Abstract: A photographic system for generating photos is provided. The photographic system comprises a photo composition unit, and a photo synthesizer. The photo composition unit is capable of determining an extracted view from a three dimensional (3D) scene. The photo synthesizer, coupled to the photo composition unit, is capable of synthesizing an output photo according to the extracted view.

Abstract: Described herein is a three-dimensional scanning system that features a camera integrated with a user-guided haptic interface device. The system allows an operator, through the sense of touch, to intuitively and interactively identify optimum locations for obtaining images or scans of an object. The system then assembles these scans to produce a virtual three-dimensional representation of the object with a high degree of accuracy and with a minimum of data artifacts.

Abstract: A method for forming a panoramic image from a computed tomography image volume, acquires image data elements for one or more computed tomographic volume images of a subject, identifies a subset of the acquired computed tomographic images that contain one or more features of interest and defines, from the subset of the acquired computed tomographic images, a sub-volume having a curved shape that includes one or more of the contained features of interest. The curved shape is unfolded by defining a set of unfold lines wherein each unfold line extends at least between two curved surfaces of the curved shape sub-volume and re-aligning the image data elements within the curved shape sub-volume according to a re-alignment of the unfold lines. One or more views of the unfolded sub-volume are displayed.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an image feature outputting unit that outputs each of image features in correspondence with a time of the frame; a foreground estimating unit that estimates a foreground image at a time s by executing a view transform as a geometric transform on a foreground view model and outputs an estimated foreground view; a background estimating unit that estimates a background image at the time s by executing a view transform as a geometric transform on a background view model and outputs an estimated background view; a synthesized view generating unit that generates a synthesized view by synthesizing the estimated foreground and background views; a foreground learning unit that learns the foreground view model based on an evaluation value; and a background learning unit that learns the background view model based on the evaluation value by updating the parameter of the foreground view model.

Abstract: In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of providing an image file depicting an image defined by image locations, in a computer memory, generating a bi-illuminant chromaticity plane in a log color space for representing the image locations of the image in a log-chromaticity representation for the image, providing a set of estimates for the orientation of the bi-illuminant chromaticity plane and calculating an orientation for each one of the image locations as a function of the set of estimates for the orientation.

Abstract: A method and system operative to process color image data are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method can comprise the steps of receiving color image data, determining the color ranges to be applied to the color image data, assigning each of the pixel positions in the image data a color range, assigning a different spatial binary pattern to each color range, and assigning each of the pixel positions a binary output pixel value that corresponds to the spatial binary pattern assigned to the color range assigned to that pixel position. The resulting binary image data can be written to a file for subsequent storage, transmission, processing, or retrieval and rendering. In other embodiments, a system can be made operative to accomplish the same.

Abstract: A search system using images is provided in which when a user does not know a relevant URL or search keyword correctly while surfing the Internet, he or she can search a desired website using only an image. The search system using images according to the present invention comprises an image search server and a user terminal. The image search system comprises: an image conversion section for converting the image included in the website information and the to-be-searched image uploaded by the user into search format images; an image search section for comparing eigen values of both the to-be-searched image uploaded by the user and the search image included in the website information and detecting the website information having a matching eigen value; and a storage section for storing the detected website information, the image included in the website information, and information regarding eigen values.

Abstract: Image data is divided into blocks, each block has M×N pixels, the number of colors of each block undergoes reduction from M×N to each number of one to (M×N?1). Differences are acquired between pixel values for each block after color reduction, and pixel values for each block before first color reduction. A first table in which thresholds are associated with either the amount of data to be reduced or the amount of data to be remained, is acquired based on the acquired difference. A threshold at which the amount of data after compression drops to or below a target data amount is specified, based on the first table, and compressed data is generated based on image data after second color reduction using the specified threshold.

Abstract: Encoding and decoding an image may be performed by setting a plurality of segments of a second color component block based on pixel values of a first color component block. The plurality of segments may be predicted by using different context pixels, and the second color component block may be encoded and decoded based on the predicted plurality of segments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of correcting a chromatic aberration of an image, and in particular, to an apparatus and method of correcting a chromatic aberration of an image that can correct a general chromatic aberration of an edge or an extreme chromatic aberration, such as a purple fringe, in an image. An apparatus for correcting a chromatic aberration of an image according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an edge detection unit detecting an edge of an input image, a level calculation unit calculating a chromatic aberration level of the detected edge, and a correction unit correcting the edge using different weighted values according to the calculated chromatic aberration level.

