Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for capturing an image of a 3D object (100) which encodes the surface geometry of at least a portion of the object, comprising: 1. projecting (304) a plurality of fringe patterns (312A, 314A) onto the object; 2. capturing (306) phase alterations in reflections of the fringe patterns (312B, 314B) from the object; 3. projecting a uniform image (310A) onto the object; 4. capturing a reflection of the uniform image (310B) from the object; and 5. combining (310) captured phase alterations and captured uniform image reflection on a pixel-by-pixel basis, thereby forming a holoimage representation of the object.

Abstract: A storage unit stores three-dimensional shape information of a model for an object included in a first image. The information includes three-dimensional coordinates of feature points of the model. A feature point detection unit detects feature points from the first image. A correspondence calculation unit calculates a first motion matrix representing a correspondence relationship between the object and the model from the feature points of the first image and the feature points of the model. A normalized image generation unit generates a normalized image of a second image by corresponding the second image with the information. A synthesized image generation unit corresponds each pixel of the first image with each pixel of the normalized image by using the first motion matrix, and generates a synthesized image by blending a region of the object of the first image with corresponding pixels of the normalized image.

Abstract: In relation to a system which effects one-to-many authentication using biometric information; e.g.

Abstract: The methods and apparatuses determine contour points from image data and carried out a segmentation process on the basis of the contour points, during which associated contour points are combined to form objects for further processing.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for optimally viewing a non-square aspect ratio photo or video within a non-square aspect ratio display area of a screen. In addition, a system and a method are disclosed for positioning and storing a reference point (e.g., a relative center point) of an image within a display area of a screen. Further, in a slideshow configuration, a system and a method allows for transition between images using sound annotations associates with a particular image.

Abstract: A large number of stable local regions can be set with low calculation cost. In a face recognition apparatus which discriminates similar face images using feature amounts extracted from local regions included in an image to be discriminated, a moving destination of a feature point extracted from the image to be discriminated, and the size of an image to be clipped at the moving destination are calculated based on a table which defines information required to designate a moving destination of each feature point, and information required to designate the size of an image to be clipped at the moving destination, and an image with the calculated size is clipped at the calculated moving destination as the local region.

Abstract: A method for determining feature point locations in an image performs a first search in a predetermined first search area to search for locations of plural feature points in the image, corrects the locations of the plural feature points based on a geometric layout relationship among the plural feature points searched for, sets a second search area based on the corrected location of each of the feature points, and performs a second search in the second search area to search for the location of each of the feature points. Then, the method determines reliability of the location of each feature point searched for by the second search and selects one of the corrected location and the location searched for by the second search, as a location of the feature point.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus 100 according to embodiments of the present invention has an image input section 110 into which an image is input, and a feature point detecting section 120 which detects a feature point on the input image. The feature point detecting section 120 of the image processing apparatus has a primary differential value calculating section 122 which calculates a primary differential value of luminance on a peripheral area of a target pixel as any one pixel on the image, a secondary differential value calculating section 124 which calculates a secondary differential value with respect to the primary differential value, and a detecting section 126 which detects the feature point based on the primary differential value and the secondary differential value.

Abstract: An image analysis and conversion method and system. Bitmapped ink images are converted to structured object representations of the bitmapped images, which may be read and edited by a structured text/graphics editor. The structured object representations correlate to perceptually salient areas of the bitmapped images. The structured object representations are editable by the structured text/graphics editor to allow a user to generate alternative interpretations of the bitmapped images.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed include methods and systems for three dimensional connected component labeling, including determining a location value for each of one or more labels, each location value identifying a maximum “y” extent and a maximum “z” extent of an associated label region; storing each of the one or more labels that refer to areas subsumed in a determination of the maximum y extent in the maximum “z” extent as a yzMax location value; buffering in a frame buffer the one or more of labels; and providing access via a three-dimensional kernel to one or more values in a current line buffer and/or a current array and/or a previous array.

