Calculating Weighted Similarity Or Difference (e.g., Dont-care Areas) Patents (Class 382/220)
  • Patent number: 11964833
    Abstract: A bulk loading system for delivering bulk material to a storage compartment of a bulk transport vehicle through a hatch opening includes a movable positioner supporting an extendable loading spout assembly, a camera coupled to the positioner and a programmable logic controller communicatively coupled to the positioner, loading spout assembly and camera for automatically positioning the loading spout assembly over the hatch opening and filling the storage compartment of the vehicle with bulk material. The system provides accurate position information to a driver of the vehicle so that the vehicle and its storage compartments can be quickly positioned within a reach zone of the loading spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: DCL, Inc.
    Inventors: Reinhard Matye, Richard S. Anderson
  • Patent number: 11914968
    Abstract: The application belongs to the field of big data, and particularly relates to an official document processing method, device, computer equipment and storage medium. The method includes the following steps of: performing format analysis on the to-be-reviewed official document, then acquiring the to-be-reviewed official document of standard file type, and identifying all file components and contents in the to-be-reviewed official document of standard file type; performing text format detection, text content detection and frame layout detection synchronously by a preset text processing model, obtaining a format detection result, a content detection result and a layout detection result; generating a detected error content according to the format detection result, content detection result and layout detection result, calling out a standard writing rule corresponding to the detected error content, marking the detected error content and the standard writing rule in the to-be-reviewed official document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: PING AN TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiaohui Jin, Xiaowen Ruan, Liang Xu
  • Patent number: 11861361
    Abstract: Distinguishing pattern differences from non-pattern differences. A set of differences is identified. The set comprises a plurality of differences between first and second versions of a document. A pattern is identified. The pattern explains a transformation from a first string in the first version of the document to a second string in the second version of the document. A subset of differences are identified. The subset comprises a plurality of differences, from among the set, which match the pattern. While presenting a user interface that visually highlights differences between the first and second versions of the document, a first visual treatment is applied to a first difference, based on the first difference being included in the subset. A second visual treatment is also applied to a second difference, based on the second difference being excluded from the subset. The second visual treatment is different than the first visual treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: David Ellis Pugh, Mark Alistair Wilson-Thomas, Vu Minh Le
  • Patent number: 11775788
    Abstract: Systems and methods for registering arbitrary visual features for use as fiducial elements are disclosed. An example method includes aligning a geometric reference object and a visual feature and capturing an image of the reference object and feature. The method also includes identifying, in the image of the object and the visual feature, a set of at least four non-colinear feature points in the visual feature. The method also includes deriving, from the image, a coordinate system using the geometric object. The method also comprises providing a set of measures to each of the points in the set of at least four non-colinear feature points using the coordinate system. The measures can then be saved in a memory to represent the registered visual feature and serve as the basis for using the registered visual feature as a fiducial element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Matterport, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Bradski, Gholamreza Amayeh, Mona Fathollahi, Ethan Rublee, Grace Vesom, William Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11756389
    Abstract: A system for detecting scan and non-scan events in a self-check out (SCO) process includes a a scanner for scanning objects and generating point of sale (POS) data, a video camera for generating a video of the scanning region, proximity sensors proximal to the video camera for defining an Area of Action (AoA), wherein the video camera starts capturing scanning region, when the objects enter the AoA, and the POS data includes non-zero values, an Artificial neural network (ANN) for receiving an image frame and generating one or more values, each indicating a probability of classification of the image frame into one or more classes respectively, and a processing unit for processing the POS data, and probabilities of one or more classes to detect a correlation between video data and POS data, and detect one of: scan and non-scan event in the image frame based on the correlation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Everseen Limited
    Inventors: Caius-Ioan Debucean, Robert Preda
  • Patent number: 11755680
    Abstract: A system receives a record which includes a string and separates the string into a number of tokens, including a token and another token. The system identifies a pattern that includes an entity, another entity, and a number of entities that equals the number of tokens, and another pattern that includes the same number of entities as the number of tokens. The system determines a combined probability that combines a probability based on the number of entries in the entity's dictionary which stores the token, and another probability based on a number of character types in the other entity that match characters in the other token. If the combined probability associated with the pattern is greater than another combined probability associated with the other pattern, the system matches the record to a system record based on recognizing the token as the entity and the other token as the other entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Salesforce, Inc.
