Process and apparatus for the automatic detection and extraction of features in images and displays

A method for classifying features from a display having two or more dimensions comprising the steps of:

• (a) generating a force field around areas within said display field having selected properties;
• (b) defining a movable and deformable template having desired initial characteristics;
• (c) placing said template within said display field;
• (d) allowing said template to move and deform within said display in response to being acted upon by said force field;
• and
• (e) evaluating at least one final characteristic of said template after said template has moved to a final state and assumed a final shape as a result of being acted upon by said force field;
• and
• (f) classifying a feature present in the display field as a function of the evaluated final characteristic of said template.

A method of identifying features in a display field, said display field comprising a two or more dimensional array of a complex signal, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) generating a force field around areas within said display field having selected characteristics;
• (b) placing a movable and flexible template within said display field that moves and flexes in response to said force field;
• and
• (c) evaluating at least one characteristic of said template after it has moved and flexed as a result of being acted upon by said force field, said evaluated characteristic providing an indication of the identity of selected features within said display field.

A method of interpreting a complex signal comprising the steps of:

• (a) generating at least one display field of two or more dimensions that display said complex signal;
• (b) enhancing selected portions of said display field;
• (c) generating a force field around said selected enhanced portions;
• (d) defining at least one movable template having desired characteristics, such as a flexible stick, and placing said template within said display field so that it is acted upon by said force field for a prescribed time period;
• and
• (e) evaluating at least one characteristic of said template at the conclusion of said time period, said evaluated characteristic providing information relative to the interpretation of said complex signal.

A control system comprising:

• an element to be controlled that is responsive to a control signal;
• receiving means for receiving at least one input signal;
• feature-extraction means for extracting at least one specified feature from said input signal, said feature extraction means including
• display-field generating means for generating at least one display field of at least two dimensions of said input signal,
• force-field generating means for generating a force field surrounding selected portions of said display field,
• template means for placing at least one movable and deformable template in said display field that is acted upon by said force field, and
• evaluating means for evaluating said at least one movable and deformable template after it has been acted upon by said force field, the location, orientation and shape of said template providing an indication that a feature is present within said display field having a similar location, orientation and shape, said identified feature being extracted from said display field;
• and
• control means responsive to the feature extracted by said feature extraction means for generating said control signal;
• whereby the element of said control system that is controlled in response to said control signal is controlled as a function of the extracted feature from said input signal.

A signal processing system for interpreting an input signal comprising:

• receiving means for receiving at least one input signal;
• feature-extraction means for extracting desired features from said input signal, said feature extraction means including:
• display-field generating means responsive to said input signal for generating at least one display field of said input signal having at least two dimensions,
• force-field generating means for generating a force field surrounding selected properties of said display field,
• template means for placing at least one movable template in said display field and for allowing said template to move within said display field in response to said force field, and
• evaluating means for identifying those features within said input signal that are to be extracted, said evaluating means including means for determining at least the position of said movable template after said template has been acted upon by said force field, said determined position providing an indication of those features within said display field that are to be extracted;
• and
• display means for extracting the identified features from the display field and for displaying said extracted features, said display of extracted features providing an interpretation of said signal.

A system for interpeting a complex signal comprising:

• means for receiving said complex signal;
• means for displaying said complex signal in a display field having at least two dimensions;
• means for enhancing areas of said display field having prescribed properties;
• means for generating a force field around at least one of said enhanced areas;
• means for placing a template having desired characteristics within said display field so that it is acted upon by said force field until a prescribed event occurs;
• means for determining the occurrence of said prescribed event;
• means for evaluating said template to determine its location orientation, and shape within said display field after the occurence of said prescribed event, which information provides an indication of the location, orientation and shape of a feature within said display field, and hence within said complex signal;
• the presence of said feature within said complex signal providing an aid to the interpretation of said complex signal.