Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image processing method and apparatus for detecting the lines of images and the start and end points of the lines. The image processing apparatus includes an edge creation unit, a Hough transform unit, and an effective parameter detection unit. The edge creation unit creates an edge image using external image data input from the outside. The Hough transform unit performs a Hough transform on information about the pixel coordinates of the edge image created by the edge creation unit. The effective parameter detection unit detects the lines of the edge image by checking effective line parameters using the results of the Hough transform. The image processing apparatus may further include an edge list for storing coordinates of effective pixels constituting the edge image and a line parameter list for storing the effective line parameters.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for determining near-duplicate images. The method and system includes performing a Fourier-Mellin transform on each of a plurality of images. For each image of the plurality of images, the method and system includes generating a signature based on the Fourier-Mellin transform. The method and system includes comparing the signature of at least one of the images to at least one of the signatures of the other plurality of images and determining any near duplicate images based on the comparing of the signatures.

Abstract: A recognition system of this invention has feature point detection means (120), Hough transform means (130), and specific pattern output means (140). In the Hough transform means (130), a Hough space is designed so that a magnitude relation of a distance between points in the Hough space is equivalent to a predetermined magnitude relation of an inter-specific-pattern distance indicative of a difference between specific patterns. The recognition system detects the specific patterns using the Hough space. By adopting such a structure to express more similar specific patterns in an image as closer points also in the Hough space, it is possible to achieve an object of this invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for detecting and tracking a moving object. First, robust change detection is applied to find initial candidate regions in consecutive frames. These initial detections in consecutive frames are stacked to produce space-time bands which are extracted by Hough transform and entropy minimization based band detection algorithm.

Abstract: A device for identifying a traffic sign in an image includes a Hough transformer implemented to identify a plurality of line sections running in different directions through the image in the image or in an edge image derived from same. The device further includes a shape detector implemented to detect a predefined shape in the image or in the edge image derived from same based on the identified line sections. The device apart from that includes a pattern identifier implemented to select an image section corresponding to the detected predefined shape based on the detected predefined shape and to identify a traffic sign based on the selected image section.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method and apparatus for accelerating computation of a Hough transform of a plurality of digital images of known width and height dimensions. The method includes determining a plurality of Hough values for each pixel location based on the width and height dimensions. The method further includes generating a lookup table comprising an array of Hough values corresponding to one or more Hough parameters of at least one geometric shape in at least one digital image. Each element in the array of Hough values may be based on a value of one or more Hough parameters and at least one of a height value or a width value. The method may include receiving a plurality of digital images having known width and height dimensions. The method may further include selecting, for at least one nonzero pixel of at least one of the plurality of digital images, the Hough values from the lookup table.

Abstract: A method for estimating three-dimensional structure from a two-dimensional image (502) includes obtaining first and second vanishing points (120, 122); comparing image patches (202) along first and second virtual lines (204, 208) extending from the first and second vanishing points (120, 122), respectively, and through a pixel; generating values for each of the first and second virtual lines (204, 208) based on the comparison of the image patches (202); accumulating the values for each the pixel in the two-dimensional image (502); and determining a corner pixel (106) based on a highest of the accumulated values.

Abstract: An image compression and decompression method compresses data based upon the data states, and decompresses the compressed data based upon the codes generated during the compression.

Abstract: A method for automatically detecting a collimation edge or region includes reading an image captured by an X-ray imaging system, detecting intersection points between a foreground and a background and between a foreground and a tissue on the X-ray image, and performing a Hough transform or Radon transform on the detected intersection points to form collimation edge lines interconnecting the foreground and the background, and the foreground and the tissue, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention executes color correction that improves the feeling of depth of a 2D image with ease and by using a preexisting device. Input image data is first converted into brightness information by a brightness information calculation portion. The interest level within the image is then estimated by an interest level estimation portion based on that information. The vanishing point is then estimated by a vanishing point estimation portion. Next, a depth estimation portion estimates the degree of depth based on the distance from the vanishing point to a pixel i and the interest level of the pixel i, and calculates a depth correction gain value. A corrected image, obtained by controlling a depth correction image process based on the depth correction gain value, is converted to a predetermined image format and outputted by an output portion.

