images included in the facial image indexing information in a facial image indication in a two-dimensional display area, the facial image indication having time-zone-specific display areas in columns corresponding to the time zones, each facial image displayed in each time-zone-specific display area being displayed in a size based on the frequency of appearance.

Abstract: The present invention describes (bio)chemo-functional waveguide grating structures consisting of at least one (bio)chemo-functional waveguide grating structure unit or at least one (bio)chemo-functional sensor location with beam guidance permitting light beam separation, as well as detection methods for parallel analysis which are marking-free or based on marking.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for distributed pressure sensing. The apparatus comprises a series of Bragg gratings, a light guide incorporating the series of Bragg gratings and a plurality of moveable wall portions. The moveable wall portions are coupled to respective Bragg gratings so that the movement of one of the moveable wall portion causes a force on the respective Bragg grating resulting in a change in strain of the respective Bragg grating. The apparatus also comprises at least one rigid member that is attached at attachment regions between which a sensing region of at least one Bragg grating is defined. The rigid member is arranged so that a strain in the sensing region is not directly influenced by a change in strain of the light guide outside the sensing region.

Abstract: The optical coupler module for converting and transmitting electrical/optical signals includes a semiconductor substrate, a first film, a second film, an electrical transmission unit, at least one signal conversion unit and an optical waveguide structure. The first film and the second film are formed on opposite surfaces of the semiconductor substrate. The signal conversion unit and the optical waveguide structure are disposed on opposite sides of the semiconductor substrate. The optical waveguide structure has a reflector and a waveguide body. The optical signal generated from the signal conversion unit sequentially passes the first film, the semiconductor substrate and the second film and enters the optical waveguide structure. Then, the optical signal is reflected by the reflector and transmitted in the waveguide body to be outputted. Alternatively, the optical signal is transmitted in a reverse direction from the optical waveguide structure to the signal conversion unit.

Abstract: To provide a waveguide type wavelength domain optical switch which makes it possible to use a cheap lens, makes it possible to correct aberration of the demultiplexed wavelengths produced in a plurality of waveguide type demultiplexing circuits, a wavelength domain optical switch is provided with: an integrated element formed by laminating three or more waveguide type demultiplexing circuits; a first lens for collecting light emitted from the integrated element; a polarization separation element for separating light emitted from the first lens into X polarization and Y polarization and emitting the X polarization and the Y polarization at different angles; a second lens for collecting the X polarization and the Y polarization; a first reflective optical phase modulator for reflecting the collected X polarization and Y polarization at any angles; a ½-wavelength plate disposed between the second lens and the first reflective optical phase modulator in order to make polarization directions of the X polarization

Abstract: A device for the positioning of fiber optic output including a base having a hole disposed at a midpoint thereof, a collar having an opening at a midpoint, a plurality of bimorph actuators, each actuator connected to an outer side surface of the base and located at opposite ends, a plurality of flexible beams, each having a first end connected to the collar and a second end connected to a bimorph actuator, a flexible tube inserted in the hole, where a bottom end of the tube is cantilevered at a bottom of the base and a top end of the tube is inserted in the opening of the collar, and a fiber optic embedded in the flexible tube.

Abstract: A two-part optical coupling system is provided for use in an optical transmitter (TX) module. The two-part optical coupling system has first and second optical parts and an air gap at the interface between the two optical parts. A portion of the light produced by a laser diode of the optical TX module is refracted at the air gap and is coupled by the optical coupling system into an end of an optical fiber. A second portion of the light produced by the laser diode is reflected by the air gap and is coupled by the optical coupling system onto a monitor photodiode of the optical TX. The electrical signal produced by the monitor photodiode may be used to monitor and adjust the optical output power level of the laser diode. Because the air gap is formed at the interface between the first and second optical parts, the process of forming the air gap can be incorporated into the optical coupling system manufacturing process without increasing the cost of the manufacturing process.

Abstract: A waveguide cores consisting of a subwavelength grating permits transmission of light without diffraction in a discontinuous manner, wherein the energy is provided by field hopping between subwavelength material segments of higher index. The use of alternating segments permits design of waveguides having desired effective index, mode confinement factor, birefringence, polarization mode or mode dispersions, polarization dependent loss, thermal sensitivity, or nonlinear optical coefficient. An optical system comprises a waveguide having such a core, clad on at least one side, extending between two ends, and wavelength-limiting optical components in optical communication with the ends.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming an optical-fiber-array assembly, which include providing a plurality of optical fibers including a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber, providing a fiber-array plate that includes a first surface and a second surface, connecting the plurality of optical fibers to the first surface of the fiber-array plate, transmitting a plurality of optical signals through the optical fibers into the fiber-array plate at the first surface of the fiber-array plate, and emitting from the second surface of the fiber-array plate a composite output beam having light from the plurality of optical signals. Optionally, the first surface of the fiber-array plate includes indicia configured to assist in the alignment of the plurality of optical fibers on the first surface of the fiber-array plate. In some embodiments, the second surface of the fiber-array plate includes a plurality of beam-shaping optics configured to shape the composite output beam.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for coupling an optical fiber and a nanophotonic component formed on a first substrate, wherein the device comprises: an intermediate component formed on a second substrate including a first wave guide adapted for receiving light from the optical fiber and for transmitting the same to a first diffraction grating independently from the polarization of the incident light; second and third diffraction gratings formed on the first substrate and coupled to the nanophotonic component, the first diffraction grating being adapted to provide the first and second light beams respectively towards the second diffraction grating and the third diffraction grating, the first and second beams having perpendicular polarizations.

Abstract: An optical bus. Optical sub-assemblies are used to connect lengths of optical fiber to form a single optical fiber that is a bus. A master transceiver may be connected to one end of the fiber and nodes can be connected to the optical sub-assemblies. Each optical sub-assembly includes a center fiber with a mirror that enables each connector to reflect optical signals out of the fiber and that enables a node to launch optical signals on the optical bus. The optical bus can also be connected with a second transceiver that may be used to deliver optical power to the attached nodes. Some nodes include two optical subassemblies to enable bidirectional communication on the optical bus.