US6081276A — Method and apparatus for creating a color name di…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 65 words

A method for creating a color name dictionary comprising the steps of: identifying a predetermined color space; dividing said predetermined color space into a plurality of color space segments; assigning an associated color name to each of said plurality of color space segments; each said associated color name including a word or a phrase that constitutes a distinctive designation for said associated color space segment.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 65 words

A method for creating a color name dictionary comprising the steps of: identifying a predetermined color space; dividing said predetermined color space into a plurality of color space segments; assigning an associated color name to each of said plurality of color space segments; each said associated color name including a word or a phrase that constitutes a distinctive designation for said associated color space segment.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 32 words

A method for creating a color name dictionary as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of identifying a predetermined color space includes the step of identifying a three-dimensional predetermined color space.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 50 words

A method for creating a color name dictionary as recited in claim 2 wherein the step of dividing said predetermined color space into a plurality of color space segments includes the step of dividing a first dimension of said three-dimensional predetermined color space into a predefined number of hue segments.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 35 words

A method for creating a color name dictionary as recited in claim 3 further includes the step of dividing a second dimension of said three-dimensional predetermined color space into a predefined number of chroma segments.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 35 words

A method for creating a color name dictionary as recited in claim 4 further includes the step of dividing a third dimension of said three-dimensional predetermined color space into a predefined number of lightness segments.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 50 words

A method for creating a color name dictionary as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of assigning a color name to each of said plurality of color space segments includes the step of storing a color name with boundary values defining each of said plurality of color space segments.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 61 words

A method for creating a color name dictionary as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of dividing said predetermined color space into a plurality of color space segments includes the steps of identifying a set of color name boundaries in a three-dimensional color space; said identified set of color name boundaries including six boundary values to define concentric cylindrical segments.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 83 words

A method for creating a color name dictionary as recited in claim 7 wherein the step of identifying a set of color name boundaries in a three-dimensional color space includes the steps of defining a color name volume by a low radius boundary value and a high radius boundary value, a low angle boundary value in the X-Y plane and a high angle boundary value in the X-Y plane, and a low boundary value Z coordinate and a high boundary value Z coordinate.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 60 words

A method for creating a color name dictionary as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of dividing said predetermined color space into a plurality of color space segments includes the steps of identifying a set of color name boundaries in a three-dimensional color space; said identified set of color name boundaries including six boundary values to define spherical segments.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 60 words

A method for creating a color name dictionary as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of dividing said predetermined color space into a plurality of color space segments includes the steps of identifying a set of color name boundaries in a three-dimensional color space; said identified set of color name boundaries including six boundary values to define curvilinear segments.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 33 words

A method for creating a color name dictionary as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of identifying a predetermined color space includes the step of identifying a generally visually uniform color space.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 72 words

A method for querying an image by color name comprising the steps of: acquiring an image; acquiring a pixel from said acquired image; comparing said acquired pixel with a color name volume; identifying at color name volume containing said acquired pixel; and identifying a color name for said identified color name volume; said color name including a word or a phrase that constitutes a distinctive designation for said identified color name volume.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 72 words

A method for querying an image by color name comprising the steps of: acquiring an image; acquiring a pixel from said acquired image; comparing said acquired pixel with a color name volume; identifying at color name volume containing said acquired pixel; and identifying a color name for said identified color name volume; said color name including a word or a phrase that constitutes a distinctive designation for said identified color name volume.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 47 words

A method for querying an image by color name as recited in claim 12 wherein said step of acquiring a pixel from said acquired image includes the step of transforming pixel coordinates from a device-dependent color space into a device-independent color space of a color name dictionary.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 40 words

A method for querying an image by color name as recited in claim 12 wherein said step of comparing said acquired pixel with a color name volume includes the steps of acquiring volume coordinate values for said color name volume.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 58 words

A method for querying an image by color name as recited in claim 12 wherein said step of comparing said acquired pixel with a color name volume includes the steps of receiving pixel coordinates in a device-independent color space of a color name dictionary and comparing said received pixel coordinates with boundary values of said color name volume.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 29 words

A method for querying an image by color name as recited in claim 12 further includes the step of incrementing a pixel count for an identified color name volume.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 24 words