    Inventors: Arun Kumar Jagota, Ajitesh Jain
  • Patent number: 11704355
    Abstract: A method and a system for producing a story video are provided. A method for producing a story video, according to one embodiment, can produce a specific story video by determining a theme of a story that is suitable for collected videos and selecting and arranging an appropriate video for each frame of a template associated with the theme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Snow Corporation
    Inventors: Junghwan Jin, Sungwook Kim, Sangho Choi, Byung-Sun Park, Wonhyo Yi, Seongyeop Jeong, Noah Hahm, Jimin Kim, Hyeongbae Shin
  • Patent number: 11582510
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, embodiments include obtaining video content, the video content comprises a plurality of frames, monitoring, by an image sensor, a facial feature of a user to determine a visual focus of the user in relation to the video content, and detecting from a group of frames of the plurality of frames at least a reduction in movements of objects in the group of frames. Further embodiments include determining, according to the monitoring and the detecting, a measure of attention of the user within a region of the group of frames, determining that the measure of attention of the user within the region of the group of frames satisfies a threshold, and embedding in at least a portion of subsequent frames of the plurality of frames a visual advertisement in the region via a communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Bo Han, Sassan Pejhan, Zhengye Liu
  • Patent number: 11562172
    Abstract: One embodiment includes a computer-implemented data labeling platform. The platform provides a confidence-driven workflow (CDW) executable to receive and process labeling requests to label data items. The CDW comprises a set of executable labelers, each labeler in having a dynamically modeled confidence range. The execution path for processing a labeling request to label a data item is dynamically determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: ALEGION, INC.
    Inventors: Cheryl Elizabeth Martin, Ryan Michael McKay, Fountain L. Ray, III
  • Patent number: 11556656
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus of Exclusive OR (XOR) engine in a random access memory device to accelerate cryptographical operations in processors. For example, an integrated circuit memory device enclosed within a single integrated circuit package can include an XOR engine that is coupled with memory units in the random access memory device (e.g., having dynamic random access memory (DRAM) or non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM)). A processor (e.g., System-on-Chip (SoC) or Central Processing Unit (CPU)) can have encryption logic that performs cryptographical operations using XOR operations that are performed by the XOR engine in the random access memory device using the data in the random access memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shivam Swami, Sean S. Eilert, Ameen D. Akel, Kenneth Marion Curewitz, Hongyu Wang
  • Patent number: 11551329
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture to improve image recognition searching are disclosed. In some embodiments, a first document image of a known object is used to generate one or more other document images of the same object by applying one or more techniques for synthetically generating images. The synthetically generated images correspond to different variations in conditions under which a potential query image might be captured. Extracted features from an initial image of a known object and features extracted from the one or more synthetically generated images are stored, along with their locations, as part of a common model of the known object. In other embodiments, image recognition search effectiveness is improved by transforming the location of features of multiple images of a same known object into a common coordinate system. This can enhance the accuracy of certain aspects of existing image search/recognition techniques including, for example, geometric verification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Nant Holdings IP, LLC
    Inventors: Bing Song, Liwen Lin
  • Patent number: 11450119
    Abstract: Provided is an information acquisition system including: an image capture apparatus including a camera that captures a target object to generate an image; and a control apparatus including a control unit that controls the image capture apparatus so that a plurality of images in accordance with a plurality of different environment conditions are generated and an information acquisition unit that acquires target object information input to a discriminator that identifies an object, in which the target object information includes the plurality of images or a plurality of feature amounts obtained from the plurality of images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsugunori Takata, Hideo Yokoi, Kota Iwamoto, Soma Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 11393074
    Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus that performs noise reduction processing by using a patch obtained by dividing an image into small areas. The image processing apparatus includes a setting unit configured to set, for the image, a patch of interest, a search unit configured to search the image for a similar patch based on the patch of interest, a generation unit configured to generate one or more synthesis patches different from a patch included in the image, based on at least one of the patch of interest and the similar patch, and a noise reduction unit configured to reduce noise in the patch of interest by using a patch group including the patch of interest, the similar patch, and the one or more synthesis patches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinari Higaki, Daiki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 11301962
    Abstract: There is provided with an image processing apparatus. A focused patch setting unit sets a focused patch in an input image. The focused patch has a first number of pixels. A detecting unit detects a plurality of similar patches that are similar to the focused patch in the input image. A target patch setting unit sets, based on the plurality of similar patches, a plurality of target patches including at least one pixel included in the similar patch and having a second number of pixels that is different from the first number of pixels. A noise reduction processing unit performs, based on the plurality of target patches, a noise reduction process on the target patches. A merging unit merges the target patches whose noise has been reduced by the noise reduction processing unit to generate an output image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daiki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 11286123
    Abstract: A bulk loading system for delivering bulk material to a storage compartment of a bulk transport vehicle through a hatch opening includes a movable positioner supporting an extendable loading spout assembly, a camera coupled to the positioner and a programmable logic controller communicatively coupled to the positioner, loading spout assembly and camera for automatically positioning the loading spout assembly over the hatch opening and filling the storage compartment of the vehicle with bulk material. The system provides accurate position information to a driver of the vehicle so that the vehicle and its storage compartments can be quickly positioned within a reach zone of the loading spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: DCL, Inc.
