Abstract: The invention discloses a camera device that contains an image capture module for capturing image data including a user; an information processing module for obtaining human face image data from the image data, and obtaining a distance information between a human face corresponding to the human face image data and the camera device according to the human face image data; a decision module for determining whether the distance corresponding to said distance information is less than a predetermined value, and generating a prompt information while the distance corresponding to said distance information is less than a predetermined value; and a prompt output module for outputting said prompt information based on said distance information, said prompt information is configured to give a prompt to said user. The invention also discloses an information prompt method.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for upscaling a digital image. A digital image to be upscaled is accessed, where the digital image comprises a plurality of pixel values. A first half pixel value is computed for a first point in the digital image based on a plurality of pixel values of the digital image surrounding the first point and an activity level. A second half pixel value is computed for a second point in the digital image, and an interpolated pixel of an upscaled version of the digital image is determined using a plurality of the pixel values, the first half pixel value, and the second half pixel value.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a determining unit determining, in image data including packs each including pixels and serving as a unit, a monotonic pack including pixels equal to a precedently image-processed preceding pixel and a normal pack other than the monotonic pack; a pixel row forming unit forming a pixel row including aligned pixels of the normal pack, while deleting the pixels of the monotonic pack; a pixel row processing unit processing the formed pixel row by inputting the pixel row to an image processing unit; and a supplementing unit supplementing an image processing result of the pixel row output from the image processing unit with, as an image processing result of the deleted pixels of the monotonic pack, a result of image processing by the image processing unit on the preceding pixel of the normal pack, to thereby obtain an image processing result of the image data.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for creating contour images that represent the contour of objects reflected in images, calculating contour histogram descriptors of the contour images, and classifying images based in part on the histogram descriptors of the contour images. For example, a contour image of an image is created. A radial-polar grid having a plurality of radial-polar bins is then positioned on the contour image. A contour histogram descriptor is created to include a number of bins that correspond to the radial-polar bins of the radial-polar grid, where the contents of the bins of the contour histogram descriptor represent the number of pixels of the contour image that are located in the corresponding radial-polar bins of the radial-polar grid. Images are classified at least based in part on comparisons between contour histogram descriptors of the images and contour histogram descriptors of training images.

Abstract: The described implementations relate to computer vision. In one case image data is received. Resource constraints associated with processing the image data are evaluated. Further, a visual recognition and detection processing strategy is selected for the image data based at least in part on the evaluated resource constraints.

Abstract: A non-local means method is insufficient in its noise reduction effect or edge retainability due to a perfect match between blocks in a case where a reference pixel matches a target pixel. Therefore, information on a target region and plural reference regions is obtained for the target pixel. Whether the target region matches any one of the reference regions is determined from the obtained information. Switching between weight derivation methods based on similarity between the target region and the reference region is performed according to a determined result.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of performing, by an image processing device, object detection in an image comprising: performing one or more tests of a test sequence for detection of a first object on pixels values of a plurality of at least partially overlapping sub-regions (310, 312, 314) of a first search window (108); generating a cumulative score based on results of said one or more tests on said plurality of sub-regions; comparing said cumulative score with a threshold value; and based on said comparison, selectively performing one or more of said tests of said test sequence on at least one further sub-region of said first search window, said at least one further sub-region at least partially overlapping each of said plurality of sub-regions.

Abstract: The number of pixels in an identified pixel region is counted, a feature point of the pixel region is extracted and the number of the feature points is counted when the number of the pixels counted has been determined to be equal to or higher than a first threshold value, whether the counted number of the feature points is equal to or lower than a second threshold value is determined, features is calculated based on the feature point extracted from the pixel region when the number of the feature points has been determined to be above the second threshold value, and the first threshold value is changed when the number of the feature points has been determined to be equal to or lower than the second threshold value. Image similarity determination process can be stably performed without any degradation in determination accuracy.

Abstract: Two different approaches for reducing the bit depth of the image data so as to reduce the computation and hardware requirement of image patch matching, with minimal loss of matching accuracy are described. Patch matching is able to be implemented in many different ways, but generally involves matching one area of an image with another area of the same image or another area of a different image (e.g. another video frame) through the use of a matching cost function. Transforming the image data to lower bit depth, image processing techniques are able to be implemented to minimize the needed memory and other resources for patch-matching. The complexity/performance trade-off of the approaches are also adjustable so that they are able to be applied for applications with different quality requirements and hardware constraints.

