Abstract: A storage medium has stored therein an image processing program that causes a computer of an image processing apparatus, which is connected to a real camera for taking an image of a real space and a display device that allows the real space to be viewed on a display area thereof, to operate as real space image obtaining means, specific object detection means, calculation means, setting means, identification means, event providing means, virtual space image generation means, and display control means.

Abstract: An apparatus usable in an image encoding and/or decoding system includes a segmentation unit to convert a first image of a first resolution into a second image of a second resolution, to segment the second image of the second resolution with one or more blocks of a binary mask layer having a foreground and a background, and to convert the segmented second image into a third image of a third resolution as a segmented image.

Abstract: A method and system for mapping colors of an image. The method including the steps of: segmenting an image into a plurality of regions, so that pixels in each of the plurality of regions have a characteristic that meets a predetermined similarity; determining an initial contrast between adjacent regions in the plurality of regions; and transforming an initial color of each of the plurality of regions into a target color; where a target contrast between the adjacent regions in the plurality of regions is equal to or greater than the initial contrast or a difference between the target contrast and corresponding initial contrast is less than a predetermined threshold; and where at least one of the steps is carried out by a computer device.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an extraction section that extracts a first high brightness region from a source image where brightness is a first threshold value or greater, a mask generation section that performs blur processing and binarization processing on the first high brightness region and generates a mask containing the first high brightness region, a mask application section that based on the mask performs elimination processing, thinning processing, or both on the first high brightness region, a bright line generation section that generates a bright line based on a second high brightness region contained in output of the mask application section, and a synthesizing section that synthesizes the bright line onto the source image.

Abstract: A system and method for segmenting foreground and background regions on a digitized image uses a computer, having a processor and system memory, to segment the image into initial regions and identify background regions from the initial regions. A complete background surface is estimated of the image, and pixels of the image are rectified with the estimated background surface to normalize the image. Normalized pixels are compared with a threshold color to determine a final segmentation of background regions.

Abstract: A method of color masking an image or video includes reading color values of an image sample of the image or video and a corresponding change of an attribute of the image sample. Based on the color values of the image sample, the change in the image sample attribute is mapped to a change in color components of the image sample that is equivalent to the change in the image sample attribute, yet reduces visibility of the change in the image sample attribute for the specific color values of the image sample.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments relate to a method implementable on a computing device for modifying color characteristics of an image. The method includes identifying one or more regions in the image based on a luminance value associated with one or more pixels in the image. Each region comprises a first set of pixels having a predefined range of luminance values. The first set of pixels is categorized in a first set of predefined color categories corresponding to the each region based, at least in part, on a chroma value associated with each pixel in the first set of pixels. Each predefined color category in the first set of predefined color categories comprises a second set of pixels. The color characteristics of the second set of pixels are modified based on a region and a predefined color category associated with the second set of pixels.

Abstract: A method of analyzing an OCT image. An OCT image has many differently colored dots. The system detects the number of differently colored dots, quantifies them and performs statistical analysis to determine a likelihood of disease. The different colored dots correspond to different retina cell types and structures.

Abstract: A portion within an image in which a plurality of objects (21 and 22) overlap is partitioned into a plurality of small regions (31a and 32a), each of the units of identification information for the plurality of objects (21 and 22) is assigned to a dot corresponding to the plurality of small regions (31a and 32a), and thereby, identification-use layout information is generated, whereby even if a plurality of objects overlap upon a layout of a display image, upon the layout of the identification-use layout information that has been generated for identifying the plurality of objects, the identification information corresponding to each object does not overlap. As a result, it is possible to identify each object by the identification information acquired from the position of the cursor.

Abstract: A cost-effective and computationally efficient hand gesture recognition system for detecting and/or tracking a face region and/or a hand region in a series of images. A skin segmentation model is updated with skin pixel information from the face and iteratively applied to the pixels in the hand region, to more accurately identify the pixels in the hand region given current lighting conditions around the image. Shape features are then extracted from the image, and based on the shape features, a hand gesture is identified in the image. The identified hand gesture may be used to generate a command signal to control the operation of an application or system.

