Abstract: A method for embedding a secret message into a PNG image comprises steps: converting a secret message into a plurality of secret codes; converting the secret codes into a plurality of secret shares; using a mapping process to modify values of the secret shares to approach a full-transparent value of an alpha channel of a PNG image, and sequentially embedding the mapped secret shares into the alpha channel. As the secret shares with high-transparent values, they leave the RGB channels untouched. Thus, embedding the secret shares into the PNG image does not make difference in the appearances between the secret-carrying image and the original PNG image. Therefore, the present invention can transmit secret message securely and realize covert communication.

Abstract: A method for reducing dimensionality of hyperspectral images includes receiving a hyperspectral image having a plurality of pixels. The method may further include establishing an orthonormal basis vector set comprising a plurality of mutually orthogonal normalized members. Each of the mutually orthogonal normalized members may be associated with one of the plurality of pixels of the hyperspectral image. The method may further include decomposing the hyperspectral image into a reduced dimensionality image, utilizing calculations performed while establishing said orthonormal basis vector set. A system configured to perform the method may also be provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide for improved timing control in 2-D image processing to maintain a constant rate of fetches and pixel outputs even when the processing operations transition to a new line or frame of pixels. A one-to-one relationship between incoming pixel rate and outgoing pixel rate is maintained without additional clock cycles or memory bandwidth as an improved timing control according to the present invention takes advantage of idle memory bandwidth by pre-fetching a new column of pixel data in a first pixel block of a next line or frame while a new column of an edge pixel block on a current line is duplicated or zeroed out. As the edge pixel block(s) on the current line are processed, the data in the first pixel block of the next line or frame become ready for computation without extra clock cycles or extra memory bandwidth.

Abstract: A method for analyzing seismic data by generating a post-migration common image gather in a dip angle domain from measured seismic data; detecting concave features related to reflection events in the common image gather and apexes; filtering out part of the concave features in the common image gather in a vicinity of the detected apexes; applying a hybrid Radon transform to the filtered common image gather to separate residues of the concave features from other image features related to diffraction events; and applying an inverse hybrid Radon transform to an image containing the separated features related to diffraction events to obtain a transformed common image gather in the dip angle domain.

Abstract: Biometric matching technology, in which a watch list is managed, multiple images of a potential suspect are accessed, and parallel pre-processing of the multiple images is controlled. Based on the pre-processing, an image of the potential suspect to use in matching against the watch list is determined and the determined image is used to search sorted biometric data included in the watch list. A subset of persons from the watch list is identified based on the search and parallel analysis of the determined image of the potential suspect against detailed biometric data associated with the subset of persons in the watch list is controlled. Based on the parallel analysis, it is determined whether the potential suspect matches a person in the watch list and a result is outputted based on the determination.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a determination unit configured to determine whether or not a region having at least one pixel of an image includes a predetermined number of anomalous pixels, and a creation unit configured to create information indicating the determination result for the region.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a microscopic vision measurement method based on the adaptive positioning of the camera coordinate frame which includes: calibrating parameters of a microscopic stereo vision measurement model (201); acquiring pairs of synchronical images and transmitting the acquired images to a computer through an image acquisition card (202); calculating 3D coordinates of feature points in a scene according to the matched pairs of feature points in the scene obtained from the synchronical images and the calibrated parameters of the microscopic stereo vision measurement model (203); and performing specific measurement according to the 3D coordinates of the feature points in the scene (204). With the method, the nonlinearity of the objective function in the microscopic vision calibration optimization is effectively decreased and a better calibration result is obtained.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprising a storage unit configured to store image data; a readout unit configured to read out the image data stored in the storage unit; a detection unit configured to detect a target object from the image data read out by the readout unit; a conversion unit configured to convert a resolution of the image data read out by the readout unit; and a write unit configured to write the image data having the resolution converted by the conversion unit in the storage unit, wherein the readout unit outputs the readout image data in parallel to the detection unit and the conversion unit.

