Abstract: Methods and apparatus to count persons in a monitored environment are disclosed. An example apparatus to count the number of people in a monitored environment is described, which includes an image sensor having a plurality of pixels, a pseudorandom number generator to generate pseudorandom coordinates, a reader to read first pixel data generated by a first pixel of the image sensor at a first time, the first pixel corresponding to the pseudorandom coordinates, a comparator to compare the first pixel data with second pixel data generated by the first pixel at a second time different from the first time to generate a change value, and a counter configured to generate a count of persons based at least on the change value.

Abstract: A method of detecting an anatomical primitive in an image volume includes detecting a plurality of transformationally invariant points (TIPS) in the volume, aligning the volume using the TIPs, detecting a plurality landmark points in the aligned volume that are indicative of a given anatomical object, and fitting a target geometric primitive as the anatomical primitive based using the detected landmark points.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus determines the attribute of a pixel block, which is composed of a prescribed number of pixels extracted from image data, and the attribute of an area in which each pixel of the pixel block belongs. Then, based upon the determined attribute of the image block and the determined attribute of the area in which each pixel belongs, the apparatus subjects the image data to processing, pixel by pixel.

Abstract: A method of pattern and image recognition and identification includes building a data store of known patterns or images having known attributes and comparing those patterns to unknown patterns. The data store and comparison processing may be distributed across processors. A digital pattern recognition engine on each of the processors has the ability to compare a known pattern from the data store and an unknown pattern and compare the two patterns to determine whether the patterns constitute a match based on match criteria. If the comparison indicates a match, the match may be communicated to the data store and added as a known pattern with detected attributes to the data store. If the comparison does not indicate a match, the pattern may be flagged, transmitted to manual recognition, or further processed using character thresholding or cutting or slicing the pattern.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a plurality of target pixels within a digital representation of an image are selected, and a corner gradient pattern is determined for each of the target pixels. The corner gradient pattern is analyzed to classify the target pixel as an edge pixel or a non-edge pixel. If the target pixel is a non-edge pixel, target pixel is replaced with a plurality of non-edge output pixels. If the target pixel is an edge pixel, the target pixel is replaced with a plurality of edge output pixels, including determination of an orientation of an edge, and selection, based on the orientation, and application of a filter kernel to produce the edge output pixels to replace the target pixel.

Abstract: An image search method may include: determining a quadrant of a predicted motion vector; calculating a tilt value of a first reference frame and a tilt value of a second reference frame using the predicted motion vector; deciding a search area for uneven hexagon search in response to the quadrant of the predicted motion vector and the calculated tilt values; performing the uneven hexagon search with respect to the decided search area; and/or comparing a result of the performed uneven hexagon search with a threshold value to determine termination of the uneven hexagon search. The second reference frame is earlier-in-time relative to the first reference frame.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of automatically creating an index, and a method for the same. The image forming apparatus includes a scan unit to scan a document, a text/image separation unit to separate the scanned document into a text area and an image area and to separate texts in the text area into symbols, an index determination unit to extract one or more properties of the separated symbols and to compare the extracted symbol properties with one or more index thresholds to determine whether text including the symbols is an index object, and an index page creation unit to create an index page including the text determined as the index object and information about a page including the text that corresponds to the index object. Accordingly, since the index page is automatically created, main contents of each page of the document can be easily selected and/or presented.

Abstract: A size estimation method is used with a document camera to estimate an object size. The document camera includes a lens and an image sensor. The size estimation method includes the following steps. Firstly, an object distance between the lens and the object is detected. According to the object distance and a viewable angle of the lens, a shooting zone size is estimated. Then, the object is shot by the lens and the image sensor, thereby acquiring a digital image including an image of the object. Then, an effective pixel number corresponding to the object image is counted. Afterward, the size of the object is estimated according to the effective pixel number, a total pixel number of the image sensor and the shooting zone size.

Abstract: Line images in horizontal and vertical directions are detected from input image data, and an intersection of the line images is calculated. the calculated intersection is regarded as a feature point of input image data. Thus, it is possible to easily and promptly extract, from image data, a feature point that allows specifying the image data appropriately.

Abstract: A method for producing an electronic annotated document including embedding annotation information into an electronic annotation object having image data including an annotation, and producing the electronic annotated document using pixel information from the electronic document and the electronic annotation object. The annotation embedded information may be used to select corresponding pixel information from one of the electronic annotated object and electronic document to be provided in the electronic annotated document. A system and tangible storage medium having machine-readable instructions for producing an electronic annotated document are also disclosed.