    Inventors: Reinhard Matye, Richard S. Anderson
  • Patent number: 11113522
    Abstract: A system and method for matching a pattern may include generating a set of model descriptors representative of segment features of a first imaged object. A set of query descriptors representative of segment features of a second imaged object may be generated. A first model segment may be selected to align with the query segments to determine if any of the query segments correspond with the first model segment based on respective model descriptors and query descriptors. An hypothesis may be generated by computing a transformation to match the selected first model descriptor with a query descriptor. The hypothesis may be validated by a model fitting algorithm when comparing other transformed model descriptors with other query descriptors. Based on a consensus value from the model fitting algorithm, a determination as to whether a pattern match exists between the first and second images may be made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Datalogic IP Tech S.R.L.
    Inventors: Alessandro Franchi, Leonardo Mora
  • Patent number: 11003848
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, managing a plurality of variable data templates can comprise cataloging, by a template management system, each of the variable data templates according to a shape criteria. The shape criteria of each variable data template can be based on a size and location of one or more variable data fields defined in the template. The cataloged variable data templates can be classified into one or more shape families based on the shape criteria of each variable data template. The template management system can detect a request to locate a variable data template and search the plurality of variable data templates for one or more suggested variable data templates having the shape criteria matching the template. An indication of the suggested variable data templates can be provided by the template management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Eric de Beus
  • Patent number: 10997448
    Abstract: Systems and methods for registering arbitrary visual features for use as fiducial elements are disclosed. An example method includes aligning a geometric reference object and a visual feature and capturing an image of the reference object and feature. The method also includes identifying, in the image of the object and the visual feature, a set of at least four non-colinear feature points in the visual feature. The method also includes deriving, from the image, a coordinate system using the geometric object. The method also comprises providing a set of measures to each of the points in the set of at least four non-colinear feature points using the coordinate system. The measures can then be saved in a memory to represent the registered visual feature and serve as the basis for using the registered visual feature as a fiducial element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Matterport, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Bradski, Gholamreza Amayeh, Mona Fathollahi, Ethan Rublee, Grace Vesom, William Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10846365
    Abstract: A method for use in an associative memory device when multiplying by a sparse matrix includes storing only non-zero elements of the sparse matrix in the associative memory device as multiplicands. The storing includes locating the non-zero elements in computation columns of the associative memory device according to linear algebra rules along with their associated multiplicands such that a multiplicand and a multiplier of each multiplication operation to be performed are stored in a same computation column. The locating locates one of the non-zero elements in more than one computation column if one of the non-zero elements is utilized in more than one multiplication operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: GSI Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Avidan Akerib
  • Patent number: 10679098
    Abstract: The disclosure herein generally relate to scene change detection, and, more particularly, to use of Unmanned Vehicle (UV) to inspect a scene and perform a scene change detection using UVs. When a UV performs visual inspection of an area or an object, due to various factors, such as but not limited to environmental factors, and movement of object and/or the UV, image of the area/object captured by the drone lacks clarity, which in turn makes detection of any object a difficult task. The UV disclosed herein uses a multi scale super pixel technique for visual change detection, in order to solve the aforementioned issues. In an embodiment, the UV captures an image, identifies a reference image that matches the captured image, and generates a change map. The multi-scale super pixel analysis is then performed on this change map to detect changes between the captured image and the reference image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Tata Consultancy Services Limited
    Inventors: Jayavardhana Rama Gubbi Lakshminarasimha, Akshaya Ramaswamy, Sandeep Nellyam Kunnath, Ashley Varghese, Balamuralidhar Purushothaman
  • Patent number: 10657407
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a still image data creation unit and a still image data extraction unit. The still image data extraction unit calculates a first feature value of the sampling target still image data, determines whether the sampling target still image data is first extraction target still image data as an extraction target based on the first feature value, and calculates a second feature value of adjacent still image data. The adjacent still image data are a plurality of still image data in a range preset in time series of the first extraction target still image data. The still image data extraction unit determines whether the adjacent still image data is second extraction target still image data as an extraction target or not based on the second feature value and extracts the first extraction target still image data and the second extraction target still image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kunihiko Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10162077