Abstract: A method and a related system of free-view relighting for a dynamic scene based on photometric stereo, the method including the steps of: 1) performing multi-view dynamic videos of an object using a multi-view camera array under a predetermined controllable varying illumination; 2) obtaining a three-dimensional shape model and surface reflectance peculiarities of the object; 3) obtaining a static relighted three-dimensional model of the object and a three-dimensional trajectory of the object; 4) obtaining a dynamic relighted three-dimensional model; and 5) performing a free-view dependent rendering to the dynamic relighted three-dimensional model of the object.

Abstract: A mask acquisition unit acquires a mask (region information) that matches photography setting information acquired by a photography setting acquisition unit, the mask defining a sub-image region of a light field image acquired by an LFI acquisition unit. A prototype definition unit disposes a prototype of a reconstructed image at a position of reconstruction setting in a reconstruction setting storage unit. A reconstructed pixel selecting unit selects a pixel of interest from pixels of a reconstructed image. A corresponding pixel extracting unit extracts, as a corresponding pixel, a pixel that corresponds to the pixel of interest and is included in a sub-image region of the acquired mask. A pixel value calculation unit calculates a pixel value of the pixel of interest from a pixel value of the corresponding pixel. An output unit decides pixel values of all reconstructed pixels as pixels of interest and generates and outputs a reconstructed image.

Abstract: A method for correcting a distorted input image includes determining a local region of an image to be displayed and dividing the region into an array of rectangular tiles, each tile corresponding to a distorted tile with a non-rectangular boundary within the input image. For each tile of the local region, maximum and minimum memory address locations of successive rows of the input image sufficient to span the boundary of the distorted tile are determined. Successive rows of the distorted input from between the maximum and minimum addresses are read. Distortion of the non-rectangular portion of the distorted input image is corrected to provide a tile of a corrected output image which is stored.

Abstract: A set of images is processed to modify and register the images to a reference image in preparation for blending the images to create a high-dynamic range image. To modify and register a source image to a reference image, a processing unit generates correspondence information for the source image based on a global correspondence algorithm, generates a warped source image based on the correspondence information, estimates one or more color transfer functions for the source image, and fills the holes in the warped source image. The holes in the warped source image are filled based on either a rigid transformation of a corresponding region of the source image or a transformation of the reference image based on the color transfer functions.

Abstract: In one implementation, an image sensor is calibrated by determining a spectral characterization for each image window of an image sensor, correlating the spectral characterization for each image window of the image sensor with a spectral property of a target illuminant, and generating a scale factor for each image window of the image sensor. The scale factor for each image window of the image sensor is generated based on the correlating.

Abstract: A method for reducing noise in a sequence of frames may include generating a transformed frame from an input frame according to a perspective transform of a transform matrix, wherein the transform matrix corrects for motion associated with input frame. A determination may be made to identify pixels in the transformed frame that have a difference with corresponding pixels in a neighboring frame below a threshold. An output frame may be generated by adjusting pixels in the transformed frame that are identified to have the difference with the corresponding pixels in the neighboring frame below the threshold.

Abstract: Non-destructive manipulation of images in a web development environment (WDE) is disclosed. The WDE provides an image preview component for operating on the original source image data of an image desired for placement on a web page under development in the WDE. Image manipulation tools, such as cropping and scaling, are provided in the image preview component allowing the designer to adjust the appearance of the original source image data that will be presented by the web image object placed on the design canvas of the WDE. The web image objects are defined having a link to the original source image data by maintaining the display modification instructions used to manipulate the original image defined by the original source image data into the display of the web image object.

Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes allocating a decompressor for each scanline of an input image represented as compressed bitmap data, allocating tiles to store bitmap data representing a rotation of the image and generating a rotated output image represented as compressed bitmap data.

Abstract: The presently claimed invention provides a method for stitching a plurality of images together in a way with least memory and CPU usage, and minimum file input and output, while still possessing fast computation speed to avoid post-scan delay for whole slide viewing and good stitching quality. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of calculating featureness of each candidate strip of a image by applying a mathematical transformation, calculating offset of the strip with correlation maximum location, calculating stitching reliability of the candidate strip from the pre-defined weighted function of its featureness and the correlation coefficients of each matching block, and determining optimal stitching path with stitching reliability.

