Method and system for comparing two images by making an initial rough judgement

Claim 1

A method of comparing an input image to a stored image, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining multiple photographs of said input image, and adding said multiple photographs together to provide an added input image; (b) determining boundaries of said added input image and erasing information that exists outside said boundaries; (c) obtaining a rough judgment that indicates whether said input image corresponds to said stored image, and if said rough judgment indicates that said input image does not correspond to said stored image, stopping said method; wherein said step of obtaining said rough judgment includes: (1) determining a difference between a maximum diameter of said input image and a maximum diameter of said stored image, and (2) determining no correspondence when said difference between said maximum diameter of said input image and said maximum diameter of said stored image is greater than a predetermined amount; (d) if said rough judgment obtained in step c indicates that said input image does correspond to said stored image then performing additional processing of said input image; and (e) judging characteristics of said input image as processed by said additional processing performed in step d, and determining whether said characteristics of said input image correspond to characteristics of said stored image.

Claim 2

A method of comparing an input image to a stored image, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining multiple photographs of said input image, and adding said multiple photographs together to provide an added input image; (b) determining boundaries of said added input image and erasing information that exists outside said boundaries; (c) obtaining a rough judgment that indicates whether said input image corresponds to said stored image, and if said rough judgment indicates that said input image does not correspond to said stored image, stopping said method; wherein said step of obtaining said rough judgment includes: (1) determining a difference between a maximum diameter of said input image and a maximum diameter of said stored image, and (2) determining no correspondence when said difference between said maximum diameter of said input image and said maximum diameter of said stored image is greater than a predetermined amount; (d) if said rough judgment obtained in step c indicates that said input image does correspond to said stored image then performing additional processing of said input image; and (e) judging characteristics of said input image as processed by said additional processing performed in step d, and determining whether said characteristics of said input image correspond to characteristics of said stored image.

Claim 4

A method of comparing an input image to a stored image, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining multiple photographs of said input image, and adding said multiple photographs together to provide an added input image; (b) determining boundaries of said added input image and erasing information that exists outside said boundaries; (c) obtaining a rough judgment that indicates whether said input image corresponds to said stored image, and if said rough judgment indicates that said input image does not correspond to said stored image, stopping said method; (d) if said rough judgment obtained in step c indicates that said input image does correspond to said stored image then performing additional processing of said input image; and (e) judging characteristics of said input image as processed by said additional processing performed in step d, and determining whether said characteristics of said input image correspond to characteristics of said stored image; wherein said characteristics of said input image includes: at least all of a ratio between correspondences of said stored image and said input image between said stored and input images, a blur ratio indicative of smearing of ink made during a sealing process, which is used to form said input image, between said stored and input images, and a faint and scratchy ratio indicative of inking variations during said sealing process between said stored and input images.

Claim 5

A method of comparing an input image to a stored image, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining multiple photographs of said input image, and adding said multiple photographs together to provide an added input image; (b) determining boundaries of said added input image and erasing information that exists outside said boundaries; (c) obtaining a rough judgment that indicates whether said input image corresponds to said stored image, and if said rough judgment indicates that said input image does not correspond to said stored image, stopping said method; (d) if said rough judgment obtained in step c indicates that said input image does correspond to said stored image then performing additional processing of said input image; and (e) judging characteristics of said input image as processed by said additional processing performed in step d, and determining whether said characteristics of said input image correspond to characteristics of said stored image; wherein said characteristics of said input image includes: at least all of a ratio between correspondences of said stored image and said input image between said stored and input images, a blur ratio indicative of smearing of ink made during a sealing process, which is used to form said input image, between said stored and input images, and a faint and scratchy ratio indicative of inking variations during said sealing process between said stored and input images.

Claim 6

A method of comparing an input image to a stored image, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining multiple photographs of said input image, and adding said multiple photographs together to provide an added input image; (b) determining boundaries of said added input image and erasing information that exists outside said boundaries; (c) obtaining a rough judgment that indicates whether said input image corresponds to said stored image, and if said rough judgment indicates that said input image does not correspond to said stored image, stopping said method; (d) if said rough judgment obtained in step c indicates that said input image does correspond to said stored image then performing additional processing of said input image; (e) obtaining, prior to step g, a plurality of reference samples of said input image and classifying values of a predetermined characteristic of each one of said reference samples; (f) distributing, prior to step g, said predetermined characteristic of each one of said reference samples into clusters by determining which of said clusters corresponds to a satisfactory correlation between said predetermined characteristic of each one of said reference samples; and (g) judging characteristics of said input image as processed by said additional processing performed in step d, and determining whether said characteristics of said input image correspond to characteristics of said stored image, wherein said step of judging said characteristics of said input image includes the step of determining whether at least one of said characteristics of said input image has an acceptable correlation to one of said clusters; and wherein said step of distributing said predetermined characteristic and said step of determining whether at least one of said characteristics of said input image has an acceptable correlation to one of said clusters use at least all of a ratio of correlation between pixels of a first image and a second image, a ratio between areas of said first image and said second image, a ratio of an amount of blurring indicative of smearing of ink made during a sealing process between said first image and said second image, and a faint and scratchy ratio indicative of inking variations between said first image and said second image.