Abstract: A sewing machine includes an image pickup device that picks up over a sewing machine bed; a feature point coordinates calculation device that extracts feature points from the picked up image and calculates two-dimensional coordinates of the extracted feature points; a reference coordinates storage device that stores reference coordinates, which are previously measured three-dimensional coordinates of the feature points; a correlation device that correlates the reference coordinates stored in the reference coordinates storage device with the feature point coordinates, which are the two-dimensional coordinates of the feature points calculated by the feature point coordinates calculation device; and a parameter calculation device that calculates a parameter about the image pickup device based on a result of correlation by the correlation device.

Abstract: A mechanism for recognizing and inputting handwritten mathematical expressions into a computer by providing a part of a multi-path framework is described. The part of the multi-path framework includes a symbol grouping and recognition component that is designed to group input strokes that correspond to a handwritten mathematical expression into a symbol and to recognize the symbol based upon information associated with the grouped input strokes. A method for grouping and recognizing symbols of a handwritten mathematical expression includes receiving a plurality of input strokes corresponding to a handwritten mathematical expression, grouping the plurality of input strokes into symbols, recognizing the symbols based upon information, such as shape and time series information, associated with the grouped input strokes. Intra-group and inter-group information associated with the plurality of input strokes may be utilized to group the input strokes.

Abstract: A mechanism for recognizing and inputting handwritten mathematical expressions into a computer by providing part of a multi-path framework is described. The part of the multi-path framework includes a subscript/superscript analysis and character determination component that is designed to identify subscript and superscript elements. A method for analyzing a handwritten mathematical expression includes receiving a symbols corresponding to handwritten mathematical expression input strokes, identifying subscript and/or superscript structures, and determining a character for each symbol of the set. A graph of vertexes and edges may be created based upon the set of symbols and the graph may be searched to determine optimized candidates.

Abstract: A mechanism for recognizing and inputting handwritten mathematical expressions into a computer by providing a multi-path framework is described. The framework may include symbol grouping and recognition, tabular structure analysis, subordinate sub-expression analysis, subscript/superscript analysis and character determination, and semantic structure analysis components. A method for recognizing a handwritten mathematical expression includes receiving a plurality of input strokes corresponding to a handwritten mathematical expression and providing a candidate list of recognized candidate expressions based upon the input strokes. Input strokes are grouped into symbols, tabular structures are determined, dominant symbol candidates and subordinate symbols are determined, and subscript and superscript structures are determined.

Abstract: The described methods and systems provide for the representation and matching of video content, including spatio-temporal matching of different video sequences. A particular method of determining temporal correspondence between different sets of video data inputs the sets of video data and represents the video data as ordered sequences of visual nucleotides. Temporally corresponding subsets of video data are determined by aligning the sequences of visual nucleotides.

Abstract: A device comprises first frequency calculating means (142) for calculating a function value IDF(P) of the frequency of an index word in a document (d) to be examined in a group of documents (P) to be compared, second frequency calculating means (171) for calculating a function value IDF(S) of the frequency of the index word in a group of similar documents (S) similar to the document (d), coordinate transforming means (181) for transforming the position of each index word by conformal mapping on a coordinate system where the calculated function value IDF (P) goes on a first axis of the coordinate system and the calculated function value IDF(S) goes on a second axis, and output means (4) for outputting the index words and their positioning data according to the transformed coordinate data of the index words. With this, the character of the document is accurately expressed, or the tendency of the whole of the documents group to be examined can be analyzed.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises an inputting section for inputting a plurality of continuous images which were photographed by a photographing section progressively moving relative to a photographed object; an extracting section for extracting characteristic points from images input by the inputting section; a tracking section for tracking the points corresponding to the characteristic points in the plurality of continuous images; an embedding section for embedding tracking data, which includes data of extracted and tracked points by the extracting section and the tracking section, into each image; and an outputting section for outputting the plurality of continuous images sequentially in which the tracking data was embedded by the embedding section.