Abstract: Techniques for using infrared imaging to create digital images for use in product customization are described. In an embodiment, an infrared photograph of a product with imprinted markup is received and a visible light photograph of the product with the imprinted markup is received. The imprinted markup is visible in the visible light photograph but is not visible in the infrared photograph. Instructions for rendering a customization image of the product depicting a particular customization are determined based in part on the infrared photograph and visible light photograph, where the particular customization is not in the infrared photograph or the visible light photograph.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a separation section, a background color setting section, and a generating section. The separation section separates at least one image component having different attributes contained in electronic document data expressing an original image. The background color setting section selects a coloring method, from among a plurality of coloring methods for coloring a background, according to software to be used and sets a background color. The generating section generates software data corresponding to the software by coloring the background color based on the setting of the background color setting section, and re-arranging the at least one image component.

Abstract: A method for color feature extraction extracts a color feature vector representative of the color of each image pixel contained in an image signal. The method comprises: receiving the image signal; mapping the image signal to a color space model, where the color of each of the plural image pixels is represented by a first parameter, a second parameter, and a third parameter; obtaining an adjusted second parameter; clustering the plural image pixels into plural color regions or plural fuzzy regions of a color plane of the color space model; and designating the color feature vector to each of the plural image pixels based on the clustering result.

Abstract: A method for image/video segmentation, capable of segmenting an image signal for obtaining plural texture color feature regions, by utilizing both of the advantages carried by the texture feature and the color feature is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps: (A) receiving an image signal including plural image pixels; (B) executing a Gabor filtering process and a value operation process on each of the plural image pixels; (C) designating each of the plural image pixels a corresponding texture feature vector basing on the result of the value operation process; (D) executing a segmentation process on the image signal basing on the texture feature vector of each of the plural image pixels, for obtaining plural texture feature regions; and (E) executing a re-segmentation process on plural color feature regions basing on the distribution of the plural texture feature regions, for obtaining plural texture color feature regions.

Abstract: An image processing device separates an original image signal into a plurality of components including a first component serving as a skeleton component and a second component obtained after the first component is separated from the original image signal, obtains a signal level of the first component or the original image signal, sets a tone conversion coefficient to be applied during tone conversion based on the signal level of the first component or the original image signal, performs tone conversion processing on the first component using the tone conversion coefficient, obtains the signal level of the first component, sets a noise reduction processing parameter on the basis of the signal level of the first component, and reduces a noise of the second component using the noise reduction processing parameter and the tone conversion coefficient.

Abstract: A method for creating a binary mask image from an inputted digital image of a scanned document, including the steps of creating a binarized image by binarizing the inputted digital image, detecting first text regions representing light text on a dark background, and inverting the first text regions, such that the inverted first text regions are interpretable in the same way as dark text on a light background. A method for comparing in a binary image a first pixel blob with a second pixel blob to determine whether they represent matching symbols, including the steps of detecting a line in one blob not present in the other and/or determining if one of the blobs represents an italicized symbol where the other does not.

Abstract: A method of embedding and extracting a message into and from image data is provided. The method of embedding a message into image data includes: generating message data that is to be embedded into the image data; dividing the image data into a plurality of color channels, and embedding the message data into a difference component between two color channels of the plurality of color channels; reconstructing components of the two color channels by using original components of the two color channels and a difference component between the two color channels into which the message data is embedded; and reconstructing the image data by using the reconstructed components of the two color channels and an original component of a remaining color channel of the plurality of color channels.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program for segmenting an image are provided. The system may include an image acquisition system for acquiring a plurality of images; and a processor for clustering pixels from one of the images into one or more segments, each segment being defined in a state of either stable, mesostable or unstable, the processor further performing the clustering by determining residual pixels changing by more than a predetermined threshold, grouping the determined residual pixels to form segments selected from the group of unstable and mesostable segments, determining depth for all unstable and mesostable segments, transitioning unstable segments to corresponding mesostable segments if the unstable segment is determined to have a valid depth, transitioning mesostable segments to corresponding stable segments upon a determination that one or more predetermined stability criteria have been met, and merging one or more stable and mesostable segments.

Abstract: A color space converter converts data points from one color space to another color space using a lookup table. Color space converters may be used in any device that involves image processing, such as displays and printers. An interface receives an input value in a first color space. A controller access a lookup table stored in memory to determine an upper bound and a lower bound of a subset of the color space. An output value is interpolated between the upper bound and the lower bound using interpolation values. The interpolation values of the last subset in any dimension of the color space are modified by a scale factor to approximate ideal values.

Abstract: A method for 3D video content generation is disclosed, capable of transforming a 2D image into a 3D video through proper operation process. The method comprises the following steps of: (A) receiving a 2D image and generating a ROI distribution map from the 2D image; (B) executing a color feature capture process, for forming a plural of color feature regions; (C) executing an image segmentation process basing on the texture feature of the plural of color feature regions, for forming an image region distribution map; (D) executing a depth map generation process, for generating a depth map basing on the ROI distribution map and the image region distribution map; (E) executing a 3D image generation process, for forming the 3D image basing on the image region distribution map and the depth map; and (F) chaining a plurality of the 3D images to form the 3D video basing on a frame rate.

