Abstract: Techniques and structures are disclosed in which one or more distortion categories are identified for an image or video, and a quality of the image or video is determined based on the one or more distortion categories. The image or video may be of a natural scene, and may be of unknown provenance. Identifying a distortion category and/or determining a quality may be performed without any corresponding reference (e.g., undistorted) image or video. Identifying a distortion category may be performed using a distortion classifier. Quality may be determined with respect to a plurality of human opinion scores that correspond to a particular distortion category to which an image or video of unknown provenance is identified as belonging. Various statistical methods may be used in performing said identifying and said determining, including use of generalized Gaussian distribution density models and natural scene statistics.

Abstract: A trajectory of movement of an object is tracked in a video data image field that is partitioned into a plurality of different grids. Global image features from video data relative to the trajectory are extracted and compared to a learned trajectory model to generate a global anomaly detection confidence decision value as a function of fitting to the learned trajectory model. Local image features are also extracted for each of the image field grids that include object trajectory, which are compared to learned feature models for the grids to generate local anomaly detection confidence decisions for each grid as a function of fitting to the learned feature models for the grids. The global anomaly detection confidence decision value and the local anomaly detection confidence decision values for the grids are into a fused anomaly decision with respect to the tracked object.

Abstract: Provided is a method of detecting and tracking lips accurately despite a change in a head pose. A plurality of lips rough models and a plurality of lips precision models may be provided, among which a lips rough model corresponding to a head pose may be selected, such that lips may be detected by the selected lips rough model, a lips precision model having a lip shape most similar to the detected lips may be selected, and the lips may be detected accurately using the lips precision model.

Abstract: Identifying at least one object in data for photographed images includes detecting a reference pattern in the data, locating the reference pattern in a table of patterns, and identifying the at least one object according to the reference pattern. The pattern may be located on the at least one object. The at least one object may be a greeting card. The pattern may categorize the greeting card by season and/or occasion. The pattern may identify a sender of the greeting card. The pattern may be provided on an item that is separate from the at least one object. The table of patterns may include a record for at least some of the patterns and the record may include additional information associated with the pattern. The additional information may include tasks that are performed in connection with the pattern. The additional information may include geometric and color parameters of the pattern.

Abstract: A method for determining a facial emotion of a user in the presence of a facial artifact includes detecting Action Units (AUs) for a first set of frames with the facial artifact; analyzing the AUs with the facial artifact after the detection; registering the analyzed AUs for a neutral facial expression with the facial artifact in the first set of frames; predicting the AUs in a second set of frames; and determining the facial emotion by comparing the registered neutral facial expression with the predicted AUs in the second set of frames.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an acquiring unit, a specifying unit, a search unit and a difference extracting unit. The acquiring unit acquires a first image and a second image. The specifying unit specifies one or more image areas included in the first image. The search unit searches the second image for an image area corresponding to each of the one or more image areas specified by the specifying unit. The difference extracting unit extracts a difference between the corresponding image area obtained by the search unit and each of the one or more image areas specified by the specifying unit.

Abstract: A system for verifying and correcting errors after translation of printed text into machine-readable text. The system includes a memory for storing formulas defining relationships between data fields. A processor evaluates the formulas according to data values associated with the data fields to determine whether the formulas evaluate as truthful statements. The processor marks the data fields of the formulas as unverified or as verified based upon this evaluation. The system also uses the processor to calculate a determined value for data fields in an attempt to correct errors in the translation of the printed text into machine-readable text. If different determined values are calculated for the same data field, based upon different formulas, the data field is marked as uncertain. The system iterates based upon the marking of the data fields of the formulas as verified or unverified and as uncertain or not uncertain.

Abstract: A system and method for an automatic drawing comparison are disclosed. A batch capture processing module captures a plurality of pairs of drawing picture frames, and a drawing normalization module normalizes the pairs of drawing picture frames of the plurality to establish pairs of normalized drawing picture frames. A drawing comparison module compares each drawing picture frame of each of the respective pairs to generate respective drawing comparisons thereof, and a statistical data generator module communicates a statistical report identifying which of the respective drawing comparisons are recommended and not recommended for review.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for example-based object retrieval that can retrieve objects from video images in real-time. An object of interest is identified in a sequence of images by obtaining an identification from a user of an example object having at least one attribute of interest; generating a query object based on the identified example object, wherein the query object has a substantially similar viewpoint as objects in the sequence of images and wherein the query object comprises a plurality of attributes that are substantially similar as the example object; and processing the sequence of images to identify the object of interest based on a similarity metric to the query object.