    Abstract: A method for inspecting a vehicle includes acquiring a unique identity number of an insepected vehicle, carrying out X-ray scanning on the inspected vehicle to acquire an X-ray image of the inspected vehicle, retrieving at least one historical inspected image related to the unique identity number from a historical inspection database, determining, based on one template image selection algorithm selected from multiple template image selection algorithms, one of the at least one historical inspected images as a template image, determining a difference region between the X-ray image and the template image, and presenting the difference region to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Nuctech Company Limited
    Inventors: Jianmin Li, Lei Zeng, Qiang Li, Wen Wei
  • Patent number: 9881099
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure a method and technique for managing data transfer is disclosed. The method includes comparing, by a processor unit of a data processing system, data to be written to a memory subsystem to a stored data pattern and, responsive to determining that the data matches the stored data pattern, replacing the matching data with a pattern tag corresponding to the matching data pattern. The method also includes transmitting the pattern tag to the memory subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert H. Bell, Jr., Louis Bennie Capps, Jr., Danie M. Dreps, Luis A Lastras-Montano, Michael J Shapiro
  • Patent number: 9830515
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an intelligent video thumbnail selection and generation tool may select a relevant and visually stimulating image from a video file and generate a thumbnail including the image. The image may be selected by computing a relevancy metric for an image in the file based on one or more selected relevant features, and comparing that relevancy metric with the metric of at least one other image in the file. In another embodiment, a series of images in a video file may be divided into shots. One of the shots may be selected based on a shot relevancy metric and a key image from the shot may be selected as a thumbnail based on a key image relevancy metric, where the shot relevancy metric and the key image relevancy metrics may be computed based on one or more relevant content features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: BroadbandTV, Corp.
    Inventors: Shahrzad Rafati, Mehrdad Fatourechi, Lino Coria
  • Patent number: 9785867
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a device includes a detector, first and second recognizers, an estimator, a second recognizer, and an output unit. The detector is configured to detect a visible text area including a visible character from an image. The first recognizer is configured to perform character pattern recognition on the visible text area, and calculate a recognition cost according to a likelihood of a character pattern. The estimator is configured to estimate a partially-hidden text area into which a hidden text area estimated to have a hidden character and the visible text area are integrated. The second recognizer is configured to calculate an integrated cost into which the calculated cost and a linguistic cost corresponding to a linguistic likelihood of a text that fits in the entire partially-hidden text area are integrated. The output unit is configured to output a text selected or ranked based on the integrated cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichiro Hamada, Kunio Osada
  • Patent number: 9716820
    Abstract: A remote-camera control method includes: obtaining first remote image data and terminal image data acquired by photography performed by a remote camera and a terminal camera in a same time segment; authenticating the user terminal by comparing the two pieces of image data with each other and by determining that the user terminal is in a photography spot of the remote camera when an identical subject is found in both the pieces of image data; and providing second remote image data acquired by the remote camera to the user terminal after the user terminal is authenticated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9710816
    Abstract: A method of measuring customer satisfaction with a product. The method may assess customer satisfaction from information collected after purchasing the product. This post-purchase information may be collected, for example, by monitoring customer expressions made while interacting with the product. Optionally, the settings and operating conditions of the product may be separately monitored and cross-referenced with the customer expressions to tie the expressions with specific characteristics of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Peter H. Hodges, Shuh-Yuan Liou
  • Patent number: 9514536
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an intelligent video thumbnail selection and generation tool may select a relevant and visually stimulating image from a video file and generate a thumbnail including the image. The image may be selected by computing a relevancy metric for an image in the file based on one or more selected relevant features, and comparing that relevancy metric with the metric of at least one other image in the file. In another embodiment, a series of images in a video file may be divided into shots. One of the shots may be selected based on a shot relevancy metric and a key image from the shot may be selected as a thumbnail based on a key image relevancy metric, where the shot relevancy metric and the key image relevancy metrics may be computed based on one or more relevant content features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: BroadbandTV, Corp.