Abstract: A method for removing an object from an image is described. The image is separated into a source region and a target region. The target region includes the object to be removed. A contour of the target region may be extracted. One or more filling candidate pixels are obtained. Multiple filling patches are obtained. Each filling patch is centered at a filling candidate pixel. A filling patch may be selected for replacement.

Abstract: An input image is divided into images composed of luminance signals of a plurality of bands that make up the Laplacian pyramid, noise suppression is applied to each divided image, and then the divided images are composited by addition. The input image is also divided into images composed of color signals of a plurality of bands that make up the Gaussian pyramid, noise suppression is applied to each divided image, and the divided images are composited at an image-based ratio. By thus compositing the luminance signals and color signals, excellent noise suppression can be realized while alleviating deterioration in the image quality during the compositing.

Abstract: A method and system including capturing a video stream including embedded data, segmenting the video stream into a plurality of video frames included therein, locating a color mass, denoted C?, for each color element of every individual video frame of the plurality of video frames by summing color value coordinates for a given color element included in the individual video frame, locating a color mass, denoted C, for each color element of a corresponding individual video frame, the corresponding individual video frame corresponding a video frame which does not include embedded data, subtracting C from C?, and deriving, from a result of the subtraction, a value of a first coordinate and a second coordinate, the first coordinate and the second coordinate including coordinates of a vector, the vector corresponding to a string of bits including information embedded in the individual video frame. Related apparatus, methods and systems are also described.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for color transfer between images for compensating color differences between at least two images as a first and a second image represented by pixel data are recommended, wherein for corresponding feature points of the images a color map and a geometric map are calculated for compensating a first image by applying said geometric map and said color map to the first image resulting in a compensated first image for detecting regions where a compensation fails by comparing the compensated first image with the second image to perform a color transfer excluding image regions where the compensation failed. The method can be performed on the fly and is applicable for equalizing color differences between images different in geometry and color.

Abstract: A searchable color encoded file composing method having a step of converting a plurality of document files etc. to color image files based on information replacement type color conversion processing, a step of storing a plurality of color image files prepared by the color conversion processing in a hard disk, a step of searching through the plurality of color image files stored in the hard disk by a color key, and a step of preparing a list of the color image files hit by the search. Due to this, key search technology is added in coding technology utilizing color and therefore the storage and handling of color encoded files are eased.

Abstract: Techniques for segmenting an object at a self-checkout are provided. The techniques include capturing an image of an object at a self-checkout, dividing the image into one or more blocks, computing a confidence value for each of the one or more blocks, and eliminating one or more blocks from consideration based 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.

Abstract: A character region extracting apparatus and method which extract a character region through the calculation of character stroke widths are provided. The method includes producing a binary image including a candidate character region from an original image; extracting a character outline from the candidate character region; acquires character outline information for the extracted outline; setting a representative character stroke width and a representative character angle in each of the pixels forming the outline, based on the character outline information; and determining a character existing region in the candidate character region by confirming the ratio of effective representative stroke widths and effective angles as compared to the entire length of the outline. Accordingly, it is possible to efficiently determine whether one or more characters exist in the candidate character region.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus, comprising: a detecting unit that detects a foreground area including a foreground object, a background area, and a boundary area between the foreground area and the background area, from data of a processing target image; and a display control unit that executes a control to display the boundary area in a first color distinguishable from other areas and the background area in a second color different from the first color when the processing target image is displayed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an imaging apparatus with a flicker detector that restrains an increased calculation amount and image quality degradation. The apparatus includes a frame rate controller for setting a frame rate of an acquired image to a first frame rate or different second frame rate, a luminance calculator for calculating a first luminance difference between two images of a first group continuously acquired at the first frame rate and a second luminance difference between two images of a second group continuously acquired at the second frame rate, and a flicker detector for comparing the first and second luminance differences with first and second threshold, respectively, and determining whether flickers of a first frequency and a different second frequency are generated or not.

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.