Abstract: An image processing system includes a difference detecting module for determining whether second image data is identical to first image data to generate a determination result, and an image processing module for processing the first image data to generate a first image processed result and selectively processing the second image data. The image processing module includes a data path and a control path. According to a reference clock signal, the first and second image data are transmitted via the data path, and the determination result is transmitted via the control path. When the determination result is affirmative, the reference clock signal provided to the data path is gated, so that, without processing the second image data, the image processing module outputs the first image processed result as a second image output corresponding to the second image data.

Abstract: A line scan imager is used to determine the motion of a subject. Each line of image data from the line scan imager is compared with a reference image. The location of a matching line in the reference image reveals the displacement of the subject. The current subject displacement can be determined based on each line of image data. The resulting displacement information can be used to correctly place other optical beams on the subject. The method can be applied to tracking the human eye to facilitate measurement, imaging, or treatment with a beam of optical radiation.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus for auditing signage are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves directing an operator to a signage location and capturing an image of a signage at the signage location. The example method also includes detecting an actual characteristic of the signage based on the image and comparing the actual characteristic to an expected characteristic.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a plurality of modules, a plurality of memory banks, and a multiplexor. Each module includes at least one agent that interfaces between a module and a memory bank. Each memory bank includes an arbiter that interfaces between the at least one agent of each module and the memory bank. The multiplexor is configured to assign data paths between the at least one agent of each module and a corresponding arbiter of each memory bank based on the assigned data path. The at least one agent of each module is configured to read data from the corresponding arbiter of the memory bank or write modified data to the corresponding arbiter of the memory bank.

Abstract: A document that includes a representation of a two-dimensional (2-D) image may be obtained. A selection indicator indicating a selection of at least a portion of the 2-D image may be obtained. A match correspondence may be determined between the selected portion of the 2-D image and a three-dimensional (3-D) image object stored in an object database, the match correspondence based on a web crawler analysis result. A 3-D rendering of the 3-D image object that corresponds to the selected portion of the 2-D image may be initiated.

Abstract: A image processing apparatus extracts a plurality of feature points, comprising a local feature amount, from an inputted image, and a region information that relates to the feature point, identifies at least one of the plurality of feature points, associates the feature point thus identified with a feature point with a high relational degree between the feature point thus identified and a region that is denoted by the region information of the feature point thus identified, and registers the feature point thus identified and associated as an index of the inputted image.

Abstract: To compute a signature for an object comprising or represented by a set of vectors in a vector space of dimensionality D, statistics are computed that are indicative of distribution of the vectors of the set of vectors amongst a set of regions Ri, i=1, . . . , N of the vector space, at least some statistics associated with each region are binarized to generate sets of binary values ai, i=1, . . . , N indicative of statistics of the vectors of the set of vectors belonging to the respective regions Ri, i=1, . . . , N; and a vector set signature is defined for the set of vectors including the sets of binary values ai, i=1, . . . , N. The computing, binarizing, and defining operations may be repeated for two sets of vectors, and a quantitative comparison of the two sets of vectors determined based on the corresponding vector set signatures.

Abstract: A system receives a mask pattern and a first image of at least a portion of a photo-mask corresponding to the mask pattern. The system determines a second image of at least the portion of the photo-mask based on the first image and the mask pattern. This second image is characterized by additional spatial frequencies than the first image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a difference area detection unit and a similarity determination unit. The difference area detection unit is configured to detect a difference area of an input image. The similarity determination unit is configured to calculate a feature amount of a difference area image that is an image of the detected difference area and determine a similarity between the calculated feature amount of the difference area image and a feature amount of a template image for erroneous detection, to determine whether the difference area image is erroneously detected or not.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for using acoustic artifact data produced through normal operation of interferometric modulator (IMOD) displays to convey data in addition to the graphical content displayed using an IMOD display panel. In one aspect, such acoustic artifact data may be used to fingerprint or authenticate graphical content displayed by an IMOD display panel. In another aspect, the actuation of IMODs in an IMOD display panel may be modulated to produce a desired acoustic artifact data stream that may communicate information independently of, and simultaneously with, the display of graphical content.

Abstract: Systems and methods receive, from a building, an inventory identifying a plurality of electronic devices associated with a building automation system. The systems and methods compare the inventory to an additional inventory associated with an additional building automation system of an additional building to determine that the inventory is the same as or similar to the additional inventory, wherein the additional inventory identifies a plurality of additional electronic devices. The systems and methods further identify an automation scene that coordinates operation of at least a portion of the plurality of additional electronic devices and provide the automation scene to the building for implementation in the building automation system.