Abstract: Extracting information corresponding to a three-dimensional object from an image captured by plural imaging apparatuses is implemented with simple configuration and processing. Parallax information representing a parallax amount in the X direction of a pair of images captured by a pair of imaging apparatuses disposed at different horizontal positions is stored in a storage section, and a parallax correction control section reads out a parallax amount corresponding to a Y coordinate value of image data for one line input from a pre-image processing unit from the storage section and outputs a selection signal to selectors such that the output of one image data is delayed by the differential amount. A differential image generation unit calculates an absolute value of the differential of the pair of input image data for each pixel and outputs the result as a differential image for detecting the three-dimensional object.

Abstract: This patent relates to thin plate spline (TPS)-based interpolation techniques for representing free-flowing vector graphics (VG) images based on user-specified features, such as points and curves. One or more features can be identified in a pixel grid. A higher-order least squares interpolating function with a TPS smoothness objective can then be utilized to interpolate individual color values to individual pixels of the pixel grid. Smoothness terms of the function that impose smoothness penalties can be interrupted in certain regions of the pixel grid based on attributes of the user-specified features. For example, a curve attribute can specify a particular color value(s), add or remove a smoothness penalty, or anisotropically impose a first derivative constraint in a particular direction.

Abstract: A method of selecting a plurality of patches (e.g., 1040) within a region of a page (e.g., 1010), for use in image alignment, is disclosed. One or more candidate image alignment patches distributed across a region of the page are determined, based on content in the page region, each candidate patch being associated with a feature strength value. A distribution of grid nodes is applied to the page region, at least one attribute of the distribution of grid nodes being dynamically adjusted according to the distribution of the candidate patches across the page region. A corresponding patch from the distribution of candidate patches is selected for each of a plurality of the grid nodes, wherein each of the selected patches is selected based on proximity of the selected patch to a corresponding grid node.

Abstract: An adder adds, to a luminance value indicated by the image signal of the nth frame, a correction value corresponding to a combination of a luminance value indicated by the image signal of the nth frame and one indicated by the image signal of the (n+1)th frame. The adder outputs an image signal having the luminance value after addition as the image signal of the nth frame.

Abstract: An improved method for correcting for noise in the digital domain is disclosed. Reference pixel fast-varying components are extracted using a Hilbert-Huang Transform Real-Time Data Processing System (HHT-DPS-RT). The reference pixels are non-photon-detecting pixels in a sensor array. The fast-varying components of the reference pixels are processed in addition to the average over the remaining trend, facilitating additional noise correction for active pixels.

Abstract: A global image adjustment, such as dynamic range adjustment is established based on image characteristics. The image adjustment is based more heavily on pixel values in image areas identified as being important by one or more saliency mapping algorithms. In one application to dynamic range adjustment, a saliency map is applied to create a weighed histogram and a transformation is determined from the weighted histogram. Artifacts typical of local adjustment schemes may be avoided.

Abstract: An image processor includes generates a content adaptive kernel from an image block with noise of a luminance component signal with a low resolution. The content adaptive kernel is convolved with the luminance component signal. A noise signal and an extracted texture which excludes noise are generated. The luminance component signal is filtered as function of the noise signal to generate an enhanced luminance component signal. Horizontal and vertical scaling is performed on the enhanced luminance component signal, the extracted texture, and the luminance component signal, with the luminance component signal adaptively scaled as a function of the extracted texture. The horizontally and vertically scaled enhanced luminance component signal, extracted texture and luminance component signal are then combined to generate an output luminance component signal with a high resolution.

Abstract: An image and video processing system and methods based on amplitude-modulation frequency-modulation (“AM-FM”) demodulation to provide high quality reconstructions, both visually and quantitatively. The system and methods reconstructs an image based on a Regularized Optimization (“RO”) of estimates to attain a small number of locally coherent components and simultaneously enforce a piecewise smooth constrain for one or more amplitude functions.