Abstract: To provide an update region detection device capable of accurately detecting an update region from plot data on a computer screen. In an update region detection unit (125), a pixel comparison unit (601) compares a difference between values of pixels at the same position in each of a reference frame and a current frame, with a first threshold and a second threshold, the second threshold being a value greater than the first threshold. An update region extraction unit (602) extracts, an update region, a group including a pixel where a difference greater than the second threshold has been detected, from among a group of pixels where a difference greater than the first threshold has been detected.

Abstract: A method for locating an object in an image is provided for an object that exhibits, in at least one direction, foreground pixel runs and background pixel runs consistent with at least characteristic of the object. In one embodiment, the method includes the acts of defining a plurality of regions in the image, associating a metric with each of the regions, finding pixel runs in the image, and identifying at least one pixel run in one of the plurality of regions where the at least one pixel run is consistent with the at least one characteristic of the object. According to one embodiment, the method includes the acts of adjusting the metric associated with the region where the at least one pixel run is identified and identifying, from among the plurality of regions, a region where the object is located based on a metric determined for a plurality of regions. In various embodiments, the object includes a repetitive pattern such as those found in barcodes and character strings.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for reducing noise in a medical image, wherein plural anisotropic areas continuous with a pixel-of-interest contained in the medical image are set with the pixel-of-interest being centered a statistical amount of pixel values of pixels constituting each anisotropic area is calculated with respect to each of the plural anisotropic areas, and either an anisotropic area having the minimum statistical amount out of the plural anisotropic areas is determined and an anisotropic shape filter in the same direction as the anisotropic area concerned is constructed, or an anisotropic area having the maximum statistical amount out of the plural anisotropic areas is determined and an anisotropic shape filter is constructed by clockwise or counterclockwise rotating the anisotropic area concerned around the pixel-of-interest by 90° .

Abstract: An imaging unit capturing an image of a body surface with near-infrared light and generating near-infrared light imaging data, a vein pattern extraction unit extracting multiple kinds of near-infrared light vein patterns from one piece of the near-infrared light imaging data by applying a differential filter outputting a large value for a pixel having a large difference between the pixel and its surrounding pixel to multiple pixels constituting the near-infrared light imaging data and changing a parameter changing an output property of the differential filter, and a pseudo-vein pattern determination unit determining presence of a pseudo-vein pattern intentionally formed on a part of the captured body surface based on the extracted vein pattern are provided.

Abstract: When retrieving an image from an archive of stored images that is similar to an inputted image, an image-processing apparatus (200) extracts more than one characteristic point from the inputted image (S504), computes a characteristic amount for the characteristic points thus extracted (S505), and evaluates the fluctuation in the characteristic amount when a prescribed alteration is applied to the inputted image (S506). The image-processing apparatus selects a characteristic point from among the characteristic points thus extracted from the inputted image, and retrieves (S508) a stored image that is similar to the inputted image, in accordance with the characteristic amount of the characteristic point thus selected.

Abstract: A method for detecting edges includes calculating a gradient level value for each pixel of a digital image and assigning each pixel to one of a plurality of gradient bins based on the calculated gradient level value for each pixel, the gradient bins being defined by threshold levels. One or more of the gradient bins are assigned as edge bins, and one or more of the gradient bins are assigned as non-edge bins according to the number of pixels assigned to each gradient bin. Pixels in the one or more edge bins are identified as edge pixels, and pixels in the one or more non-edge bins are identified as non-edge pixels in an edge map. The one or more gradient bins are assigned such that a minimum number of pixels are identified as edge pixels and no more than a maximum number of pixels are identified as edge pixels.

Abstract: A method and a system for gesture recognition are provided for recognizing a gesture performed by a user in front of an electronic product having a video camera. In the present method, an image containing the upper body of the user is captured and a hand area in the image is obtained. The hand area is fully scanned by a first couple of concentric circles. During the scanning, a proportion of a number of skin color pixels on an inner circumference of the first couple of concentric circles and a proportion of a number of skin color pixels on an outer circumference of the first couple of concentric circles are used to determine a number of fingertips in the hand area. The gesture is recognized by the number of fingertips and an operation function of the electronic product is executed according to an operating instruction corresponding to the recognized gesture.