Abstract: An image processing device can explicitly distinguish cells to be observed from cells other than those to be observed with a simple configuration. To this end, the image processing device includes a color information obtaining part obtaining at least hue from color information of each pixel of a color image, a detecting part detecting a mode value of the hue on a color space, a range setting part setting a predetermined range on the color space including the mode value of the hue detected by the detecting part as a target range, a changing part changing hue of a pixel included in the target range by virtually performing extension on the target range, and an information converting part converting color information of a pixel having hue not included in the target range into color information indicative of an achromatic color.

Abstract: A color conversion method includes determining a race by recognizing a skin region in an input image, selecting a preferred skin color to apply to the skin region based on a plurality of preferred skin color information preset per race, and correcting a color of the skin region using the selected preferred skin color. Additionally, a color conversation apparatus includes a control unit to determine a race by recognizing a skin region in an input image input, and to select a preferred skin color to apply to the skin region, based on the plurality of the preferred skin color information stored in a storage unit, and a compensation unit to correct a color of the skin region using the preferred skin color selected by the control unit. Hence, the skin color per race can be adequately converted to the color which can satisfy the user.

Abstract: A method of adjusting an output level of a measurement pixel may include a first step of selecting a type of a target sample from a plurality of previously determined sample type candidates, a second step of measuring an output level of a reference pixel based on light from the target sample incident on the reference pixel, a third step of selecting a level adjustment parameter associated with the type of the target sample selected in the first step, the plurality of candidates being associated with the type of the target sample, a fourth step of calculating a level adjustment amount of the measurement pixel, and a fifth step of adjusting the output level using the level adjustment amount when measuring an output level corresponding to the light from the target sample.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a database having a plurality of digital color images and a neutral gray background value for each of the images; a processor configured to receive search criteria and to identify one or more of the digital color images meeting the search criteria; and a display configured to display at least one of the identified digital color images on a neutral gray background, wherein the brightness of the neutral gray background is determined by the neutral gray background value for the image being displayed. A method performed by the apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A non-transitory machine readable medium that has a computer program for execution by at least one processing unit is described. The computer program receives a selection of a location on an image that includes several pixels. Each pixel has several color values. The computer program identifies a set of color values of a pixel that corresponds to the selected location on the image. Based on the identified set of color values, the computer program defines a custom color component that is defined by a fractional contribution from each of the plurality of primary color components of the color space. The computer program generates a response curve along the custom color component. The response curve corresponds a set of input color values of the custom color component to a set of output color values of the custom color component.

Abstract: A plurality of images are used as input images. On the basis of a degree of similarity to an input image group and an evaluation of the quantity of edges of an overall image, a new image is generated. An image processing method may comprise calculating a specified color characteristic degree indicating a degree of similarity between a pixel color of a generated image predicted from the input image group and a specified color that has been specified beforehand, and for, on the basis of the specified color characteristic degree, modifying a weight corresponding to the edge quantity of each pixel within the generated image, and generating an image wherein the manner of reproduction of edges of areas of the specified color differs from other regions.

Abstract: Local features of retrieved images are identified and for each image, an ordered bag-of-features is created that describes the features of the image. Spatial relationships between features of an image are captured in histogram descriptors created from linear or circular projections. Using the histogram descriptors, ordered bags-of-features describing the features of the images are developed. Calibrating the ordered bags-of-features to account for spatial variance leads to spatial bags-of-features.

Abstract: A method embodiment herein begins by capturing a source image. The source image is segmented into first planes. The first planes can each comprise a mask plane and foreground plane combination. The binary images in the first planes are structurally analyzed to identify different regions of text, tables, handwriting, line art, equations, etc., using a document model that has information of size, shape, and spatial arrangement of possible regions. Then, the method extracts (crops out) these regions from the foreground plane to create second mask/foreground plane pairs. Thus, the method creates “second” planes from the first planes, so that a separate second plane is created for each of the regions. Next, tags are associated with each of the second planes (to create tagged mask/foreground plane pairs) and the second planes and associated tags are combined into a mixed raster content (MRC) document.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming an output shape parameterised by control points from an input shape. An input shape is received formed by a plurality of segments. The shape is classified as one of a plurality of predefined template shapes. The method then determines a representative form for the input shape based on a similarity measure between the input shape and the classified template shape. The representative form is selected according to the similarity measure from the group consisting of the classified template shape, and a non-template shape based on the segments of the input shape, the non-template shape having at least one control point derived from at least one control point of the classified template shape. The method then stores the determined representative form as the output shape parameterised by the derived control points.

Abstract: An image-reading device includes a reading unit, a displaying unit, a recognition target region setting unit, a recognition target region adding unit, and a character recognizing unit. The recognition target region setting unit sets a recognition target region within the displayed image data to recognize characters. The recognition target region adding unit adds a new recognition target region based on the recognition target region set by the recognition target region setting unit. The character recognizing unit performs character recognition in the recognition target regions.