Abstract: A data transform apparatus transforms four integer data D0-D3 into one DC coefficient Y0 and three AC coefficients Y1-Y3 as lossless-Hadamard transform coefficients. A first calculation unit group adds date D0 to respective data D1 to D3. A first shifter shifts data D0 1 bit to the left. A second calculation unit group subtracts three data calculated by the first calculation unit group from output of the shifter. A second shifter halves a calculation result of the second calculation unit group by shifting the subtraction result 1 bit to the right, and executes round processing for truncating a fractional part of the halved data. A sign inverter inverts the sign of output from the second shifter, and outputs it as DC coefficient. A third calculation unit group subtracts output from the sign inverter from output of the first calculation unit group, and outputs these data as AC coefficients.

Abstract: A method for segmenting an anatomical structure within medical image data includes acquiring medical image data. The medical image data is transformed from an original image space into a projective dual image space. A boundary of an anatomical structure is identified within the transformed medical image data based on a set of preexisting training data. An inverse transform is performed on the transformed medical image data and the identified boundary to convert the transformed medical image data and the identified boundary into the original image space. The inverse transformed identified boundary of the anatomical structure is used to segment the anatomical structure within the acquired medical image data.

Abstract: Interference in a wireless communication is minimized, or at least reduced, by scaling the symbols received from an interfering transmitter. Input samples from the interfering transmitter are isolated and decovered to generate received symbols. The gains of the received symbols are scaled to reduce the interference and the scaled symbols are covered to produce output samples that are spread to generate interference cancelled samples with reduced interference from the interfering transmitter. The function applied to scale the symbols may be linear or nonlinear.

Abstract: An apparatus receives a base image and a reference image that are images picked up by two cameras provided on left and right. A weight coefficient determination portion determines a coefficient for cutting off a high-frequency region of combined phase spectrum of the base image and the reference image, based on an image pickup condition of the camera and texture information of the image in a window centered on a gaze point within the base image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to deriving and/or utilizing content signatures. A content signature includes a representation of a content item, which is derived or calculated from the content item itself. One claim recites a method comprising: obtaining a content item; transforming the content item to obtain transform domain coefficients; applying Viterbi decoding to a set of the transform domain coefficients; and using a result of the Viterbi decoding as a content signature representing features or characteristics of the content item itself. Other claims and combinations are provided too.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to measure spatial distortion. Measure and remove borders; and rescale the active test image, the active reference image, or both, such that they are the same size. A representative line is obtained, or selected, from each image providing a reference representative line (ReferenceRL) and a test representative line (TestRL). A local Pearson' cross-correlation coefficient (LPCCC) image is created from both the ReferenceRL and the TestRL at different horizontal shifts. The highest average intensity line across the LPCCC image is found as the coordinates of the corresponding Hough Transform image pixel with maximum intensity is determined. The Hough Transform Theta and R are converted to spatial scale and offset. The crude and refined offsets and scale values are combined to produce total horizontal and vertical scale offset values. These spatial measurements can then be provided.

Abstract: A data analyzer/classifier comprises using a preprocessing step, and energy minimization step, and a postprocessing step to analyze/classify data.

Abstract: An image matching method capable of matching images with a high precision and a program and an image matching system for the same, providing a conversion unit for performing image processing based on a registered image and a match image for converting points in each image to patterns of curves based on a distance from a reference position to the closest point on a straight line passing through each point in the image from the reference position and an angle formed by a straight line passing through the reference position and the closest point and an x-axis as a reference axis including the reference position, converting linear components in the images to patterns of a plurality of overlapped curves, and generating converted images, a correlation value generation unit for performing correlation processing based on the converted images and generating a correlation value, and a matching unit for performing the matching based on a signal indicating the correlation value generated by the correlation value generati

