Technique for locating objects within an image

Claim 3

The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the step of identifying an object within the image based upon an orientation of the object within the image includes the steps or: grouping together substantially adjacent identified portions of the representation; and identifying areas of the representation corresponding to each group of substantially adjacent identified portions of the representation.

Claim 4

The method as defined in claim 2 , wherein the step of identifying an object within the image based upon an orientation of the object within the image further includes the steps of: recording the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified portions of the representation; and framing areas of the representation coinciding with the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified portions of the representation.

Claim 5

The method as defined in claim 3 , wherein the plurality of pixels are also configured having a third orientation, wherein the step of identifying an object within the image based upon an orientation of the object within the image further includes the steps of: counting each enabled pixel in each framed area along the third orientation; and identifying portions of each framed area having a quantity of enabled pixels exceeding a threshold value.

Claim 6

The method as defined in claim 4 , wherein the step of identifying an object within the image based upon an orientation of the object within the image further includes the steps of: grouping together substantially adjacent identified portions of each framed area; and identifying areas of each framed area corresponding to each group of substantially adjacent identified portions of each framed area.

Claim 7

The method as defined in claim 5 , wherein the step of identifying an object within the image based upon an orientation of the object within the image further includes the steps of: recording the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified portions of each framed area; and framing areas of each framed area coinciding with the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified portions of each framed area.

Claim 8

The method as defined in claim 4 , wherein the second orientation and the first orientation are orthogonal.

Claim 9

The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the image is a representation of a plurality of pixels, wherein the plurality of pixels are arranged in a plurality of columns, wherein at least some of the plurality of pixels are enabled to represent the object, wherein the step of identifying an object within the image based upon an orientation of the object within the image includes the steps of: counting each enabled pixel in each of the plurality of columns; and identifying each of the plurality of columns having a quantity of enabled pixels exceeding a threshold value.

Claim 10

The method as defined in claim 8 , wherein the step of identifying an object within the image based upon an orientation of the object within the image further includes the steps of: grouping together substantially adjacent identified columns; and identifying areas of the representation corresponding to each group of substantially adjacent identified columns.

Claim 11

The method as defined in claim 9 , wherein the step of identifying an object within the image based upon an orientation of the object within the image further includes the steps of: recording the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified columns; and framing areas of the representation coinciding with the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified columns.

Claim 12

The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the image is a representation of a plurality of pixels, wherein the plurality of pixels are arranged in a plurality of rows, wherein at least some of the plurality of pixels are enabled to represent the object, wherein the step of identifying an object within the image based upon an orientation of the object within the image includes the steps of: counting each enabled pixel in each of the plurality of rows; and identifying each of the plurality of rows having a quantity of enabled first pixels exceeding a threshold value.

Claim 13

The method as defined in claim 11 , wherein the step of identifying an object within the image based upon an orientation of the object within the image further includes the steps of: grouping together substantially adjacent identified rows; and identifying areas of the representation corresponding to each group of substantially adjacent identified rows.

Claim 14

The method as defined in claim 12 , wherein the step of identifying an object within the image based upon an orientation of the object within the image further includes the steps of: recording the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified rows; and framing areas of the representation coinciding with the locations of the outermost enabled first pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified rows.

Claim 15

The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the image is a representation of a plurality of pixels, wherein the plurality of pixels are arranged in a plurality of columns and rows, wherein at least some of the plurality of pixels are enabled to represent the object, wherein the step of identifying an object within the image based upon an orientation of the object within the image includes the steps of: counting each enabled pixel in each of the plurality of columns and rows; identifying each of the plurality of columns having a quantity of enabled pixels exceeding a column threshold value; and identifying each of the plurality of rows having a quantity of enabled pixels exceeding a row threshold value.

Claim 16

The method as defined in claim 14 , wherein the step of identifying an object within the image based upon an orientation of the object within the image further includes the steps of: grouping together substantially adjacent identified columns; grouping together substantially adjacent identified rows; identifying areas of the representation corresponding to each group of substantially adjacent identified columns; and identifying areas of the representation corresponding to each group of substantially adjacent identified rows.