Abstract: Regarding a color difference between a color of an original image on a pixel other than a connection pixel set in a rectangular area that is an inside area of a rectangle circumscribed to the connection pixel set and a color of the original image on a pixel in the connection pixel set, the binary image generating unit (a) identifies whether the connection pixel set is a character or non character by comparing a value of an index that indicates unevenness of the color differences with a color difference threshold value, (b) identifies whether a size of the rectangular area is small or large on the basis of a threshold value, and (c) sets the color difference threshold value as a value if the size of the rectangular area is small and as another different value if the size of the rectangular area is large.

Abstract: A cost-effective and computationally efficient hand gesture recognition system for detecting and/or tracking a face region and/or a hand region in a series of images. A skin segmentation model is updated with skin pixel information from the face and iteratively applied to the pixels in the hand region, to more accurately identify the pixels in the hand region given current lighting conditions around the image. Shape features are then extracted from the image, and based on the shape features, a hand gesture is identified in the image. The identified hand gesture may be used to generate a command signal to control the operation of an application or system.

Abstract: When photographing images including a person's face at an event, photographers tend to photograph images so that features of the event appear in a region around the person's face. An image data processing device of the present invention extracts image feature information so that an image feature calculated based on pixels in the region around the person's face, which tends to represent features of an event, is reflected more than that calculated based on pixels in a region remote from the person's face, which tends not to represent features of an event. This allows the image data processing device to calculate image feature information reflecting features of an event more than that calculated by a conventional image data processing device. The image data processing device therefore improves classification precision compared to the conventional device when classifying images using the image feature information calculated by the image data processing device.

Abstract: A method for toning mapping high dynamic range (HDR) video for display in low dynamic range display comprises accessing the HDR video; producing a luminance information for the individual frames; partitioning different consecutive groups of frames into segments responsive to the luminance information; classifying the segments into static luminance segments and transient luminance segments; producing a tone mapping parameter set for the static luminance segments; producing a tone mapping parameter set for at least one of the transient luminance segments responsive to the tone mapping parameter set of an adjacent static luminance segment; and tone mapping the static luminance segments and transient luminance segments according to the respective tone mapping parameter sets.

Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus and method for adjusting a color image using a depth image. The image processing apparatus may include a color image segmenting unit to segment a color image into a plurality of color segments, using a color layer of the color image, a depth image segmenting unit to segment a depth image into a plurality of depth segments, using a depth layer of the depth image, and a layer boundary adjusting unit to adjust a boundary value of the color layer, using the plurality of color segments and the plurality of depth segments.

Abstract: An input control unit that receives first content data from a content delivery apparatus via a communication unit, converts the first content data into first image data before causing a storage unit to store the first image data, receives second content data generated by a portion or all of the first content data being updated from the content delivery apparatus via the communication unit, and converts the second content data into second image data before causing the storage unit to store the second image data, a center of gravity candidate region extraction unit that calculates difference values of color information between corresponding pixels of the first image data and the second image data stored in the storage unit and extracts a center of gravity candidate region, which is a region constituted by pixels the difference values of which exceed a threshold value stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for identifying lawn grass which includes capturing an image of the terrain in front of a mower, segmenting the image into neighborhoods, calculating at least two image statistics for each of the neighborhoods, generating a binary representation of each image statistic. The binary representation of each image statistic is generated by comparing the calculated image statistic values to predetermined image statistic values for grass. The method further includes weighting each of the binary representations of each image statistic, and summing corresponding neighborhoods for all image statistics. A binary threshold is applied to each of the summed neighborhoods to generate a binary map representing grass containing areas and non-grass containing areas.

Abstract: A system for recoloring a set of images of a web page according to a determined representative color. The system receives at least one image that is to be recolored from a first color scheme to a second color scheme, wherein the first color scheme comprises a plurality of first colors, the second color scheme comprises a plurality of second colors, and each of the plurality of first colors is associated to one of the plurality of second colors. The system assigns a representative color to each of the pixels of the image, wherein the representative colors are chosen from the plurality of first colors. The system recolors pixels of the image to correspond to the plurality of second colors, wherein each recolored pixel is recolored according to a second color that is associated with the representative color that was assigned to the recolored pixel.

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.

Abstract: An image processing device includes a component separation section configured to separate an original image signal into a plurality of components including a first component that is a framework component and a second component obtained from a residue corresponding to the original image signal from which the first component has been excluded, an edge information acquisition section configured to obtain edge information from the first component included in the plurality of components, a fluctuation-component reduction section configured to reduce a fluctuation component at least of the second component included in the plurality of components, a parameter acquisition section configured to acquire a parameter for the fluctuation-component reduction section based on the obtained edge information, and a component synthesis section configured to synthesize the first component and the component other than the first component in which the fluctuation component has been reduced.