Abstract: A system and method of determining aircraft position on an aerodrome ground surface having a centerline disposed thereon is provided. A current image of the aerodrome ground surface is captured using a camera that has a known focal length and is disposed on a vehicle at a preset pitch angle. The current image includes the centerline, which extends to a vanishing point in the captured image. The slope and intercept of at least a portion of the centerline are computed. The vertical and horizontal positions of the vanishing point are computed. An estimate of the vehicle position on the ground surface is computed using the computed horizontal and vertical positions of the vanishing point, the known focal length, and the preset pitch angle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for detecting changes in background of successive images. More particularly, the invention relates to a device and method for detecting changes in background of successive images by obtaining vertically accumulated values and horizontally accumulated values from multiple binary images of previous image and current image, obtaining pairs of rows and pairs of columns based on the vertically accumulated values and horizontally accumulated values, and transforming pairs of rows and pairs of columns using Hough transformation. Also, the invention relates to an interface system including background changes detecting device and display device connected to the background changes detecting device.

Abstract: In a multi-modality method for representing functional and morphological exposures of an extremity of patients exhibiting arthritis/arthrosis, and corresponding computer software, images obtained with different imaging modalities are supplied to a computer and displayed at the computer with a default line model of the extremity superimposed on each of the images. A user interacts with the computer to modify the line model as necessary, so that each of the images has a modified line model associated therewith. The images obtained from the different imaging modalities are then superimposed and registered with each other by conforming the respective modified line models with each other. One of the images can be composed of a number of sub-images, obtained at respective joints in the extremity. These individual images of the joint can be fused with the image of the complete extremity, so that in a display of such a fused image, the individual joint images can be selected and displayed.

Abstract: An image matching system, program, and method are provided to match images with high precision. The system includes a low resolution transform unit for performing Hough transform on each of registered images and an input match image and generating transformed registered images and a transformed match image having a low resolution; a correlation value generation unit for performing correlation between each of the transformed registered images and the transformed match image; a match coverage determination unit for determining the registered images for match processing corresponding to the top predetermined number of transformed registered images having high correlation degrees based on results of the correlation processing; and a matching unit for performing match processing based on the transformed registered images and the transformed match image having a high resolution generated by performing Hough transform on each of the registered images for match processing and the match image.

Abstract: A digital image includes a plurality of pixels arranged in an array. In a method of analyzing the image, some of the pixels are purposefully not processed. In particular, only those pixels in a particular subgroup are processed according to a Hough or similar transform. The number of pixels in the subgroup is less than the total number of pixels in the image (e.g., as little as about 5% of the total pixels), and each pixel in the subgroup is pseudo-randomly selected. The Hough transform is inherently configured to function within the context of noisy images, for identifying features of interest in the image, as simulated by the pseudo-random selection and processing of less than the total number of pixels in the image. This significantly reduces the processor resources required to analyze the image.

Abstract: A method for cardiac segmentation includes providing a plurality of digitized medical images, each image comprising a plurality of intensities corresponding to a domain of points on an 2-dimensional grid, the plurality of images forming a sequence of cardiac images acquired at different time points, filtering noise from the sequence of images, approximating the endocardium with a first circle, approximating the epicardium with a second circle, finding candidate points for the endocardium, finding candidate points for the epicardium, and interpolating gaps between points of the endocardium and between points of the epicardium wherein the myocardium is segmented.

Abstract: An image matching method capable of matching images with a high precision and a program and an image matching system for the same, providing a conversion unit for performing image processing based on a registered image and a match image for converting points in each image to patterns of curves based on a distance from a reference position to the closest point on a straight line passing through each point in the image from the reference position and an angle formed by a straight line passing through the reference position and the closest point and an x-axis as a reference axis including the reference position, converting linear components in the images to patterns of a plurality of overlapped curves, and generating converted images, a correlation value generation unit for performing correlation processing based on the converted images and generating a correlation value, and a matching unit for performing the matching based on a signal indicating the correlation value generated by the correlation value generati

Abstract: The present invention performs a lossless four-point orthogonal transformation with reduced rounding errors using a simple configuration. A data transformation apparatus receives four items of vector data X0, X1, X2, and X3, ( Y 0 Y 1 Y 2 Y 3 ) = 1 1 + a 2 ? ( 1 a a a 2 a - 1 a 2 - a a a 2 - 1 - a a 2 - a - a 1 ) ? ( X 0 X 1 X 2 X 3 ) and determines D0 to D3 as: D0=X0+aX1+aX2+a2X3; D1=aX0?X1+a2X2?aX3; D2=aX0+a2X1?X2?aX3; and D3=a2X0?aX1?aX2+X3. Integer data smaller than half a divisor {1+a2} is added to D1 to determine D1?, and a value equal to half the divisor is added to D0, D2, and D3 to determine D0?, D2?, and D3?, respectively. D0?, D1?, D2?, and D3? are divided by the divisor and the results are rounded such that resulting integers are smaller than the results of division, and outputting the resulting integers.