Claim 17

The method as defined in claim 15 , wherein the step of identifying an object within the image based upon an orientation of the object within the image further includes the steps of: recording the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified columns; recording the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified rows; framing areas of the representation coinciding with the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified columns; and framing areas of the representation coinciding with the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified rows.

Claim 18

The method as defined in claim 16 , wherein the step of identifying an object within the image based upon an orientation of the object within the image further includes the steps of: overlaying the areas of the representation that were framed to coincide with the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified columns with the areas of the representation that were framed to coincide with the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified rows; and identifying common overlayed areas as areas of the representation that contain a significant number of enabled pixels.

Claim 19

The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the image is a first representation of a plurality of first pixels representing a difference between a second representation of a plurality of second pixels and a third representation of a plurality of third pixels, wherein each of the plurality of first pixels is enabled to represent a difference between a corresponding one of the plurality of second pixels and a corresponding one of the plurality of third pixels, wherein the object is represented by at least some of the enabled first pixels.

Claim 22

The apparatus as defined in claim 19 , wherein the first identifier further includes: a first grouper for grouping together substantially adjacent identified portions of the representation; and a third identifier for identifying areas of the representation corresponding to each group of substantially adjacent identified portions of the representation.

Claim 23

The apparatus as defined in claim 20 , wherein the first identifier further includes: a first recorder for recording the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified portions of the representation; and a first framer for framing areas of the representation coinciding with the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified portions of the representation.

Claim 24

The apparatus as defined in claim 21 , wherein the plurality of pixels are also configured having a third orientation, wherein the first identifier further includes: a second counter for counting each enabled pixel in each framed area along the third orientation; and a fourth identifier for identifying portions of each framed area having a quantity of enabled pixels exceeding a threshold value.

Claim 25

The apparatus as defined in claim 22 , wherein the first identifier further includes: a second grouper for grouping together substantially adjacent identified portions of each framed area; and a fifth identifier for identifying areas of each framed area corresponding to each group of substantially adjacent identified portions of each framed area.

Claim 26

The apparatus as defined in claim 23 , wherein the first identifier further includes; a second recorder for recording the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified portions of each framed area; and a second framer for framing areas of each framed area coinciding with the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified portions of each framed area.

Claim 27

The apparatus as defined in claim 22 , wherein the second orientation and the first orientation are orthogonal.

Claim 28

The apparatus as defined in claim 19 , wherein the image is a representation of a plurality of pixels, wherein the plurality of pixels are arranged in a plurality of columns, wherein at least some of the plurality of pixels are enabled to represent the object, wherein the first identifier includes: a counter for counting each enabled pixel in each of the plurality of columns; and a second identifier for identifying each of the plurality of columns having a quantity of enabled pixels exceeding a threshold value.

Claim 29

The apparatus as defined in claim 26 , wherein the first identifier further includes: a grouper for grouping together substantially adjacent identified columns; and a third identifier for identifying areas of the representation corresponding to each group of substantially adjacent identified columns.

Claim 30

The apparatus as defined in claim 27 , wherein the first identifier further includes: a recorder for recording the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified columns; and a framer for framing areas of the representation coinciding with the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified columns.

Claim 31

The apparatus as defined in claim 19 , wherein the image is a representation of a plurality of pixels, wherein the plurality of pixels are arranged in a plurality of rows, wherein at least some of the plurality of pixels are enabled to represent the object, wherein the first identifier includes: a counter for counting each enabled pixel in each of the plurality of rows; and a second identifier for identifying each of the plurality of rows having a quantity of enabled first pixels exceeding a threshold value.

Claim 32

The apparatus as defined in claim 29 , wherein the first identifier further includes: a grouper for grouping together substantially adjacent identified rows; and a third identifier for identifying areas of the representation corresponding to each group of substantially adjacent identified rows.

Claim 33

The apparatus as defined in claim 30 , wherein the first, identifier further includes: a recorder for recording the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified rows; and a framer for framing areas of the representation coinciding with the locations of the outermost enabled first pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified rows.