Abstract: Structural content filtration to reduce the number of hypotheses for the location of an active object in a recorded image generated by a graphical user interface (GUI) of an application program may be accomplished by transforming the recorded image and a corresponding playback image, determining a sub-image from the transformed recorded image which corresponds to an object to be searched for in the transformed playback image, determining a set of points on the transformed playback image which have appropriate values for matching the sub-image, and filtering hypotheses on the playback image which are more than a selected distance from any one of the subset of points.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a model image obtaining unit configured to obtain a plurality of model images; a model image feature quantity extracting unit configured to extract feature quantities of the model images obtained by the model image obtaining unit; a matching unit configured to perform matching on the feature quantities of the model images extracted by the model image feature quantity extracting unit; and an identifying feature point extracting unit configured to extract, as a result of the matching performed by the matching unit, feature points having a low correlation with a predetermined model image in similar model images that are the model images having a predetermined number or more of the feature quantities that match feature quantities of the predetermined model image, the extracted feature points being regarded as identifying feature points used for identification of the respective similar model images.

Abstract: A method determines a predicted image area for an image area, in which a temporal predictor for the image area is determined based on a reconstructed image that precedes said image, a local predictor for the image area is determined within a reconstructed image area of the image, a margin of error between the image area and the image area predicted image area is determined by the local predictor using the reconstructed image area and by the temporal predictor using one of the preceding images. A predicted image area can be reconstructed. Also disclosed are an establishing device for carrying out the method for determining a predicted image area as well as a reconstructing device for carrying out the reconstruction method.

Abstract: An image discrimination apparatus includes an inter-frame distance calculating unit 2 for calculating an inter-frame distance which is a distance between features from the feature of a current frame extracted by a feature extracting unit 1 and the feature of an immediately-preceding frame stored in a feature buffer 3, and a cut-point-determination data calculating unit 4 for calculating statistics values of inter-frame distances and calculating a threshold for determination of cut points from the statistics values. The image discrimination apparatus compares the inter-frame distance of the current frame with the threshold for determination of cut points to determine a cut point from the comparison result.

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 means extracting one or more feature points from the model image; a feature describing means describing features of the one or more feature points extracted by the feature point extracting means; and a discrimination capability value calculating means generating correlation images among the features described by the feature describing means, the extracted model image, and one or more other model images for the one or more feature points extracted by the feature point extracting means, 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: In an image matching apparatus of the present invention, only a connected region in which the number of pixels included therein exceeds a threshold value, among connected regions that are specified by a labeling process section, is sent to a centroid calculation process section from a threshold value processing section, and a centroid (feature point) of the connected region is calculated. When it is determined that a target document to be matched is an N-up document, the threshold value processing section uses, instead of a default threshold value, a variant threshold value that varies depending on the number of images laid out on the N-up document and a document size that are found and detected by an N-up document determination section and a document size detection section. This makes it possible to determine a similarity to a reference document with high accuracy even in a case of an N-up document, i.e., a case where each target image to be matched is reduced in size from an original image.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing apparatus capable of preventing deterioration of judgment accuracy when performing document matching process. To be more specific, when selecting feature points in the neighborhood of a target feature point, a predetermined number of feature points are selected after excluding a prespecified number of feature points in turn from the feature point nearest to the target feature point. For example, when the plurality of feature points are selected, the plurality of feature points, after excluding at least a feature point existing at a position nearest to the target feature point, are selected. Thereby, without increasing the amount of feature points for calculation of features (feature vectors), it is possible to prevent the deterioration of judgment accuracy.

Abstract: Document data corresponding to each page included in a document is stored, and furthermore, feature data indicative of a feature of the document data and a document index indicating the document are associated with the document data. A document extracting apparatus obtains input document data, calculates feature data from the input document data, judges similarity between the input document data and the document data based on the feature data, obtains a document index associated with document data similar to the input document data, and extracts a plurality of pieces of document data associated with the document index. Thus, document data concerning the document including a page corresponding to the document data similar to the input document data is extracted for a plurality of pages.

Abstract: The apparatus (1) comprises an input (2) for receiving a suitable source image data of an object. The core of the apparatus (1) is formed by a control unit (4) which is arranged to load image data from the input (2) and determine a spatial position and orientation of a portion of the object and to automatically calculate actual parameters (4a) of the imaging geometry based on said position and orientation and using default parameters if the imaging geometry, selected by the control unit (4) in accordance with the portion of the object. The apparatus (1) further comprises a storage unit (8) arranged to store at least one set of default parameters of the imaging geometry, which may be representative of an imaging protocol. The working memory (6) typically holds the (parts of) image data being processed and the instructions for the suitable image processing means used for processing those parts of the image data.