A method for querying an image by color name as recited in claim 16 further includes the step of generating a color name histogram.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 37 words

A method for querying an image by color name as recited in claim 17 further includes the step of sorting color name records contained in said color name histogram responsive to a predefined type of user query.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 41 words

A method for querying an image by color name as recited in claim 17 further includes the step of sorting color name records contained in said color name histogram by a fractional count responsive to a predefined type of user query.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 37 words

A method for querying an image by color name as recited in claim 17 wherein said step of acquiring a pixel from said acquired image includes the steps of identifying an image region within said acquired image.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 37 words

A method for querying an image by color name as recited in claim 20 further includes the step of sorting color name records contained in said color name histogram responsive to a predefined type of user query.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 44 words

A method for querying an image by color name as recited in claim 20 further includes the step of sorting color name records contained in said color name histogram by said image region and fractional count responsive to a predefined type of user query.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 102 words

A computer program product for use in a computer system having a central processor for creating a color name dictionary, the computer program product comprising: a recording medium; means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a predetermined color space; means, recorded on the recording medium, for dividing said predetermined color space into a plurality of color space segments; means, recorded on the recording medium, for assigning an associated color name to each of said plurality of color space segments; each said associated color name including a word or a phrase that constitutes a distinctive designation for said associated color space segment.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 102 words

A computer program product for use in a computer system having a central processor for creating a color name dictionary, the computer program product comprising: a recording medium; means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a predetermined color space; means, recorded on the recording medium, for dividing said predetermined color space into a plurality of color space segments; means, recorded on the recording medium, for assigning an associated color name to each of said plurality of color space segments; each said associated color name including a word or a phrase that constitutes a distinctive designation for said associated color space segment.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 72 words

A computer program product for use in a computer system as recited in claim 23 wherein said means, recorded on the recording medium, for dividing said predetermined color space into a plurality of color space segments include means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a set of color name boundaries in a three-dimensional color space; said identified set of color name boundaries including six boundary values to define concentric cylindrical segments.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 123 words

A computer program product for use in a computer system having a central processor for querying an image by color name, the computer program product comprising: a recording medium; means, recorded on the recording medium, for acquiring an image; means, recorded on the recording medium, for acquiring a pixel from said acquired image; means, recorded on the recording medium, for comparing said acquired pixel with a color name volume; means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a color name volume containing said acquired pixel; and means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a color name for said identified color name volume; said color name including a word or a phrase that constitutes a distinctive designation for said identified color name volume.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 123 words

A computer program product for use in a computer system having a central processor for querying an image by color name, the computer program product comprising: a recording medium; means, recorded on the recording medium, for acquiring an image; means, recorded on the recording medium, for acquiring a pixel from said acquired image; means, recorded on the recording medium, for comparing said acquired pixel with a color name volume; means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a color name volume containing said acquired pixel; and means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a color name for said identified color name volume; said color name including a word or a phrase that constitutes a distinctive designation for said identified color name volume.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 29 words

A computer program product for use in a computer system as recited in claim 25 further includes means, recorded on the recording medium, for generating a color name histogram.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 68 words

A method for querying a point in color space by color name comprising the steps of: acquiring a pixel; comparing said acquired pixel with a color name volume; identifying a color name volume containing said acquired pixel; and identifying a color name for said identified color name volume; said color name including a word or a phrase that constitutes a distinctive designation for said identified color name volume.

Claim 32

Independent Claim 68 words

A method for querying a point in color space by color name comprising the steps of: acquiring a pixel; comparing said acquired pixel with a color name volume; identifying a color name volume containing said acquired pixel; and identifying a color name for said identified color name volume; said color name including a word or a phrase that constitutes a distinctive designation for said identified color name volume.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 46 words

A method for querying a point in color space by color name as recited in claim 3 includes the steps of acquiring a next pixel within an image region and repeating said comparing and identifying steps; and incrementing a count value for said identified color name.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-06-27	2003-12-27	2004-06-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-06-27	2007-12-27	2008-06-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-06-27	2011-12-27	2012-06-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for creating a color name dictionary and for querying an image by color name

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