User-directed interaction with an image structure map representation of an image

A method for operating a processor-controlled machine to dynamically interact with an image structure map data structure representing an original image in response to input interaction signals received from a user;

• the machine including input signal circuitry for receiving interaction signals from a user interaction device;
• memory for storing data;
• output circuitry connected to a display device for presenting images thereon;
• and a processor connected for accessing instruction data stored in the memory for operating the machine;
• the processor being further connected for receiving the input interaction signals from the user interaction device, and connected for providing image definition data defining images to the output circuitry for presenting the images on the display device;
• the method comprising:
• storing in the memory an original image definition data structure defining the original image in a form suitable for presenting the original image on the display device;
• receiving an image interaction signal from the input circuitry indicating a request from a user to dynamically insert an image boundary determined to be included in the original image data structure into an image structure map data structure, referred to as an image structure map;
• the image boundary, referred to as a selected image boundary, being identified by an image boundary location in the original image data structure;
• the image structure map representing the original image definition data structure as a partition of a two-dimensional (2D) plane induced by a set of intersecting image boundaries determined to be included in the original image into one or more region data items each indicating an image region formed by the set of intersecting image boundaries;
• the image structure map spatially indexing the original image data structure such that an original image location in the original image data structure is able to be used to locate an image structure in the image structure map that represents a feature observed in the original image that includes the original image location;
• the image structure map, also referred to as an image structure map representation of the original image, being dynamically modifiable such that an image boundary determined to be included in the original image definition data structure is capable of being inserted into the image structure map without recomputing all image structures included in the image structure map at the time of insertion thereof;
• each region data item further indicating a plurality of image region boundary data items;
• each image region boundary data item indicating a respective one of the set of intersecting image boundaries forming the respective image region;
• each region data item further indicating a signal property descriptor;
• the signal property descriptor having a value indicating a smoothly varying function of signals included in locations in the original image definition data structure determined to be included in the respective image region of the original image;
• and
• in response to receiving the image interaction signal, inserting the selected image boundary into the image structure map by
• determining a target region data item included in the image structure map that includes the selected image boundary using the image boundary location in the original image data structure;
• and
• modifying the target region data item to indicate the selected image boundary.

An article of manufacture for use by a machine;

• the machine including input signal circuitry for receiving interaction signals from a user interaction device;
• output circuitry connected to a display device for presenting images thereon;
• storage medium access circuitry for accessing a medium that stores data;
• and a processor connected for receiving the input interaction signals from the user interaction device, connected for providing image definition data defining images to the output circuitry for presenting the images on the display device, and connected for receiving data from the storage medium access circuitry;
• the article comprising:
• a data storage medium that can be accessed by the storage medium access circuitry when the article is used by the machine;
• and
• data stored in the data storage medium so that the storage medium access circuitry can provide the stored data to the processor when the article is used by the machine;
• the stored data comprising instruction data indicating instructions the processor can execute;
• the processor, in executing the instructions, receiving an image interaction signal from the input circuitry indicating a request from a user to dynamically modify an image structure map data structure, referred to as an image structure map;
• the image interaction signal including an input image location included in an input image definition data structure and an image interaction request;
• the image structure map representing an original image definition data structure defining an original image in a form suitable for presenting the original image on the display device of the machine;
• the image structure map representing the original image definition data structure as a partition of a two-dimensional (2D) plane induced by a set of intersecting image boundaries determined to be included in the original image into one or more region data items each indicating an image region formed by the set of intersecting image boundaries;
• the image structure map, also referred to as an image structure map representation of the original image, being dynamically modifiable such that a selected image structure included in the image structure map is capable of being modified without recomputing all image structures included in the image structure map at the time of modification thereof;
• each region data item indicating a plurality of image region boundary data items;
• each image region boundary data item indicating a respective one of the set of intersecting image boundaries forming the respective image region;
• each region data item further indicating a signal property descriptor;
• the signal property descriptor having a value indicating a smoothly varying function of signals included in locations in the original image definition data structure determined to be included in the respective image region of the original image;
• the processor, further in executing the instructions, modifying the image structure map according to the image interaction request using the input image location, in response to receiving the image interaction signal;
• the processor, further in executing the instructions for modifying the image structure map, determining an image structure map location of a target image structure in the image structure map using the input image location;
• and modifying the target image structure in the image structure map according to the image interaction request such that only the target image structure and, when necessary, image structures associated with the target image structure, are modified in response to the request from the user.