Abstract: Image processing for computer-aided eye-surgery includes acquiring a reference image of the eye and enriching said reference image by inserting additional context information which are helpful for a surgeon when performing the eye surgery. The reference image is registered with a real time image of the eye. The context information is overlayed over the real time image of the eye based on a tracking of the eye movement such that the context information is displayed at the same position despite a movement of the eye.

Abstract: An enhanced training sample set containing new synthesized training images that are artificially generated from an original training sample set is provided to satisfactorily increase the accuracy of an object recognition system. The original sample set is artificially augmented by introducing one or more variations to the original images with little to no human input. There are a large number of possible variations that can be introduced to the original images, such as varying the image's position, orientation, and/or appearance and varying an object's context, scale, and/or rotation. Because there are computational constraints on the amount of training samples that can be processed by object recognition systems, one or more variations that will lead to a satisfactory increase in the accuracy of the object recognition performance are identified and introduced to the original images.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method of processing a video sequence may include receiving an input video sequence having an input video sequence resolution, aligning images from the input video sequence, reducing noise in the aligned images, and producing an output video sequence from the reduced noise images, wherein the output video sequence has the same resolution as the input video sequence resolution. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to reduce memory bandwidth consumption when executing a program that uses integral images are provided. A first integral image representation of a grayscale image may be computed using a first number of bits per pixel. A second integral image representation of the grayscale image may be computed using a second number of bits per pixel. Additionally, an image processing algorithm may be executed on the grayscale image, wherein the size of a rectangle to be used by the image processing algorithm can be determined. Based on the size of the rectangle to be used by the image processing algorithm, it may be determined whether to use the first integral image representation or second integral image representation for the image processing algorithm.

Abstract: Sensor data is received from one or more sensors. The sensor data is organized within a hierarchy. The sensor data is organized within a hierarchy that is non-dyadic. A processor of a computing device generates a discrete wavelet transform, based on the sensor data and based on the hierarchy of the sensor data, to compress the sensor data. The sensor data, as has been compressed via generation of the discrete wavelet transform, is processed.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a processor and memory storing executable instructions that in response to execution by the processor cause the apparatus to at least perform a number of operations. The apparatus is caused to receive a digital image including pixels each of which has a pixel value that has been calibrated according to a first calibration function for calibrating an image for display by a first monitor. The apparatus is caused to transform the pixel value of each of at least some of the pixels to a corresponding transformed pixel value calibrated according to a second calibration function for calibrating an image for display by a second monitor. The apparatus is also caused to cause output of the digital image including the plurality of pixels each of at least some of which has a transformed pixel value, the respective digital image being displayable by the second monitor.

Abstract: What is disclosed are a novel system and method for transforming coordinates in an image processing system. In one embodiment, image data is received in a first coordinate space and second coordinate space information is received. A first selection is made, based on a set of relative coordinate space mappings, to select at least a first transformation for mapping of the image data in the first coordinate space to an intermediate image canonical coordinate space using at least a first coordinate change matrix. The intermediate image canonical coordinate space has coordinates which are independent of the image processing system. A second selection is made, based on the set of relative coordinate space mappings, to select at least a second transformation for mapping from the intermediate image canonical coordinate space to the second coordinate space using at least a second coordinate change matrix to transform the intermediate image canonical coordinate space.

Abstract: Provided is an image processing device. A first color space converting unit converts image data in an RGB colorimetric system, which has a color gamut wider than a color gamut of a liquid crystal panel into image data in an XYZ colorimetric system. A three-dimensional nonlinear color gamut converting unit performs conversion on tristimulus values of the XYZ signal. At this time, the image data is classified into four colors and converted respectively such that the first color is displayed in a color accurate to the inputted data, the second color is displayed such that saturation of the second color is increased, the third color is displayed using a color gamut of a predetermined range out of the color gamut of the liquid crystal panel, and the fourth color is displayed in a color corresponding to a boundary of the color gamut of the liquid crystal panel.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus including a zero class detecting unit that detects a zero class in which an appearance frequency of a pixel value is zero from among a plurality of classes into which pixel values of an image are classified according to pixel value magnitude, and a non-zero class converting unit that converts the zero class into a non-zero class in which the appearance frequency of the pixel value is one or more, without updating a total number of the classes, by updating a range of the zero class detected by the zero class detecting unit. The present disclosure can be applied to an image processing apparatus.