Abstract: A system enables encoding of a removable mark into digital data, and decoding of the mark from the digital data. The system comprises an encoder and a decoder. The encoder includes a target area locator for locating in digital data a predetermined pattern of values that represents a flat area, and a marker for modifying values in the flat area to encode a mark into the flat area. The decoder attempts to extract the mark from the digital data. The decoder includes a mark area locator for locating a predetermined pattern of values in digital data, and an unmarker coupled to the mark area locator for examining the values to determine the state of each value and extract an embedded mark from the predetermined pattern of values.

Abstract: A method and system for brain tumor segmentation in multi-spectral 3D MRI images is disclosed. A trained probabilistic boosting tree (PBT) classifier is used to determine, for each voxel in a multi-spectral 3D MR image sequence, a probability that the voxel is part of a brain tumor. The brain tumor is then segmented in the multi-spectral 3D MRI image sequence using graph cuts segmentation based on the probabilities determined using the trained PBT classifier and intensities of the voxels in the multi-spectral 3D MR image sequence.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein include, among other things, a technique for calibrating the outputs of multiple sensors, such as CCD devices, that have overlapping fields of view and mapping the pixels of those outputs to the pixels of a display screen by means of a lookup table so that a user can see a selected field of view within the larger fields of view that are seen by the sensors.

Abstract: A processor unit that can be used in a handheld device and configured for anti-aliasing of a vector graphics image, and including a counter value calculator configured to calculate, for one edge at a time and pixel-by-pixel, counter values for each pixel in a rasterization direction, a counter value recorder configured to store the calculated counter values in an edge buffer, and a pixel coverage value calculator configured to calculate pixel coverage values based on the stored counter values. The calculated pixel coverage values can be utilized for anti-aliasing the vector graphics image, while rasterizing the vector graphics image.

Abstract: The invention is directed to counting techniques for counting biological agents on a biological growth plate or similar medium. In order to automate the counting of biological agents, a biological growth plate is inserted into a biological scanning unit. Upon insertion of the biological growth plate, the biological scanning unit generates an image of the plate. Then, the amount of biological agents that appear in the image, such as a number of bacteria colonies, can be counted or otherwise determined using image processing and analysis routines performed either by the scanning unit or an external computing device, such as a desktop computer, workstation or the like. A variety of counting rules are described herein that can be used to improve the accuracy of automated counts of biological agents on a biological growth plate.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus that compares a query image and a model image and provides support information for discriminating a subject of the model image from a subject of the query image is disclosed. The information processing apparatus includes: a feature point extracting unit extracting one or more feature points from the model image; a feature describing unit describing features of the one or more feature points extracted by the feature point extracting unit; and a discrimination capability value calculating unit generating correlation images among the features described by the feature describing unit, the extracted model image, and one or more other model images for the one or more feature points extracted by the feature point extracting unit, and calculating a discrimination capability value indicating the degree of contribution to discriminating the subject of the model image on the basis of the correlation images.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and method generate a vector expression by defining a direction and attribute of gradation of an image as a daub color of the vector expression for each divided contour line of a similar color region obtained from an input image, based on pixel values of plural sampling points inside each of the divided contour lines.

Abstract: A system and a method for automatic restoration of isotropic degradations of a digital image, based on receiving a blurred image by an image capture assembly, automatically finding proper step edge, calculating the PSF from the step edge, and restoring the blurred image by means of a processor, and with the option to display the resorted image by means of an output assembly.

Abstract: An image processing method is disclosed that is capable of efficient information extraction when embedding information in an image by using plural information embedding methods. The image processing method includes steps of embedding target information in the image by using one or more methods selected from plural information embedding methods; and embedding identification information in the image for identifying the selected one or more methods. The identification information is embedded in a method allowing an amount of the embedded information to be less than an amount of the embedded information in each of the selected one or more methods.

Abstract: A systems and methods for providing an image forming machine capable of monitoring the image quality of images that the image forming machine produces and detecting changes in the image quality. The monitoring system using statistical techniques to fit predetermined models to a measured image quality of time sequence of formed images. The predetermined models used to find current and predicted values of image quality and notifying a user or service provider when the image quality has changed.

Abstract: In a daytime and nighttime image recognizing method and apparatus, the method comprises predefining an air region and a terrestrial region for each image captured by a camera apparatus; inputting an image captured by the camera apparatus; calculating a lightness value histogram for the air region of the input image; and determining a lighting condition of a photo environment of the camera apparatus based on the lightness value histogram for the air region of the input image. The daytime and nighttime image recognizing method and apparatus are able to correctly recognize the lighting condition of the environment even if the air region in an image is obstructed by a background or there are no lane lines in an image. Moreover, when an erroneous recognition occurs for an individual image, the interference caused by the erroneous recognition can be precluded efficiently.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for processing images, in particular for determining the degree of blockiness in coded images. The invention comprises apparatus and methods for determining a degree of blockiness in a digital image comprising blocks each block comprising a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns of pixels each pixel having a value by performing the steps of: for each block determining an intra block measure in dependence upon the values of a set of pixels within said block; and determining said measure in dependence upon a plurality of said intra block measures corresponding to each block. Method and apparatus for generating a quality measure in dependence upon the measure of blockiness are also provided.

