US 7,609,891 B2 · Evaluation of element distribution within a collection of images based on pixel scatterness

Abstract

A method of evaluating element distribution within a data set, such as pixel characteristics whose scatterness is quantified. Scatterness is evaluated for individual scale levels as the image is merged through smaller scale levels. At each level, every pixel block (i.e., 2×2) in the region of interest merges to one pixel to form the next level. Select characteristics of the pixels are assessed in the merge, and the image may be simplified to fewer pixel states so the merges require less processor overhead. In one merge mode if any pixel in the block has the desired characteristic, then the resulting merged pixel is set with that characteristic. The merging rate of the pixels is used to determine the scatterness for the pixel distribution. A scatterness sequence can be used separately or in combination with known techniques for comparing images in applications such as search and classification.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A method of quantifying scatterness within images or video frames based on pixel characteristics, comprising:

(a) simplifying images in response to detection of desired pixel characteristics by setting each pixel of an image to a first state indicative of pixels lacking the desired characteristic or range of characteristics, or a second state indicative of pixels possessing the desired pixel characteristic or range of characteristics, so as to reduce possible states of each pixel;
(b) merging each block of pixels from within a plurality of pixel blocks within an image into a collection of single pixels having either said first state or said second state;
said merging is performed in response to execution of programming within a computer processing device;
(c) registering the number or proportion of pixels having said second state within the pixels;
wherein every level in the merging and registration process is based on one of two pixel states;
(d) repeating steps (b) and (c) until a desired level of merging is reached;
and
(e) generating scatterness sequence information in response to determining a merging rate of pixels of said second state for at least two of the merges;
wherein said quantifying of scatterness is performed within a classification or comparison of images or video frames.

6 more elements

A method of quantifying scatterness within images or video frames based on characteristics, comprising:

(a) merging each block of pixels from within a plurality of pixel blocks within an image into a collection of single pixels, which are set to either a first state indicative of pixels lacking a desired characteristic or range of characteristics, or a second state indicative of pixels possessing the desired pixel characteristic or range of characteristics;
said merging is performed in response to execution of programming within a computer processing device;
(b) registering the number or proportion of pixels having a desired pixel characteristic, or range of characteristics, within the pixels as a measure of scatterness for that characteristic;
wherein said pixel characteristics comprise color characteristics, intensity characteristics, or a combination of color and intensity characteristics;
(c) repeating steps (a) and (b) until a desired level of merging is reached;
and
(d) generating scatterness sequence information in response to the registration of pixel characteristics for at least two of the merges;
wherein said quantifying of scatterness is performed within a classification or comparison of images or video frames.

5 more elements

A method of classifying images or video frames based on quantifying scatterness sequences of pixel characteristics, comprising:

(a) merging each block of pixels from within a plurality of pixel blocks within an image into a collection of single pixels based on setting the resultant pixel to have either a first state indicative of pixels lacking the desired characteristic or range of characteristics, or a second state indicative of pixels possessing a selected pixel characteristic, or range of selected pixel characteristics, if the number of pixels within the pixel block that possess the selected pixel characteristic, or range of selected pixel characteristics, exceeds a predetermined threshold;
said merging is performed in response to execution of programming within a computer processing device;
(b) registering the number or proportion of pixels having said second state within the image or a selected portion of the image;
wherein said selected pixel characteristics comprise color characteristics, intensity characteristics, or a combination of color and intensity characteristics;
(c) merging blocks of pixels formed from said single pixels based on setting the resultant pixel to have either a first state indicative of pixels having said first state, or a second state indicative of pixels having said second state;
(d) registering the number or proportion of pixels having said second state, within the image or a selected portion of the image;
(e) repeating steps (c) and (d) until a selected number of merges are performed, or the resultant image size reaches a threshold value;
(f) generating scatterness sequence information in response to determining a merging rate of pixels of said second state;
wherein every level in the registration process is based on one of two pixel states;
and
(g) comparing the scatterness sequence of the image with other images, or with classification thresholds for classifying the image according to that selected pixel characteristic.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Evaluation of element distribution within a collection of images based on pixel scatterness

Life of this patent

Evaluation of element distribution within a collection of images based on pixel scatterness

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21