Abstract: A technique that uses repetitive and reliably recognizable parts of handwriting, during digital handwriting data entry, to trigger recognition of digital ink and to repurpose handwriting task area properties. In one example embodiment, this is achieved by drawing one or more delayed strokes of a desired sub-word unit using a stylus on a touch screen. An associated data of the drawn one or more strokes is inputted via the touch screen into a handwriting recognition engine. A first trigger stroke in the drawn one or more strokes that can be used to trigger the sub-word unit recognition by the handwriting recognition engine is then determined. The sub-word unit recognition is then triggered for the drawn one or more strokes based on the determined first trigger stroke by the handwriting recognition engine.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a detector to detect a face. The image processing apparatus sets a size of the face to be detected, changes a detection condition for face detection in accordance with the size of the face set, applies the detection condition changed to the detector, and detects the face from the image by use of the detector to which the detection condition is applied.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a map generating and updating method for mobile robot position recognition, and more specifically relates to a map generating and updating method for mobile robot position recognition, whereby position recognition error can be minimized by registering landmarks extracted during map generation and landmarks extracted on the basis of the probable error in inferred landmarks, calculating the accuracy of landmarks pre-registered during map generation, and adjusting the level of landmarks of low accuracy or removing landmarks which have been registered erroneously.

Abstract: A method of processing data associated with fluorescent emissions from a microfluidic device. The method includes performing an auto-focus process associated with a first image of the microfluidic device and performing an auto-exposure process associated with the first image of the microfluidic device. The method also includes capturing a plurality of images of the microfluidic device. The plurality of images are associated with a plurality of thermal cycles. The method further includes performing image analysis of the plurality of captured images to determine a series of optical intensities and performing data analysis of the series of optical intensities to provide a series of change in threshold values.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for selectively providing images. In one aspect, a method includes receiving image data that specify feature values for a plurality of images. The image data include, for each image, location data that specify a geographic location for the image. A group of images in which each image has location data specifying a geographic location that is within a threshold distance of a reference location are selected. Pairs of matching images are selected from the group of images. A reference image for the geographic location is selected from the pairs of matching images. Data that cause presentation in a map space of a photo collection image that includes a visual representation of the reference image are provided. The photo collection image is presented in the map space and at a map position for the geographic location.

Abstract: A method of comparing two object poses, wherein each object pose is expressed in terms of position, orientation and scale with respect to a common coordinate system, the method comprising: calculating a distance between the two object poses, the distance being calculated using the distance function: d sRt ? ( X , Y ) = d s 2 ? ( X , Y ) ? s 2 + d r 2 ? ( X , Y ) ? r 2 + d t 2 ? ( X , Y ) ? t 2 .

Abstract: An image combining apparatus obtains information of an object area upon photographing of images, executes a preparation operation preceding to the photographing on the basis of the obtained information, measures an elapsed time from the preparation operation to a photographing instruction, divides each of the photographed images into a plurality of areas, detects a motion vector of each divided area, weights the detected motion vector by using the elapsed time and the information of the object area, and calculates a position adjustment vector by using the weighted motion vector.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to recognizing data such as items or entities in content. In some aspects, content may be received and feature information, such as face recognition data and voice recognition data may be generated. Scene segmentation may also be performed on the content, grouping the various shots of the video content into one or more shot collections, such as scenes. For example, a decision lattice representative of possible scene segmentations may be determined and the most probable path through the decision lattice may be selected as the scene segmentation. Upon generating the feature information and performing the scene segmentation, one or more items or entities that are present in the scene may be identified.

Abstract: There are provided an image processing apparatus, rectangle detection method and a computer-readable, non-transitory medium that can precisely detect boundaries of a document from a read image. The image processing apparatus includes an edge pixel extractor for extracting edge pixels from an input image, a line extractor for extracting a plurality of lines from the extracted edge pixels, a rectangle candidate extractor for extracting a plurality of rectangle candidates each of which is comprised of four lines, and a rectangle selector for, for each of the plurality of rectangle candidates, finding a number of edge pixels within a predetermined distance of each side of the rectangle candidate, using a distribution of edge pixels as the basis to find a corner likeness of each corner, and using the number of edge pixels and degree of corner likeness as the basis to select a rectangle from the plurality of rectangle candidates.

Abstract: A system for automatically selecting a template and a number of secondary images for display with a primary preselected image based on analyzing the primary image's attribute information and comparing the template's required image attributes and secondary image's attribute information. The attribute information is used to evaluate and arithmetically score a compatibility of the images and template so that a best compatibility fit can be obtained when displaying the image.