Abstract: There is provided a method and a system for registration of real time position of tennis ball relatively to boundary lines on tennis court. The method and system comprise sensitive to near-infrared radiation at least one video camera, outputting video image of court and the method and system further include at least one point source of near-infrared radiation, illuminating tennis court and displaced relatively to the video camera. It is suggested a simple and inexpensive way of determining if a tennis ball bounces in or out of court by determining point of intersection of trajectories of the tennis ball and its shade from near-infrared radiation and comparing the position of the determined point of intersection with previously calibrated boundary lines of court.

Abstract: Object detection in an image using an image processing approach in which the image is updated based on an energy function. In one aspect, the exemplary image update process attempts to homogenize each region by associating each pixel with a particular region such that the total level of energy for the image based on the pixel located in that region is minimized with respect to the energy function. For example, the method of object detection in an image having a plurality of pixels by image segmentation includes dividing the image into a plurality of regions; assigning each pixel to one of the plurality of regions based on a characteristic; performing an energy reduction on the image based on a region reassignment of at least one pixel; and producing an output image based on the energy reduction.

Abstract: Method and system for utilizing multiple phenomenological techniques to resolve closely spaced objects during imaging includes detecting a plurality of closely spaced objects through the imaging of a target area by an array, and spreading electromagnetic radiation received from the target area across several pixels. During the imaging, different phenomenological techniques may be applied to capture discriminating features that may affect a centroid of the electromagnetic radiation received on the array. Comparing the locations of the centroids over multiple images may be used to resolve a number of objects imaged by the array. Examples of such phenomenological discriminating techniques may include imaging the target area in multiple polarities of light or in multiple spectral bands of light. Another embodiment includes time-lapse imaging of the target area, to compare time lapse centroids for multiple movement signal characteristics over pluralities of pixels on the array.

Abstract: A method and a system for searching images with figures and a recording medium storing metadata of image are provided. The searching method is divided into an image analysis stage and an image search stage. In the image analysis stage, figures between images are compared with each other and assigned with an identity respectively. A representative image of each identity is then evaluated from the image collection. In the image search stage, the representative images are displayed for user to select some of them as a searching criterion, so as to search and display the images matching the searching criterion in the image collection. Accordingly, the images required by user can be found through intelligent analysis of figures, intuitive definition of searching criterion, and simple comparison of identities so that both time and effort of organization for searching images with figures can be substantially saved.

Abstract: A method of determining change in a state of an object using images of the object, the method including providing a first image and a second image of the object, the first image and the second image being spaced apart in time, performing a plurality of pixel-based change detection algorithms to obtain a plurality of output difference products/images containing change information and pseudo change information, combining the plurality of output difference products to form a hybrid output difference product and thresholding the output difference product to detect changes in the object.

Abstract: Corresponding points corresponding to each other between each of a plurality of images photographed from different positions are searched for. When a plurality of corresponding points is searched out in a second image of the plurality of images for one target pixel in a first image of the plurality of images, at least partial subject shape around the target pixel is calculated based on distance values of a plurality of pixels around the target pixel, then a target distance value, which is a distance value of the target pixel, is calculated with respect to each of the plurality of corresponding points based on the target pixel and each of the plurality of corresponding points, and a valid corresponding point is determined from the plurality of corresponding points having a smallest difference from the subject shape.

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: According to one aspect, a method for identifying an object in an image includes steps of determining a center of the object; calculating a radius for scanning the image; scanning along a scan circle defined by the center and the radius; and identifying the object according to scanned data of the image along the scan circle.

Abstract: To accurately discriminate a dot region within an image, the image processing apparatus includes first through fourth isolated dot discriminating portions each judging, for each of a plurality of pixels included in the image, whether the pixel corresponds to a center pixel of an isolated dot, an isolated dot size determining portion detecting an isolated dot size, a dot region discriminating portion judging whether a target pixel is included in a dot region based on a position of the pixel judged as being the center pixel of the isolated dot, and a dot region determining portion determining the dot region based on a position of the target pixel judged as being included in the dot region and the detected isolated dot size.