Abstract: A method and system for calculating oblong-shape rotation angles from image data of arbitrary size using running sums is described without the need of eigenvector routines and storage of the image data. The oblong shape may be of arbitrary size and location and need not be precisely elliptical. A few running sums are calculated and stored throughout each scan, and the results are obtained in closed form by simple post-scan computation. An algorithmic embodiment can execute on one or more hardware processors with limited or otherwise constrained computation power, available instruction cycles, available memory, etc. Hardware processors may CPUs found in desktops, laptops, tablets, or handheld computing devices. The resulting arrangement may be used for touch or optical user interfaces, real-time image recognition, real-time machine vision, and other purposes.

Abstract: A method for comparing videos includes detecting local features in frames of a video and determining the positions of detected local features in a first frame compared to their respective positions in a succeeding second frame. For at least some of the detected local features, a movement indicator is generated representing the position of a local feature in the first frame relative to the position of that local feature in the second frame, the movement indicator including an orientation, to obtain a plurality of movement indicators. Movement indicators are grouped by orientation ranges. The number of grouped movement indicators in an orientation range are summed to obtain a value for that orientation range. A time series of values for at least one given orientation range is obtained by determining the positions of detected local features in a first frame compared to their respective positions in a succeeding second frame for a plurality of pairs of frames.

Abstract: A product identification service uses image analysis and user interaction. The product identification service includes functionality to compare a first portion of a retail product image to a plurality of candidate retail product images. The retail product image includes a pictorial likeness of a plurality of manufactured retail products. The first portion of the retail product image corresponds to a first retail product. The product identification service also includes functionality to generate a candidate product set comprising candidate retail product images satisfying image comparison criteria. Each candidate retail product image is representative of a retail product having a plurality of product characteristics. The product identification service also includes functionality to determine, based on at least one candidate retail product image in the candidate product set, one or more product identity queries configured to solicit additional product identity information from a user.

Abstract: A system for making an image product includes a computer including a processor and a memory, a template stored in the memory, the template including a template graphic and a plurality of openings in the template graphic, an image stored in the memory, and the processor compositing the image into two or more of the plurality of openings, so that two different portions of the image are located in two different openings and the two different portions have the same relative locations in the composition as in the user image.

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 of authentication is provided that includes capturing palm biometric data from an individual, transmitting the biometric data to an authentication system, and generating an authentication biometric template from the captured biometric data with the authentication system. Moreover, the method includes conducting a plurality of verification matching transactions between the authentication biometric template and enrollment biometric templates stored in the authentication system, and between the authentication biometric template and imposter biometric templates stored in the authentication system. Furthermore, the method includes updating a genuine matching score distribution with at least one genuine matching score, updating an imposter matching score distribution with at least one imposter matching score, and calculating a maximum genuine matching score and a minimum imposter matching score.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes the following elements. An image receiving unit receives a first image and a second image. A first specified area specifying unit allows a user to specify a first specified area in the first image. A first comparison area setting unit sets a first comparison area in the first image on the basis of the first specified area. A second comparison area setting unit sets a second comparison area in the second image. A geometric difference correction unit corrects a difference in geometric properties between a first comparison image in the first comparison area and a second comparison image in the second comparison area. An image output unit outputs an image in which the second comparison image is superimposed on the first comparison image or a difference image between the first comparison image and the second comparison image.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes determining by a computer system a distance between a first value associated with a first image and a first cluster center associated with at least one image and determining by the computer system the first image and the at least one image are not similar when the determined distance is more than a threshold distance.

Abstract: A computerized method for recognition of a logo is described herein. The method comprises obtaining a plurality of feed frame of a feed video wherein the feed video has a logo embedded therein. At least one feed frame from the plurality of feed frames is compared with each template from a plurality of templates. For each template compared with the feed frame, a correlation parameter is computed and the logo is recognized based on the computing.

Abstract: A social networking site providing facial similarity matching services to subscribers to the social networking site. A subscriber may upload a digital image of himself and have it compared to digital images of other member subscribers using software to interpret points of comparison on each digital image. Subscribers may effect the outcome of the matching process by designating a selection of images as close matches from a computer generated plurality of matching images. A collage of finally matched images is provided to the inquiring subscriber as well as contact information to communicate with the other subscribers.

Abstract: An apparatus for authentication of three-dimensional (3D) structures includes a projector (1510) for projecting a first pattern of illumination (1520) on the three-dimensional structure; a sensor (1525) for detecting a first reflected pattern (1540) from the three-dimensional structure; a computer (1530) for analyzing the first reflected pattern for a first pre-determined characteristic; and wherein the computer authenticates the three-dimensional structure if the pre-determined characteristic is present.