Abstract: Methods and systems of recognizing images may include an apparatus having a hardware module with logic to, for a plurality of vectors in an image, determine a first intermediate computation based on even pixels of an image vector, and determine a second intermediate computation based on odd pixels of an image vector. The logic can also combine the first and second intermediate computations into a Hessian matrix computation.

Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus that automatically recognizes a plurality of organs to subsequently visualize the automatic recognition results in an easy-to-understand manner, and facilitate a modification of the displayed recognition results. The image processing apparatus (23) uses an image processing algorithm to perform an image processing of medical image volume data. The image processing apparatus (23) comprises an organ recognition algorithm executing unit (11) that applies an organ recognition algorithm to medical image volume data to generate and output, as an organ recognition result, structural information on the plurality of organs, and a recognition result displaying unit (32) that displays the organ recognition result.

Abstract: A line width is derived based on the number of black pixels counted in an area set so that in a case where a first line width is finer than a second line width, the area for the lines having a first line width is set larger than for the lines having a second line width.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for generating landmark models based on exemplar portions of images (“patches”) that are known to include the target landmark (forming a “positive” set of landmark vectors) and those that do not (forming a “negative” set of landmark vectors). Theses sets of positive and negative landmark vectors, along with other landmark statistics, form a landmark model. When an unknown image is received, candidate landmark vectors may be generated based on the image's content (or portion thereof) and applied to the landmark model to rapidly reduce the dimensionality (complexity) of the candidate landmark vector space. Landmark models may be applied to the reduced-dimensioned candidate landmark vectors to identify the most likely point corresponding to the target landmark.

Abstract: A character recognition apparatus and method based on a character orientation are provided, in which an input image is binarized, at least one character area is extracted from the binarized image, a slope value of the extracted at least one character area is calculated, the calculated slope value is set as a character feature value, and a character is recognized by using a neural network for recognizing a plurality of characters by receiving the set character feature value. Accordingly, the probability of wrongly recognizing a similar character decreases, and a recognition ratio of each character increases.

Abstract: In a method for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in a flight space using a computing device, a 3D sample database is created and store in a storage device of the computing device. The computing device includes a depth-sensing camera that captures a 3D scene image of a scene in front of a user, and senses a depth distance between the user and the depth-sensing camera. A 3D person image of the user is detected from the 3D scene image, and gesture information of the user is obtained by comparing the 3D person image with human gesture data stored in the 3D sample database. The method converts the gesture information of the user into one or more flight control commands, and drives a driver of the UAV to control the UAV to fly in a flight space according to the flight control commands.

Abstract: A method for authenticating security markers includes capturing an image of a region of interest on a product with a camera; storing image data in a two-dimensional array on a microprocessor; counting a number of pixels at or above a predetermined brightness level in the image data with the microprocessor to determine a first score; establishing an area within the image; counting a number of pixels within the area to determine a second score; calculating a ratio of the second score to the first score; and if the ratio is above a predetermined threshold the security marker is authenticated.

Abstract: A document recognition system and method, where images are represented as a collection of primitive features whose spatial relations are represented as a graph. Useful subsets of all the possible subgraphs representing different portions of images are represented over a corpus of many images. The data structure is a lattice of subgraphs, and algorithms are provided means to build and use the graph lattice efficiently and effectively.

Abstract: A device according to embodiments may comprise an acquisition unit, an arrangement unit, a calculating unit, and a processing unit. The acquisition unit may acquire candidate vectors from among corresponding vectors which have been calculated for each candidate block around the target block. The arrangement unit may arrange particles around each candidate block indicated by each of the acquired candidate vectors while using the target block as an origination, and arrange particle vectors while using the target block as an origination. The calculating unit may calculate a correlation between a pixel value of the target block and a pixel value of each block defined by each of the particles, and give a weight depending on the calculated correlation to each of the particle vectors. The processing unit may obtain the corresponding vector for the target block based on the weight calculated for each of the particle vectors.