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 protection method for preventing a hard copy of a document from being released or reproduced is provided. The protection method comprises: selecting a pattern with a closed contour line and utilizing a level set method to process the pattern to generate at least a watermark; and embedding the watermark into the document. In addition, the protection method can further comprise: detecting the hard copy of the document to determine whether at least a watermark exists in the hard copy of the document; and forbidding releasing or reproducing the document when the watermark is detected in the hard copy of the document.

Abstract: A method, system and devices for optimizing and/or maximizing the perceived autostereoscopic effect for any chosen combination of photographic or electronic recording materials, recording methods and parameters, and imaging methods and parameters. The method first determines the parameters characterizing the optimum autostereoscopic effect of the combination materials etc. (the front pixel spread and the back pixel spread), then specifies how to apply these parameters to the arrangement of image acquisition devices, or the production of images by computational means, to produce a final image with optimal autostereoscopic properties. Features of the present invention provide for image acquisition either occurring in the real world (via digital or analog means) or within a computer graphic environment (or a blend of both), by way of specific methods necessary for successfully traveling through a variety of different mathematical spaces to arrive at a common space.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting fraudulent identification tags, such as Universal Product Codes (UPC) applied to goods to be purchased is disclosed. Images of the goods to be purchased and corresponding feature models are stored in a database. When a customer desires to purchase an item containing a UPC, a scanned image of the item about to be purchased may be acquired and a feature model of the scanned image may be created. The system may retrieve from the database the image and feature model previously stored for the item associated with the just-scanned UPC. A variety of image processing techniques may be used to compare the scanned and database images and/or the scanned and database feature models. In one embodiment, these image processing techniques may include determining a geometric transformation that maps the features of the scanned image onto the features of a database model.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for analyzing a series of images. A contour initializer establishes a plurality of initial contours from respective images within the series of images. A model initializer interconnects the plurality of initial contours into a surface model. A model refiner refines the plurality of initial contours by manipulating the surface model.

Abstract: A method of determining change in a state of an object using images of the object, the method including providing a first image and a second image of the object, the first image and the second image being spaced apart in time, performing a plurality of pixel-based change detection algorithms to obtain a plurality of output difference products/images containing change information and pseudo change information, combining the plurality of output difference products to form a hybrid output difference product and thresholding the output difference product to detect changes in the object.

Abstract: A pattern inspection apparatus includes a stage configured to mount thereon a target workpiece to be inspected where patterns are formed, at least one sensor configured to move relatively to the stage and capture optical images of the target workpiece to be inspected, a first comparing unit configured to compare first pixel data of an optical image captured by one of the at least one sensor with first reference data at a position corresponding to a position of the first pixel data, and a second comparing unit configured to compare second pixel data of an optical image captured by one of the at least one sensor at a position shifted by a sub-pixel unit from the position where the optical image of the first pixel data is captured, with second reference data at a position corresponding to the position of the second pixel data.

Abstract: An image processing system provides faster than real-time skin detection and localization. The system uses the highly optimized architecture of a graphics processing unit to quickly and efficiently detect and locate skin in an image. By performing skin detection and localization on the graphics processing unit, the image processing system frees the main system processor to perform other important tasks, including running general purpose applications. The speed with which the image processing system detects and localizes skin also facilitates subsequent processing steps such as face detection and motion tracking.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are related to systems and methods for determining the location of numerals in an electronic document image.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to systems and methods for refining text segmentation results. Non-text, line elements in a text map may be detected and removed from the text map. Pixels associated with vertical and/or horizontal lines may be identified in the text map based on a background-color constraint, a directional color constraint and a continuity constraint. Run counters and run-reset counters associated with a direction may be used to identify pixels meeting the continuity constraint.

Abstract: An improved method for cropping a main subject from a digital image is disclosed. A skin color map and face map are independently computed and then blended to produce a revised map. A region map is computed by segmenting the digital image into a plurality of regions. A main subject importance map is calculated from the revised map and the region map. The digital image is cropped based on the main subject map.

Abstract: A color interpolation method of an image sensor including a pixel array which green, red and blue pixels are arrayed in Bayer pattern is provided. The method includes: calculating a first average value of first values filtered by green pixels on even rows and a second average value of a second values filtered by green pixels on odd rows; comparing a value difference between the first average value and the second average value with a standard value; and performing one of a normal interpolation method and a compensation interpolation method with respect to the values filtered by the green pixels according to the comparison.