Abstract: A set of source points that represent a stroke input of a user is identified. The set of source points may be refined and/or modified. The set of refined/modified source points may then be stored in memory for decoding and recreation of a stroke representation. Additionally, one or both of refining and modifying the source points may be performed through one or more upsampling processes.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying an image based on singular value decomposition is provided. The system includes: a feature point extracting module for extracting at least one of feature points from an input image using strength of a Gaussian curvature of each pixel from the input image; an identifier detecting module for detecting a local identifier based on SVD (singular value decomposition) for blocks adjacent to the extracted feature points; and a matching module for determining whether an image is duplicated or not by comparing the detected local identifier from the identifier detecting module with an image database storing at least one of images.

Abstract: A technique that improves image analysis efficiency by reducing the number of computations needed to detect constant regions. Constant region detection according to the present techniques includes determining whether an image analysis window at a current position contains a constant region by analyzing a new line of pixels in the image analysis window if a pixel at a predetermined location in the image analysis window in the current position has a value equal to a pixel at the predetermined location from a previous position of the image analysis window. Analyzing only the new line of pixels saves the computational time that would otherwise go into analyzing all of the pixels in the image analysis window.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer-readable mediums for recognizing or identifying the location of characters within a computer image or display are provided. These methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable mediums make use of dynamic link libraries (“DLLs”) and application program interfaces (“APIs”) to locate, indicate the state of, and return the coordinates of specified characters or text within an image or display. The returned state and coordinates of the characters may also be used in conjunction with automated testing programs to assist the programs in delivering precise instructions to computer programs being tested. Further, the methods and computer-readable mediums make use of one or more operating system independent video and input/output redirection devices that allow remote control of a computer system from any network-connected location.

Abstract: A product for electronic transmission of handwritten information, a user unit for recording and sending the information, and a computer program for controlling a user unit are disclosed. The product may include at least one writing area for the handwritten information and an address area indicating an address to which the handwritten information is to be sent. A position-coding pattern in the form of a plurality of symbols may be reproduced in the writing area, an arbitrary position area of a predetermined size of the position-coding pattern unambiguously defining a position on the product. The address area may include an address-coding pattern with a plurality of symbols, an arbitrary address portion of a predetermined size of the address-coding pattern unambiguously defining part of the address.

Abstract: A method of representing motion of an object appearing in a sequence of images comprises deriving for each image a set of representative points representing the location of the object, deriving an approximate function representing the trajectory of a representative point in two or more of said sequence of images, and calculating an error value for said approximate function for the representative point for an image, characterised in that the error value is based on the difference between the area of the object as represented by the representative point and the area of the object with the representative point replaced by the respective approximate function value.

Abstract: The present invention describes a process for enhancing optical recognition of text in scanned documents. Prior to performing optical recognition for identification of text in scanned documents, a preprocessing algorithm identifies locations of noncontiguity in character strokes. The gaps created by noncontiguous character strokes are selectively filled with non-white or black pixels for enhanced character recognition. The process may assess noncontiguity on a bit-by-bit basis or, to reduce the number of operations, on a byte-by-byte basis.

Abstract: Mean shift is a nonparametric estimator of density which has been applied to image and video segmentation. Traditional mean shift based segmentation uses a radially symmetric kernel to estimate local density, which is not optimal in view of the often structured nature of image and more particularly video data. The system and method of the invention employs an anisotropic kernel mean shift in which the shape, scale, and orientation of the kernels adapt to the local structure of the image or video. The anisotropic kernel is decomposed to provide handles for modifying the segmentation based on simple heuristics. Experimental results show that the anisotropic kernel mean shift outperforms the original mean shift on image and video segmentation in the following aspects: 1) it gets better results on general images and video in a smoothness sense; 2) the segmented results are more consistent with human visual saliency; and 3) the system and method is robust to initial parameters.

Abstract: In a pattern recognition section of a digital color copying machine, a position analysis section successively selects, in units of a predetermined number, position data of rectangular regions stored in a position information memory, calculates distances between the rectangular regions, and determines whether a combination of the distances coincides with that of a pattern to be detected. If the combination of distances coincides with that of the pattern to be detected, the position analysis section outputs to a rear-stage page memory a control signal for resetting the page memory.