Abstract: This invention provides a lossless 4-point Hadamard transform circuit which can minimize the number of times of addition/subtraction calculations, and reduce the number of times of round processing required to convert data including a fractional part into an integer. To this end, a DC coefficient generating unit summates four input data, and shifts the summation result 1 bit to the right to halve the summation result and to round the halved result by truncating a fractional part of the result. This 1-bit shift right result is output as a DC coefficient. An intermediate data generating unit generates, as intermediate value, a difference value between one input data of the four input data and the DC coefficient obtained by the DC coefficient generating unit. An AC coefficient generating unit generates three AC coefficients by adding the intermediate data generated by the intermediate data generating unit to other three input data.

Abstract: A data analyzer/classifier comprises using a preprocessing step, and energy minimization step, and a postprocessing step to analyze/classify data.

Abstract: A device for identifying a traffic sign in an image includes a Hough transformer implemented to identify a plurality of line sections running in different directions through the image in the image or in an edge image derived from same. The device further includes a shape detector implemented to detect a predefined shape in the image or in the edge image derived from same based on the identified line sections. The device apart from that includes a pattern identifier implemented to select an image section corresponding to the detected predefined shape based on the detected predefined shape and to identify a traffic sign based on the selected image section.

Abstract: Voting of coordinates of each pixel in a photographic image onto a Hough space corresponding to annuluses is performed, the Hough space being defined by a coordinate system having an X coordinate axis for a circle center point, a Y coordinate axis for a circle center point, and an r coordinate axis for a radial direction. A vote value of each voting position having coordinates (X, Y, r) on the Hough space is acquired as a first integrated vote value from a calculation of a number of votes given to each voting position. A position represented by (X, Y) coordinate values of a voting position associated with the largest first integrated vote value is detected as the position of the center point of the circular pattern.

Abstract: A registration device, verification device, authentication method and authentication program that can improve the accuracy of authentication are proposed. A predetermined process is performed for an image signal obtained as a result of taking a picture of a image-capturing target which is given as an object for biometrics authentication and which is a predetermined part of a living body; a characteristic part of the image-capturing target is extracted from the image signal; the Hough transform is carried out by characteristic extraction means for the extracted characteristic part; a plurality of characteristic parameter points are extracted from a parameter point obtained as a result of the Hough transform under a predetermined extraction condition; and a determination is made as to whether the plurality of characteristic parameter points are those to be registered or to be compared with the registered one according to an angle component of the plurality of the characteristic parameter points.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for detecting and tracking a moving object. First, robust change detection is applied to find initial candidate regions in consecutive frames. These initial detections in consecutive frames are stacked to produce space-time bands which are extracted by Hough transform and entropy minimization based band detection algorithm.

Abstract: A method comprises searching in a video stream a first frame and a second frame that each has enough point correspondence with a image model, wherein the first frame is the nearest previous frame prior to a third frame, and the second frame is the nearest subsequent frame to follow the third frame. The method further comprises calculating an interpolation between a first mapping matrix of the first frame and a second mapping matrix of the second frame to obtain a third mapping matrix of the third frame that has insufficient point correspondence with the image model.

Abstract: The present invention enables inclination detection by detecting an inclination of a document image based on a feature of a document area. In order to achieve this, reduction processing is performed on document image data including the document area so as to generate a reduced document image corresponding to the document area that has been extracted. Thereafter, filter processing is performed on the reduced document image so as to generate an edge image by extracting at least one edge of the document area. Then, a straight line adjoining an edge of the edge image is detected using a Hough transformation so that the inclination of the document image is determined based on an inclination of the straight line. Consequently, inclination detection with high accuracy can be performed based on the feature of the document area.