    Inventors: Shahrzad Rafati, Mehrdad Fatourechi, Lino Coria
  • Patent number: 9485486
    Abstract: A client (1) is provisioned with a content selection unit (13) for referencing description information (26), selecting content to be played in a certain period, and at the same time, and selecting content to be played at the next period from an id of a subset that is the same as the subset selected at the period, a request execution unit (14) for requesting the transmission of the selected content, and a content playback unit (15) for continuously playing the content transmitted in response to the request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuichi Watanabe, Yasuaki Tokumo, Maki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9471959
    Abstract: To generate a description of a raster map image that includes a representation of a body of water having a color gradient that appears constant in response to a zoom operation, a description of geometry of the body of water is generated for a selected geographic area. Using a raster representation of the body of water having a color gradient, at least two blur raster images are generated: a first blur raster image is generated using a first blur radius, and a second blur raster image is generated using a second blur radius different from the first blur radius. The description of the geometry of the body of water, the first blur raster image, and the second blur raster image are provided to a client device for generating raster map images of the selected geographic area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: David Teitlebaum, Jonah Jones, Sean Egan
  • Patent number: 9245319
    Abstract: An image processing device, method, computer readable storage medium, and image forming device that calculate spatial frequency of input image data and determine a frequency component in which a distribution amount of the spatial frequency maximizes, and perform an enhancement process by applying, to the input image data, an enhancement amount that varies according to the distribution amount of the spatial frequency, based on the determined frequency component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventor: Kei Yasutomi
  • Patent number: 9082339
    Abstract: In one embodiment, dividing a set of texts into one or more text blocks, each text block including a portion of the set of texts; rendering each text block to obtain one or more rendered text blocks; determining a placement instruction for each rendered text block, the placement instruction indicating a position of the rendered text block when it is displayed; and sending the one or more rendered text blocks and their respectively associated placement instructions to a electronic device for displaying on the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventor: Barak Reuven Naveh
  • Patent number: 9046914
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to reducing memory required to store an array of formulas and values corresponding to a formula-array. A set of formula-array representations is provided and arranged in a successive order. Each formula-array representation is evaluated for an associated memory requirement to support use thereof, followed by conversion to a structure of the formula-array representation at a successive level. Selection of the formula-array representation is determined based upon a minimal memory requirement from the formula-array representations in the order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James J. Rhodes, Hovey Raymond Strong, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9042662
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for segmenting an image from a sequence of video images into a foreground and a background, the image being composed of pixels, the method includes assigning an initial foreground probability to each of the pixels; assigning a set of probability propagation coefficients to each of the pixels; and applying a global optimizer to the initial foreground probabilities of the pixels to classify each of the pixels as a foreground pixel or a background pixel, to obtain a definitive foreground map; wherein the global optimizer classifies each processed pixel in function of the initial foreground probability of the processed pixel and the initial foreground probability of neighboring pixels, the relative weight of the initial foreground probability of neighboring pixels being determined by the probability propagation coefficients of the neighboring pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Maarten Aerts, Donny Tytgat, Sammy Lievens
  • Publication number: 20150139557
    Abstract: In techniques for fast dense patch search and quantization, partition center patches are determined for partitions of example image patches. Patch groups of an image each include similar image patches and a reference image patch that represents a respective patch group. A partition center patch of the partitions is determined as a nearest neighbor to the reference image patch of a patch group. The partition center patch can be determined based on a single-nearest neighbor (1-NN) distance determination, and the determined partition center patch is allocated as the nearest neighbor to the similar image patches in the patch group. Alternatively, a group of nearby partition center patches are determined as the nearest neighbors to the reference image patch based on a k-nearest neighbor (k-NN) distance determination, and the nearest neighbor to each of the similar image patches in the patch group is determined from the nearby partition center patches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Zhe Lin, Jianchao Yang, Hailin Jin, Xin Lu
  • Publication number: 20150139558
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a searching device includes an acquiring unit, a receiver, a calculator, and a determining unit. The acquiring unit is configured to acquire a first image. The receiver is configured to receive selection of a first area contained in the first image. The calculator is configured to calculate, for each of a plurality of second images to be searched, a first similarity with the first area and a second similarity with a second area that has been received by the receiver before the first area. The determining unit is configured to determine a third image or third images to be presented from among the second images on the basis of a result of a logical operation of the first similarity and the second similarity for each of the second images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Masashi NISHIYAMA, Hidetaka OHIRA, Masahiro SEKINE, Yusuke TAZOE, Kaoru SUGITA