Claim 34

The apparatus as defined in claim 19 , wherein the image is a representation of a plurality of pixels, wherein the plurality of pixels are arranged in a plurality of columns and rows, wherein at least some of the plurality of pixels are enabled to represent the object, wherein the first identifier includes: a counter for counting each enabled pixel in each of the plurality of columns and rows; a second identifier for identifying each of the plurality of columns having a quantity of enabled pixels exceeding a column threshold value; and a third identifier for identifying each of the plurality of rows having a quantity of enabled pixels exceeding a row threshold value.

Claim 35

The apparatus as defined in claim 32 , wherein the first identifier further includes: a first grouper for grouping together substantially adjacent identified columns; a second grouper for grouping together substantially adjacent identified rows; a fourth identifier for identifying areas of the representation corresponding to each group of substantially adjacent identified columns; and a fifth identifier for identifying areas of the representation corresponding to each group of substantially adjacent identified rows.

Claim 36

The apparatus as defined in claim 33 , wherein the first identifier further includes: a first recorder for recording the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified columns; a second recorder for recording the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified rows; a first framer for framing areas of the representation coinciding with the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified columns; and a second framer for framing areas of the representation coinciding with the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified rows.

Claim 37

The apparatus as defined in claim 34 , wherein the first identifier further includes: an overlayer for overlaying the areas of the representation that were framed to coincide with the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified columns with the areas of the representation that were framed to coincide with the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified rows; and a sixth identifier for identifying common overlayed areas as areas of the representation that contain a significant number of enabled pixels.

Claim 38

The apparatus as defined in claim 19 , wherein the image is a first representation of a plurality of first pixels representing a difference between a second representation of a plurality of second pixels and a third representation of a plurality of third pixels, wherein each of the plurality of first pixels is enabled to represent a difference between a corresponding one of the plurality of second pixels and a corresponding one of the plurality of third pixels, wherein the object is represented by at least some of the enabled first pixels.

Claim 39

An article of manufacture for locating objects within an image, wherein the object is represented by a plurality of enabled pixels within the image, the article of manufacture comprising: a computer readable storage medium; and computer programming stored on the storage medium; wherein the stored computer programming is configured to be readable from the computer readable storage medium by a computer and thereby cause the computer to operate so as to: define a first representation of the image, the first representation having a plurality of first pixels, obtain a second and a third representation of the image; the second representation having a plurality of second pixels, and the third representation having a plurality of third pixels, the plurality of first pixels formed by taking the difference between the plurality of second pixels and the plurality of third pixels, wherein at least some of the plurality of first pixels are enabled and represent the object, define at least two orientations of the object; count the number of enabled plurality of first pixels along the each of the two orientations; define a threshold as a quantity of the plurality of first pixels counted; identify of portions of the plurality of of first pixels exceeding the threshold; and identify the object within the image based upon the orientation and the identified portions of the plurality of first pixels exceeding the threshold of the object within the image.

Claim 40

An article of manufacture for locating objects within an image, wherein the object is represented by a plurality of enabled pixels within the image, the article of manufacture comprising: a computer readable storage medium; and computer programming stored on the storage medium; wherein the stored computer programming is configured to be readable from the computer readable storage medium by a computer and thereby cause the computer to operate so as to: define a first representation of the image, the first representation having a plurality of first pixels, obtain a second and a third representation of the image; the second representation having a plurality of second pixels, and the third representation having a plurality of third pixels, the plurality of first pixels formed by taking the difference between the plurality of second pixels and the plurality of third pixels, wherein at least some of the plurality of first pixels are enabled and represent the object, define at least two orientations of the object; count the number of enabled plurality of first pixels along the each of the two orientations; define a threshold as a quantity of the plurality of first pixels counted; identify of portions of the plurality of of first pixels exceeding the threshold; and identify the object within the image based upon the orientation and the identified portions of the plurality of first pixels exceeding the threshold of the object within the image.

Claim 41

The article of manufacture as defined in claim 37 , further causing the computer to operate so as to: group together substantially adjacent identified portions of the representation; and identify areas of the representation corresponding to each group of substantially adjacent identified portions of the representation.

Claim 42

The article of manufacture as defined in claim 38 , further causing the computer to operate so as to: record the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified portions of the representation; and frame areas of the representation coinciding with the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified portions of the representation.