Abstract: A system and method are provided by which a user can operate any particular image forming device in a manner that emulates any other particular image forming device. These systems and methods decouple the user from a device-specified origin, or device-specified order of operations, by affording the user an opportunity, at a graphical user interface of an image forming device, to pick an origin and an order of operations that the user desires be undertaken by the image forming device. An ability to pick which origins and orders of operations the user desires allows for establishment of a policy for image forming operations in multiple different image forming devices. The user can define the order of operations when the user walks up to the machine. Otherwise, a system administrator may set up a particular user desired origin and order of operations as a system policy to convert printing job tickets.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of converting raw multidimensional digital data corresponding to points making up a 2D or 3D image of unknown size and an associated system. The method comprises: the sizing a multidimensional window for traversing of said image, the said sizing depending on the size of a buffer; the traversing the said image comprising the movement of the said window in the image along the axes of the image; at each position of the said window in the image: the step of acquisition and loading, in the said buffer, of the data of the part of the image defined by the window; the conversion by calculation of the multidimensional wavelet transform of the said loaded part by means of at least one compact support filter for generating low- and high-frequency coefficients; the saving of the said coefficients generated. Application to wavelet transformation synchronously with the acquisition of medical or seismic images.

Abstract: Methods for correcting distortions in an image including text, or an image of a page that includes text, are disclosed. The methods include identifying reliable and substantially straight lines from elements in the image. Vanishing points are determined from the lines. Parameters associated with a rectangle are determined. A coordinate conversion is performed.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for performing a white balance correction for RAW data obtained by an image capturing unit, includes a storage, operable to store a RAW file to which the RAW data and developed data obtained by performing a development processing to the RAW data are attached, and a corrector, operable to perform the white balance correction for the RAW data based on the developed data stored in the storage.

Abstract: A method implemented in an image processing system for combining multi-exposure images comprises obtaining a plurality of images each having different exposure levels for a same scene. A merged weight map for at least one obtained image is constructed by determining at least one merged weight value for at least one pixel of each obtained image based on characteristics of the pixel, wherein the merged weight map comprises a weight map corresponding to the plurality of images. A Gaussian pyramid and a Laplacian pyramid of each obtained image are generated, and a Gaussian pyramid of the merged weight map is generated. A merged Gaussian pyramid and a merged Laplacian pyramid are generated based on the Gaussian pyramid of the merged weight map. An intermediate pyramid is generated based on the merged Laplacian pyramid, and a resultant image is constructed by blending the merged Gaussian pyramid with the intermediate pyramid.

Abstract: A system and method to detect similarities between images. The system and method allow comparisons between a query image and one or more catalog images in a manner that is resilient to scanning, scaling, rotating, cropping and other distortions of the query image. The system includes an image processing module that determines and/or calculates principle features of a catalog image and constructs a feature vector using one or more of the principle features. The system also includes a matching module that matches a query image to one or more catalog images. The system finds matches based on a distance measure of features present in the query image and features present in the catalog images.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a media-editing application. The application receives a command to import a media file into the media-editing application. The media file includes a sequence of video images. The application copies the media file to a storage location associated with the media-editing application. The method performs several analysis and transcode operations on the media file in parallel. In some embodiments, the application identifies a video image on which to the operations. The application schedules a single set of image preparation operations for the video image to generate one or more sets of image data for the operations. The method sends the image data to the different operations. A same set of image data is sent to at least two of the operations.

Abstract: A method is provided for reconstructing an image of an object that includes image elements. The method includes accessing measurement data associated with the image elements, introducing an auxiliary variable to transform an original problem of reconstructing the image to a constrained optimization problem, and solving the constrained optimization problem using a method of multipliers to create a sequence of sub-problems and solve the sequence of sub-problems. Solving the sequence of sub-problems includes reconstructing the image by optimizing a first objective function. The first objective function is optimized by iteratively solving a nested sequence of approximate optimization problems. An inner loop iteratively optimizes a second objective function approximating the first objective function. An outer loop utilizes the solution of the second objective function to optimize the first objective function.