Claim 7

A method of comparing an input image to a stored image, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining multiple photographs of said input image, and adding said multiple photographs together to provide an added input image; (b) determining boundaries of said added input image and erasing information that exists outside said boundaries; (c) obtaining a rough judgment that indicates whether said input image corresponds to said stored image, and if said rough judgment indicates that said input image does not correspond to said stored image, stopping said method; (d) if said rough judgment obtained in step c indicates that said input image does correspond to said stored image then performing additional processing of said input image; (e) obtaining, prior to step g, a plurality of reference samples of said input image and classifying values of a predetermined characteristic of each one of said reference samples; (f) distributing, prior to step g, said predetermined characteristic of each one of said reference samples into clusters by determining which of said clusters corresponds to a satisfactory correlation between said predetermined characteristic of each one of said reference samples; and (g) judging characteristics of said input image as processed by said additional processing performed in step d, and determining whether said characteristics of said input image correspond to characteristics of said stored image, wherein said step of judging said characteristics of said input image includes the step of determining whether at least one of said characteristics of said input image has an acceptable correlation to one of said clusters; and wherein said step of distributing said predetermined characteristic and said step of determining whether at least one of said characteristics of said input image has an acceptable correlation to one of said clusters use at least all of a ratio of correlation between pixels of a first image and a second image, a ratio between areas of said first image and said second image, a ratio of an amount of blurring indicative of smearing of ink made during a sealing process between said first image and said second image, and a faint and scratchy ratio indicative of inking variations between said first image and said second image.

Claim 8

A method of comparing an input image to a stored image, Comprising the steps of: obtaining a plurality of samples of an image; calculating relationships between different ones of said samples to determine differences in a plurality of characteristics of said samples, wherein said characteristics of said samples are characteristics from the group of characteristics consisting of identification ratio, area ratio, blur ratio indicative of smearing of ink made during a sealing process, and faint and scratchy ratio indicative of inking variations during said sealing process; determining a range of differences in said characteristics between said samples; determining an allowable cluster for each one of said characteristics of said samples that is within said range of differences, said allowable cluster being a cluster within which satisfactory correlation is obtained; obtaining a stored image from at least one of said samples; comparing said stored image with a new image and determining differences between said stored and new images; determining if characteristics of said new image fall within said allowable cluster; and determining that said characteristics of said new image represents an allowable correlation if said characteristics of said new image fall within said allowable cluster.

Claim 9

A method of comparing an input image to a stored image, Comprising the steps of: obtaining a plurality of samples of an image; calculating relationships between different ones of said samples to determine differences in a plurality of characteristics of said samples, wherein said characteristics of said samples are characteristics from the group of characteristics consisting of identification ratio, area ratio, blur ratio indicative of smearing of ink made during a sealing process, and faint and scratchy ratio indicative of inking variations during said sealing process; determining a range of differences in said characteristics between said samples; determining an allowable cluster for each one of said characteristics of said samples that is within said range of differences, said allowable cluster being a cluster within which satisfactory correlation is obtained; obtaining a stored image from at least one of said samples; comparing said stored image with a new image and determining differences between said stored and new images; determining if characteristics of said new image fall within said allowable cluster; and determining that said characteristics of said new image represents an allowable correlation if said characteristics of said new image fall within said allowable cluster.

Claim 10

A method of comparing an input image to a stored image comprising the steps of: obtaining a plurality of samples of an image, wherein said samples are sample seal-imprints; calculating relationships between different ones of said samples to determine differences in a plurality of characteristics of said samples, wherein said characteristics of said samples are of the type that depend on a way in which sealing is performed; determining a range of differences in said characteristics between said samples; determining an allowable cluster for each one of said characteristics of said samples that is within said range of differences, said allowable cluster being a cluster within which satisfactory correlation is obtained; obtaining a stored image from at least one of said samples; comparing said stored image with a new image and determining differences between said stored and new imaqes; determining if characteristics of said new image fall within said allowable cluster; and determining that said characteristics of said new image represents an allowable correlation if said characteristics of said new image fall within said allowable cluster.

Claim 11

A method of comparing an input image to a stored image comprising the steps of: obtaining a plurality of samples of an image, wherein said samples are sample seal-imprints; calculating relationships between different ones of said samples to determine differences in a plurality of characteristics of said samples, wherein said characteristics of said samples are of the type that depend on a way in which sealing is performed; determining a range of differences in said characteristics between said samples; determining an allowable cluster for each one of said characteristics of said samples that is within said range of differences, said allowable cluster being a cluster within which satisfactory correlation is obtained; obtaining a stored image from at least one of said samples; comparing said stored image with a new image and determining differences between said stored and new imaqes; determining if characteristics of said new image fall within said allowable cluster; and determining that said characteristics of said new image represents an allowable correlation if said characteristics of said new image fall within said allowable cluster.