Claim 43

The article of manufacture as defined in claim 39 , wherein the plurality of pixels are also configured having a third orientation, further causing the computer to operate so as to: count each enabled pixel in each framed area along the third orientation; and identify portions of each framed area having a quantity of enabled pixels exceeding a threshold value.

Claim 44

The article of manufacture as defined in claim 40 , further causing the computer to operate so as to: group together substantially adjacent identified portions of each framed area; and identify areas of each framed area corresponding to each group of substantially adjacent identified portions of each framed area.

Claim 45

The article of manufacture as defined in claim 41 , further causing the computer to operate so as to: record the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified portions of each framed area; and frame areas of each framed area coinciding with the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified portions of each framed area.

Claim 46

The article of manufacture as defined in claim 40 , wherein the second orientation and the first orientation are orthogonal.

Claim 47

The article of manufacture as defined in claim 37 , wherein the image is a representation of a plurality of pixels, wherein the plurality of pixels are arranged in a plurality of columns, wherein at least some of the plurality of pixels are enabled to represent the object, further causing the computer to operate so as to: count each enabled pixel in each of the plurality of columns; and identify each of the plurality of columns having a quantity of enabled pixels exceeding a threshold value.

Claim 48

The article of manufacture as defined in claim 44 , further causing the computer to operate so as to: group together substantially adjacent identified columns; and identify areas of the representation corresponding to each group of substantially adjacent identified columns.

Claim 49

The article of manufacture as defined in claim 45 , further causing the computer to operate so as to: record the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified columns; and frame areas of the representation coinciding with the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified columns.

Claim 50

The article of manufacture as defined in claim 37 , wherein the image is a representation of a plurality of pixels, wherein the plurality of pixels are arranged in a plurality of rows, wherein at least some of the plurality of pixels are enabled to represent the object, further causing the computer to operate so as to: count each enabled pixel in each of the plurality of rows; and identify each of the plurality of rows having a quantity of enabled first pixels exceeding a threshold value.

Claim 51

The article of manufacture as defined in claim 47 , further causing the computer to operate so as to: group together substantially adjacent identified rows; and identify areas of the representation corresponding to each group of substantially adjacent identified rows.

Claim 52

The article of manufacture as defined in claim 48 , further causing the computer to operate so as to: record the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified rows; and frame areas of the representation coinciding with the locations of the outermost enabled first pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified rows.

Claim 53

The article of manufacture as defined in claim 37 , wherein the image is a representation of a plurality of pixels, wherein the plurality of pixels are arranged in a plurality of columns and rows, wherein at least some of the plurality of pixels are enabled to represent the object, further causing the computer to operate so as to: count each enabled pixel in each of the plurality of columns and rows; identify each of the plurality of columns having a quantity of enabled pixels exceeding a column threshold value; and identify each of the plurality of rows having a quantity of enabled pixels exceeding a row threshold value.

Claim 54

The article of manufacture as defined in claim 50 , further causing the computer to operate so as to: group together substantially adjacent identified columns; group together substantially adjacent identified rows; identify areas of the representation corresponding to each group of substantially adjacent identified columns; and identify areas of the representation corresponding to each group of substantially adjacent identified rows.

Claim 55

The article of manufacture as defined in claim 51 , further causing the computer to operate so as to: record the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified columns; record the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified rows; frame areas of the representation coinciding with the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified columns; and frame areas of the representation coinciding with the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified rows.

Claim 56

The article of manufacture as defined in claim 52 , further causing the computer to operate so as to: overlay the areas of the representation that were framed to coincide with the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified columns with the areas of the representation that were framed to coincide with the locations of the outermost enabled pixels within each group of substantially adjacent identified rows; and identify common overlayed areas as areas of the representation that contain a significant number of enabled pixels.

Claim 57

The article of manufacture as defined in claim 37 , wherein the image is a first representation of a plurality of first pixels representing a difference between a second representation of a plurality of second pixels and a third representation of a plurality of third pixels, wherein each of the plurality of first pixels is enabled to represent a difference between a corresponding one of the plurality of second pixels and a corresponding one of the plurality of third pixels, wherein the object is represented by at least some of the enabled first pixels.