Image Segmentation Using Color Patents (Class 382/164)
  • Patent number: 8488878
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sky detection system that detects sky in an image collection device. The system includes an image collection unit that collects information of a color image; a color-feature extraction unit that extracts a color feature of each pixel from the collected image; a distance measurement unit that measures a distance between each pixel of the collected image and a lens; a first classification unit that classifies each pixel of the collected image as either a sky pixel or a non-sky pixel based on the color feature; and a second classification unit that further classifies each pixel of the collected image as either the sky pixel or the non-sky pixel based on the distance and a result of the first classification unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Xun Yuan, Tao Li, Gang Wang, Zhongchao Shi
  • Patent number: 8488839
    Abstract: A computer program and apparatus function to extract objects from a video by identifying regions to be tracked, tracking the regions across several frames, calculating motions of the regions, and identifying new regions to be tracked. Regions of a selected frame of the video that are appropriate for tracking are selected. Tracking of the identified regions is then performed across frames subsequent to the selected frame of the video. Motions of the identified regions are calculated, and new regions for tracking are identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Videosurf, Inc.
    Inventors: Eitan Sharon, Achi Brandt
  • Patent number: 8488881
    Abstract: Techniques are provided. The techniques include capturing an image of an object at a self-checkout, dividing the image into one or more blocks, computing one or more features of the image, computing a confidence value for each of the one or more blocks, wherein computing a confidence value for each of the one or more blocks comprises using a minimum feature distance from one or more reference background blocks, and eliminating one or more blocks from consideration via use of an adaptive threshold computed on the confidence value for each of the one or more blocks, wherein the one or more blocks remaining map to a region of the image containing the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rogerio S. Feris, Charles A. Otto, Sharathchandra Pankanti, Duan D. Tran
  • Patent number: 8483481
    Abstract: Techniques are provided. The techniques include identifying a region of interest in a video scene, applying a background subtraction algorithm to the region of interest to detect a static foreground object in the region of interest, and determining whether the static foreground object is abandoned or removed, wherein determining whether the static foreground object is abandoned or removed comprises performing a foreground analysis based on edge energy and region growing, and pruning one or more false alarms using one or more track statistics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rogerio S. Feris, Arun Hampapur, Frederik C. Kjeldsen, Hao-Wei Liu
  • Patent number: 8483425
    Abstract: To be precisely extracted a house footprint. There is provided a geospatial information creating system for extracting a footprint of a house from an aerial photograph, comprising a processor for executing a program, a memory for storing data required for executing the program, and a storage unit for storing the aerial photograph. The processor detects edges of an image based on a characteristic quantity of neighboring pixels in the aerial photograph stored in the storage unit; extracts an orientation of the house by analyzing directions of the detected edges; and generates a polygon of an outline of the house by using linear lines of the extracted orientation of the house.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tao Guo, Yoriko Kazama, Takashi Hino, Yoshiaki Kagawa
  • Patent number: 8482804
    Abstract: A pixel in a photograph region image to be subjected to blacking is subjected to a brightness modulation processing so that the pixel is modulated to any of “a pixel having the brightness to be subject to blacking” and “a pixel having the brightness not to be subject to blacking”. Specifically, the modulation by noise addition converts some pixels for which original pixel values are to be subjected to blacking to a pixel having the brightness not subjected to blacking. Thereby, “a pixel having the brightness not to be subject to blacking” thus converted has no change in brightness in the blacking processing. Consequently, a pixel at which the blacking processing is not generated can be caused to exist in the photograph image. As a result, even when the blacking processing set for character/line region is similarly set for the photograph region, the effect of the blacking can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Hashii, Fumihiro Goto, Tetsuya Suwa, Fumitaka Goto, Ayumi Hori
  • Patent number: 8483499
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image extracting unit, a vector information generating unit and a color information adding unit. The image extracting unit extracts an image to be vectorized from a multilevel image as a binary image. The vector information generating unit vectorizes the binary image extracted by the image extracting unit to generate vector information. The color information adding unit adds color information to the vector information generated by the vector information generating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunichi Kimura, Ikken So, Masanori Sekino, Yutaka Koshi
  • Patent number: 8483518