Abstract: An apparatus 1 for determining a kind of a steel material detects a spark pixel from a color picked-up image 2 of a spark 19 produced when a steel material 18 is ground, and detects a pixel, in which the density of any one color component for judgment selected from among RGB color components is low, as a low-density pixel from the spark pixels. The apparatus 1 determines that the steel material is a steel material consisting of the high-strength steel if the ratio of the total number of low-density pixels to the total number of spark pixels is not lower than a threshold value for judgment, and determines that the steel material is a steel material consisting of the ordinary steel if the ratio is lower than the threshold value for judgment.

Abstract: A method for sharpening a captured image includes the steps of (i) identifying a plurality of edge pixels in the captured image, (ii) reviewing the plurality of edge pixels to identify one or more line pixels, and one or more non-line pixels in the captured image (354), and (iii) sharpening the captured image utilizing a first level of overshoot control for the non-line pixels (362), and utilizing a second level of overshoot control for the line pixels (360) The method also includes the steps of (i) identifying an intensity value for each of a plurality of neighboring pixels that are positioned near a selected pixel in a predetermined pixel window that have the highest intensity values and the lowest intensity values.

Abstract: Restoration of edges in rasterized, continuous tone images includes selection of a pair of neighboring pixels that exchange a restoration value to make a steeper transition from a low value on one side of a boundary between the two pixels to a high value at the other side thereof. Although any pair of neighboring pixels is selected, this operation is only performed when four pixels in a direction perpendicular to the boundary, of which the selected pair form the two center pixels, have a monotonely increasing value. The restoration value is based on a difference value of nearest neighboring pixels on the same side of the boundary. This avoids overshooting around edges in an image. The method is advantageous when resealing an image to a higher resolution which occurs when a low resolution image is embedded in a page that is to be printed with a high addressability printer system.

Abstract: A system for automatically extracting or isolating structures or areas of interest (e.g., built-up structures such as buildings, houses, shelters, tents; agricultural areas; etc.) from HR/VHR overhead imagery data by way of making as little as a single pass through a hierarchical data structure of input image components (where pixels are grouped into components based on any appropriate definition or measure of dissimilarity between adjacent pixels of the input image) to identify candidate components (e.g., possible structures of interest) free of necessarily having to re-iterate the same operator configured with different threshold parameters for a plurality of values.

Abstract: Devices and techniques are described for automatically calibrating a projector system. The projector system undergoing calibration is coupled to a computing device and an automated positioning platform coupled to a target structure. The computing device acquires images using a calibrated camera of one or more patterns projected by the projector onto the target structure when the target structure is in a plurality of repeatable poses. From these acquired images, intrinsic projector parameters may be determined. Once determined, the parameters may be used to correct images produced by the projector or acquired by the camera which include a projected pattern or portion thereof.

Abstract: Bicycles present before a vehicle are identified. A picked-up image having intensity values that are in accordance with the temperatures of objects is acquired to extract image regions having intensity values representative of higher temperatures than a background. An object, which includes a pair of first object portions (legs) and a second object portion (a tire), would be identified as a bicycle if the pair of first object portions, which have greater dimensions in length in the vertical direction than in width in the horizontal direction and the distance between which is less than a predetermined value in the horizontal direction, are detected from the extracted image regions and further if the second object portion, which has a different intensity value from any one of the first object portions and also has a length greater than a predetermined value in the vertical direction, is existent between the pair of first object portions.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for automatic optoelectronic detection and inspection of objects, based on capturing digital images of a two-dimensional field of view in which an object to be detected or inspected may be located, analyzing the images, and making and reporting decisions on the status of the object. Decisions are based on evidence obtained from a plurality of images for which the object is located in the field of view, generally corresponding to a plurality of viewing perspectives. Evidence that an object is located in the field of view is used for detection, and evidence that the object satisfies appropriate inspection criteria is used for inspection. Methods and apparatus are disclosed for capturing and analyzing images at high speed so that multiple viewing perspectives can be obtained for objects in continuous motion.

Abstract: When the number (M) of passes is smaller than a threshold value, a first processing mode is selected. In the first processing mode, multivalued image data is divided into pieces of multivalued data corresponding to passes and a common multivalued data for a plurality of passes, the pieces of multivalued data are individually binarized to generate pieces of binary data corresponding to the passes, and the common multivalued data is binarized to generate common binary data for these passes. On the other hand, when the number (M) of passes is equal to or larger than the threshold value, a second processing mode is selected. In the second processing mode, multivalued image data is binarized and the binary data is divided into pieces of binary data corresponding to passes with a mask.