Abstract: Disclosed is a coordinate measuring apparatus for measuring distortion and or dimensional variations in one or more planar substrates. In one aspect, the coordinate measuring apparatus comprises a base assembly comprising a base plate having a top surface configured to receive the planar substrate; and a multi-dimensional array of image capturing devices, each image capturing device having a field of view and being positioned in a plane parallel to and in overlying registration with at least a portion of the top surface of the base plate. The plurality of image capturing devices are oriented perpendicular to the plane of the multi-dimensional array such that the field of view of each image capturing device can capture at least a portion of the top surface of the base plate. Further, each of the plurality of image capturing devices can be selectively positioned at predetermined coordinates defined within the plane of the multi-dimensional array.

Abstract: An electronic image evaluating device includes at least one area sensor that is provided with a plurality of photosensitive pixels. Each of these pixels will emit an electric output signal in response to the light input signal that it receives. The intensity of the electric output signal correlates with the light input signal. This electric output signal is evaluated in an evaluation unit as image information. The pixels of the area sensor can be controlled and evaluated individually, or in groups. Any sector of the maximum monitorable scanning area can be selectively evaluated.

Abstract: An measurement processing apparatus for efficiently measuring geometric data of an image is provided. A reference-image outputting means forms a reference-image based on an image that has been previously measured as well as a setting order data which indicates a suggestion as to the order in which the measuring points should be set and which shows the same setting order in which the measuring points were set for a previously performed measurement of a past-measurement image, and outputs the reference-image and the setting order data to an image display means. While consulting the reference-image and the setting order data displayed on the image display means, an operator can set, by use of a measuring point setting means, the measuring points at the correct positions and in the correct order in the subject image displayed on a display screen, and the geometrical data can be measured automatically and efficiently.

Abstract: An image interpolation method interpolating image information of a point in a space constructed by a plurality of planes. According to the method, a reliable interpolated value can be rapidly obtained by searching for the nearest plane to the point, obtaining information about a plane facing the nearest plane using image information of one or more vertices of the plane facing the nearest plane, and interpolating the image information of the point using the image information of the one or more vertices of the nearest plane and the obtained information about the plane facing the nearest plane.

Abstract: Methods and systems for estimating a pose of a subject. The subject can be a human, an animal, a robot, or the like. A camera receives depth information associated with a subject, a pose estimation module to determine a pose or action of the subject from images, and an interaction module to output a response to the perceived pose or action. The pose estimation module separates portions of the image containing the subject into classified and unclassified portions. The portions can be segmented using k-means clustering. The classified portions can be known objects, such as a head and a torso, that are tracked across the images. The unclassified portions are swept across an x and y axis to identify local minimums and local maximums. The critical points are derived from the local minimums and local maximums. Potential joint sections are identified by connecting various critical points, and the joint sections having sufficient probability of corresponding to an object on the subject are selected.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing method, an image processing apparatus and an image processing program for dealing with inverted characters (outlined characters) constituted by white pixels on a black ground in a tree structure same as that of normal characters constituted by black pixels on a white ground. In the present invention, black pixel blocks and white pixel blocks are sampled recursively from a binary image, tree structure data indicating a positional relation between the sampled black pixel blocks and white pixel blocks is created, an inverted image is created by white-black-inverting the insides of black pixel blocks that can include inverted characters, of black pixel blocks included in the tree structure data, white pixel blocks and black pixel blacks are sampled from the created inverted image, and data regarding the sampled white pixel blocks and black pixel blocs is added to corresponding nodes of the tree structure data.