Abstract: An array transform system for parallel computation of a plurality of elements of an array transform includes a memory for storing an array of data elements. Each column of data elements from the memory is copied to a shifter that shifts the column of data elements in accordance with a shift value to produce a shifted column of data elements. The shifted columns of data elements are accumulated in a plurality of accumulators, with each accumulator producing an element of the array transform. A controller controls the shift value dependent upon the position of the column of data elements in the array of data elements.

Abstract: A method of encoding and decoding image data by applying an image capturing device includes generating a difference coding group, applying an modified Hadamard transform (MHT) on the difference coding group to generate a corresponding low-frequency parameter and a plurality of corresponding high-frequency parameters, adjusting the low-frequency parameter, adjusting the high-frequency parameters by a quantification factor, decoding the low-frequency parameter, decoding the high-frequency parameters by the quantification factor, and applying an inverse modified Hadamard transform (IMHT) on the low-frequency parameter and the high-frequency parameters to decode the difference coding group.

Abstract: A recognition system of this invention has feature point detection means (120), Hough transform means (130), and specific pattern output means (140). In the Hough transform means (130), a Hough space is designed so that a magnitude relation of a distance between points in the Hough space is equivalent to a predetermined magnitude relation of an inter-specific-pattern distance indicative of a difference between specific patterns. The recognition system detects the specific patterns using the Hough space. By adopting such a structure to express more similar specific patterns in an image as closer points also in the Hough space, it is possible to achieve an object of this invention.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image processing method and apparatus for detecting the lines of images and the start and end points of the lines. The image processing apparatus includes an edge creation unit, a Hough transform unit, and an effective parameter detection unit. The edge creation unit creates an edge image using external image data input from the outside. The Hough transform unit performs a Hough transform on information about the pixel coordinates of the edge image created by the edge creation unit. The effective parameter detection unit detects the lines of the edge image by checking effective line parameters using the results of the Hough transform. The image processing apparatus may further include an edge list for storing coordinates of effective pixels constituting the edge image and a line parameter list for storing the effective line parameters.

Abstract: An image feature within image data may be identified and located from the maximum values in a Hough voting table. The Hough voting table may be generated by converting edge pixels identified with an image data into an array. The array may be read in row order with theta on the outside loop and rho on the inside loop. In some embodiments, the storage requirements for the Hough voting table may be reduced.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method and apparatus for accelerating computation of a Hough transform of a plurality of digital images of known width and height dimensions. The method includes determining a plurality of Hough values for each pixel location based on the width and height dimensions. The method further includes generating a lookup table comprising an array of Hough values corresponding to one or more Hough parameters of at least one geometric shape in at least one digital image. Each element in the array of Hough values may be based on a value of one or more Hough parameters and at least one of a height value or a width value. The method may include receiving a plurality of digital images having known width and height dimensions. The method may further include selecting, for at least one nonzero pixel of at least one of the plurality of digital images, the Hough values from the lookup table.

Abstract: A comparison apparatus 2 designates first registration information RT1 inherent to a first parameter obtained by applying generalized Hough transform processing to a registered image AIM based on the set first parameter as the registration information RT1 used for the comparison and, designating second registration information RT1 obtained by applying generalized Hough transform processing to the registered image AIM based on a second parameter different from the first parameter as the registration information RT1 used for the comparison when receiving an instruction for change of the registration information RT1 after the designation, whereby security can be improved.

Abstract: A data transform method comprises a linear transform step of acquiring 16 linear Hadamard transform coefficients by multiplying the 16 pieces of data by an Hadamard transform matrix, an offset step of classifying the 16 linear Hadamard transform coefficients into four groups, each group containing an odd number of coefficients, and adding a predetermined offset value to linear Hadamard transform coefficients in every group, and an integral step of acquiring the lossless Hadamard transform coefficients by truncating decimal fractions down from a decimal point from the linear Hadamard transform coefficients added said predetermined offset value. With this configuration, a 16-point lossless Hadamard transform is implemented using only one rounding process.