Abstract: A method for comparing a query video and a target video includes partitioning frames of the query video and frames of the target video into blocks and calculating the mean intensity value for each block. A plurality of query time series is produced for the query video, each query time series representing temporal variation in mean intensity value for blocks from the same location in different frames of the query video. A plurality of target time series is produced for the target video, each target time series representing temporal variation in mean intensity value for blocks from the same location in different frames of the target video the query time series and the target time series are used in determining if alignment exists between the query video and the target video.

Abstract: A display system includes: a display device, a transmitting device which generates compressed data by performing a compression process on image data corresponding to a display image, and a driver which drives the display device in response to the compressed data received from the transmitting device. The driver includes: a decompression circuit which generates decompressed data by decompressing the compressed data, an FRC circuit configured to perform an FEC process on the decompressed data to generate display data and a drive circuit which drives the display device in response to the display data. The following relation holds: m2>m3>m1, where m1 is a number of bits of the compressed data per pixel, m2 is a number of bits of the decompressed data per pixel and m3 is a number of bits of the display data per pixel.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes determining by a computer system a distance between a first value associated with a first image and a first cluster center associated with at least one image and determining by the computer system the first image and the at least one image are not similar when the determined distance is more than a threshold distance.

Abstract: An image data decoding apparatus and method are based on an availability of reference data. The image data decoding apparatus may include a core to process decoding of image data, and an availability determining device to receive, from the core, availability verification request information with respect to a reference area of a first frame included in the image data, to determine an availability with respect to the reference area based on the received availability verification request information, and to transmit, to the core, the determined availability. When the reference area is available, the core may process decoding of a second frame based on the reference area.

Abstract: To provide an image coding device having high coding efficiency and an image decoding device. A plurality of prediction procedures that uses various types of correlations between pixels are adaptively applied with a coded signal as a reference. With respect to an input pixel, first residual and prediction information are obtained by a first prediction unit that carries out in-screen prediction and the like, second residual and prediction information are obtained by a second prediction unit for predicting a first residual as a serial additional process, and third residual and prediction information are obtained by a third prediction unit for directly predicting a pixel to be coded as a parallel additional process on the input pixel. Which of either the second residual or the third residual to code is determined based on the coding cost, and the signal is switched in the first switching unit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for identifying and locating an object in an image. In embodiments, an object in an image may be identified by segmenting a first image of an object into one or more superpixels; extracting local descriptors from the first image, each of the descriptors having an interest point with a location; correlating the local descriptors to the superpixels based on locations of the local descriptors and superpixels; determining a probability for an object label for each of a set of the superpixels; and assigning an object label to each of the set of the superpixels based on the probability and a smoothness factor that includes weighting in terms of one or more of spatial, colors, angular distances between superpixels. The superpixels of an image may be concatenated to predict an object label for the image and to determine the location of the image.

Abstract: An approach to decoding Huffman symbols in JPEG images is described. One approach involves a method of decoding Huffman codes in a JPEG image file. This method involves obtaining a bitstream sample from a bitstream associated with the JPEG image file. The bitstream sample is compared against a threshold value, to identify a Huffman group number. Information associated with a Huffman group is retrieved, and used to extract the current Huffman symbol from the bitstream. A corresponding symbol value can then be obtained, using the current Huffman symbol and the group information.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and a method capable of performing a quantization process or an inverse quantization process more suitable for contents of an image. A lossless decoding unit decodes coded data read from an accumulation buffer at a predetermined timing. A sub macroblock inverse quantization unit obtains a quantization value for each sub macroblock by using a quantization parameter supplied from an inverse quantization unit and returns the same to the inverse quantization unit. The inverse quantization unit inversely quantizes a quantization coefficient obtained by decoding by the lossless decoding unit by using the quantization value for each sub macroblock supplied from the sub macroblock inverse quantization unit.

Abstract: A parametric loop filter uses a set of fixed filters to remove or reduce noise and artifacts introduced during video coding. The filters are pre-trained offline and hardwired into encoder and decoder, instead of online trained Wiener filters. The filters are able to be specified using one or more parameters including: direction, bandwidth along the direction (bw//) and bandwidth perpendicular to the direction (bw?). The filter to be used is able to be derived from local image characteristics or predicted from neighboring blocks. The parametric loop filter utilizes much less computation, delay and memory access at the encoder. Fixed coefficients allow fast implementation of filtering at the decoder. A parametric loop filter is able to be combined with online training to further improve performance, by allowing one or more fixed filters to be replaced with online trained Wiener filters.