Abstract: A method facilitates training of an automatic facial expression recognition system through distributed anonymization of facial images, thereby allowing people to submit their own facial images without divulging their identities. Original facial images are accessed and perturbed to generate synthesized facial images. Personal identities contained in the original facial images are no longer discernable from the synthesized facial images. At the same time, each synthesized facial image preserves at least part of the emotional expression contained in the corresponding original facial image.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are disclosed for applying an effect to a digital image using a cursor. An effect can be applied to an image at a region under a cursor. The cursor has an outer periphery and an effect indicating periphery within the outer periphery. The outer periphery defines a maximum extent to which the effect is applied. The effect indicating periphery indicates how the effect will be applied to the image, such as providing a visual indication of a softness setting.

Abstract: A method of controlling depth of field of an image by a computer after the image has been taken based on the data acquired while taking the image, including, acquiring multiple images from the same perspective with different focal points, selecting parameters for preparing a displayable image, constructing an image using the data of the acquired multiple images according to the selected parameters; and displaying the constructed image.

Abstract: Three-dimensional data is compressed at a high compression ratio without deteriorating resolution and accuracy, by computing a coupling coefficient from input three-dimensional data and a three-dimensional base data group obtained from a plurality of objects and outputting the coupling coefficient as compressed data. Specifically, the three-dimensional data is input to corresponding point determination means. The corresponding point determination means generates three-dimensional data to be synthesized in which vertexes of the three-dimensional data are made to correspond to vertexes of three-dimensional reference data serving as a reference to determine association relationship between vertexes. Coefficient computation means computes a coupling coefficient for coupling a three-dimensional base data group used for synthesis of three-dimensional data to synthesize three-dimensional data to be synthesized, and outputs the computed coupling coefficient as the compressed data of the three-dimensional data.

Abstract: Cell phones and other portable devices are equipped with a variety of technologies by which existing functionality can be improved, and new functionality can be provided. Some relate to visual search capabilities, and determining appropriate actions responsive to different image inputs. Others relate to processing of image data. Still others concern metadata generation, processing, and representation. Yet others relate to coping with fixed focus limitations of cell phone cameras, e.g., in reading digital watermark data. Still others concern user interface improvements. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: In various example embodiments, a system and method for providing policy-based authentication is provided. In example embodiments, a request to access and sign a document is received from a device of an intended signer. A policy assigned to the intended signer is determined. Based on the policy, a determination is made whether an authentication mechanism is applicable to the intended signer. In response to the determining that the authentication mechanism is applicable to the intended signer, the intended user is required to perform the authentication mechanism. The intended user is provided access to view and sign the document based on the intended user satisfying the authentication mechanism.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a processing unit for computing displacement amounts between a basis image and each reference image, a processing unit for generating multiple deformed images based on the displacement amounts, the basis image and multiple reference images, a processing unit for setting a threshold of a parameter, a processing unit for selecting image information from the reference image by the threshold, a processing unit for generating composed images and weighted images based on the basis image, the displacement amounts and the image information, a processing unit for generating high-resolution grid images by dividing the composed image by the weighted image, a processing unit for generating simplified interpolation images based on high-resolution grid images, a processing unit for generating assistance images, a display unit for displaying the assistance images and a control unit that controls the necessary processing as necessary.

Abstract: Signal processing devices and methods estimate transforms between signals, and in particular, utilize techniques for estimating phase between a reference signal and a suspect signal. A phase estimation method estimates the phase of reference signal components in a suspect signal using a point spread function. The method provides a set of feature locations representing a discrete reference signal, applies a transform to the reference signal to provide a set of transformed locations, and then uses a point spread function to sample phase from the suspect signal at discrete sample locations in a neighborhood around the transformed locations. This process provides an estimate of phase of the suspect signal at locations corresponding to the transformed locations.