Abstract: In one aspect, lines in image data of an event are automatically found and repaired. For example, the event may be a sporting event which is played on a field, and the line segment is a field line on the field which may be obscured by a player, game ball or other object. The line segment is automatically detected in a mask image, and a portion of the line segment which is occluded by the object is automatically determined, and the object is automatically removed. The line segment can also be repaired. Optionally, a virtual viewpoint of the event is provided from the image, with the line repaired and the object removed. In another aspect, an object in an image of an event is automatically located by detecting blobs in the image which meet at least one specified criterion, such as size, aspect ratio, density or color profile.

Abstract: A data transform apparatus transforms four integer data D0-D3 into one DC coefficient Y0 and three AC coefficients Y1-Y3 as lossless-Hadamard transform coefficients. A first calculation unit group adds date D0 to respective data D1 to D3. A first shifter shifts data D0 1 bit to the left. A second calculation unit group subtracts three data calculated by the first calculation unit group from output of the shifter. A second shifter halves a calculation result of the second calculation unit group by shifting the subtraction result 1 bit to the right, and executes round processing for truncating a fractional part of the halved data. A sign inverter inverts the sign of output from the second shifter, and outputs it as DC coefficient. A third calculation unit group subtracts output from the sign inverter from output of the first calculation unit group, and outputs these data as AC coefficients.

Abstract: The invention provides a method, a data analyzing system, an apparatus, and article of manufacture which reduce the error in transform equations in which constants are replaced by approximations. This is achieved by factoring an adjustment factor into the calculations which serves to reduce the error introduced by the approximations. For a forward transform equation this may be performed as part of a quantization step and for an inverse transform equation this may be performed as part of a de-quantization step. For example the adjustment factor could reduce the maximum error associated the approximations.

Abstract: Signals generated by an electronic image sensor, during pattern recognition of image contents in a test piece, are evaluated. The image sensor receives an input light signal and emits an electrical output signal that correlates with the input light signal. The image content of a window, having a size of n×n pixels, is analyzed. The output signals that are either directly or indirectly emitted by the image sensor are transformed into at least one translationally invariant characteristic value by the use of at least one calculation specification. This characteristic value is weighted by at least one fuzzy matching function which correlates with the value range of the characteristic value. A higher-order fuzzy matching function is generated by linking all of the matching functions by use of a calculation specification including at least one rule. A sympathy value is determined from the higher-order fuzzy matching function. That sympathy value is compared with a threshold value.

Abstract: Motion detection using sub-band image processing. A device has decompose logic that decomposes an input image into composite images that comprise different frequency bands of the input image. The device also has storage coupled to the decompose logic to store composite images as reference images for comparison with a later input image. The device further has comparison logic to compare the composite images with the reference images to produce preliminary motion values for the different frequency bands. The device also has logic to determine a final motion value from the preliminary motion values.

Abstract: A method of analysing an image comprises performing a Hough transform on points in an image space to an n-dimensional Hough space, selecting points in the Hough space representing features in the image space, and analysing m of the n variables for the selected points, where m is less than n, for information about the features in the image space.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and device for identifying opportunities to transmit in a radio network. The method and device listen for a first, second, and third period of time to detect first, second, and third busy slots. A processor recognizes a sequence of the first, second, and third busy slots as a function of time, performs a Randomized Hough Transform on the sequence, generates a histogram based on the Randomized Hough Transform, identifies peaks in the histogram, determines whether the peaks correspond to a known radar, and identifies an opportunity to transmit.

Abstract: To provide an image matching method, an image matching apparatus, and a program able to perform a matching images at a high accuracy. A Hough transform unit 15 performs a Hough transform processing to a registered image AIM and an image to be matched RIM, in detail, an image processing by which points in each image are transformed to a curved pattern and linear components in each image are transformed to a plurality of the overlapped curved-patterns, based on a distance ? from a reference position to a shortest point in a straight line L passing through a point in the image and an angle ? between a straight line n0 passing though the reference position and the shortest point and a x-axis as a reference axis including the reference position, and generating a transformed image S1621 and a transformed image S1622.