  • Patent number: 9020955
    Abstract: Respective models of visual weight in images are determined. An image query is generated from a determined visual weight distribution. At least one of the images is retrieved from a database based on comparisons of the image query with respective ones of the visual weight models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Pere Obrador
  • Patent number: 9020279
    Abstract: Provided are image processing method and apparatus. The method includes selecting one of a plurality of images matched in structure as reference image, and select another of the images as subject image; for a subject pixel in the subject image, determining a pixel corresponding to the subject pixel in the reference image; calculating similarity values of at least part of pixels in the reference image with respect to the pixel corresponding to the subject pixel; establishing weight coefficients based on the similarity values, and weighted averaging the subject pixel in the subject image to obtain a processed pixel value. With the above solutions, it is possible to use structure information of a higher-quality image in processing another image, and thus improve quality of the other image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Nuctech Company Limited
    Inventors: Li Zhang, Zhiqiang Chen, Jia Hao
  • Patent number: 8971636
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image creating device including a first obtaining unit which obtains an image including a face, a first extraction unit which extracts a face component image relating to main components of the face in the image and a direction of the face, a second obtaining unit which obtains a face contour image associated to the face in the image and a second extraction unit which extracts a direction of a face contour in the face contour image. The image creating device further includes a converting unit which converts at least one of the face component image and the face contour image based on the both directions of the face and the face contour and a creating unit which creates a portrait image by using at least one of the face component image and the face contour image being converted by the converting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keisuke Shimada, Shigeru Kafuku, Hirokiyo Kasahara
  • Publication number: 20150049955
    Abstract: The invention is related to a method of matching image features with reference features, comprising the steps of providing a current image captured by a capturing device, providing reference features (r), wherein each of the reference features comprises at least one reference feature descriptor (d(r)), determining current features (c) in the current image and associating with each of the current features at least one respective current feature descriptor (d(c)), and matching the current features with at least some of the reference features by determining a respective similarity measure (D(c, r)) between each respective current feature descriptor (d(c)) and each respective reference feature descriptor (d(r)). According to the invention, the determination of the similarity measure is performed on an integrated circuit by hardwired logic or configurable logic which processes logical functions for determining the similarity measure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Norbert Stoeffler, Peter Meier
  • Publication number: 20140368689
    Abstract: An image similarity determining device and method and an image feature acquiring device and method are provided. The image similarity determining device comprises a preprocessing unit for extracting feature points of each input image region of an input image and each image region to be matched of a data source image; a matched feature point set determining unit for determining one to one matched feature point pairs between input image regions and image regions to be matched to determine matched feature point sets; a geometry similarity determining unit for determining a geometry similarity between the input image region and the image region to be matched based on distribution of respective feature points in the matched feature point sets; and an image similarity determining unit for determining similarity between input image and data source image based on geometry similarities between input image regions and corresponding image regions to be matched.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Qiong CAO, Rujie LIU
  • Publication number: 20140355892
    Abstract: An image processing method includes searching for areas matching each other between a plurality of input images, the plurality of input images comprising a reference image and a target image, generating hierarchical image structures formed of a plurality of hierarchical images having different resolutions with respect to the matching areas between the plurality of input images, repeatedly performing image processing based on a similarity of values of pixels matching each other in the plurality of hierarchical images of the same level by using the hierarchical image structures generated with respect to the matching areas, and generating an output image by using pixel values according to the repeated image processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-su MOON, Jong-hun Lee, Jung-uk Cho, Yong-min Tai, Do-hyung Kim, Si-hwa Lee
  • Patent number: 8879844
    Abstract: A method and system for calculating oblong-shape rotation angles from optical image data of arbitrary size for user interface applications 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 and other purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 8847948
    Abstract: Techniques for comparing 3D models are provided. A method for comparing 3D models includes obtaining a first skeleton of a first 3D model, obtaining a second skeleton of a second 3D model, and calculating similarity between the first and the second 3D models based on distance, angle, and inter-position related global constraints of the first and the second skeletons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Nanjing University
