33rd week of 2012 patent applcation highlights part 31 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20120207304 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENCRYPTING DATA IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - In a communications system, a method of transforming a set of message signals representing a message comprising the steps of first encoding one of the set of message signals in accordance with a first keyed transformation, a second encoding of the one of the set of message signals in accordance with at least one additional keyed transformation, a third encoding of the one of the set of message signals in accordance with a self inverting transformation in which at least one of the set of message signals is altered, a fourth encoding of the one of the set of message signals in accordance with at least one additional inverse keyed transformation wherein each of the at least one additional inverse keyed transformation is a corresponding inverse of at least one additional keyed transformation, and fifth encoding the one of the set of message signals in accordance with first inverse keyed transformation wherein the first inverse keyed transformation is the inverse of the first keyed transformation. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207305 | SECURE SMART POSTER - A smart poster system is provided, which includes a smart poster comprising an NFC device, a mobile device for communicating with the NFC device, and a server unit for providing content to the mobile device, wherein the NFC device is arranged to provide the mobile device with an address of the server unit, the address comprising a counter value, which counter value represents the number of executed read accesses to the NFC device. Also, a method for providing a secure communication channel between a mobile device and a server unit in a smart poster system is conceived, wherein the smart poster system comprises an NFC device for providing the mobile device with an address of the server unit, and wherein the NFC device, upon generating the address, incorporates a counter value into the address, the counter value representing the number of executed read accesses to the NFC device. Thereby, the authenticity of both the NFC device and the server unit is ensured. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207306 | On-Demand Download of Partial Encrypted Content for Partial Super Distributed Content - A request to render content associated with a first super distributed content file is detected by a content rendering device. At least one portion of the content associated with the first super distributed content file is determined to be missing from the first super distributed content file. A second file including the at least one portion of the content missing from the first super distributed content file is obtained from a server. The at least one portion of the content of the second file includes partial encrypted portions of the content associated with an encryption system of the content rendering device. A content output stream including decrypted partial encrypted portions of the content of the second file and the content associated with the first super distributed content file is generated. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207307 | AUDIO SIGNAL OF AN FM STEREO RADIO RECEIVER BY USING PARAMETRIC STEREO - The invention relates to an apparatus for improving a stereo audio signal of an FM stereo radio receiver. The apparatus comprises a parametric stereo (PS) parameter estimation stage. The parameter estimation stage is configured to determine one or more parametric stereo parameters based on the stereo audio signal in a frequency-variant or frequency-invariant manner. Preferably, these PS parameters are time- and frequency-variant. Moreover, the apparatus comprises an upmix stage. The upmix stage is configured to generate the improved stereo signal based on a first audio signal and the one or more parametric stereo parameters. The first audio signal is obtained from the stereo audio signal, e.g. by a downmix operation in a downmix stage. The PS parameter estimation stage may be part of a PS encoder. The upmix stage may be part of a PS decoder. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207308 | INTERACTIVE SOUND PLAYBACK DEVICE - An interactive sound playback device includes two speakers, two microphones, a motion sensor, and an audio processing unit. The speakers and the microphones are disposed at two sides of the interactive sound playback device respectively. The audio processing unit is electrically connected to the speakers, the microphones, and the motion sensor, and has a recording mode and a playing mode. In the recording mode, the audio processing unit receives a motion sensing signal from the motion sensor and a first audio signal from the microphones, stores the first audio signal, and stores the motion sensing signal as position information. In the playing mode, the audio processing unit outputs the first audio signal to the speakers through a first path, or adjusts a second audio signal by referring to the motion sensing signal and the position information, and outputs the adjusted second audio signal to the two speakers through a second path. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207309 | Panning Presets - For media clips having audio content, a novel method for applying panning behaviors to the audio content is presented. The method receives a selection of a media clip having audio content and a selection of a panning preset for modifying a set of audio parameters of the audio content to create an audio panning effect. Each panning preset is associated with several sets of values where each set of values corresponds to the set of audio parameters. The audio parameters include parameters for determining a distribution of the audio content across a multi-channel output system. The method applies each the sets of values associated with the selected panning preset to successive portions of the audio content in order to control the distribution of the audio content to the multi-channel output system. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207310 | Multi-Way Analysis for Audio Processing - It is disclosed to determine, for a direction being at least associated with a value of a first direction component and with a value of a second direction component, at least one weighting factor for each basis function of a set of basis functions, each of the basis functions being associated with an audio transfer characteristic, wherein said determining is at least based on a first set of gain factors, associated with the first direction component, and on a second set of gain factors, associated with the second direction component | 2012-08-16 |
20120207311 | OPTIMIZED LOW-BIT RATE PARAMETRIC CODING/DECODING - A parametric coding method and apparatus are provided for coding a multichannel digital audio signal. The method includes a coding step for coding a signal from a channel reduction matrixing of the multichannel signal. The coding method also includes: obtaining, for each frame of predetermined length, spatial information parameters of the multichannel signal; dividing the spatial information parameters into a plurality of blocks of parameters; selecting a block of parameters as a function of the index of the current frame; and coding the block of parameters selected for the current frame. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207312 | PRESERVING MATRIX SURROUND INFORMATION IN ENCODED AUDIO/VIDEO SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method and apparatus for preserving matrix-surround information in encoded audio/video includes a receiver operative to receive matrix-surround encoded audio signals via a modem, separate the audio signals into a frequency spectrum having discrete audio frequencies, and determine a cutoff threshold used to encode the matrix-surround encoded audio signals. The method and apparatus further includes a decoder operative to decode a first set of the audio frequencies below the determined cutoff threshold using a first matrix-surround preserving audio encoding method and to decode a second set of audio frequencies above the cutoff threshold using a second non matrix-surround preserving audio encoding method. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207313 | Coding of Multi-Channel Signals - A system comprises: first and second base stations; and a plurality of relay nodes, each of said relay nodes connected to the first base station, each of said relay nodes being connected to at least one other relay node, whereby at least one relay node is configured to at least one of receive and send information for another of said relays nodes; wherein when at least one of the plurality of relay nodes is handed over to a second base station the at least one relay node is configured to receive and/or send information via another of the relay nodes connected to the first base station. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207314 | CONTROL OF A LOUDSPEAKER OUTPUT - A loudspeaker drive circuit comprises an input for receiving an audio signal and a signal processor for processing the audio signal before application to the loudspeaker. The signal processor processes the audio signal to derive a loudspeaker drive signal which results in the loudspeaker membrane reaching its maximum displacement in both directions of diaphragm displacement. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207315 | AUDIO PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE AUDIO PROCESSING APPARATUS - An audio processing apparatus includes first and second audio pickup units. The second audio pickup unit includes an audio resistor provided to cover a sound receiving portion to suppress external wind introduction while passing an external audio. A first filter attenuates a signal having a frequency lower than a first cutoff frequency of the output signal of a first A/D converter. A second filter attenuates a signal having a frequency higher than a second cutoff frequency of the output signal of a second A/D converter. A third filter is provided between the first audio pickup unit and the first A/D converter to attenuate a signal having a frequency lower than a third cutoff frequency for suppressing the wind noise. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207316 | Operation of a Noise Cancellation Device - A method for improving the performance of a noise cancellation device, the method includes determining whether one or more noise making objects (NMO) are near an audible range of the noise cancellation device and receiving a signal from the one or more NMOs indicative of a kind of noise the one or more NMOs is generating. The method also includes selecting a specific noise cancellation model to reduce an expected noise in response to the received kind of noise the one or more NMOs is generating. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207317 | EAR-COUPLING DETECTION AND ADJUSTMENT OF ADAPTIVE RESPONSE IN NOISE-CANCELING IN PERSONAL AUDIO DEVICES - A personal audio device, such as a wireless telephone, includes an adaptive noise canceling (ANC) circuit that adaptively generates an anti-noise signal from a reference microphone signal and injects the anti-noise signal into the speaker or other transducer output to cause cancellation of ambient audio sounds. An error microphone is also provided proximate the speaker to estimate an electro-acoustical path from the noise canceling circuit through the transducer. A processing circuit determines a degree of coupling between the user's ear and the transducer and adjusts the adaptive cancellation of the ambient sounds to prevent erroneous and possibly disruptive generation of the anti-noise signal if the degree of coupling lies either below or above a range of normal operating ear contact pressure. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207318 | SOUND SIGNAL OUTPUT APPARATUS, SPEAKER APPARATUS, AND SOUND SIGNAL OUTPUT METHOD - A sound signal output apparatus includes: a wearing state determination unit which determines whether or not a connected speaker apparatus is fitted to an ear of a user; a volume adjustment unit which adjusts volume of a sound signal to be supplied to the speaker apparatus; and an accumulative computation unit which computes an accumulative value of output volume in accordance with a volume level and sound output time of the sound signal, causes the volume adjustment unit to execute volume regulation when the accumulative value reaches a regulatory value, and does not compute the accumulative value during a period in which the wearing state determination unit determines that the speaker apparatus is not fitted to the ear. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207319 | SOUND SIGNAL OUTPUT APPARATUS AND SOUND SIGNAL OUTPUT METHOD - A sound signal output apparatus includes: a wearing state determination unit which analyzes an electric output of a connected speaker apparatus and determines whether the speaker apparatus is in a wearing state or in a non-wearing state in a user's ear; a sound signal output processing unit which outputs a sound signal to be supplied to the speaker apparatus; and a control computation unit which computes an accumulative value of output volume in accordance with a volume level and sound output time of the sound signal, causes the sound signal output processing unit to execute volume regulation when the accumulative value reaches a regulatory value, and does not compute the accumulative value during a period in which it is determined by the wearing state determination unit that a current state is the non-wearing state. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207320 | EARPHONE WITH TOGGLE MECHANISM - An earphone comprising a moving part, adapted to close an auditory port thereby toggling the earphone from an open mode allowing environmental sounds to reach an ear of the user to a closed mode blocking the ear of the user. The closing is accomplished while the earphone is in operation. The sound capsule of the earphone may also be activated and deactivated according to the mode of the earphone. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207321 | SPEAKER DEVICE - A speaker device includes a static part, a driving part and a vibrating body. The vibrating body includes a plurality of diaphragms supported by the static part. A vibration direction converter part is provided between a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm facing each other in a plurality of the diaphragms, and connects the first diaphragm with the second diaphragm such that the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm synchronously move toward and away from each other. A part of the vibration direction converter part disposed in the proximity of the static part is supported by the static part, and a part of the vibration direction converter part disposed in the proximity of the driving part is supported by the driving part. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207322 | MICROPHONE ARRAY WITH REAR VENTING - Microphone arrays (MAs) are described that position and vent microphones so that performance of a noise suppression system coupled to the microphone array is enhanced. The MA includes at least two physical microphones to receive acoustic signals. The physical microphones make use of a common rear vent (actual or virtual) that samples a common pressure source. The MA includes a physical directional microphone configuration and a virtual directional microphone configuration. By making the input to the rear vents of the microphones (actual or virtual) as similar as possible, the real-world filter to be modeled becomes much simpler to model using an adaptive filter. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207323 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SOUND SOURCE LOCALIZATION USING MICROPHONES - A method and apparatus for sound source localization using microphones are disclosed. The method includes: receiving signals coming from a sound source through microphones covering all directions; distinguishing the received signals into those signals directly input to the microphones from the sound source (direct signals) and those signals indirectly input to the microphones (indirect signals); identifying a candidate region at which the sound source is present using locations of the microphones receiving direct signals; selecting a point in the candidate region as a candidate location; drawing one or more virtual tangent lines, contacting with the circumference of the apparatus, from the candidate location; placing locations of the microphones receiving indirect signals on the virtual tangent lines; and localizing the sound source on the basis of signals passing through the microphones receiving direct signals and through the virtual locations of the microphones receiving indirect signals. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207324 | Multiple Microphone System - A microphone system has a primary microphone for producing a primary signal, a secondary microphone for producing a secondary signal, and a selector operatively coupled with both the primary microphone and the secondary microphone. The system also has an output for delivering an output audible signal principally produced by one of the to microphones. The selector selectively permits either 1) at least a portion of the primary signal and/or 2) at least a portion of the secondary signal to be forwarded to the output as a function of the noise in the primary signal. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207325 | Multi-Channel Wind Noise Suppression System and Method - A system and method for suppressing noise in one or more of at least first and second channels include obtaining a magnitude difference of signals in the first and second channels, obtaining a magnitude sum of signals in the first and second channels, obtaining a ratio of the magnitude difference to the magnitude sum, generating an attenuation value based on the ratio, selecting an attenuator based on the magnitude difference, and attenuating a signal in a channel by the attenuation value using the selected attenuator. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207326 | SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD, INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND STORAGE MEDIUM FOR STORING A SIGNAL PROCESSING PROGRAM - Provided is a noise suppressing technology capable of suppressing various noises including unknown noises without storing information relating to a large number of noises in advance. Noises in a degraded signal are suppressed and noise information is generated on the basis of a noise suppression result. The noises in the degraded signal are suppressed using the generated noise information. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207327 | Processing Audio Signals - According to an embodiment, a method of reducing noise in a signal received at a processing stage of an acoustic system includes, at the processing stage identifying at least one frequency which causes a system gain of the acoustic system to be above an average system gain of the acoustic system; providing a noise attenuation factor for reducing noise in the signal for the at least one frequency, the noise attenuation factor for the at least one frequency based on the system gain for that frequency; and applying the noise attenuation factor to a component of the signal at that frequency. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207328 | DYNAMIC BASS EQUALIZATION WITH MODIFIED SALLEN-KEY HIGH PASS FILTER - A dynamic bass equalization circuit has an amplitude dependent gain that is dependent upon the audio electrical signal amplitude and a dynamically adjusted frequency response that varies with the amplitude dependent gain. In one implementation, the dynamic bass equalization circuit includes a Sallen-Key high pass filter that includes an amplifier with a negative feedback path. The dynamically adjusted frequency response is provided by a parallel pair of reversed diodes connected in the negative feedback path. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207329 | AUDIO DEVICE VOLUME MANAGER USING MEASURED VOLUME PERCEIVED AT A FIRST AUDIO DEVICE TO CONTROL VOLUME GENERATION BY A SECOND AUDIO DEVICE - An audio volume control method employs an audio system that includes a first audio device and a second audio device. A communications link connects the first and second audio devices together so that each may communicate with the other. The audio system includes an audio volume manager that varies the audio output level of the second audio device as a function of the perceived loudness of the second audio device as perceived at the first audio device. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207330 | AUDIO SIGNAL AMPLIFYING CIRCUIT - The present disclosure provides an audio signal amplifying circuit for an electronic device including a processing chip and a speaker. The audio signal amplifying circuit includes an amplifying circuit and an inverting circuit connected to the processing chip to get a first control signal and invert the first control signal to generate a second control signal. The first control signal and/or the second control signal are used to control the operation mode of the amplifying circuit to be in an amplifying mode or in a non-amplifying mode. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207331 | PREAMPLIFIER CIRCUIT AND MICROPHONE HAVING THE SAME - A preamplifier has first and second PMOS transistors each functioning as a source follower. Furthermore, the preamplifier circuit has third and fourth PMOS transistors functioning in pairs as a differential amplifier. A gate of the first transistor and a gate of the fourth transistor are coupled together through a second variable capacitor. A gate of the second transistor and a gate of the third transistor are coupled together through a first variable capacitor. A source of the first transistor and a drain of the third transistor are coupled together. A source of the second transistor and a drain of the fourth transistor are coupled together. A source of the third transistor and a source of the fourth transistor are coupled together. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207332 | Housed Loudspeaker Array - A housed loudspeaker array includes a first substrate having a plurality of loudspeaker elements formed therein, a second substrate fixed at a first surface of the first substrate in a flip-chip manner and comprising a plurality of orifices that are aligned with the loudspeaker elements of the plurality of loudspeaker elements of the first substrate, and a cover applied to a second surface of the first substrate opposite to the first surface. A method for manufacturing the housed loudspeaker array is also disclosed. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207333 | Sound Box - A sound box includes a tweeter, a mid-range speaker, a woofer, an infrared receiver, a LED displayer and an integral module. The infrared receiver receives a control signal. The LED displayer is connected to the infrared receiver. The integral module includes a processor, an audio input port, a stereo audio input port, an USB input port, a video output port, a power amplifier, an output port and a control module. The USB input port is connected to the processor. The video output port is, connected between the processor and a displayer. The power amplifier has an output port and is connected to the tweeter, mid-range speaker, woofer, infrared receiver and LED displayer. The audio output port sends signals from the audio input port, stereo audio input port, USB input port and processor to the power amplifier which generates an amplified signal. The control module is connected to the power amplifier. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207334 | Microphone Having Multiple Transducer Elements - A microphone is provided. The microphone has a housing; an acoustic port located in the housing; a substrate coupled with the housing; an integrated circuit positioned onto the substrate; and two or more MEMS transducers mounted on the substrate wherein the transducers are connected in parallel. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207335 | PORTED MEMS MICROPHONE - A microphone has first and second supports, a MEMS cartridge attached to the first support, at least part of the MEMS cartridge facing an opening in the first support, adhesive attaching the MEMS cartridge to the first support, an AMP/AD device attached to one of the supports, and a first conductor through which the MEMS cartridge electrically communicates with the AMP/AD. A second conductor is provided through which the AMP/AD electrically communicates with the external electrical contact, and a casing is located between and attached to the first and second supports. During operation, the MEMS cartridge receives an acoustic signal and generates a first electrical signal, the AMP/AD receives the first electrical signal from the MEMS cartridge, and the AMP/AD outputs to the external electrical contact a second electrical signal related to the first electrical signal. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207336 | Microphone Cap and Microphone - A cap body | 2012-08-16 |
20120207337 | VENTED IN-THE-EAR HEADPHONE - A vented tip for in-the-ear headphones has a core portion to be mounted to a sound output tube of an in-the-ear earphone and a flange portion extending outward from and surrounding the core portion. The vented tip has a) an outer portion formed in the flange portion that is to be in contact with, and thereby form a seal with, a user's ear canal, and b) an inner portion spaced inwards from the outer portion to thereby not form the seal with the user's ear canal. The inner portion has a calibrated perforation or hole formed therein. Other embodiments that may help reduce bone conduction effects are also described and claimed. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207338 | VORTEX COOLING OF VOICE COILS - A low frequency transducer arrangement includes at least one substantially annular magnet. A voice coil is disposed within and concentric with the magnet. A pole is disposed within and concentric with the voice coil. An air gap is defined between the magnet and the pole. The pole includes a bottom half having a downwardly facing axial recess. A plurality of first air passages extend laterally from the axial recess and fluidly interconnect the recess and the air gap. A top half has an upwardly facing axial recess. A plurality of second air passages extend laterally from the upwardly facing axial recess and fluidly interconnect the upwardly facing recess and the air gap. The first air passages and/or the second air passages are non-radially oriented. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207339 | MULTIPLE MAGNETIC AIR GAP MOTOR - A low frequency transducer arrangement includes a substantially cylindrical structure surrounding a pole piece. The pole piece and the substantially cylindrical structure define a substantially cylindrical air gap therebetween. Two opposite ends of the air gap are both open and separated from each other in an axial direction. A first magnet is disposed in either the pole piece or the substantially cylindrical structure. A second magnet is separated in the axial direction from the first magnet by a middle magnetic gap. The second magnet is disposed in either the pole piece or the substantially cylindrical structure. The first and second magnets provide flux in a same direction in the middle magnetic gap. A top magnetic gap is disposed axially adjacent the first magnet and opposite the middle magnetic gap. A bottom magnetic gap is disposed axially adjacent the second magnet and opposite the middle magnetic gap. A voice coil is at least partially disposed in the air gap and operates in the middle magnetic gap. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207340 | METHOD FOR AUTOMATED TIRE DETECTION AND RECOGNITION - Methods and systems for discriminating between tires. One or more images of an unknown tire are received. One or more tread features are extracted from the images. The class of the unknown tire is determined using a classifier that matches the tread features to known tread features. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207341 | WIRELESS ENABLED MEMORY MODULE - A wireless-enabled memory module provides host devices access to a memory via a standard memory expansion interface and further incorporates embedded processing capability and a wireless network capability. The wireless-enabled memory module can be used in any host device providing a compatible memory card controller and interface. Host devices so equipped become wireless-memory enabled devices and can provide memory access to any other remote device enabled for compatible wireless communications. It is thereby possible for a remote device to access the memory content of the memory module, and cause transfers of either full-size or scaled versions of the content to the remote device through a first network, and optionally further transfer the content from the remote device through a second network to the Internet in the form of an e-mail message or MMS attachment. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207342 | COPY PROTECTION - A method is provided for transmitting media content from a media content receiving device such as a set-top-box to one or more user devices capable of displaying, storing or outputting the media content. The method includes receiving, at the set-top-box, media content encoded according to a particular format, embedding in the media content, while it is encoded according to the particular format, a watermark containing data identifying the set-top-box and then transmitting the watermarked media content to one or more user devices. Encoding a watermark while the content is encoded according the received format allows protection to be added and the content passed to other devices without having to decode the content first. The method may be implemented by a suitable media content receiving device operating a computer program. A corresponding apparatus for implementing the method is provided. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207343 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING A FORECAST WEATHER IMAGE - Described are a method and an apparatus for generating a forecast weather image such as a forecast weather radar image. The method uses filters to approximate viscous alignment and to thereby determine displacement fields having meaningful structure. In various embodiments a power-law energy spectrum is utilized for deformations in the displacement field through the application of a set of Gabor filters. The Gabor filters are applied in a sequential manner to gradient error images and values of modes of motions corresponding to the Gabor filters are determined. The values are used to generate the displacement field which can then be applied to an existing weather image to generate a forecast weather image. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207344 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HIDING DATA FOR HALFTONE IMAGES - We propose methods for generating a halftone image, in which each pixel takes one of two tone values. The generated image contains hidden data, which is present at data storage pixels chosen using a pseudo-random number generator. In a first case, the data is hidden within an existing halftone image by reversing the tone value at certain of the data storage pixels, and at pixels neighbouring the data storage pixels. In a second case, the halftone image is generated from a grey-scale image, and data is hidden during this conversion process. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207345 | TOUCHLESS HUMAN MACHINE INTERFACE - A system and method for receiving input from a user is provided. The system includes at least one camera configured to receive an image of a hand of the user and a controller configured to analyze the image and issue a command based on the analysis of the image. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207346 | Detecting and Localizing Multiple Objects in Images Using Probabilistic Inference - An object detection system is disclosed herein. The object detection system allows detection of one or more objects of interest using a probabilistic model. The probabilistic model may include voting elements usable to determine which hypotheses for locations of objects are probabilistically valid. The object detection system may apply an optimization algorithm such as a simple greedy algorithm to find hypotheses that optimize or maximize a posterior probability or log-posterior of the probabilistic model or a hypothesis receiving a maximal probabilistic vote from the voting elements in a respective iteration of the algorithm. Locations of detected objects may then be ascertained based on the found hypotheses. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207347 | IMAGE ROTATION FROM LOCAL MOTION ESTIMATES - A measure of frame-to-frame rotation is determined. Integral projection vector gradients are determined and normalized for a pair of images. Locations of primary maximum and minimum peaks of the integral projection vector gradients are determined. Based on normalized distances between the primary maximum and minimum peaks, a global image rotation is determined. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207348 | VEHICLE DETECTION APPARATUS - A vehicle detection apparatus includes a lamp candidate extraction unit that extracts a pixel region that may correspond to a tail lamp of a vehicle from pixel regions that an integration processing unit creates by extracting and integrating pixels of an image as a lamp candidate and a grouping unit that regroups groups containing the lamp candidate of the groups generated by grouping position data detected by a position detection unit and then regroups all groups. In the regrouping processing, a threshold used for regrouping groups containing the lamp candidate is set easier for regrouping than a threshold used for subsequently regrouping all groups. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207349 | TARGETED CONTENT ACQUISITION USING IMAGE ANALYSIS - A method is provided in which a tag is affixed to a known individual that is to be identified within a known field of view of an image capture system. The tag is a physical tag comprising at least a known feature. Subsequent to affixing the tag to the known individual, image data is captured within the known field of view of the image capture system, which is then provided to a processor. Image analysis is performed on the captured image data to detect the at least a known feature. In dependence upon detecting the at least a known feature, an occurrence of the known individual within the captured image data is identified. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207350 | APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFICATION OF AN OBJECT QUEUE, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM - In daily life, people are often forced to join a queue in order, for example, to pay at a checkout or to be dealt with at an airport, etc. Because of the various forms of a queue, these are not usually recorded automatically, but are analyzed manually. For example, if a long queue is formed at a supermarket, as a result of which the predicted waiting time for the customers rises above a threshold value, this situation can be identified by the checkout personnel, and a further checkout can be opened. A device | 2012-08-16 |
20120207351 | METHOD AND EXAMINATION APPARATUS FOR EXAMINING AN ITEM UNDER EXAMINATION IN THE FORM OF A PERSON AND/OR A CONTAINER - An examination apparatus examines an item including a person or a container and has a determination unit for determining a relevance level which can be assigned to the item under examination, in particular a hazard level, and an image capture unit for capturing an image of the item under examination. The examination apparatus has a database, an automated evaluation unit for automatically evaluating at least one section of the image using the database, an evaluation unit operated by a user for the visual evaluation of a section of the image by the user, and an input unit for inputting at least one evaluation input by the user, and a database processing unit for processing the database. The database processing unit processes a database entry using the evaluation input in conjunction with the determination of the relevance level. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207352 | Image Capture and Identification System and Process - A digital image of the object is captured and the object is recognized from plurality of objects in a database. An information address corresponding to the object is then used to access information and initiate communication pertinent to the object. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207353 | System And Method For Detecting And Tracking An Object Of Interest In Spatio-Temporal Space - 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. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207354 | IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - Receiving an instruction from a user to start sensing a still image, an image sensing apparatus performs scene determination based on an evaluation value of scene determination from an image sensed immediately after the luminance of the image converges to a predetermined range of a target luminance. The image sensing apparatus can accurately determine a scene of the image even the image sensor with a narrow dynamic range. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207355 | X-RAY CT APPARATUS AND IMAGE DISPLAY METHOD OF X-RAY CT APPARATUS - The X-ray CT apparatus which includes an X-ray generator and an X-ray detector for acquiring projection data of an object from plural angles and creates an arbitrary cross-sectional image of the object on the basis of the projection data includes: an extraction section which extracts a region, which includes a target organ moving periodically, from the cross-sectional image; a synchronous phase determination section which determines a synchronous phase, which is used when creating a synchronous cross-sectional image synchronized with periodic motion of the target organ, on the basis of continuity of the target organ in a direction perpendicular to the cross-sectional image; a synchronous cross-sectional image creating section which creates the synchronous cross-sectional image on the basis of projection data corresponding to the synchronous phase determined by the synchronous phase determination section; and a display unit which displays the synchronous cross-sectional image. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207356 | TARGETED CONTENT ACQUISITION USING IMAGE ANALYSIS - A method comprises storing within a storage device template image data for a known individual and storing in association with the template image data an image-forwarding rule. Image data within the known field of view of the image capture system is captured and is provided to a processor, the processor in communication with the storage device. Using the processor, image analysis is performed on the captured image data to identify the known individual, based on the stored template data for the known individual. In dependence upon identifying the known individual within the captured image data, the captured image data is processed in accordance with the image-forwarding rule. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207357 | OCULAR AND IRIS PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A condition based method that selects an appropriate approach among various iris and ocular image recognition algorithms for matching periocular images of a probe and target as a function of quality of images to obtain robust matching even under non-ideal acquisition scenarios. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207358 | Illumination Detection Using Classifier Chains - A face illumination normalization method includes acquiring a digital image including a face that appears to be illuminated unevenly. One or more uneven illumination classifier programs are applied to the face data to determine the presence of the face within the digital image and/or the uneven illumination condition of the face. The uneven illumination condition may be corrected to thereby generate a corrected face image appearing to have more uniform illumination, for example, to enhance face recognition. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207359 | Image Registration - Image registration is described. In an embodiment an image registration system executes automatic registration of images, for example medical images. In an example, semantic information is computed for each of the images to be registered comprising information about the types of objects in the images and the certainty of that information. In an example a mapping is found to register the images which takes into account the intensities of the image elements as well as the semantic information in a manner which is weighted by the certainty of that semantic information. For example, the semantic information is computed by estimating posterior distributions for the locations of anatomical structures by using a regression forest and transforming the posterior distributions into a probability map. In an example the mapping is found as a global point of inflection of an energy function, the energy function having a term related to the semantic information. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207360 | Systems and Methods for Object Identification - Systems and methods for object identification. Objects in a color image of a biological sample are identified by using a signal function to transform the color image into a single-channel image with localized extrema. The localized extrema may be segmented into objects by an iterative thresholding process and a merit function may be used to determine the quality of a given result. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207361 | System and Methods for Quantitative Image Analysis Platform Over the Internet for Clinical Trials - The present disclosure is directed at a system and method for analyzing clinical trial data over a network. The system and method specifics image protocols, encodes a number of protocols and communicates that information to an acquisition unit that appends the protocols to a digital image. When the image needs to be analyzed to gather clinical trial data, the encoded information is extracted and the correct software application is initialized and used to analyze the image. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207362 | MAPPING OF LITERATURE ONTO REGIONS OF INTEREST ON NEUROLOGICAL IMAGES - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for analyzing neurological images. A set of brain scans for a patient is compared to a set of baseline control scans to automatically identify regions of interest in the set of patient scans. A region of interest is an area in a scan that shows an indication of a potential abnormality. A set of electronic medical literature sources is searched for medical literature relevant to the regions of interest in the set of patient scans. The relevant medical literature is correlated to the medical literature describing the regions of interest in the set of patient scans to the regions of interest in the set of patient scans. A result is generated. The result comprises the regions of interest and a set of links to the correlated portions of the relevant medical literature are outputted. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207363 | System and Method for Quality Assurance in Pathology - Systems and methods for improving quality assurance in pathology using automated quality assessment and digital image enhancements on digital slides prior to analysis by the pathologist are provided. A digital pathology system (slide scanning instrument and software) creates, assesses and improves the quality of a digital slide. The improved digital slide image has a higher image quality that results in increased efficiency and accuracy in the analysis and diagnosis of such digital slides when they are reviewed on a monitor by a pathologist. These improved digital slides yield a more objective diagnosis than reading the corresponding glass slide under a microscope. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207364 | METHOD FOR CHARACTERIZING A BLOOD VESSEL - The present invention relates to a method for characterizing a blood vessel represented by vascular image data, wherein said vascular image data comprises a plurality of voxels each having an image intensity, said method comprising the steps of identifying a set of voxels representing a boundary of the blood vessel; determining a gradient vector of the image intensity for each voxel in said set of voxels representing the boundary of the blood vessel; selecting, from said set of voxels representing the boundary of the blood vessel, a subset of voxels such that all voxels have a common intersection point for their respective gradient vector extensions; and determining a vector product based on said gradient vectors for said subset of voxels, wherein the common intersection point indicates a centre of said blood vessel and said vector product indicates a direction in which said blood vessel extends. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207365 | Method, A Graphic User Interface, A System and A Computer Program for Optimizing Workflow of a Medical Intervention - The invention relates to a method of optimizing workflow for an intervention, comprising the steps of reconstruction of an image of a target area representative of an envisaged intervention based on imaging dataset; automatically selecting an optimal viewing direction for enabling a pre-operative quantitative analysis of intervention features. The invention further relates to a computer program and a system for optimizing a workflow of an intervention. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207366 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SEGMENTING A LIVER OBJECT IN AN IMAGE - A method for segmenting an object of interest (which may be a liver object) in an input image is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: (a) segmenting the points in a region of interest in the input image into a first and second group of points using predetermined intensity threshold values; (b) identifying a first set of small connected components formed by points in the first group of points and transferring the points in the first set of small connected components to the second group of points; (c) identifying a second set of small connected components formed by points in the second group of points and transferring the points in the second set of small connected components to the first group of points; and (d) forming the segmented object of interest using the first group of points. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207367 | ALIGNMENT OF AN ORDERED STACK OF IMAGES FROM A SPECIMEN - The present invention relates to the field of alignment of an ordered stack of images from a sliced specimen. According to the present method and apparatus, the ordered stack of images is aligned by successively determining, for at least two already aligned images of the ordered stack, the respective misalignments with an unaligned image which is to be aligned next, selecting from the at least two aligned images as a reference image that aligned image with which the unaligned image has the smallest amount of misalignment, and aligning the unaligned image with the selected reference image. This is intended to provide a robust and computationally cheap aligning method and apparatus. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207368 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - An information processing apparatus for deforming an original image includes an obtaining unit configured to obtain a deformation rule by associating a movement of a feature area caused by deformation of the original image with the deformation, and a deformation unit configured to deform the original image in accordance with the deformation rule, using, as a condition of constraint, position information about a feature area of the target image and a corresponding area of the original image. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207369 | Presentation of Locations in Medical Diagnosis - Locations, such as computer assisted detection marks, are presented in medical imaging diagnosis, such as for colon computed tomography diagnosis. To avoid fly-through and/or to assist in more rapid and thorough review of CAD marks, a summary of a plurality of detected candidates is pre-computed and presented to the user in a single collection. For example, a single display or screen view includes a gallery of images for different candidates. These pre-computed images are displayed on the screen, allowing the user to quickly identify locations of interest and rule out other locations. The summary may be used for navigation outside the CAD context, such as presenting different portions of an organ to be viewed. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207370 | Systems and Methods for Simultaneous Acquisition of Scatter and Image Projection Data in Computed Tomography - A method of acquiring scatter data and image projection data in computed tomography is provided that includes attenuating a radiation source using a pattern of blockers arranged to provide blocked and unblocked regions of the radiation source, and acquiring image data and scatter data of a target using an imaging device. A scatter map in the projection image can be estimated by interpolation and/or extrapolation of the projection image using an appropriately programmed computer, subtracting the estimated scatter map from the projection image to obtain scatter-corrected projections, reconstructing a CBCT volume using a total variation regularization algorithm, and applying an iterative regularization process to suppress the noise level on the reconstructed CBCT volume. Reconstructing a CBCT volume can include using a total variation regularization algorithm and applying an iterative regularization process to suppress the noise level on the reconstructed CBCT volume, where scatter-induced artifacts are corrected in the projection image. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207371 | MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND MEDICAL IMAGE DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS - A medical image processing apparatus comprises: an acquiring part configured to acquire a morphological image that is formed by a first apparatus and shows the morphology of an organ of an object, and a functional image that is formed by a second apparatus different from the first apparatus and shows the state of the organ; a display; and a processor configured to cause the display to display a synthetic image based on the morphological image and the functional image. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207372 | RADIOTHERAPY SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD FOR RADIOTHERAPY SYSTEM - A radiotherapy system has: a placing unit placing a subject; an imaging unit performing an imaging of the subject; a region setting unit setting a required region of first image data obtained by the imaging unit performing the imaging of the subject and setting a corresponding required region of second image data obtained by, before the imaging, performing a pre-imaging of the subject; a histogram generating unit generating a dose-volume histogram of the required region of the first image data and generating a dose-volume histogram of the required region of the second image data; a difference computing unit computing a difference between the dose-volume histogram of the required region of the first image data and the dose-volume histogram of the required region of the second image data; and an outputting unit, if it is determined that the difference is greater than a threshold value, outputting the determination to an outside. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207373 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS OF LESIONS REPRESENTED BY IMAGE DATA - A system for three-dimensional analysis of lesions in image data is disclosed. It comprises a lesion detection subsystem ( | 2012-08-16 |
20120207374 | System and Method for Image Reconstruction By Using Multi-Sheet Surface Rebinning - The present application is directed toward the generation of three dimensional images in a tomography system having X-ray sources offset from detectors, in particular in a system where the sources are located on a plane, while detectors are located on multiple parallel planes, parallel to the plane of sources and all the planes of detectors lie on one side of the plane of sources. A controller operates to rebin detected X-rays onto a non-flat surface, perform two dimensional reconstruction on the surface, and generate the three dimensional image from reconstructed images on the plurality of surfaces. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207375 | Bioinspired System for Processing and Characterising Colour Attributes of a Digital Image - A method of processing color attributes of digital images is bioinspired and includes an architecture that emulates the functions of the retina of a primate based on an image as input. The method detects the color attributes in the image. The output is a data set that includes emulators that a virtual retina in which each emulator is parameterized and in which there are emulators of type G ON and G OFF midget ganglion cells, emulators of bistratified ganglion cells, and emulators of type R ON and OFF midget ganglion cells each connected to a plurality of type R ON and OFF midget bipolar cell emulators which in turn are connected through horizontal cell emulators, to a plurality of type L cone photoreceptor emulators and to a plurality of horizontal emulators and generates a third colour channel (A) of output signals. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207376 | Bioinspired System for Image Processing - A method for digital image processing is bioinspired and includes an architecture that emulates the functions of photoreceptors, horizontal cells, bipolar cells and ganglion cells of a primate retina based on an image as input. The method detects edges and properties of the surfaces present in the digital image. The output is a data set that includes photoreceptor emulators that emulate photoreceptor cells and connected to the data input. Each emulator includes a cellular base structure with a modulated data input, a calculation center to process the modulated data and an output of the data processed by the calculation center, and the emulators forming a virtual retina in which each emulator is parameterized. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207377 | Medical imaging system - A medical imaging system for processing an original medical image is provided. The system includes a seed generator for receiving the original medical image representing an original blood vessel and to generate coarse seeds on a basis of vesselness feature in respect to every pixel of the original blood vessel represented by the medical image, and a seed processor for receiving the coarse seeds and for processing the coarse seeds to select a set of refined seeds on a basis of the regression profile for each of the coarse seed by using random forest classification, such that the set of refined seeds are selected from the coarse seeds such that the set of refined seeds adapted to lie on a corrected blood vessel. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207378 | Medical Imaging System for Segementing Blood Vessel - A medical imaging system to segment an original blood vessel of a body part represented by an original medical image is provided. The system includes an image analyzer for receiving and the original medical image to analyze the original medical image to provide a Hessian Eigen analysis comprising a first data and a second data mapped to each pixel of the medical image, and an image identifier for receiving the Hessian Eigen analysis and for identifying seed points from the pixels by processing the first data and the second data along with a vesselness property, wherein the seed points are used for segmenting the original blood vessel to provide a corrected medical image representing a corrected blood vessel. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207379 | Image Inspection Apparatus, Image Inspection Method, And Computer Program - The present invention provides an image inspection apparatus and a method which remove noise even when there is a change in brightness of a multi-valued image, and which inspect a defect, and relates to a computer program. A multi-valued image is acquired, and a reference intensity value based on intensity information for the image is calculated. A difference for each pixel between the intensity value and the reference intensity value is calculated, and a threshold value to track and change in response to a change in the reference intensity value is set and stored. Pixels that have a calculated difference that is larger than the threshold value is extracted, and an aggregate body of pixels based on a connectivity of the intensity value of the extracted pixels is specified, and a characteristic amount using the difference is calculated. A defect is discriminated based on the calculated characteristic amount. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207380 | METHOD FOR ANALYZING THE QUALITY OF A GLAZING UNIT - A method for analyzing quality of a glazing unit including: generating a digital image of a test chart produced in reflection by an outer surface of the glazing, the test chart presenting a pattern composed of a plurality of contrasted elements defining between them interface lines; calculating quantities representative of the glazing from the image generated, the calculation being carried out by a processing unit; and comparing the calculated values for the representative values relative to reference values. The representative quantities are representative of a deformation of the image of the test chart produced in reflection by the outer surface of the glazing. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207381 | Systems and Methods Eliminating False Defect Detections - A method for inspecting a manufactured product includes applying a first test regimen to the manufactured product to identify product defects. The first test regimen produces a first set of defect candidates. The method further includes applying a second test regimen to the manufactured product to identify product defects. The second test regimen produces a second set of defect candidates, and the second test regimen is different from the first test regimen. The method also includes generating a first filtered defect set by eliminating ones of the first set of defect candidates that are not indentified in the second set of defect candidates. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207382 | FAULT INSPECTION METHOD - A fault inspection method and apparatus in which the scattergram is separated or objects of comparison are combined in such a manner as to reduce the difference between an inspection object image and a reference image. As a result, the difference between images caused by the thickness difference in the wafer can be tolerated and the false information generation prevented without adversely affecting the sensitivity. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207383 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING SEGMENTATION OF AN IMAGE - A method and system for segmenting a plurality of images. The method comprises the steps of segmenting the image through a novel clustering technique that is, generating a composite depth map including temporally stable segments of the image as well as segments in subsequent images that have changed. These changes may be determined by determining one or more differences between the temporally stable depth map and segments included in one or more subsequent frames. Thereafter, the portions of the one or more subsequent frames that include segments including changes from their corresponding segments in the temporally stable depth map are processed and are combined with the segments from the temporally stable depth map to compute their associated disparities in one or more subsequent frames. The images may include a pair of stereo images acquired through a stereo camera system at a substantially similar time. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207384 | Representing Object Shapes Using Radial Basis Function Support Vector Machine Classification - A shape of an object is represented by a set of points inside and outside the shape. A decision function is learned from the set of points an object. Feature points in the set of points are selected using the decision function, or a gradient of the decision function, and then a local descriptor is determined for each feature point. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207385 | COLOR PROCESSING APPARATUS, COLOR PROCESSING METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - A color processing apparatus includes a first calculation unit, a determination unit, and a second calculation unit. The first calculation unit calculates a second color signal from a first color signal by using successive approximation. The first color signal is given by repeatedly calculating a first successive solution using an inverse matrix of a sensitivity matrix of an input/output characteristic function of an output device. The determination unit determines whether or not the first successive solution calculated by the first calculation unit is divergent. The second calculation unit calculates a second successive solution using a method different from a method used by the first calculation unit when the determination unit determines that the first successive solution is divergent. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207386 | Updating A Low Frame Rate Image Using A High Frame Rate Image Stream - Technology is described for enhancing low frame rate media or static images using higher-frame rate information. An example method can update a static image using a video stream. The method can obtain the video stream from a video source, and the video stream can be aligned to the static image. Another operation can be analyzing a change in the video stream as compared to the static image. The change can be applied to the video stream to the static image. A further operation may be displaying the static image with the change applied. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207387 | Method and Apparatus for Multi-Dimensional Content Search and Video Identification - A multi-dimensional database and indexes and operations on the multi-dimensional database are described which include video search applications or other similar sequence or structure searches. Traversal indexes utilize highly discriminative information about images and video sequences or about object shapes. Global and local signatures around keypoints are used for compact and robust retrieval and discriminative information content of images or video sequences of interest. For other objects or structures relevant signature of pattern or structure are used for traversal indexes. Traversal indexes are stored in leaf nodes along with distance measures and occurrence of similar images in the database. During a sequence query, correlation scores are calculated for single frame, for frame sequence, and video clips, or for other objects or structures. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207388 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPARITY COMPUTATION IN STEREO IMAGES - A method and system for generating a disparity map. The method comprises the steps of generating a first disparity map based upon a first image and a second image acquired at a first time, acquiring at least a third image and a fourth image at a second time, and determining one or more portions comprising a difference between one of the first and second images and a corresponding one of the third and fourth images. A disparity map update is generated for the one or more determined portions, and a disparity map is generated based upon the third image and the fourth image by combining the disparity map update and the first disparity map. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207389 | IDENTIFYING PRODUCT METADATA FROM AN ITEM IMAGE - A metadata extraction machine accesses an image that depicts an item and identifies an attribute of the item and a descriptor that specifies a value for the identified attribute. The machine identifies the attribute and the descriptor based on an analysis of the accessed image that includes distinguishing a foreground portion of the image from a background portion of the image. Distinguishing a foreground portion from the background portion may include segmenting the image to identify the foreground and background portions. Some or all of the analysis may be performed by the machine. The machine then stores the identified descriptor of the item as metadata of the item. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207390 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REPLACING NON-IMAGE TEXT - Systems and methods for replacing non-image text are provided. One method for replacing non-image text includes padding a first data representing an image of text to create an image segment. The method includes replacing a second data representing non-image text with the image segment. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207391 | INTERACTIVE PAPER SYSTEM - A printer, scanner device and methods for using same are described herein. A printer device may include a dedicated input that, when actuated, generates and sends a request to a computer for known data or a predetermined print job, e.g., schedule information from a personal information management (PIM) application. A scanner device may include another dedicated input that, when actuated, automatically scans a document fed to the device by the user and sends the scanned image to IM (or other) software on a computer, bypassing the need to manipulate the scanned image using scanner software. The device may be used with printed metapaper, which includes a barcode or other indicia identifying the metapaper and corresponds to a stored template image of the metapaper. When the metapaper is rescanned, the scan can be compared to the stored template information to identify changes and synchronize the changes with the IM software. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207392 | OPTICAL IMAGING AND ANALYSIS OF A GRAPHIC SYMBOL - Method, computer program product, and apparatus are provided for identifying a graphic symbol within an image obtained by optical scanning. An image intensity is measured for each of a plurality of columns of the image, wherein each column has a length that extends across the graphic symbol in a first direction, and wherein the plurality of columns collectively extend across the graphic symbol in a second direction. The graphic symbol is then identified by matching a profile of the image intensity to a predetermined image intensity profile associated with a given graphic symbol. Optionally, the image is a digital image and the image intensity for each column is the sum of the image intensity for each pixel in that individual column. An image intensity differential between adjacent columns may be calculated for matching with a predetermined differential profile or comparison with an electronic profile generated by a magnetic scan. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207393 | METHOD FOR THE ELECTRONIC AUTHENTICATING OF A HANDWRITTEN SIGNATURE, CORRESPONDING MODULE AND COMPUTER PROGRAM - A method and apparatus are provided for electronically authenticating a handwritten signature of a user, entered on a writing surface via a writing instrument. The method includes acquiring, by the writing surface, at least one instant during the entering of the signature, of at least one piece of data representing the altitude z of the writing instrument relative to the writing surface, in an area of proximity to the writing surface; and authenticating the entered handwritten signature by taking account of at least the altitude z. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207394 | MULTI-STAGE IMAGE PATTERN RECOGNIZER - An image-based pattern recognizer and a method and apparatus for making such a pattern recognizer are disclosed. By employing positional coding, the meaning of any feature present in an image can be defined implicitly in space. The pattern recognizer can be a neural network including a plurality of stages of observers. The observers are configured to cooperate to identify the presence of features in the input image and to recognize a pattern in the input image based on the features. Each of the observers includes a plurality of neurons. The input image includes a plurality of units, and each of the observers is configured to generate a separate output set that includes zero or more coordinates of such units. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207395 | MEASURING DEVICE SET AND METHOD FOR DOCUMENTING A MEASUREMENT - A measuring device set ( | 2012-08-16 |
20120207396 | Method to measure local image similarity and its application in image processing - A method for effectively performing local image similarity measurement is proposed. A system equipped with such a method for effectively performing an image processing task includes an image processor that performs an intermediate-results calculation procedure to calculate intermediate result values that are based upon corresponding pixels of a target patch and one or more similar patches. The image processor typically moves the target patch of the intermediate-results calculation to different locations in a raster order or some other organized order. The image processor then performs an intermediate-results combination procedure by calculating appropriate statistics of the intermediate result values to produce processed pixel values. A processor device typically controls the image processor to effectively perform the image processing tasks including, but not limited to, demosaicing and denoising. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207397 | Pattern Matching Method and Pattern Matching Apparatus - Provided is a template matching method and a template matching apparatus, where the degree of matching between a template and the actual image upon template matching is maintained at a high level, without depending on a partial appearance of a lower layer. Proposed as one embodiment, is a method and an apparatus for template matching, where either an area is set in which comparison of the template and the image is not conducted, or a second area is set inside the template where comparison different from comparison conducted in a first comparison area is to be conducted, and the template matching is conducted on the basis either of comparison excluding the non-comparison area, or of comparison using the first and second areas. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207398 | IMAGE CODING DEVICE, IMAGE DECODING DEVICE, METHODS THEREOF, AND PROGRAMS - An image coding device including: an edge detecting section configured to perform edge detection using an image signal of a reference image for a coding object block; a transform block setting section configured to set transform blocks by dividing the coding object block such that a boundary between the blocks after division does not include an edge on a basis of a result of the edge detection; and a coding processing section configured to generate coded data by performing processing including an orthogonal transform of each of the transform blocks. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207399 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - A low frequency component image L[i] and high frequency component-emphasized image SH[i] are generated from an image A[i]. Lossy compression processing is performed for the low frequency component image L[i] to generate a compressed image C[i] and store it in a memory. A compressed image C[i−1] is decoded to generate a decoded image L′[i−1]. The compressed image C[i] is decoded to generate a decoded image L′[i]. A difference image E[i] between the decoded image L′[i] and the low frequency component image L[i] is generated. The low frequency component image L[i], decoded image L′[i−1], and difference image E[i] are composited at a predetermined ratio to generate a composite image SL[i]. The high frequency component-emphasized image SH[i] and composite image SL[i] are output as subframe images of the i-th frame. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207400 | IMAGE CODING METHOD, IMAGE CODING APPARATUS, IMAGE DECODING METHOD, IMAGE DECODING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE CODING AND DECODING APPARATUS - An image coding method of compressing and coding image data includes: binariziang a plurality of coefficients to generate a binary signal, the plurality of coefficients being included in a unit of processing of the image data in a frequency domain; determining a context to be used for arithmetic coding of the plurality of coefficients, based on a position of a last non-zero coefficient in a scan order among one or more non-zero coefficients included in the unit of processing; performing arithmetic coding on the binary signal using probability information corresponding to the determined context; and updating, based on the binary signal, the probability information corresponding to the determined context. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207401 | WAVELENGTH DIVERSE SCINTILLATION REDUCTION - Systems, including apparatus and methods, for obtaining and/or correcting images, particularly from atmospheric and/or other distortions. These corrections may involve, among others, collecting two or more sets of image data corresponding to images of the same scene in different wavelength regimes, and using correlations between wavelength and expected distortion to distinguish apparent image motion due to distortion from apparent image motion due to object or scene motion. These systems may be useful in any suitable imaging context, including navigation, targeting, search and rescue, law enforcement, commercial video cameras and/or surveillance, among others. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207402 | Digital Video Content Fingerprinting Based on Scale Invariant Interest Region Detection with an Array of Anisotropic Filters - Video sequence processing is described with various filtering rules applied to extract dominant features for content based video sequence identification. Active regions are determined in video frames of a video sequence. Video frames are selected in response to temporal statistical characteristics of the determined active regions. A two pass analysis is used to detect a set of initial interest points and interest regions in the selected video frames to reduce the effective area of images that are refined by complex filters that provide accurate region characterizations resistant to image distortion for identification of the video frames in the video sequence. Extracted features and descriptors are robust with respect to image scaling, aspect ratio change, rotation, camera viewpoint change, illumination and contrast change, video compression/decompression artifacts and noise. Compact, representative signatures are generated for video sequences to provide effective query video matching and retrieval in a large video database. | 2012-08-16 |
20120207403 | METHOD OF ANALYZING AND/OR PROCESSING AN IMAGE - A method of processing a starting image, to obtain a final image of better quality, the method comprising the following steps: a) establishing a predefined quality level and/or a predefined processing time for the final image; b) computation information relating to said starting image; c) analyzing said starting image by means of said computed information; d) determining whether said information is sufficient to obtain said predefined quality level for said final image; e) if the step d) determines that the information is sufficient and/or if processing time is exhausted, reducing the noise of said starting image to obtain said final image; and f) if the step d) determines that the information is insufficient and/or processing time is not exhausted, refining the computation in the step b). | 2012-08-16 |