Image segmentation apparatus, method thereof, and recording medium storing processing program

An image segmentation method for dividing an image into plural regions according to feature quantities of pixels for composing the image comprising the steps of:

• dividing the image into plural regions by using the alienation degree of feature quantities of pixels for composing the image;
• determining the alienation degree of feature quantities between interior and exterior region, from the alienation degree of feature quantities of pixels enclosing the boundary of plural regions;
• and
• changing the alienation degree of feature quantities of pixels enclosing the boundary of regions in a specific condition, by using the alienation degree of feature quantities of mutual regions.

A recording medium storing a computer-readable processing program for dividing an image into plural regions, according to feature quantities of pixels for composing the image by a computer, the computer-readable processing program comprising:

• a program encoder for causing the computer to divide the image into plural regions, by using the alienation degree of feature quantities of pixels for composing the image;
• a program encoder for causing the computer to determine the alienation degree of feature quantities between mutual regions, from the alienation degree of feature quantities of pixels enclosing the boundary of plural regions;
• and
• a program encoder for causing the computer to change the alienation degree of feature quantities of pixels enclosing the boundary of regions in a specific condition, by using the alienation degree of feature quantities of mutual regions.

An apparatus for dividing an image into plural regions according to feature quantities of pixels for composing the image comprising:

• a first processor for evaluating the alienation degree of feature quantities between adjacent pixels, and linking the adjacent pixels when the alienation degree is smaller than a specified threshold;
• a second processor for repeating the process while changing the threshold until the size in the feature quantity space in the region formed by linking by the first processor becomes smaller than a specified target;
• a third processor for determining the alienation degree of feature quantities between mutual regions, according to the alienation degree of feature quantities between adjacent pixels across the boundary, in the region determined by the second processor;
• and
• a fourth processor for comparing the alienation degree of feature quantities between adjacent pixels across the boundary of the region with the alienation degree between regions, and changing the alienation degree of feature quantities between adjacent pixels across the boundary of the region depending on the result of this comparison.

A method for dividing an image into plural regions according to feature quantities of pixels for composing the image comprising the steps of:

• evaluating the alienation degree of feature quantities between adjacent pixels, and linking the adjacent pixels when the alienation degree is smaller than a specified threshold;
• repeating the process while changing the threshold until the size in the feature quantity space in the region formed by the linking process of adjacent pixels becomes smaller than a specified target;
• determining the alienation degree of feature quantities between mutual regions, according to the alienation degree of feature quantities between adjacent pixels across the boundary, in the region formed by the linking process of adjacent pixels;
• and
• comparing the alienation degree of feature quantities between adjacent pixels across the boundary of the region with the alienation degree between regions, and changing the alienation degree of feature quantities between adjacent pixels across the boundary of the region depending on the result of this comparison.

A recording medium storing a computer-readable processing program for executing a method of dividing an image into plural regions, according to feature quantities of pixels for composing the image by a computer, the computer-readable processing program comprising:

• a program code portion for causing the computer to evaluate the alienation degree of feature quantities between adjacent pixels, and link the adjacent pixels when the alienation degree is smaller than a specified threshold;
• a program code portion for causing the computer to repeat the process while changing the threshold until the size in the feature quantity space in the region formed by the linking process becomes smaller than a specified target;
• a program code portion for causing the computer to determine the alienation degree of feature quantities between mutual regions, according to the alienation degree of feature quantities between adjacent pixels across the boundary, in the region formed by the linking process;
• and
• a program code portion for causing the computer to compare the alienation degree of feature quantities between adjacent pixels across the boundary of the region with the alienation degree between regions, and changing the alienation degree of feature quantities between adjacent pixels across the boundary of the region depending on the result of this comparison.

An image segmentation apparatus for dividing an image into plural regions according to feature quantities of pixels for composing the image comprising:

• an image input unit for entering an image to be divided;
• a target value setting unit for region evaluation for defining the degree of uniformity of region features of the image to be divided input through the image input unit as the target for region evaluation;
• a threshold scheduling setting unit for setting the initial value and increment width of the threshold used in judgment of continuity between pixels for composing the image to be divided input through the image input unit;
• a coordinates converter for converting the image into feature quantities preferably for judging the similarity of color of pixels for composing the image to be divided input through the image input unit;
• an adjacent pixel separation degree calculator for calculating the difference in features of adjacent pixels for composing the image to be divided input through the image input unit;
• a threshold updating unit for updating the threshold according to setting by the threshold scheduling setting unit;
• an image linking processor for attaching same labels to similar pixels for composing the image to be divided input through the image input unit;
• a region evaluation unit for generating an evaluated value of a region corresponding to the target for region evaluation by the target value setting unit for region evaluation, and comparing with the target;
• a division repeater for dividing recursively until the evaluated value of all regions by the region evaluation unit becomes smaller than the target;
• a region separation degree calculator for calculating the separation degree of region from the information near the boundary line of the region by the region evaluation unit;
• an adjacent pixel separation degree re-setting unit for re-setting the separation degree of adjacent pixels by using the separation degree of the region calculated in the region separation degree calculator;
• and
• a divided image storage unit for recording the result of division by the division repeater.