Abstract: Various approaches for providing textual information to an application, system, or service are disclosed. In particular, various embodiments enable a user to capture an image with a camera of a portable computing device. The computing device is capable of taking the image and processing it to recognize, identify, and/or isolate the text in order to forward the text to an application or function. The application or function can then utilize the text to perform an action in substantially real-time. The text may include an email, phone number, URL, an address, and the like and the application or function may be dialing the phone number, navigating to the URL, opening an address book to save contact information, displaying a map to show the address, and so on. Adaptive thresholding can be used to account for variations across an image, in order to improve the accuracy and efficiency of text recognition processes.

Abstract: A method of compressing a 2×2 block based binary image is provided. The method includes: determining whether pixels included in a block are included in existing patterns; generating the number N of the pixels included in the existing patterns (N is a natural number); when N is more than a predetermined value, compressing the block with a binary bit stream comprising information about patterns of the pixels included in the existing patterns and color information about the pixels having a new pattern. The method of compressing a 2×2 block based binary image reduces information damage which may occur during compression and restoration of the binary pattern so that the difference in picture quality between an original image and the restored image can be visibly improved.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for identifying sheets on which is added one identifier or more comprising a combination of juxtaposed screen cells. The method comprises two parts. The first part describes a means for making the differentiating identifiers and the addresses associated with the content areas forming the sheets. The second part describes a means for processing the information of the digital pen transmitted to the computer processing unit by one or more automatic or semiautomatic post-processing operations. The two non-separable parts of this method thus compensate for the potential handling errors of a user who must write or transcribe information onto screen sheets using a digital pen.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a pixel selecting unit that selects pixel values which are provided at each of pixel positions in input images that are arranged in chronological sequence, each of the pixel values being included in a corresponding one of the input images, on the basis of an input image to be processed which is set in the middle of the sequence; a moving-object detecting unit that detects a moving object using the selected pixel values, and that produces information items concerning the moving object as moving-object information items; and an output-image generating unit that generates pixel values of an output image, each of the pixel values being generated for a corresponding one of the pixel positions by using, in accordance with a corresponding one of the moving-object information items, a corresponding one of pixel values of the input image to be processed.

Abstract: A display device and a method of driving the display, wherein the volume of background music is controlled depending upon the color or brightness of display images, and the power consumption is reduced. The display device includes a display unit with a plurality of pixels, a signal controller, and a volume controller. The display unit displays images by selectively activating pixels from among the plurality of pixels in accordance with input video signals and input image control signals. The signal controller reads the input video signals to generate on-pixel signals having information about the ratio of a number of the active pixels compared to a total number of pixels in the plurality of pixels per each frame.

Abstract: A system for identifying motion video/audio content by means of comparing a video A to a registered video B so as to determine if they are originally the same as each other, wherein said system at least comprises a fingerprint extractor A for fingerprint A from the video A; a fingerprint database for the registered video B; and a matcher which is adapted to search from the fingerprint database for the registered fingerprint B of the video B by means of comparison of fingerprint A with a shifting window of a possible fingerprint B, so as to determine that the video A is visually identical to the video B if a match is found. According to the present invention, the method for extracting a fingerprint data from video/audio signals facilitates the automatic identification, archiving and search of video content, and can be of archiving without the need for human visual inspections.

Abstract: A display device and a driving method thereof where different sounds are output depending upon characteristics of display images. The display device includes a display unit having a plurality of pixels, a signal controller, and a sound controller. The display unit displays images by selectively activating pixels from among the plurality of pixels in accordance with input video signals and input image control signals. The signal controller reads the input video signals to generate on-pixel signals having information about a ratio of a number of the activated pixels compared to a total number of pixels in the plurality of pixels per each frame and generating a sound output start signal.

