Abstract: A correction-coefficient calculating unit calculates a correction coefficient to correct misalignment between a first print image and a second print image. A correcting unit corrects the first print image based on the correction coefficient to obtain a corrected first image. A pixel-value determining unit assigns a pixel value based on pixel-value matching state at corresponding positions in the corrected first image and the second print image. An image generating unit generates a misalignment display image from the corrected first image and the second print image that is assigned a predetermined pixel value. An output unit that outputs the misalignment display image.

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: Method and sequence for locating anomalous features in medical images in which medical images are supplied by an external source such as a CAT or XRAY scan machine or other similar device. A sequence of specific measurements is executed on the supplied data to obtain metrics relating to the images. The metrics are then compared to the corresponding values in an accompanying database resulting in an anomalous/not anomalous determination. Anomalous determinations are presented to the test operator for final analysis along with supplemental historical data. In application to all types of medical imagery, potential anomalies are quickly located resulting in an efficient and more accurate diagnosis.

Abstract: Interactive display and rendering device, system and method for wine bottles. are disclosed. An interactive wine management and display device and method using a scanning instrument capable of scanning information regarding a bottle of wine; an imaging instrument capable of collecting an image of at least a portion of a bottle of wine; a connection to a wine database containing information regarding wines; a connection to a database having images of wine bottles. The device is able to render the images as well as information on the wine to a display for user interaction.

Abstract: Registration and classification of non-textual information, such as digital images and video is described. Image searching and comparison of the images is also described. The digital images are indexed (i.e., each image is assigned a unique numerical parameter and/or a plurality of numerical parameters). The resulting index files are stored in a database that can be quickly searched because the index files are universal numerical files that are significantly smaller in size than their source images. Image search queries are also indexed to generate an index file, which is then compared with the stored index files. A similarity score is also calculated to rank the similar images based on the index file-to-index file comparison.

Abstract: A method for compensating time difference between images and electronic apparatus using the same method are provided. Input images are received by a plurality of image capturing units respectively. Each input image is checked to see whether a reference area and a reference area background are the same. When the reference area of the input image received from one of the image capturing units is not the same as the reference area background, a compensation image number is accumulated, and other input images are received continually until the reference area of each input image received from the image capturing unit is not the same as the reference area background. Afterwards, time difference between the input images received from a plurality of image capturing units is compensated according to the compensation image numbers.

Abstract: A method for identifying siding includes receiving particular texture data associated with a physical texture of a particular siding sample, accessing a reference database including reference texture data associated with physical texture of multiple different reference siding samples, performing an automated texture data analysis by analyzing the particular texture data associated with the particular siding sample and the reference texture data associated with different reference siding samples, and automatically identifying at least one reference siding sample that matches the particular siding sample based at least on the automated texture data analysis. The particular texture data associated with the physical texture of the particular siding sample may comprise a digital image, such as a photographic or scanned image of the particular siding sample, or a photographic or scanned image of an ink image physically transferred from the particular siding sample onto a substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting tampering with an image capturing device. The method includes determining a change has occurred in average intensity if an image, determining a percentage area of a foreground mask, detecting related at least one edge and determining at least one edge weight, utilizing the average intensity, the percentage area of the foreground mask, and the at least one edge weight to determining offset of edge blocks of an image, and utilizing the determining offset of edge blocks to detect tampering with an image capturing device.

Abstract: Disclosed are an image processing apparatus and an image processing method for producing a three-dimensional image frame. The image processing method includes: applying an offset value to an object abstracted from a two-dimensional image frame; obtaining image information corresponding to a distorted area from another image frame; and compensating the distorted area with the obtained image information, with respect to the distorted area of the image information in the two-dimensional image frame by the offset value.

Abstract: A pattern identification apparatus computes, for each of multiple data elements in input information stored in an array, an accumulated information value corresponding to the position of the data element in the array, writes each of the computed accumulated information values into one of multiple storage units provided in advance, based on the positions of the corresponding data elements in the array, reads out, in parallel and one each from the storage units, the accumulated information values decided based on the positions in the array that corresponds to a local area, the local area being an area within an area of interest in the input information, calculates a feature amount of the local area using the accumulated information values read out from the storage units, and determines whether or not a predetermined pattern is present in the area of interest by comparing the calculated feature amount with pre-set dictionary data.