    Abstract: Techniques for an image-based CAPTCHA for object recognition are described. The disclosure describes adding images to a database by collecting images by querying descriptive keywords to an image search engine or crawling images from the Internet. The disclosure describes generating the image-based CAPTCHA. The image is retrieved from the database, along with objects having significant values. An object is cropped from its image. The portion on the image where the object has been cropped is filled with image inpainting. The process obtains other objects from the database. The object is mixed among the other objects to form a set of candidate objects. A user is asked to select “the object” from the set of candidate objects that fits or matches the image. The image-based CAPTCHA evaluates whether a response, the selection, is from a human or a bot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Bin Zhu, Jia Liu, Qiujie Li, Shipeng Li, Ning Xu
  • Publication number: 20130170741
    Abstract: A system for extracting data from a document may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The processor may identify one or more landmarks based on predefined characteristics that are associated with known landmarks. After one or more landmarks are defined, business rules may indicate one or more areas that may contain data to be extracted. The business rules may also indicate the type of data in the area and processing methods that may be used to extract the data. After determining the business rules, the processor may determine whether the data is in the area and/or extract the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: Chin Hsu, Paul M. Ives, Deni Esposito
  • Publication number: 20130170743
    Abstract: An image having m light sources, with m preferably equaling 2 or 3, is segmented into different regions, each of which is lit by only one of the m light sources, by obtaining paired imaged with different filtering, for example a filtered and an unfiltered image, applying to the image pairs sets of m pre-computed mappings at the pixel or region level, and selecting the most appropriate. The rendering of the information in the image maybe adjusted accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: APPLE INC.
  • Publication number: 20130173420
    Abstract: An image processing method includes partitioning an image under test to form a plurality of contiguous image segments having similar image properties, deriving feature data from a subset including one or more of the image segments, and comparing the feature data from the subset of image segments with feature data derived from respective image segments of one or more other images so as to detect a similarity between the image under test and the one or more other images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: Sony Europe Limited
    Inventor: Sony Europe Limited
  • Publication number: 20130170742
    Abstract: A technique capable of more suitably extracting a foreground region from an image including the foreground region and a background region is provided. The image processing apparatus comprises: a reliability derivation unit configured to derive a reliability of a distance information of a pixel of interest based on a color information and the distance information of the pixel of interest and a neighbor pixel of the pixel of interest; a parameter derivation unit configured to derive a parameter concerning a type of a region for the pixel based on the color information and the distance information of the pixel and the obtained reliability of the distance information; and a determination unit configured to determine a foreground region in the image using the derived parameter for each pixel of the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Patent number: 8477367
    Abstract: A system and related method for selectively printing color content of a page with a reduced color gamut are provided. The system includes a detection module, a printing mode module, and a conversion module. The detection module is configured to detect a color object in the page and the printing mode module exists in at least one mode. The conversion module can selectively convert the detected color object to a converted reduced-colorant object in accordance with the existence of the at least one mode of the printing mode module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Ramesh Nagarajan, Andrew Joseph Zipprich, Robert Eero Nuuja
  • Patent number: 8477376
    Abstract: A method for forming a variable data job includes a fixed original image provided by original image data in a first multiple channel color plane and content provided by variable image data in a second multiple channel color plane. The original image data is converted to fixed image data in a clear channel color plane. Raster image processing is performed on the fixed image data to translate the fixed image data into a first ready-to-print file. The ready-to-print file is saved in a memory as a post-RIP file. The variable image data is subsequently provided in at least the second multiple channel color plane. Image processing is performed on the variable image data to obtain a second ready-to-print file. The post-RIP file is merged with the second ready-to-print file for forming the variable data job. The variable data job is printed to render output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David C. Robinson, Katherine Loj
  • Patent number: 8478028
    Abstract: Method for converting at least one image of a first spectrum into an image of a second spectrum, comprising: —recording at least one first-spectrum reference image (NRI) of at least one reference scene (RS) with a first-spectrum recording apparatus (1), the first-spectrum reference image (NRI) comprising first image portions with corresponding first-spectrum sensor reference data (b1, b2); —providing corresponding second-spectrum reference information (RGB); —providing at least one set of reference data (T1, T2) from at least part of the first-spectrum sensor reference data (b1, b2) relating to the reference scene (RS), and at least a corresponding part of the second-spectrum information (RGB) relating to that reference scene (RS); —providing at least one target first-spectrum image (NTI) or target second-spectrum image; and —converting each target first-spectrum image (NTI) or target second-spectrum image into a respective second-spectrum image (CI) or first-spectrum image, respectively, using the set of ref