Abstract: A white balance method for a display image is disclosed. The steps of the method includes: measuring gray levels of a basic and reference colors based on a plurality of color temperatures; obtaining reference color gains according to average values of the gray level of the reference and basic colors and a ratio according to the reference color gains corresponding to each of the color temperatures; dividing the display image into a plurality of blocks, and obtaining a reference color gain of each of blocks according to the average values of the gray levels of reference and basic colors, and obtaining a block ratio of each of blocks; generating a selected number corresponding to each of the color temperature according to the ratios and the block ratios; selecting the basic and reference color gains of one of the color temperatures for executing white balance to the display image.

Abstract: Image matting and alpha value techniques are described. In one or more implementations, techniques are described in which matting operations are applied to image data that is in a raw or substantially raw image format. This may be used to decompose image data into foreground and background images as well as to generate an alpha value that describes a linear combination of the foreground and background images for a respective pixel. Further, implementations are also described in which a plurality of alpha values is generated for each of a plurality of pixels. These alpha values may be utilized to support a variety of different functionality, such as matting operations and so on.

Abstract: The invention relates to compressing of sparse data sets contains sequences of data values and position information therefor. The position information may be in the form of position indices defining active positions of the data values in a sparse vector of length N. The position information is encoded into the data values by adjusting one or more of the data values within a pre-defined tolerance range, so that a pre-defined mapping function of the data values and their positions is close to a target value. In one embodiment, the mapping function is defined using a sub-set of N filler values which elements are used to fill empty positions in the input sparse data vector. At the decoder, the correct data positions are identified by searching though possible sub-sets of filler values.

Abstract: A new method (100) for evaluating evolution of tumoral lesions includes: —providing (101) a first image of the tumoral lesions, the first image being made at a first time instant; —providing (102) a second image of the tumoral lesions, the second image being made at a second time instant that is later than the first time instant; —delineating (103) a border of the tumoral lesions in the first image and the second image; —registration (103) of the tumoral lesions in the first image the second image; —segmenting (104) the tumoral lesions in the first image and the second image into concentric areas; —quantifying (105) changes of at least one functional parameter between the concentric areas in the first image and respective corresponding concentric areas in the second image; and —visualizing (106) the changes in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional model of the tumoral lesions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing an image are provided. The apparatus may determine a distortion region based on warped pixels in a synthesized image of an intermediate view; and define a surface area of the distortion region as a distortion function of the synthesized image.

Abstract: This application describes grouping variables together to minimize cost or time of performing computer vision analysis techniques on images. In one instance, the pixels of an image are represented by a lattice structure of nodes that are connected to each other by edges. The nodes are grouped or merged together based in part on the energy function associated with each edge that connects the nodes together. The energy function of the edge is based in part on the energy functions associated with each node. The energy functions of the node are based on the possible states in which the node may exist. The states of the node are representative of an object, image, or any other feature or classification that may be associated with the pixels in the image.

Abstract: An image file representing at least a portion of a printed document is processed to highlight the differences between foreground material (e.g., text or other characters) from background. The method includes selecting a neighborhood of pixels, determining a weighted average of an attribute values (e.g., luminance) for each pixel, and modifying each pixel's value based on the weighted average. Graylevel scaling, error diffusion, and a bit level conversion are also performed each pixel ends up with either a first attribute value level (e.g., luminance of 0) or a second attribute value level (e.g., luminance of 255).

Abstract: A method for filtering a digital image, comprising segmenting the digital image into a plurality of tiles; computing tile histograms corresponding to each of the plurality of tiles; deriving a plurality of tile transfer functions from the tile histograms preferably using 1D convolutions; interpolating a tile transfer function from the plurality of tile transfer functions; and filtering the digital image with the interpolated tile transfer function. Many filters otherwise difficult to conceive or to implement are possible with this method, including an edge-preserving smoothing filter, HDR tone mapping, edge invariant gradient or entropy detection, image upsampling, and mapping coarse data to fine data.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes segmenting a plurality of video frames of a sequence of video frames into a first portion that includes a selected visual object represented in the video frame and a second portion that includes a background represented in the video frame. The selected visual object is selected by using a selection envelope.

Abstract: An image processing method for removing a moving object includes an input step of inputting input images; a matching step of matching the input images according to corresponding positions; a determining step of determining a background image from the input images; a marking step of marking at least one moving object from at least one of the input images; and a replacing step of replacing a region, occupied by the moving object in at least one of the input images with a corresponding regional background in another input image.