Abstract: A difference detecting apparatus include: an image receiving unit that receives at least one or more first images and at least one or more second images; and an exception region acquiring unit that acquires (i) first exception regions that include non-background-color pixels of a first common image, (ii) second exception regions that include non-background-color pixels of a second common image, or (iii) both of the first exception regions and the second exception regions. The difference detecting apparatus includes a first difference detecting unit that detects differences between a first image of attention which is at least one of the first images and a second image of attention which is one of the second images corresponding to the first image of attention except for the first exception regions, the second exception regions, or a union or product of sets of the first exception regions and the second exception regions.

Abstract: Dot templates are used for detecting objects within images. A computer-implemented method is performed for each of a number of dot templates corresponding to the object to be detected within an image. Each dot template is defined as a collection of points. At each position within the image, a value of the image is determined at each point of the dot template. The dot template is effectively overlaid at the given position within the image. A score of the dot template at this position is determined, based on the values of the image determined at the points of the dot template. Where the score is greater than a predetermined threshold, it can be concluded that the object is at least potentially located within the image at the position in question at which the dot template has been effectively overlaid.

Abstract: Image group feature information indicating features of an image group composed of a plurality of images is calculated for each image group and, based on the calculated image group feature information and information indicating features of events into which image groups are to be classified, images are classified by image group.

Abstract: This invention provides an instantaneous method for a user or traveler to obtain a meaning of a symbol that is unfamiliar to said user. The symbol is captured in a format that is easily transmitted to a remote database server. Together with the symbol, the GPS coordinates of the location of the symbol must be sent to the server. The server performs an image matching search, and then uses the location information (GPS) to resolve multiple matches and to determine the meaning of the symbol and instantaneously transmits in the language of their choice the meaning to the user requesting the search.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method for comparing information contained on at least two documents belonging to an entity. The present invention includes at least one device configured to receive information from at least one first document and at least one second document; then, compare at least one first document information and at least one second document information; and determine whether at least one second document contains at least one first document information. The present invention then outputs a result of whether the at least one second document contains at least one first document information.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for protection of various items against counterfeiting using physical unclonable features of item microstructure images. The protection is based on the proposed identification and authentication protocols coupled with portable devices. In both cases a special transform is applied to data that provides a unique representation in the secure key-dependent domain of reduced dimensionality that also simultaneously resolves performance-security-complexity and memory storage requirement trade-offs. The enrolled database needed for the identification can be stored in the public domain without any risk to be used by the counterfeiters. Additionally, it can be easily transportable to various portable devices due to its small size. Notably, the proposed transformations are chosen in such a way to guarantee the best possible performance in terms of identification accuracy with respect to the identification in the raw data domain.

Abstract: Systems and methods for scoring similarity count a number of matching visual words between a query image and a candidate image, generate an image similarity score for the query image and the candidate image based at least in part on the number of matching visual words, and generate a normalized image similarity score based at least in part on the image similarity score and one or more of a complexity of the query image and a complexity of the candidate image.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for testing visual elements in a rendered web page. The method includes defining a gold image at a first point within a web application, taking a screen shot of an actual image at the first point during execution of the web application, and comparing the gold image to the actual image and generating a difference image based on the comparison. The difference image may include a first region highlighting a first difference between the gold image and the actual image within an area common to both images, and a second region highlighting a second difference between the gold image and the actual image which is not within an area common to both images.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for expense management are disclosed. A user may submit receipts for one or more transactions into an expense management system. The expense management system may extract information from the receipts and match the extracted information to one or more of a plurality of Records of Charge (ROCs). The expense management system may match the extracted information to a ROC based on vendor name, location, time stamp, and the like. The expense management system may further assign a ROC to an expense category. The expense management system may assign a ROC to an expense category based on a standard industrial classification (SIC) code of a merchant, a category assigned to a different ROC, and a location associated with the ROC. An expense report for all submitted receipts may be generated.

Abstract: A method may comprise identifying a field of a digital document as containing information related to an order. The method may include deconstructing the field into a character string. The method may include comparing the character string with a set of regularized purchase-related expressions, thereby parsing the character string. The method may include extracting order information from the character string if the character string meets a condition of the one regularized purchase-related expression, and providing the extracted order information. Also disclosed are related systems.