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Maarten Andreas Hogervorst, Alexander Toet, Frank Leonard Kooi
  • Patent number: 8478032
    Abstract: A technique includes representing an image to be segmented using a graph including vertices and edges, where a subset of the vertices is marked as belonging to a plurality of objects. The technique includes assigning weights to the edges based at least in part on color probability densities associated with the objects derived from the subset of vertices marked as belonging to the plurality of objects; and segmenting the image, including identifying boundaries of the objects based at least in part on the weights and the graph.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Daniel Freedman
  • Patent number: 8478033
    Abstract: An image inspection apparatus determines whether a test image is a copy of an original image. The image inspection apparatus includes an image group generation unit that determines one or more types of image transform, and transforms the original image according to the determined types of image transform to generate an original image group; a spatial color difference computing unit that transforms a color space of the generated original image group, and calculates first spatial color differences between the original image and images in the original image group to provide color difference data; an image inspection unit that receives the test image and the original image group to calculate second spatial color differences between the test image and the images in the original image group, and compares the second spatial color differences to the color difference data; and an inspection result output unit that outputs the comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Jin Seo Kim, Maeng Sub Cho, Bon Ki Koo
  • Publication number: 20130163817
    Abstract: A method and a system for generating image content. The method and system allow segments of a panoramic scene, to be generated with reduced distortion. The method and system reduce the amount of distortion by mapping pixel data onto a pseudo camera focal plane which is provided substantially perpendicularly to the focal location of the camera that captured the image. A camera arrangement can implement the method and system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Sony Europe Limited
    Inventor: Sony Europe Limited
  • Publication number: 20130163862
    Abstract: An image processing method and a device for redeye correction are provided. In the method, a face region of a pending image is received and detected. At least one region of interest (ROI) is set in the face region. The ROI is segmented according to a color model so as to produce a plurality of candidate regions. Each of the candidate regions is filtered separately according to a candidate region filtering method. It is determined whether a color candidate region is produced after filtering. If yes, luminance values of a plurality of pixels in the ROI are calculated by a contrast mask. The ROI is segmented by using a calculated luminance distribution so as to produce a high contrast candidate region. An overlapped portion between the color and the high contrast candidate regions is taken as a redeye region, and the redeye region is corrected to produce a corrected image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: ICATCH TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventor: Min-Jung Huang
  • Patent number: 8472709
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of the present disclosure provides an automatic banding region detection function for detecting an image region that has a smooth linear transition of color intensity and is prone to have banding artifacts in image processing. The apparatus and method use a parametric model based approach to detect the banding region. The apparatus and method provide for segmenting at least one first image into at least one homogeneous color region (304), estimating the linear transition of color intensity for the at least one homogeneous color region (308), and if the linear transition of color intensity is substantially smooth, classifying the at least one homogenous color region as a banding region (310).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Ju Guo, Dong-Qing Zhang
  • Patent number: 8471866
    Abstract: A user interface and method for identifying related information displayed in an ultrasound system are provided. A medical image display of the ultrasound system includes a first region configured to display a medical image having color coded portions and a second region configured to display non-image data related to the medical image displayed in the first region. The non-image data is color coded to associate the non-image data with the color coded portions of the medical image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Zvi Friedman, Sergei Goldenberg, Peter Lysyansky
  • Publication number: 20130156306
    Abstract: Even a mosaic image in an uncompleted state, it makes a mosaic image having high recognizability of a picture of an original image displayed. An image providing device includes an image acquisition means that acquires an image specified by a user, a candidate determination means that, on the basis of color information of the acquired image and color information of the regions, determines regions to be candidates for a region to which the acquired image is assigned, an edge degree acquisition means that acquires edge degrees indicating degrees of edges in the regions determined as the candidates, an assignment determination means that, on the basis of the acquired edge degrees, determines a region to which the acquired image is assigned from the regions determined as the candidates, and a presentation means that, on the basis of assignment determined by the assignment determination means, causes a mosaic image in which the acquired image is placed to be presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: RAKUTEN, INC.