Abstract: A system stores reference data generated by associating image feature point data with an image-capturing position and a recorded vehicle event. The system generates data for matching by extracting image feature points from an actually-captured image. The system generates information on an actual vehicle event, extracts first reference data whose image-capturing position is located in a vicinity of an estimated position of the vehicle, and extracts second reference data that includes a recorded vehicle event that matches the actual vehicle event. The system performs matching between at least one of the first reference data and the second reference data, and the data for matching, and determines a position of the vehicle based on the matching.

Abstract: A system described herein includes a receiver component that receives a first image and a symmetry signature generator component that generates a first global symmetry signature for the image, wherein the global symmetry signature is representative of symmetry existent in the first image. The system also includes a comparer component that compares the first global symmetry signature with a second global symmetry signature that corresponds to a second image, wherein the second global symmetry signature is representative of symmetry existent in the second image. The system additionally includes an output component that outputs an indication of similarity between the first image and the second image based at least in part upon the comparison undertaken by the comparer component.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first acquisition unit configured to acquire main object information specifying a main object in generation of a layout image, a second acquisition unit configured to acquire object correlation information specifying an object having a correlation with the main object, an extraction unit configured to extract at least one image including the main object and at least one image including the object having the correlation with the main object from a plurality of images based on the acquired main object information and the acquired object correlation information acquired, and a generation unit configured to generate, using a layout template, a layout image in which the at least one image extracted by the extraction unit and including the main object and the at least one image extracted by the extraction unit and including the object having the correlation with the main object are laid out therein.

Abstract: A technique for use in automatic validation of a media item involves accessing a template that comprises multiple one-class classifiers, each corresponding to one of multiple classes to which the media item might belong, and then applying each of the one-class classifiers to an image of the media item to generate a result set for each of the multiple classes. The result set for each media class is then analyzed to assess whether the media item belongs to that class.

Abstract: A method of identifying groups of related digital images in a digital image collection, comprising: analyzing each of the digital images to generate associated feature descriptors related to image content or image capture conditions; storing the feature descriptors associated with the digital images in a metadata database; automatically analyzing the metadata database to identify a plurality of frequent itemsets, wherein each of the frequent itemsets is a co-occurring feature descriptor group that occurs in at least a predefined fraction of the digital images; determining a probability of occurrence for each the identified frequent itemsets; determining a quality score for each of the identified frequent itemsets responsive to the determined probability of occurrence; ranking the frequent itemsets based at least on the determined quality scores; and identifying one or more groups of related digital images corresponding to one or more of the top ranked frequent itemsets.

Abstract: Described are a method and an apparatus for generating a forecast weather image such as a forecast weather radar image. The method uses filters to approximate viscous alignment and to thereby determine displacement fields having meaningful structure. In various embodiments a power-law energy spectrum is utilized for deformations in the displacement field through the application of a set of Gabor filters. The Gabor filters are applied in a sequential manner to gradient error images and values of modes of motions corresponding to the Gabor filters are determined. The values are used to generate the displacement field which can then be applied to an existing weather image to generate a forecast weather image.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus including an image acquisition unit that acquires a target image; a face part extraction unit that extracts a face region including a face part from the target image; an identification unit that identifies a model face part by comparing the face part to a plurality of model face parts stored in a storage unit; and an illustration image determination unit that determines an illustration image corresponding to the identified model face part.

Abstract: A plurality of block pairs are set by setting two of the rectangular blocks contained in one template as one block pair. A score showing a degree to which a part of an object is included in the template is held based on a relation of a relative level between block luminance values in each of the block pairs set in the template. These processes are carried out for all templates. Based on a sum of the scores of all the templates, and whether the object is included in the image is determined.

Abstract: A method for presenting digital images having a high interest level to a particular person selected from a set of candidate digital images. The candidate digital image are analyzed to designate one or more image elements, and familiarity levels are determined of the designated image elements to the particular person. For each candidate digital image, an associated interest level to the particular person is determined responsive to the determined familiarity levels. One or more of the candidate digital images are selected based on the determined interest levels and are presented to the particular person.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for intelligently combining medical findings received across different modalities. The system comprises an extraction module extracting contextual information from an image of an area of interest including annotations, a feature selection module building a current feature vector using the extracted contextual information and the annotations, and a referencing engine computing a similarity score between the current feature vector and a prior feature vector of a prior image. The method comprises extracting contextual information from an image of an area of interest including annotations, building a current feature vector using the extracted contextual information and the annotations, and computing a similarity score between the current feature vector and a prior feature vector of a prior image.