Abstract: A biometric information processing device includes, a biometric sensor configured to acquire a plurality of different biometric information elements; an authentication feature extracting unit configured to extract an authentication feature for use in authentication for each of the plurality of different biometric information elements acquired by the biometric sensor; a supplemental feature extracting unit configured to extract a supplemental feature relating to the authentication feature for each of the plurality of different biometric information elements; and a combined feature extracting unit configured to extract a combined feature in which a plurality of the supplemental features extracted by the supplemental feature extracting unit are reflected.

Abstract: A printer with integral scanner obtains a digital signature from an article as it is printed. The integral scanner has a coherent source which directs a light beam to illuminate the article and a detector arrangement to collect data points from light scattered from many different parts of the article to collect a large number of independent data points. The digital signature derived from the data points is stored in a database with an image of what was printed on the article. The authenticity of an article purported to be the originally printed article can be verified by scanning the purported genuine article to obtain its digital signature. The database is then searched, to establish whether there is a match. If a match is found, the image is displayed with the matched digital signature to allow a further visual check that the article is genuine.

Abstract: A component presence/absence judging apparatus judges the presence/absence of components through a registration step and an inspection step. The registration step includes an ante-mounting feature acquisition step, a post-mounting feature acquisition step and a classifier configuration step. At the ante-mounting and post-mounting feature acquisition steps, ante-mounting features and post-mounting features are respectively acquired from an ante-mounting image and a post-mounting image taken at each of predetermined places on an ante-mounting board and a post-mounting board. At the classifier configuration step, a classifier is configured by registering the ante-mounting features and the post-mounting features as training data to a support vector machine.

Abstract: In a magnetic resonance method and apparatus to determine an examination image data set describing the temperature distribution within an examination subject (in particular a patient) using magnetic resonance an absolute temperature image data set of an examination region of the subject is acquired by magnetic resonance temperature imaging, a normal temperature data set of the examination region is determined, and the examination image data set is determined in a computerized processor by a comparison of the absolute temperature image data set with the normal temperature data set.

Abstract: A method and a system for resolution conversion of Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) content in an image are provided. The method is implemented in a computer system comprising one or more processors configured to execute one or more computer program modules. The method includes receiving image data of the image, the image data having a plurality of image planes in which one plane is a MICR image plane, wherein the plurality of image planes have essentially the same resolution; and converting the resolution of the MICR image plane to a resolution of a MICR print engine different from the remaining image planes.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a device based on computer vision. Embodiments of the system and method of the invention are based on receiving a sequence of images of a field of view; detecting movement of at least one object in the images; applying a shape recognition algorithm on the at least one moving object; confirming that the object is a user hand by combining information from at least two images of the object; and tracking the object to control the device.

Abstract: Disclosed are a form template definition method and a form template definition apparatus. The form template definition method comprises a cell extraction step of analyzing an image of a form so as to extract one or more cells from the image of the form; a cell classification step of classifying the extracted cells; and a cell attribute definition step of defining attributes of the extracted cells class by class. If an attribute of a first cell in one class is defined, then other cells in the class automatically copy the attribute of the first cell. As a result, the work amount of form template definition may be dramatically reduced by employing the form template definition method and form template definition apparatus.

Abstract: An image processing device is provided. The image processing device includes a weighted low-pass filter which performs weighted low-pass filtering on illumination of sub-sampled pixel signals, and an illumination interpolation circuit which compares illumination of the weighted low-pass filtered pixel signals with illumination of current pixel signals and performs interpolation while applying a weight to illumination of the weighted low-pass filtered pixel signals according to the comparison result.

Abstract: An image filtering method and apparatus that filter a block of a plane area by using a pseudo-random filter are provided, whereby artifacts generated in image encoding and decoding procedures are removed, the method including: determining a similarity between pixel values of a the first block; and generating a second block by selectively applying a pseudo-random filter on the first block according to a result of based on the determining the determined similarity.

Abstract: Content signal recognition is based on a multi-axis filtering of the content signal. The signatures are calculated, formed into data structures and organized in a database for quick searching and matching operations used in content recognition. For content recognition, signals are sampled and transformed into signatures using the multi axis filter. The database is searched to recognize the signals as part of a content item in the database. Using the content identification, content metadata is retrieved and provided for a variety of applications. In one application, the metadata is provided in response to a content identification request.

Abstract: A method for detecting orientation of the contours in an image, performs an initial transformation of the image using a non-decimated multi-resolution transform, segments the image into a plurality of blocks, determines the optimal resolution for each block, and detects the predominant direction of contour for each of the blocks.

