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US6519360B1 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Image processing apparatus for comparing images based on color feature information and computer program product in a memory

Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1998-09-16
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Granted: 2003-02-11
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Expires: 2018-09-16
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Abstract

Abstract An image data processing apparatus for comparing images based on color feature information of images. The image data processing apparatus has a color group sorting table that stores information for sorting colors to a plurality of color groups. The image data processing apparatus counts color elements of each pixel of the image for every color group with reference to the color group sorting table. The image data processing apparatus obtains a representative color of each color group based on values of the color elements of pixels in every color group and an occupancy ratio of pixels counted for every color group to all pixels of the image, thereby extracts the color feature of the image. The image data processing apparatus compares images based on the color feature and searches desired images from an image database.

Inventors

  • 👤 Sumiyo Tanaka

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 12:10
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T7/00; G06T7/90; G06T2207/00; G06T2207/10; G06T2207/10024; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim 155 words
An image data processing apparatus for processing data of images each having of a plurality of pixels, the image data processing apparatus comprising: an extraction controller for extracting feature information from the images by grouping each pixel constituting the image into a predetermined plurality of color groups based on color elements of each pixel and counting said grouped number of pixels belonging to each color group; and a comparison controller for comparing the image and a plurality of images based on the feature information extracted by said extraction controller; wherein said feature information comprises a representative color in each color group and an occupancy ratio of a count of pixels belonging to each color group to a total count of pixels in the image; and wherein said representative color is a color expressed by a value obtained by dividing a sum of values of pixels belonging to color groups by the total count of pixels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 155 words
An image data processing apparatus for processing data of images each having of a plurality of pixels, the image data processing apparatus comprising: an extraction controller for extracting feature information from the images by grouping each pixel constituting the image into a predetermined plurality of color groups based on color elements of each pixel and counting said grouped number of pixels belonging to each color group; and a comparison controller for comparing the image and a plurality of images based on the feature information extracted by said extraction controller; wherein said feature information comprises a representative color in each color group and an occupancy ratio of a count of pixels belonging to each color group to a total count of pixels in the image; and wherein said representative color is a color expressed by a value obtained by dividing a sum of values of pixels belonging to color groups by the total count of pixels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 113 words
An image data processing apparatus for processing data of images each having of a plurality of pixels, the image data processing apparatus comprising: an extraction controller for extracting feature information from the images by grouping each pixel constituting the image into a predetermined plurality of color groups based on color elements of each pixel and counting said grouped number of pixels belonging to each color group; and a comparison controller for comparing the image and a plurality of images based on the feature information extracted by said extraction controller, wherein said comparison controller includes a calculation controller which calculates a degree of similarity among a plurality of images based on said feature information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 113 words
An image data processing apparatus for processing data of images each having of a plurality of pixels, the image data processing apparatus comprising: an extraction controller for extracting feature information from the images by grouping each pixel constituting the image into a predetermined plurality of color groups based on color elements of each pixel and counting said grouped number of pixels belonging to each color group; and a comparison controller for comparing the image and a plurality of images based on the feature information extracted by said extraction controller, wherein said comparison controller includes a calculation controller which calculates a degree of similarity among a plurality of images based on said feature information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 45 words
The image data processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said feature information comprises a representative color in each color group and an occupancy ratio of a count of pixels belonging to each color group to a total count of pixels in the image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 24 words
The image data processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said calculation controller calculates said degree of similarity by weighting the representative color.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 101 words
An image data processing apparatus for processing data of images each having of a plurality of pixels, the image data processing apparatus comprising: an extraction controller for extracting feature information from the images by grouping each pixel constituting the image into a predetermined plurality of color groups based on color elements of each pixel and counting said grouped number of pixels belonging to each color group; and a comparison controller for comparing the image and a plurality of images based on the feature information extracted by said extraction controller, wherein said color elements comprise a hue, a saturation and a lightness.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 101 words
An image data processing apparatus for processing data of images each having of a plurality of pixels, the image data processing apparatus comprising: an extraction controller for extracting feature information from the images by grouping each pixel constituting the image into a predetermined plurality of color groups based on color elements of each pixel and counting said grouped number of pixels belonging to each color group; and a comparison controller for comparing the image and a plurality of images based on the feature information extracted by said extraction controller, wherein said color elements comprise a hue, a saturation and a lightness.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 165 words
An image data processing apparatus for processing data of images each having a plurality of pixels, the image data processing apparatus comprising: an input controller for inputting image data of a plurality of images; an extraction controller for extracting the feature information of images by sorting colors of the image to a plurality of color groups based on predetermined color elements and counting pixels belonging to each color group for every image inputted by said input controller; an image database for storing image data inputted by the input controller, the image data being linked to the feature information extracted by said extraction controller; a designating device for designating a key image as a search key; and a search controller for searching an image data having a feature information similar to the feature information of said key image designated by said designating device from said image database, by comparing feature information of said key image with feature information of the image stored in said image database.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 165 words