Abstract: Present novel and non-trivial systems and methods for embedding aircraft attitude data within a pixel data set and detecting inconsistent aircraft attitude information are disclosed. A pixel data set representative of the scene outside the aircraft is generated based upon the navigation data and the terrain data, attitude-exclusive data is generated based upon orientation data, and attitude-exclusive data is embedded into the pixel data set to form an embedded pixel data set. Attitude-exclusive data is comprised of attitude-exclusive pixel data having first and second pixel locations or attitude-exclusive ancillary data. Attitude-exclusive data is compared against separately-provided reference attitude data for the purpose of detecting inconsistent attitude information.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a ruled line extracting unit that counts the number of pixels within an image, compares the counted number of pixels with a threshold value, and extracts a ruled line based on a result of the comparison; and an identifying unit that identifies a noise component in the ruled line extracted by the ruled line extracting unit based on thickness of the ruled line extracted by the ruled line extracting unit and the threshold value.

Abstract: An image retrieval device that retrieves an image in response to an input image by comparing feature amounts based on an attribute of search target images and a feature amount based on an attribute of an input image. Each of the feature amounts comprises a first feature amount expressing a global relative positional relation of each pixel constituting an image with respect to pixels of the entire image, and a second feature amount expressing a local relative positional relation of each pixel constituting each of the images with respect to its adjacent pixels. Component images and at least one combination image formed therefrom are linked to a search target image and feature amounts about these respective images are compared with a feature amount about an input image and a search target image linked to a component/combination image that is similar to the input image is displayed.

Abstract: Provided are an image processing method and apparatus for effectively reducing noise in an image, and a recording medium storing a program for executing the method. The image processing apparatus includes a noise reduction unit configured to apply a noise reduction filter to first image data to obtain second image data; a first edge data obtaining unit configured to calculate edge data lost in the second image data compared with the first image data to obtain the first edge data; and a first synthesis unit configured to tune the first edge data and calculate third image data from the second image data and the tuned first edge data.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for generating super resolution images by building a set of multi-resolution bases from one or more training images; estimating a sparse resolution-invariant representation of an image, and reconstructing one or more missing patches at any resolution level.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus including: a determining processing section which binarizes a pixel value of a target pixel using a threshold; a calculation section which calculates feedback values by multiplying binarized pixel values of adjacent processed pixels by a feedback coefficient; a addition section which adds the feedback values to the pixel value of the target pixel before binarization; a diffusion section which diffuses a difference between the binarized pixel value and the unadded pixel value as an error to adjacent unprocessed pixels; and a subtraction section which subtracts the error from the unadded pixel value of the target pixel, wherein when all pixel values of processed pixels are 0 and an output value of the target pixel is a maximum value, it is determined that the target pixel is an isolated point and an output value of an adjacent pixel is set to a forced output value excluding 0.

Abstract: A method for extracting line segments from an edge image comprises receiving a digital image comprising a plurality of edge pixels, and processing the plurality of edge pixels using a breadth first search to determine a plurality of breadth first search pixels in a breadth first search order for a connected component. The connected component comprises a plurality of components. The method continues by processing the plurality of breadth first search pixels in an order related to the breadth first search order to determine a plurality of component pixels for at least one component of the plurality of components. Each of the plurality of components comprises a line segment. The method concludes by processing the plurality of component pixels to determine a plurality of line segment pixels for the line segment.

Abstract: A method for searching for an input symbol string, includes receiving (B) an input symbol string, proceeding (C) in a trie data structure to a calculation point indicated by the next symbol, calculating (D) distances at the calculation point, selecting (E) repeatedly the next branch to follow (C) to the next calculation point to repeat the calculation (D). After the calculation (G), selecting the symbol string having the shortest distance to the input symbol string on the basis of the performed calculations. To minimize the number of calculations, not only the distances are calculated (D) at the calculation points, but also the smallest possible length difference corresponding to each distance, and on the basis of each distance and corresponding length difference a reference value is calculated, and the branch is selected (E) in such a manner that next the routine proceeds from the calculation point producing the lowest reference value.