Abstract: An information processing system assigns a comment to a specific region of an image, and calculates a total value of evaluation scores based on assigned comments for each image as an evaluation value of that image.

Abstract: A method for determining an estimated clutter level of an input digital image based on an inequality index. The inequality index is determined by analyzing the input digital image to determine a set of image features. The image features are associated with a set of designated reference features, and the inequality index is determined based on the statistical variation of the reference features. A set of scene content features relating to spatial structures or semantic content of the input digital image is determined by analyzing the input digital image. The estimated clutter is determined responsive to the inequality index and the scene content features.

Abstract: There is provided a moving image processing apparatus, including a similarity determination unit configured to determine a degree of similarity between a subsequent cut and first and second cut groups based on feature amounts generated from extraction images of the first cut group included in a moving image and feature amounts generated from extraction images of the second cut group included in the moving image, a cut grouping unit configured to group the subsequent cut into a similar cut group similar to the subsequent cut, which is one of the first and second cut groups, when the subsequent cut is similar to the first or second cut group, and group the subsequent cut into a third cut group when the subsequent cut is not similar to either of the first and second cut groups, a feature amount generation unit configured to compare extraction images extracted from the third cut group with the extraction images extracted from the first and second cut groups when the subsequent cut is not similar to either of the

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying a media item. The apparatus includes a module for receiving media items and capturing an image of a received media item. The method involves ascertaining external dimensions of the media item from the captured image; creating a monochromatic image based on high contrast boundaries within the captured image; matching the monochromatic image to one of a plurality of templates of media items of approximately the same external dimensions as the media item; and providing details of the matched template, including type and orientation of the media item corresponding to the matched template.

Abstract: A building change detection apparatus detects a change in a building in a predetermined area on a map between a first time point and a second time point later than the first time point. A first image data acquiring unit acquires first image data of the predetermined area photographed at the first time point. A second image data acquiring unit acquires second image data of the predetermined area photographed at the second time point. A feature change detecting unit compares the first image data with the second image data to detect changes in features including a building in the predetermined area. A building absent area specifying unit specifies a building absent area in the predetermined area where a building is not present.

Abstract: A regression testing system comprises an automatic test tool configured to capture a first web screen shot and a second web screen shot of a webpage, where the webpage has undergone an update or edit. The regression testing system also comprises a visual comparator configured to identify similar areas in the first web screen shot and the second web screen shot. The visual comparator receives, and compares characteristics of, the web screen shots. Furthermore, the regression testing system generates a report with marked different characteristics between the first and second web screen shots. The regression testing system identifies similar areas in the first and second web screen shots shot even if the similar areas are at different locations within the web screen shots. The comparison performed by the visual comparator includes performing a pixel comparison combined with a marking algorithm to group differences in smaller, related but separate areas.

Abstract: This invention provides an instantaneous method for a user or traveler to obtain a meaning of a symbol that is unfamiliar to said user. The symbol is captured in a format that is easily transmitted to a remote database server. Together with the symbol, the GPS coordinates of the location of the symbol must be sent to the server. The server performs an image matching search, and then uses the location information (GPS) to resolve multiple matches and to determine the meaning of the symbol and instantaneously transmits in the language of their choice the meaning to the user requesting the search.

Abstract: A packet is compared to a pattern defined by a regular expression with back-references (backref-regex) in a single pass of a non-deterministic finite automaton corresponding to the backref-regex (backref-NFA) that includes representations for all backref-regex's back-references. The packet's characters are sequentially selected and analyzed against the backref-NFA until a match or no-match between the packet and pattern is determined. Upon selecting a character, a corresponding configurations-set is updated, where the set includes configurations associated with respective NFA-states of the backref-NFA and indicating whether the selected character is being matched against a back-reference. With the configurations-set being updated the comparison process proceeds along backref-NFA's NFA-states. The updated configurations-set includes configurations associated with NFA-states reachable from the configurations in the pre-updated set. When the configurations-set includes a final state, a match is determined.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, the image processing apparatus includes a printing control unit, an image reading unit, an extracting unit, a difference image extracting unit, and a determination unit. The printing control unit controls printing of a plurality of pages on one sheet of paper according to a print setting information which indicates a printing form, and printing of a code indicating the print setting information on the paper. The image reading unit read the paper. The extracting unit extracts the code from the read image. The difference image extracting unit extracts a difference image between the printed image and the read image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus including: an edge detection processing section configured to generate an edge image by performing edge detection processing on a detection target image from which a target object is to be detected; a segment area setting section configured to segmentalize the edge image into a plurality of segment areas; an index value calculation section configured to calculate, for each of the plurality of segment areas, an edge component index value that indicates an amount of edge components included in each segment area; and a target object determining section configured to determine whether there is an image of the target object in each segment area based on the edge component index value.