An image data processing apparatus for processing data of images each having a plurality of pixels, the image data processing apparatus comprising: an input controller for inputting image data of a plurality of images; an extraction controller for extracting the feature information of images by sorting colors of the image to a plurality of color groups based on predetermined color elements and counting pixels belonging to each color group for every image inputted by said input controller; an image database for storing image data inputted by the input controller, the image data being linked to the feature information extracted by said extraction controller; a designating device for designating a key image as a search key; and a search controller for searching an image data having a feature information similar to the feature information of said key image designated by said designating device from said image database, by comparing feature information of said key image with feature information of the image stored in said image database.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 45 words
The image data processing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said feature information has a representative color in each color group and an occupancy ratio of a count of pixels belonging to each color group to a total count of pixels in the image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 40 words
The image data processing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said representative color is a color expressed by a value obtained by dividing a sum of values of pixels belonging to color groups by the total count of pixels.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 34 words
The image data processing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said comparison controller comprises a calculation controller which calculates a degree of similarity of a plurality of images based on said feature information.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 45 words
The image data processing apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein said feature information has a representative color in each color group and an occupancy ratio of a count of pixels belonging to each color group to a total count of pixels in the image.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 24 words
The image data processing apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said calculation controller calculates said degree of similarity by weighting the representative color.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 22 words
The image data processing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said color elements comprise a hue, a saturation and a lightness.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 113 words
A computer program product in a memory for processing data of images each having a plurality of pixels, the computer program product comprising: an extraction control for extracting feature information from the images by grouping each pixel of the image into a predetermined plurality of color groups based on color elements of each pixel and counting said grouped number of pixels belonging to each color group; and a comparison control for comparing the image and a plurality of images based on the feature information extracted by said extraction control, wherein said comparison control includes a calculation control for calculating a degree of similarity of a plurality of images based on said feature information.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 113 words
A computer program product in a memory for processing data of images each having a plurality of pixels, the computer program product comprising: an extraction control for extracting feature information from the images by grouping each pixel of the image into a predetermined plurality of color groups based on color elements of each pixel and counting said grouped number of pixels belonging to each color group; and a comparison control for comparing the image and a plurality of images based on the feature information extracted by said extraction control, wherein said comparison control includes a calculation control for calculating a degree of similarity of a plurality of images based on said feature information.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 45 words
The computer program product according to claim 13 , wherein said feature information has a representative color in each color group and an occupancy ratio of a count of pixels belonging to each color group to a total count of pixels consisting of the image.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 39 words
The computer program product according to claim 14 , wherein said representative color is a color expressed by a value obtained by dividing a sum of values of pixels belonging to color groups by the total count of pixels.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 44 words
The computer program product according to claim 13 , wherein said feature information has a representative color in each color group and an occupancy ratio of a count of pixels belonging to each color group to a total count of pixels in the image.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 23 words
The computer program product according to claim 16 , wherein said calculation control calculates the degree of similarity by weighting the representative color.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 21 words
The computer program product according to claim 13 , wherein said color elements comprise a hue, a saturation and a lightness.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 68 words
The computer program product according to claim 13 , further comprising; a registration control for registering the image data and the feature in formation extracted by said extraction control into an image database such that the image data is linked to the feature information and a search control for searching the image data from the image database with the use of comparison result obtained in said comparison control.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 60 words
An image processing apparatus for comparing two images based on feature information of the images, the image processing apparatus comprising; a weighting means for weighting a second feature information of images based on a first feature information of the images, and a comparing means for comparing the two images by using the weighted second feature information of said two images.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 60 words
An image processing apparatus for comparing two images based on feature information of the images, the image processing apparatus comprising; a weighting means for weighting a second feature information of images based on a first feature information of the images, and a comparing means for comparing the two images by using the weighted second feature information of said two images.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 42 words
The image processing apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein said first feature information is an information related to a lightness or a saturation of the images, and said second feature information is an information related to a hue of the images.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2006-02-10 2006-08-12 2007-02-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2010-02-10 2010-08-12 2011-02-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2014-02-10 2014-08-12 2015-02-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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