Abstract: Method for enabling a teeth whitening simulator that is designed to help a user understand how the color of their teeth affects the look of their smile. The method executed by a computer, a mobile electronic device, an application on a smart phone, or equivalent machine. Selecting a Profile or uploading a photo or image. Detecting and determining the number and location of faces in a photo or image and the faces' associated teeth. Whitening is performed on the selected teeth and face. After whitening, a feathering feature may be used to more accurately simulate a more realistic image where the desired whitening level is blended around the borders of the teeth to the surrounding facial elements to provide a more natural looking simulation. Finally, to see how different shades of whitening might affect their image, a movable slider is provided to see the smile with different whitening values.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for topographically characterizing a workpiece. The workpiece is scanned with a scanning probe along a first directional grid, thereby scanning a reference surface and an area of interest subportion of the reference surface, at a variable pixel density including a first pixel density outside the area of interest and a second pixel density inside the area of interest to derive a first digital file characterizing topography of the workpiece. The workpiece is further scanned along the reference surface and the area of interest with the scanning probe along a second directional grid that is substantially orthogonal to the first directional grid and at a constant pixel density to derive a second digital file characterizing topography of the workpiece. A processor executes computer-readable instructions stored in memory that generate a topographical profile of the workpiece in relation to the first and second digital files.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus processes image data corresponding to a display image. The image processing apparatus includes M image processing sections which have a function of processing image data of M (where M is an integer equal to or greater than 2) images segmented from the image and an image processing control section which, when an image corresponding to input image data is an image which has a resolution being of size to be processable by N (where N is an integer equal to or smaller than M?1) image processing sections, causes L image processing sections from among the M image processing sections to process image data corresponding to L (where L is an integer equal to or greater than N+1 and equal to or smaller than M) partial images segmented from image data.

Abstract: An available image area is recognized from information, including a read start position and a read end position of a document, a scaling for performing image processing, a processing object position, or the like. Subsequently, the number of chromatic pixels of one line is counted to output it to a memory, and when it is summed up to an end line of the available image area, a difference between a count number N1 in one previous line of the available image area and a count number N2 in the end line of the available image area is calculated to thereby compare the difference with a predetermined threshold value. When the difference is larger than the threshold, it is determined to be a chromatic image, whereas when the difference is smaller than the threshold, it is determined to be an achromatic image.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a material determining apparatus for a steel product and a material determining method for a steel product which can stably and precisely determine a carbon content of the steel product.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and program product are presented for determining an orientation of a Landold C in an image containing a plurality of pixels. A center of the Landolt C is determined. A plurality of rays is extended from the center of the Landolt C radially outward. A plurality of distances is determined, where each distance of the plurality of distances represents a distance from the center of the Landolt C to a darkest pixel along each ray of the plurality of rays. A peak in the plurality of distances is identified. And the orientation of the Landolt C is determined based on the peak in the plurality of distances.

Abstract: A system for identifying motion video content, with a registered fingerprint database in advance for video contents of broadcasting video signals, wherein said system at least comprises a frame buffer into which a consecutive of video frame images of a motion video content to be identified are stored; a frame sampler by which sample values on the video frame images are obtained; a fingerprint store in which the sample values are held as a fingerprint A for search in the fingerprint database; and a matcher which performs a fingerprint pattern matching algorithm between the fingerprint A for search in the fingerprint database and fingerprints B contained in the fingerprint database so as to determine whether the motion video content has ever been broadcasted before. The system according to the present invention can effectively organize, archive, and search video content; lower the cost of digital storage devices; and identify video content efficiently and with minimal or no human interactions.

Abstract: A method for identifying motion video content, forming a registered fingerprint database in advance for video contents of broadcasting video signals, wherein said method at least comprises the steps of storing a consecutive of video frame images of a motion video content to be identified into a frame buffer; obtaining sample values on the video frame images by a frame sampler; holding the sample values in a fingerprint store as a fingerprint A for search in the fingerprint database; and performing a fingerprint pattern matching algorithm between the fingerprint A for search in the fingerprint database and fingerprints B contained in the fingerprint database so as to determine whether the motion video content has ever been broadcasted before. The method according to the present invention can effectively organize, archive, and search video content; lower the cost of digital storage devices; and identify video content efficiently and with minimal or no human interactions.

Abstract: A method for image-based weather condition detection, using image processing methods in moving vehicles, is described. The method includes detecting road weather conditions by identifying a group of bright pixels in video images produced by an image-based road characterization, and determining whether the bright pixels are caused by reflections due to one of rainfall, snowfall, a wet surface, or a snowy surface, where a driving assistant system includes a lane-keeping system.