Abstract: An exemplary system for filtering point clouds is disclosed. The system includes at least one client computer (5), a point cloud collecting device (6) and an application server (7) configured between the client computer and the point cloud collecting device. The application server includes a converging module configured for converging a plurality of point clouds produced by scanning a physical object, simulating a digitalized figure based on the plurality of point clouds, and displaying the digitalized figure on a display of the client computer; a filtering module configured for filtering redundant points in the point clouds to obtain a merged point cloud without any redundant points; and a storing module configured for storing the merged point cloud in the application server. A related method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for tracking camera pose using dynamically calibrated line features for augmented reality applications are disclosed. The dynamic calibration of the line features affords an expanded tracking range within the real environment and into adjacent, un-calibrated areas. Line features within a real environment are modeled with a minimal representation, such that they can be efficiently dynamically calibrated as a camera pose changes within the environment. A known camera pose is used to initialize line feature calibration within the real environment. Parameters of dynamically calibrated line features are also used to calculate camera pose. The tracking of camera pose through a real environment allows insertion of virtual objects into the real environment without dependencies on pre-calibrated landmarks.

Abstract: A background subtraction apparatus of the present invention includes a key point locator for locating key points on a known object type, a boundary point locator for locating boundary points of the known object that make up the edges of the known object, and an edge processor for processing the edges to provide a clean-edged extraction of the known object from a background image. Preferably, the key point locator includes an alignment detector for detecting alignment of an image of the known object type with a skeleton image. Still more preferably, the skeleton image is an exoskeleton image and the known object type is a human being.

Abstract: A method for implementing a navigation key function in a mobile communication terminal using fingerprint-recognition. The mobile communication terminal includes a fingerprint-recognition sensor divided into a plurality of image detection blocks. The method comprises recognizing a fingerprint over at least one of the plurality of image detection blocks, obtaining a directional characteristic corresponding to a direction indicated by the at least one of the plurality of image detection blocks that has recognized the fingerprint, and then determining a directional value based on the obtained directional characteristic to perform a corresponding directional process.

Abstract: A user gives, as input, two curves at a start time and at an end time and reference correspondence points with respect to the respective curves. Then, a pursuit operation of pursuing a reference correspondence point is carried out with respect to picture images successive in the time axis direction. As a result, positions of reference correspondence points at respective intermediate stages can be determined. Then, interpolation of the shape is carried out. Then, the determined interpolated shape is deformed in correspondence with the determined reference correspondence point. Accordingly, even in the case where a contour shape does not linearly move, it is possible to precisely pursue correspondence points on the contour. Thus, a contour shape with higher precision can be prepared.

Abstract: In a measurement processing apparatus for measuring a geometric feature of an object image: a measurement-reference-element setting unit automatically sets at least one first measurement reference element for use in measurement of the geometric feature of the object image, at at least one first position on the object image based on first image data representing the object image and position information indicating at least one second position of at least one second measurement reference element which is set on a measurement reference image corresponding to the object image; and a geometric-feature measurement unit measures the geometric feature of the object image based on the at least one first position of the at least one first measurement reference element.

Abstract: A process for detection of straight-line segments in a stream of digital data that are representative of an image (m, n) in which the contour points of said image each defined by the modulus and the orientation ? of their gradient in relation to a horizontal axis are identified. The stream of digital data is stored in the form of two successive lines, each of n points P(i, j), for each of the lines the n points of said line are extracted successively, and for each point Pc(i, j) extracted, the so-called current point, the three points having inferior coordinates Pa(i?1, j?1), Pb(i, j?1), Pd(i?1, j) directly neighboring said current point are extracted, successively the value of the orientation of the current point Pc is compared with that of the neighboring points Pa, Pb and Pd. The values of the orientations of the points Pb and Pd are compared, the result of a comparison is validated if the points are contour points and if the values of their orientation are close.

Abstract: The present invention provides easy operations of moving, rotating, magnifying, and reducing images displayed on a display screen attached to a computer by employing a selecting means. The selecting means having a function to communicate the computer via wireless means, which execute the following procedures to attains the objective of the present invention: detecting a relative position and a posture (a gradient) of itself, displaying the image on the screen in accordance with the moved position and the gradient, selecting the image displayed on the display attached to the computer and outputting (such as printing, etc.) the selected image.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of discriminating between textual content and graphical content. The method includes the steps of receiving a plurality of pixel values for a pixel line segment, calculating a plurality of spatial gradients based on the pixel values of adjacent pixels, determining a smoothness index by processing the plurality of spatial gradients, and identifying the pixel line segment as text or graphics by comparing the smoothness index to a threshold value.