Abstract: Systems and methods may provide for receiving a query regarding an establishment, retrieving an output image from an image database in response to the query, and transmitting the output image to a mobile device. In one example, image data including a plurality of interior establishment images and a plurality of stocking area images are also received, wherein the image database may be constructed based on the received image data.

Abstract: A system and method to classify forms. An image representing a form of an unknown document type is received. The image includes line-art. Further, a plurality of template models corresponding to a plurality of different document types is received. The plurality of different document types is intended to include the correct document type of the unknown document. A subset of the plurality of template models are selected as candidate template models. The candidate template models include line-art junctions best matching line-art junctions of the received image. One of the candidate template models is selected as a best candidate template model. The best candidate template model includes horizontal and vertical lines best matching horizontal and vertical lines of the received image, respectively, aligned to the best candidate template model.

Abstract: The present invention provides a model image acquisition support apparatus, a model image acquisition support method, and a model image acquisition support program that can easily and swiftly obtain an optimum model image for an image processing apparatus that performs matching processing based on a model image set in advance with respect to a measurement image that is obtained by imaging an object. A plurality of model image candidates, serving as candidates for model image, are extracted from a reference image obtained by imaging an object which can be a model. Matching processing with the plurality of extracted model images is executed on measurement images actually obtained by a visual sensor, so that trial results are obtained. A trial result is generated upon evaluating each of the trial results of the matching processing with the model image. An optimum model image is determined based on the evaluation result.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting changes by comparing images which cover the same physical area but are collected at different times, the system comprising: at least one input for inputting an image of a target area; the image of the target area having signatures representing outstanding features; at least one processor operating to divide the image of a target area into a plurality of target subimages; at least one memory comprising reference data comprising reference subimages taken at or near the target area at various times, the at least one processor operating to determine a sparse image representation from the reference data; the sparse image representation of the target data being a linear combination of reference data from corresponding reference subimages stored in the at least one memory; the at least one processor operating to compare the target image to the sparse image representation and to match signatures from the target image to the sparse image representation to register the images and perfo

Abstract: A method for determining the position of the eyes includes: a step for determining approximate positions of the eyes in the digital image; a step for determining adjacent positions; a step of geometric transformation of the digital image into normalized images in such a way as to make the adjacent positions coincide with the reference positions; a step of comparison of at least a part of each normalized image with a corresponding part of a predetermined image, each comparison providing a score representing the level of resemblance between the parts of images; and a step of declaration of the adjacent positions associated with the best score as actual positions of the eyes of the face.

Abstract: An image and supplementary information of the image, such as a photographing point and time, are input by an image input section and are stored in an image data storage section. Character recognition in the image is performed by a character recognition section, and the recognition result is stored in a character recognition result storage section. An analysis section extracts object character information relevant to an object from the image, the supplementary information, and the character recognition result on the basis of the analysis conditions input in a designation section to thereby analyze an object, and the analysis result is output to a result output section. Accordingly, a change in the object can be analyzed by analyzing a change in character patterns indicating the identical object.

Abstract: A computer implemented method is disclosed. The method includes obtaining a first and second images for comparison, globally registering the first and second images, calculating for pairs of a first patch of the first image and second patch of the second image a similarity measure which is a product of luminance and contrast components and a normalized structure component, each component taking a value between 0 and 1 and determining similarity of the images based on the calculated similarity measure. Relating computer program product and data processing system are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for identifying and recommending electronic content to consumers. In accordance with an implementation, one or more elements of electronic content are associated to generate video graph data. In an exemplary method, information associated with first and second elements of video content is obtained and decomposed into corresponding first and second segments. A value indicative of an association between the first and second elements of video content is generated when the similarity measure satisfies at least one association rule.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing computer-assisted procedures are provided. In the systems and methods, a current rigid transformation is applied to a first set of points with respect to a second set of points to obtain a current transformed set of points. Thereafter, a linearized transformation is determined that minimizes a weighted fiducial registration error between the current transformed set and the second set. An updated rigid transformation is then obtained based on the current rigid transformation, the translation vector of the linearized transformation, and a rotation matrix that is closest to the linearized matrix of the linearized transformation, followed by applying the updated rigid transformation to the first set to obtain an updated transformed set of points. Finally, if motion associated with such updating fails to meet some criterion, the determining, obtaining, and applying are iteratively repeated using the updated rigid transformation and the updated transformed set.