Abstract: A Digital Image Stabilization method including selecting a principal transform representing a stationary/background object in the scene of a video frame, based on scoring each of a plurality of transforms of tile motion vector (Tile MV) groups and of feature point motion vector (FP MV) groups, and excluding large moving objects based on the history of the stationary (background) group and the history of each of the plurality motion vector groups.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for performing recovery processing of correcting degradation of an image due to an aberration of an optical imaging system with respect to image data obtained by sensing an object image entering through the optical imaging system using an image sensor, comprises: a selection unit configured to select a filter to be used for recovery processing in accordance with an image sensing condition at the time of the image sensing; an image processing unit configured to perform recovery processing for the image data by using the filter selected by the selection unit; and a correction unit configured to determine a correction value based on a difference between the value of a pixel before and after recovery processing by the image processing unit, and correcting the pixel value before the recovery processing by the image processing unit using the determined correction value.

Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus including: a frequency value calculation section that allocates each pixel of an input image to any of respective partial regions obtained by dividing the entirety of a possible range of a luminance value into units in a luminance direction on the basis of the luminance value thereof, and allocates one pixel of the input image to partial regions when calculating frequency values representing the number of pixels allocated to the partial regions with respect to the respective partial regions, to update the frequency values of the partial regions; a characteristic value calculation section that calculates a characteristic value representing a characteristic of the partial region; and a weighted product-sum section that performs edge-preserving smoothing on the input image by weighting and averaging the characteristic values in accordance with a distance in the luminance direction, using the calculated frequency value and the calculated characteristic value.

Abstract: A method for sharpening an original digital image includes generating a smoothed image from the original image. A residual image is generated from the smoothed image and the original image. A sharpened smoothed image is generated. The residual image and the sharpened smoothed image are combined to produce a sharpened version of the original image.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for determining manipulation history among a plurality of images. The described techniques include selecting a pair of images from the plurality of images, detecting one or more manipulations operable to transform one of the images to the other, and based on the manipulations detected, determining a parent-child relationship between the pair or pairs of images. The described techniques can further include repeating the selecting two images, detecting manipulations, and determining the parent-child relationship for each pairs of images in the plurality of images, constructing a visual migration map for the images, and presenting the visual migration map in a user readable format.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating images having a reduced error rate, high resolution and improved contrast from image sequences containing images having lower resolutions, which can be obtained from an image sensor having adjustable recording parameters. According to the invention, the image sequences of the images (K, R) having low resolutions are subjected to a combination of super-resolution processing (SR) and high dynamic range reconstruction processing (HDR) in order to obtain images having a reduced error rate, high resolution and improved contrast on the basis of redundant and complementary image information contained in the images having low resolution.

Abstract: An image processing method is provided, which includes a step of separating an object image into an object region and a background region, a step of calculating a gray scale value of an average color of the object region, a step of calculating a gray scale value of an inversion color of the object region by using the gray scale value of the average color, and a step of calculating a gray scale value of a background region of a processed image by using the gray scale value of the inversion color and a gray scale value of the background region of the object image.

Abstract: A noise reduction section includes: a correlation detector configured to detect correlations between corresponding pixels between first and second image signals which are obtained from an identical image, and output degrees of correlation based on the detected correlations; an addition ratio determining section configured to determine addition ratios of the corresponding pixels between the first and second image signals based on the degrees of correlation, where the addition ratios are used in weighted addition averaging processes; and a weighted addition averaging section configured to perform, based on the addition ratios, the weighted addition averaging processes on the corresponding pixels to generate an output image signal, wherein when each of the degrees of correlation is relatively high, the addition ratio determining section provides a relatively high proportion of the pixel of the second image signal in the addition ratio.

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: A method of providing a video content formed of a plurality of successive video frames is disclosed. The method includes: extracting a visual feature from an image of each of subject frames which are all or some of the plurality of video frames; and selecting one of a plurality of candidate overlay insertion regions which are pre-assigned on each of the subject frames at different positions for allowing an additional content as a content overlay to be overlaid on the subject frames for display, as a final overlay insertion region, based on distances of the plurality of candidate overlay insertion regions from the extracted feature.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for viewing images on an interactive computing device comprises displaying an image from a stack comprising a display image and at least one compressed sub-image of nominally the same scene, each of the sub-images of the stack having been acquired at respective focal distances. Responsive to a user selecting a portion of the displayed image, the selected portion is mapped to a corresponding mapped portion of a sub-image within the stack according to the difference in focal distances between the displayed image and the sub-image. At least one row of compressed image blocks of the at least one sub-image extending across the mapped portion; and a reference value for a point in the compressed image stream of the sub-image preceding the row of compressed image blocks is determined.