    Inventor: Tong Lu
  • Patent number: 8836791
    Abstract: Provided are devices, methods and recording mediums for processing video data including setting at least one particle on a target in an image of a previously-selected frame in a video, sequentially acquiring temporally-previous frames and temporally-next frames in the video after the previously-selected frame, determining a part whose difference in pixel values between the image of the acquired previous frame and the image of the next frame is a threshold or more and which corresponds to the target in the image of the previous frame as an outer edge of a particle tracking range, and setting the particles in the image of the next frame at positions of pixels which are within the outer edge of the tracking range, and specifying a position of the target in the image of the next frame based on the positions of the set particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Rakuten, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiromi Hirano
  • Patent number: 8831347
    Abstract: Data segmenting apparatus and method are provided. An apparatus for segmenting an input data sequence includes: a boundary searching device configured to search for one or more candidate boundaries in the data sequence, to obtain one or more candidate segmenting schemes formed by different combinations of these candidate boundaries; and an evaluating device configured to generate, for each candidate segmenting scheme, an evaluation value of each candidate boundary in the scheme by evaluating a segmenting loss caused by using the candidate boundary to segment the data sequence, and determine whether the candidate boundary is valid in the candidate segmenting scheme according to the evaluation value reflecting association relationship between a pair of adjacent data segments adjoining to the candidate boundary and association relationship between each of one or more pairs of non-adjacent data segments, each of which includes two non-adjacent data segments located at two sides of the candidate boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Bo Han
  • Publication number: 20140247998
    Abstract: Systems and methods for matching a received image with a template image are disclosed herein. Such systems and methods can advantageously enable an image captured by a mobile device (such as a smartphone or digital camera) to be correctly identified by the processing application. In some embodiments, the received image is first resized in one or both dimensions in order to match or approximately match the dimensions of a given template. The received image and template image can then be superimposed. Next, an optimal translative transformation value can be calculated in order to generate a confidence level for the current possible match. After confidence levels for each template are generated and recorded, the template with the highest confidence level can be selected as the best match for the received image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: MITEK SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Grigori Nepomniachtchi, Vitali Kliatskine, Vladimir Kluzner
  • Patent number: 8805090
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring consistency between two objects based upon a rank of object elements instead of based upon the values of those object elements. Objects being compared can be represented by d-dimension feature vectors, U and V, where each dimension includes an associated value. U and V can be converted to rank vectors, P and Q, where values of U and V dimensions are replaced by an ordered rank or a function thereof. Analysis directed to the consistency between U and V can be accomplished by determining consistency between P and Q, which can be more efficient and more accurate, particularly with regard to illumination-invariant comparisons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Yagnik, Sergey Ioffe
  • Publication number: 20140193086
    Abstract: Provided are image processing method and apparatus. The method includes selecting one of a plurality of images matched in structure as reference image, and select another of the images as subject image; for a subject pixel in the subject image, determining a pixel corresponding to the subject pixel in the reference image; calculating similarity values of at least part of pixels in the reference image with respect to the pixel corresponding to the subject pixel; establishing weight coefficients based on the similarity values, and weighted averaging the subject pixel in the subject image to obtain a processed pixel value. With the above solutions, it is possible to use structure information of a higher-quality image in processing another image, and thus improve quality of the other image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicants: Nuctech Company Limited, Tsinghua University
    Inventors: Li Zhang, Zhiqiang Chen, Jia Hao
  • Patent number: RE47309
    Abstract: The present invention is a system comprising image capture device, such as a scanner or digital camera connected to a computer processor that is able to capture and store images, and method of using the same for storing and processing expense receipts. The computer processor analyzes the images of the receipts, converts the images to text, analyzes the data, extracts expense data, and puts the data into an expense report. The end user can review the captured expense data, correct it or add to it. Preferably, the system displays the image of the receipt side-by-side with the captured expense data to make review and editing easier. In a preferred embodiment the image capture device is portable, such as a handheld scanner or digital camera, so that a user can scan receipts while traveling and discard the receipt. Also, in a preferred embodiment, the images are encrypted to prevent tampering by the user or a third party, and thereby preserve the integrity of the receipt image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: THE NEAT COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Raphael Spero, Leslie Spero