    Inventor: Soh Masuko
  • Publication number: 20130155247
    Abstract: A method of adjusting the color of images captured by a plurality of cameras comprises the steps of receiving a first image captured by a first camera from the plurality of cameras, analyzing the first image to separate the pixels in the first image into background pixels and foreground pixels, selecting pixels from the background pixels that have a color that is a shade of gray, determining the amount to adjust the colors of the selected pixels to move their colors towards true gray, and providing information for use in adjusting the color components of images from the plurality of cameras.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: PELCO, INC.
    Inventors: Lei Wang, Greg Millar, Farzin Aghdasi
  • Publication number: 20130156305
    Abstract: Preferred aspects of the present invention can include receiving a digital image at a processor; segmenting the digital image into a hierarchy of feature layers comprising one or more fine-scale features defining a foreground object embedded in one or more coarser-scale features defining a background to the one or more fine-scale features in the segmentation hierarchy; detecting a first fine-scale foreground feature as an anomaly with respect to a first background feature within which it is embedded; and constructing an anomalous feature layer by synthesizing spatially contiguous anomalous fine-scale features. Additional preferred aspects of the present invention can include detecting non-pervasive changes between sets of images in response at least in part to one or more difference images between the sets of images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC
    Inventor: LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC
  • Publication number: 20130148882
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture for detecting objects in images using color histograms are disclosed. An example method disclosed herein comprises segmenting an image into sets of subregions, different sets having at least one of different subregion sizes or different subregion offsets relative to one another, determining a first comparison metric quantifying comparison of a first subregion with the object based on differences between bin values of a second color histogram corresponding to the object and adjusted bin values of a first color histogram corresponding to the first subregion, determining a second comparison metric quantifying comparison of a second subregion with the object, and comparing the first and second comparison metrics with a threshold to identify at least one of the subregions as being associated with a possible location of the object in the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventor: Morris Lee
  • Publication number: 20130142425
    Abstract: A system and a method of detecting abnormal or security-significant segments of a video are provided. The video is divided into several segments. A set of features of each segment of the video is extracted in order to calculate a set of factors corresponding to each segment. A value deemed abnormal of each segment is calculated according to the set of factors corresponding to each segment. One or more abnormal segments are determined from the segments based on the abnormal values. The set of features includes a color variable feature, a movement variable feature, a movement variable ratio feature and a background variable feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., FU TAI HUA INDUSTRY (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: YI-HUA CHUNG, SHIH-FANG WONG, XIN LU, YU-YONG ZHANG
  • Patent number: 8457417
    Abstract: In an image-encoding scheme, an input image is decomposed into several image blocks (600) comprising multiple image elements (610). The image blocks (600) are encoded into encoded block representations (700). In this encoding, color weights are assigned to the image elements (610) in the block (600) based on their relative positions in the block (600). At least two color codeword (710, 720, 730, 740) are determined, at least partly based on the color weights. These codewords (710, 720, 730, 740) are representations of at least two color values. The original colors of the image elements (610) are represented by color representations derivable from combinations of the at least two color values weighted by the assigned color weights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Publ)
    Inventor: Jacob Ström
  • Publication number: 20130136348
    Abstract: An automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. The method includes the steps of providing an image file depicting an image, in a computer memory, identifying a dominant region of single reflectance in the image and segregating the image into intrinsic images as a function of the dominant region of single reflectance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: Tandent Vision Science, Inc.