Abstract: Organization of electronic images. Objects within an image are identified by analyzing search results responsive to a search employing search criteria and at least one image associated with the objects to be identified. Images are sorted responsive to the identified objects and sort criteria related to the identified objects. Images containing identified objects, including sorted images, are presented.

Abstract: Organization of electronic images. Objects within an image are identified by analyzing search results responsive to a search employing search criteria and at least one image associated with the objects to be identified. Images are sorted responsive to the identified objects and sort criteria related to the identified objects. Images containing identified objects, including sorted images, are presented.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments disclosed herein, there are provided systems, apparatuses, and methods for implementing an interactive visual advertisement service as described herein. For example, in one embodiment, such means may include means for transmitting a message for display on an electronic visual display device in which the message includes a requested action to be performed by a user; means for receiving a sequence of electronic images of a performed action having been performed by the user subsequent to transmitting the message for display; means for evaluating the sequence of electronic images of the performed action by the user to determine whether the performed action by the user substantially matches the requested action of the message; and means for transmitting a notification for display on the electronic visual display device when the performed action by the user substantially matches the requested action of the message.

Abstract: A computerized method determines similarities between a first image and a second image. The first image is converted into a first grayscale image, and the second image is converted into a second grayscale image, where a number of pixels of the second image is not less than a number of pixels of the first image. Each pixel of the first grayscale image is matched with a pixel of the second grayscale image to create a pixel pair sequence. A similarity value indicating the similarities between the first image and the second image is calculated according to the grayscale value of each pixel in the pixel pair sequence S.

Abstract: Attributes of a graphical element are compared to attributes of one or more groups of graphical elements. Responsive to identifying a similarity between the graphical element and a group of graphical elements among the one or more groups, the graphical element is added to the group of graphical elements. The adding enables editing operations performed with respect to the group of graphical elements to result in changes to the graphical element.

Abstract: A feature amount acquisition unit divides input image data into blocks each including a plurality of pixels and acquires the feature amounts of the blocks. A first detection unit detects a pair of two blocks whose feature amounts are approximate to each other and extract a first aggregate area in which one block of each of the pairs gathers and a second aggregate area in which the other block of each of the pairs gathers from the input image data. A second detection unit performs additional detection of adding a block adjacent to the first aggregate area to the first aggregate area, and adding a block adjacent to the second aggregate area to the second aggregate area.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a device based on computer vision. Embodiments of the system and method of the invention are based on receiving a sequence of images of a field of view; detecting movement of at least one object in the images; applying a shape recognition algorithm on the at least one moving object; confirming that the object is a user hand by combining information from at least two images of the object; and tracking the object to control the device.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a transporter transporting a document to a reading position, a first corrector correcting a skew of the document by coming into contact with a leading edge thereof, a radiating unit radiating light to the document, an image-information acquiring unit acquiring image information of the document based on information of light reflected therefrom, a reflector reflecting the radiated light, a leading-edge detector comparing a quantity of light reflected by the reflector with a quantity of light reflected by the document so as to detect the leading edge, a skew-amount calculator calculating a skew amount of the leading edge, and a second corrector correcting a skew of the image information based on the skew amount. The device switches between the skew correction by the first corrector and the skew correction by the second corrector based on document information, the skew amount, or user's selection.

Abstract: A component presence/absence judging apparatus judges the presence/absence of components through a registration step and an inspection step. The registration step includes an ante-mounting feature acquisition step, a post-mounting feature acquisition step and a classifier configuration step. At the ante-mounting and post-mounting feature acquisition steps, ante-mounting features and post-mounting features are respectively acquired from an ante-mounting image and a post-mounting image taken at each of predetermined places on an ante-mounting board and a post-mounting board. At the classifier configuration step, a classifier is configured by registering the ante-mounting features and the post-mounting features as training data to a support vector machine.