An image segmentation apparatus for dividing an image into plural regions according to feature quantities of pixels for composing the image by a programmed computer comprising:

• dividing means for dividing the image into plural regions by using the alienation degree of feature quantities of pixels for composing the image;
• alienation degree operating means for determining the alienation degree of feature quantities between mutual regions, from the alienation degree of feature quantities of pixels enclosing the boundary of plural regions divided by the dividing means;
• and
• changing means for changing the alienation degree of feature quantities of pixels enclosing the boundary of regions in a specific condition, by using the alienation degree of feature quantities of mutual regions calculated by the alienation degree operating means.

A recording medium storing a computer-readable processing program for dividing an image into plural regions, according to feature quantities of pixels for composing the image by a computer, the computer-readable processing program comprising:

• program code means for causing the computer to divide the image into plural regions, by using the alienation degree of feature quantities of pixels for composing the image;
• program code means for causing the computer to determine the alienation degree of feature quantities between mutual regions, from the alienation degree of feature quantities of pixels enclosing the boundary of plural regions;
• and
• program code means for causing the computer to change the alienation degree of feature quantities of pixels enclosing the boundary of regions in a specific condition, by using the alienation degree of feature quantities of mutual regions.

An apparatus for dividing an image into plural regions according to feature quantities of pixels for composing the image comprising:

• first processing means for evaluating the alienation degree of feature quantities between adjacent pixels, and linking the adjacent pixels when the alienation degree is smaller than a specified threshold;
• second processing means for repeating the process while changing the threshold until the size in the feature quantity space in the region formed by linking by the first processing means becomes smaller than a specified target;
• third processing means for determining the alienation degree of feature quantities between mutual regions, according to the alienation degree of feature quantities between adjacent pixels across the boundary, in the region determined by the second processing means;
• and
• fourth processing means for comparing the alienation degree of feature quantities between adjacent pixels across the boundary of the region with the alienation degree between regions, and changing the alienation degree of feature quantities between adjacent pixels across the boundary of the region depending on the result of this comparison.

A recording medium storing a computer-readable processing program for executing a method of dividing an image into plural regions, according to feature quantities of pixels for composing the image by a computer, the computer-readable processing program comprising:

• program code means for causing the computer to evaluate the alienation degree of feature quantities between adjacent pixels, and link the adjacent pixels when the alienation degree is smaller than a specified threshold;
• program code means for causing the computer to repeat the process while changing the threshold until the size in the feature quantity space in the region formed by the linking process becomes smaller than a specified target;
• program code means for causing the computer to determine the alienation degree of feature quantities between mutual regions, according to the alienation degree of feature quantities between adjacent pixels across the boundary, in the region formed by the linking process;
• and
• program code means for causing the computer to compare the alienation degree of feature quantities between adjacent pixels across the boundary of the region with the alienation degree between regions, and changing the alienation degree of feature quantities between adjacent pixels across the boundary of the region depending on the result of this comparison.

An image segmentation apparatus for dividing an image into plural regions according to feature quantities of pixels for composing the image comprising:

• image input means for entering an image to be divided;
• target value setting means for region evaluation for defining the degree of uniformity of region features of the image to be divided input through the image input means as the target for region evaluation;
• threshold scheduling setting means for setting the initial value and increment width of the threshold used in judgment of continuity between pixels for composing the image to be divided input through the image input means;
• coordinates converting means for converting the image into feature quantities preferably for judging the similarity of color of pixels for composing the image to be divided input through the image input means;
• adjacent pixel separation degree calculating means for calculating the difference in features of adjacent pixels for composing the image to be divided input through the image input means;
• threshold updating means for updating the threshold according to setting by the threshold scheduling setting means;
• pixel linking processing means for attaching same labels to pixels for composing the image to be divided input through the image input means;
• region evaluating means for generating an evaluated value of a region corresponding to the target for region evaluation by the target value setting means for region evaluation, and comparing with the target;
• division repeating means for dividing recursively until the evaluated value of all regions by the region evaluating means becomes smaller than the target;
• region separation degree calculating means for calculating the separation degree of region from the information near the boundary line of the region by the region evaluating means;
• adjacent pixel separation degree re-setting means for re-setting the separation degree of adjacent pixels by using the separation degree of the region calculated in the region separation degree calculating means;
• and
• divided image storing means for recording the result of division by the division repeating means.