    Inventor: Tandent Vision Science, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8452086
    Abstract: A user interface and method is embodied on a computer readable medium and executable on a computer. The user interface is a labeler which labels only foreground pixels of an image stored in a computing environment. The labeler operates in a Region mode/state and Brush mode/state, and includes a Tentative mode that permits an assigned label to be changed after pixels have been selected. Groups of pixels may be selected for labeling at once by a point-and-click command, and a pixel may belong to one or more groups of pixels which are stored in memory as image layers. The groups are formed dynamically by user selection actions, and/or through automatic recognition algorithms. Pixels already labeled with certain labels may be locked to not be altered by additional labeling operations. Unassigned pixels may be highlighted to increase the ease at which they are identified in an image. Comparisons between labeled images are undertaken to indicate differences between different groundtruth labeling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Eric Saund, Jing Lin, Prateek Sarkar
  • Patent number: 8452087
    Abstract: Tools disclosed herein comprise progressive, paint stroke based region recognition and selection tools. Using these tools, a user may partially paint a region of interest directly on an image (by using a paint brush or other similar tool). Unlike conventional selection tools, a user is not required to paint the entire region pixel-by-pixel. Rather the desired region is automatically and intelligently recognized based on the partial selection. This is accomplished via a progressive selection algorithm. In addition, these tools provide the ability to quickly execute such region selections on multi-megapixel images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jian Sun, Jiangyu Liu
  • Publication number: 20130128324
    Abstract: A raster image conversion apparatus, a method of converting a raster image, an image scanning apparatus, and a computer-readable recording medium. The method includes dividing the raster image into a background area, a single color area, and a multicolored area, generating metacommands respectively corresponding to the background area, the single color area, and the muiticolored area, and generating a metafile based on the generated metacommands, such that the generation of the metacommands includes vectoring a contour of the single color area and generating a metacommand corresponding to the vectored contour.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
  • Publication number: 20130129206
    Abstract: A set of pixels of a background element is identified according to a mask that defines a shape of a foreground element. A color value for a pixel of the foreground element is determined. The determining includes ascertaining a value of a measure of brightness of one or more pixels of a set of pixels of the background element and calculating the color value for the pixel of the foreground element based on the value of the measure of brightness and a value of an adjustable contrast variable. The calculating the color value for the pixel of the foreground element preserves in the foreground element a color component of the one or more pixels of the set of pixels of the background element and increases contrast with the value of the measure of brightness according to the value of the adjustable contrast variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventors: John W. Worthington, Jerry G. Harris
  • Publication number: 20130129205
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer-readable storage media for dynamic color flow modeling. A dynamic color flow model that incorporates motion estimation in a probabilistic fashion is described. By automatically and adaptively changing model parameters based on the inferred local motion uncertainty, the dynamic color flow model accurately and reliably models the object appearance, and improves the foreground color probability estimation when compared to conventional methods. The dynamic color flow model may, for example, be applied to both foreground and background layers (or to additional layers) for video object segmentation, obtaining significantly improved results when compared to conventional methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventors: Jue Wang, Xue Bai, Guillermo R. Sapiro
  • Patent number: 8447101
    Abstract: Unevenness in density (line noise) resulting from color misregistration among RGB components in a halftone region or a line screen region is suppressed. With respect to a document that is discriminated as a printed photo document or a text/printed photo document that includes black halftones by a document type discrimination section, or to a region segmented into a black halftone region by a segmentation section, a non-uniform image suppressing operation mode is executed. In the non-uniform image suppressing operation mode, a black generation and under color removal section does not carry out a black generation and under color removal process on a pixel in which a minimum value of the image data of the plurality of color components is at least equal to or less than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Murakami, Makio Gotoh
  • Patent number: 8446494
    Abstract: Candidate redeye areas (24) are determined in an input image (20). In this process, a respective set of one or more redeye metric values (28) is associated with each of the candidate redeye areas (24). Candidate face areas (30) are ascertained in the input image (20). In this process, a respective set of one or more face metric values (34) is associated with each of the candidate face areas (30). A respective joint metric vector (78) is assigned to each of the candidate redeye areas (24). The joint metric vector (78) includes metric values that are derived from the respective set of redeye metric values (28) and the set of face metric values (34) associated with a selected one of the candidate face areas (30). Each of one or more of the candidate redeye areas (24) is classified as either a redeye artifact or a non-redeye artifact based on the respective joint metric vector (78) assigned to the candidate redeye area (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Gaubatz, Robert Alan Ulichney