Claim 13

A system for comparing an input image with a stored image, comprising: means for obtaining an input image; image processing means for processing said input image, and obtaining a rough judgment of whether said input image corresponds to said stored image, and if said input image does correspond to said stored image, for performing additional processing of said input image, wherein said image processing means includes means for obtaining said rough judgment by determining a difference between a maximum diameter of said input image and a maximum diameter of said stored image, and determining a correspondence does not exist when said difference is greater than a predetermined amount; and means for determining characteristics of said input image as processed by said image processing means, and determining whether said characteristics correspond to characteristics of said stored image.

Claim 14

A system for comparing an input image with a stored image, comprising: means for obtaining an input image; image processing means for processing said input image, and obtaining a rough judgment of whether said input image corresponds to said stored image, and if said input image does correspond to said stored image, for performing additional processing of said input image, wherein said image processing means includes means for obtaining said rough judgment by determining a difference between a maximum diameter of said input image and a maximum diameter of said stored image, and determining a correspondence does not exist when said difference is greater than a predetermined amount; and means for determining characteristics of said input image as processed by said image processing means, and determining whether said characteristics correspond to characteristics of said stored image.

Claim 16

A system for comparing an input image with a stored image, comprising: means for obtaining an input image; image processing means for processing said input image, and obtaining a rough judgment of whether said input image corresponds to said stored image, and if said input image does correspond to said stored image, for performing additional processing of said input image; and means for determining characteristics of said input image as processed by said image processing means, and determining whether said characteristics correspond to characteristics of said stored image, wherein said means for determining characteristics includes means for determining said characteristics so that said characteristics include at least a ratio between correspondences of stored images, a blur ratio between said stored and input images, and a faint and scratchy ratio between said stored and input images.

Claim 17

A system for comparing an input image with a stored image, comprising: means for obtaining an input image; image processing means for processing said input image, and obtaining a rough judgment of whether said input image corresponds to said stored image, and if said input image does correspond to said stored image, for performing additional processing of said input image; and means for determining characteristics of said input image as processed by said image processing means, and determining whether said characteristics correspond to characteristics of said stored image, wherein said means for determining characteristics includes means for determining said characteristics so that said characteristics include at least a ratio between correspondences of stored images, a blur ratio between said stored and input images, and a faint and scratchy ratio between said stored and input images.

Claim 18

A system for comparing an input image with a stored image, comprising: means for obtaining an input image; means for obtaining a plurality of reference samples of said input image and classifying values of a predetermined characteristic of each one of said reference samples; means for distributing said predetermined characteristic of each one of said reference samples into clusters, and selectinq, as a selected cluster, one of said clusters that corresponds to a satisfactory correlation between said predetermined characteristic of each one of said reference samples; image-processing means for processing said input image, and obtaining a rouqh judgment of whether said input image corresponds to said stored image, and if said input image does correspond to said stored image, for performing additional processing of said input image; and means for determining characteristics of said input image as processed by said image processing means, and determining whether said characteristics correspond to characteristics of said stored image, wherein said means for determining characteristics includes means for determining whether said characteristics of said input image are within said selected cluster; and wherein said predetermined characteristic to which clustering is performed, and said means for determining characteristics, uses at least a ratio of correlation between pixels of a first image and a second image, a ratio between areas of said first image and said second image, a ratio of amount of blurring between said first image and said second image, and a faint and scratchy ratio indicative of inking variations between said first image and said second image.

Claim 19

A system for comparing an input image with a stored image, comprising: means for obtaining an input image; means for obtaining a plurality of reference samples of said input image and classifying values of a predetermined characteristic of each one of said reference samples; means for distributing said predetermined characteristic of each one of said reference samples into clusters, and selectinq, as a selected cluster, one of said clusters that corresponds to a satisfactory correlation between said predetermined characteristic of each one of said reference samples; image-processing means for processing said input image, and obtaining a rouqh judgment of whether said input image corresponds to said stored image, and if said input image does correspond to said stored image, for performing additional processing of said input image; and means for determining characteristics of said input image as processed by said image processing means, and determining whether said characteristics correspond to characteristics of said stored image, wherein said means for determining characteristics includes means for determining whether said characteristics of said input image are within said selected cluster; and wherein said predetermined characteristic to which clustering is performed, and said means for determining characteristics, uses at least a ratio of correlation between pixels of a first image and a second image, a ratio between areas of said first image and said second image, a ratio of amount of blurring between said first image and said second image, and a faint and scratchy ratio indicative of inking variations between said first image and said second image.