  • Publication number: 20130124147
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer accessible storage medium stores a plurality of instructions which, when executed: group a set of reconstructed three dimensional (3D) points derived from image data into a plurality of groups based on one or more attributes of the 3D points; select one or more groups from the plurality of groups; and sample data from the selected groups, wherein the sampled data is input to a consensus estimator to generate a model that describes a 3D model of a scene captured by the image data. Other embodiments may bias sampling into a consensus estimator for any data set, based on relative quality of the data set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Inventors: Hailin Jin, Kai Ni
  • Publication number: 20130121569
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for blending regions from multiple images to produce a blended image. An image blending module may obtain multiple digital images of a scene. A base image and a source image are selected, and a stroke is applied to the source image to indicate a desired region which is to be blended with the base image. A region in the source image is identified from the stroke using a segmentation technique such as a graph cut algorithm, and the identified region is blended with the corresponding region of the base image, for example using alpha blending. Additional strokes may be applied to the source image to select other regions to be blended with the base image. A different image may be selected as a source image, and a region from the different image may be selected for blending with the base image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Inventor: Vikas Yadav
  • Patent number: 8441544
    Abstract: An electronic camera is characterized by including an imaging part shooting a figure image; an area detection part detecting a flesh-colored area including a face portion and a portion other than a face; a color judgment part judging color information of the flesh-colored area; a color difference calculation part determining a color difference between first color information of the face portion and second color information of the flesh-colored area of the portion other than the face; a correction coefficient calculation part determining color correction coefficients based on the color difference; an area appointment part appointing an area on which a color conversion is performed; and a color conversion part performing, when the color difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the color conversion on the area appointed by the area appointment part by using the color correction coefficients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Kazue Minagawa, Keiichi Nitta, Takeshi Nishi
  • Patent number: 8442319
    Abstract: Methods and systems for classifying markings on images in a document are undertaken according to marking types. The document containing the images is supplied to a segmenter which breaks the images into fragments of foreground pixel structures that are identified as being likely to be of the same marking type by finding connected components, extracting near-horizontal or -vertical rule lines and subdividing some connected components to obtain the fragments. The fragments are then supplied to a classifier, where the classifier provides a category score for each fragment, wherein the classifier is trained from the groundtruth images whose pixels are labeled according to known marking types. Thereafter, a same label is assigned to all pixels in a particular fragment, when the fragment is classified by the classifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Prateek Sarkar, Eric Saund
  • Patent number: 8432563
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a dynamic re-configuration with a DFE imager and caching modules to optimize RIP performance by analyzing pages within the job that collect page with job heuristics and statistics. Enabling the functionality to assess the information, thereby re-configuring a digital printer's imager and caching module dynamically during the job RIP to achieve improved overall RIP performance. Accordingly, a system collects and assesses job statistics across multiple jobs to enable optimum performance over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Eric S. Barnes
  • Patent number: 8433133
    Abstract: A method of detecting generally rectangular objects in an image comprises determining candidate rectangles in the image based on detected corners in the image, ranking the candidate rectangles on the basis of a set of differentiating factors and detecting objects in the images based on the ranked candidate rectangles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Guerzhoy, Hui Zhou
  • Publication number: 20130101208
    Abstract: Long-term understanding of background modeling includes determining first and second dimension gradient model derivatives of image brightness data of an image pixel along respective dimensions of two-dimensional, single channel image brightness data of a static image scene. The determined gradients are averaged with previous determined gradients of the image pixels, and with gradients of neighboring pixels as a function of their respective distances to the image pixel, the averaging generating averaged pixel gradient models for each of a plurality of pixels of the video image data of the static image scene that each have mean values and weight values. Background models for the static image scene are constructed as a function of the averaged pixel gradients and weights, wherein the background model pixels are represented by averaged pixel gradient models having similar orientation and magnitude and weights meeting a threshold weight requirement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rogerio S. Feris, Yun Zhai
  • Publication number: 20130101209
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image and video processing method, and in particular, to a two-phase-interaction-based extraction and association method for an object of interest in a video. In the method, a user performs coarse positioning interaction by an interactive method which is not limited to a normal manner and has a low requirement for prior knowledge; based on this, a certain extraction algorithm which is fast and easy to implement is adopted to perform multi-parameter extraction on the object of interest. In the method, on the basis of mining video information fully and ensuring user preference, in a manner where the viewing of the user is not affected, associate value-added information with the object which the user is interested in, thereby meeting the user's requirement for deeply knowing and further exploring an attention area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicants: Peking University, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., Peking University
  • Patent number: 8428371
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a computer-implemented method of identifying spatial image modifications. The method includes receiving a original image and a adjusted image. The method also includes identifying a first subset of pixels comprising pixels in the original image that have a same first color value. The method also includes determining whether a second subset of pixels in the adjusted image all have a same second color value, wherein the second subset of pixels spatially correspond with the first subset of pixels. A spatial adjustment is identified if the second subset of pixels do not all have the same second color value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Peter Morovic, Marti Maria Saquer, Jordi Arnabat Benedicto, Jan Morovic, Manuel Angel Albarran Moyo
  • Publication number: 20130094034
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to determine a brightness of an area of a digital image upon which text is to be added, select a color of the text based upon the determined brightness, and add a semi-transparent mask layer about the text to be added.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventors: Claudio A. Heckler, Adriane Q. Cardozo
  • Patent number: 8422773
    Abstract: An image processing method according to the present invention is contrived to change the gradation level (of the color component corresponding to the complementary color of yellow) for a pixel within a zone located on a corner of a rectangular image so as to maximize the difference between the gradation level of a pixel that is a processing target and the gradation level of a pixel in a background area in the surrounding area of the pixel that is the processing target, that is, lowering the gradation level. This means the pixel that is a result of applying the process for changing the gradation levels looks yellowish. The human eye has difficulty in recognizing yellow and therefore the change applied to the pixel is inconspicuous as compared to the case of placing a mark or frame on the outside of a rectangular zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Genta Suzuki, Kenichiro Sakai, Hirotaka Chiba
  • Patent number: 8421810
    Abstract: A color look-up table includes a plurality of images recorded on a film. Each of the images being recorded on a separate picture of the film and containing at least a first level and a second level. The first and second levels having different pixel color values and are arranged to form a detectable geometric pattern on each of the pictures. The first field and a second field having detectable boundaries assigned to characterize distortions on the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Shu Lin, Izzat Hekmat Izzat, Yousef Wasef Nijim
  • Patent number: 8423552
    Abstract: A method for calculating connectivity of a space having a number of objects using a computer system includes establishing a character matrix having a number of elements in accordance with the objects. A label matrix is established, and the character matrix is divided into blocks. Connectivity of the elements of each of the blocks is calculated, and then the elements are grouped into regions based on the values of the elements. Each of the regions is labeled and enhanced. Connectivity of the regions is calculated, and the regions are grouped into larger regions based on the values of the elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignees: Ambit Microsystems (Shanghai) Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yao-Hong Du
  • Patent number: 8421815
    Abstract: A system and method for displaying an image are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a data stream representing a frame of an image. The data stream may indicate a first color pixel cluster corresponding to a first color and a second color pixel cluster corresponding to a second color. The first color pixel cluster and the second color pixel cluster may be displayed. The first color pixel cluster may be different from the second color pixel cluster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Andrew G. Huibers, Michael T. Davis, Henry W. Neal, James N. Hall
  • Patent number: 8422774
    Abstract: Vectorization of an image in which a monospaced line and surfaces coexist without generation of a gap in a boundary between the monospaced line and the surfaces or between the surfaces, is realized. Separation processing of the monospaced line and the surface is executed for each color region. After the separation, a pixel position where the monospaced line is located is filled with color information of an adjacent surface. Boundary-sharing type vectorization processing is executed for data which is obtained by filling the monospaced line. Further, vector data expressed by a core line and a line width is generated based on the monospaced line obtained by separation processing of the monospaced line and surface. A vectorization result of the monospaced line extracted according to each color, and a vectorization result of a boundary line of the surface generated from data after a monospaced line region is filled are outputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuuichi Tsunematsu