US7013051B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of image feature coding and method of image search
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Filing: 2003-04-15
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Granted: 2006-03-14
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Expires: 2023-04-15
Abstract
Abstract A feature coding unit extracts and encodes a feature of a video signal so as to generate a feature stream. A feature identifying unit checks a decoded feature obtained as a result of decoding the feature stream against a search key from a user for a match so that a video content requested by the user is retrieved.
Inventors
- 👤 Shunichi Sekiguchi
- 👤 Yoshihisa Yamada
- 👤 James Chow
- 👤 Kohtaro Asai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 18:18
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T7/00; G06T7/20; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/50; G06F16/58; G06F16/583; G06F16/5838; G06F16/5854; G06F16/70; G06F16/78; G06F16/783; G06F16/7837; G06F16/7847; G06F16/785; G06F16/7854; G06F16/786; G06T9/00; G06T9/001; G06V; G06V20/00; G06V20/40; G11; G11B; G11B27/00; G11B27/10; G11B27/102; G11B27/107; G11B27/19; G11B27/28; H; H04; H04N; H04N19/00; H04N19/20; H04N19/46; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/23; H04N21/232; H04N21/234; H04N21/23412; H04N21/23418; H04N21/2343; H04N21/234345; H04N21/234363; H04N21/236; H04N21/23614; H04N21/25; H04N21/266; H04N21/26603; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/434; H04N21/4348; H04N21/47; H04N21/482; H04N21/4828; H04N7/00; H04N7/24; G11B2220/00; G11B2220/40; G11B2220/41; G11B2220/90; H04N5/00; H04N5/44; H04N5/445; H04N5/45
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
An image searching method using a first storage unit for storing image frames and a second storage unit for storing a feature stream having features of the image frames encoded therein, comprising the steps of: decoding the features stored in the second storage unit, in accordance with a search instruction from a user, the features including at least one of a representative color, a relative area, an on-screen position, a shape, a variation in position, a variation in brightness, a variation in color, a contrast of the image frame, or a contrast of a segment of the image frame; and checking the decoded features against a search criteria provided by the user for identity match.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
An image searching method using a first storage unit for storing image frames and a second storage unit for storing a feature stream having features of the image frames encoded therein, comprising the steps of: decoding the features stored in the second storage unit, in accordance with a search instruction from a user, the features including at least one of a representative color, a relative area, an on-screen position, a shape, a variation in position, a variation in brightness, a variation in color, a contrast of the image frame, or a contrast of a segment of the image frame; and checking the decoded features against a search criteria provided by the user for identity match.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The image searching method according to claim 1 , wherein the search criteria from the user includes the representative color.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The image searching method according to claim 1 , wherein the search criteria from the user includes the relative area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The image searching method according to claim 1 , wherein the movement information include movement information related to movement between adjacent image frames, and the search criteria from the user includes the movement information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The image searching method according to claim 1 , wherein the features stored in the second storage unit include a reduced image of the image frame, the decoded feature is checked against the search criteria from the user, and the reduced image is presented to the user.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The image searching method according to claim 1 , wherein the features stored in the second storage unit include information indicating whether a designated object is captured in the image frame.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The image searching method according to claim 1 , wherein the features stored in the second storage unit include information indicating whether a designated object is captured in subsequent image frames.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The image searching method according to claim 1 , wherein the features stored in the second storage unit include information indicating whether a designated object is captured in previous image frames.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The image searching method according to claim 1 , wherein priority given to the decoded feature, when checking the decoded feature against the search criteria from the user, is presented to the user.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The image searching method according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of decoded features are checked from a viewpoint against a plurality of search criteria from the user for a match from an overall perspective.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
140 words
An image searching method comprising the steps of: decoding features stored in a storage unit, in accordance with a search instruction from a user, the storage unit storing a feature stream having features of image frames encoded therein; and checking the decoded features against a search criteria provided by the user for identity match, wherein the feature stream is coded by the steps comprising: extracting segments of image areas from an image frame; attaching a segment number to each of the extracted segments; assigning a representative color to each of the extracted segments; calculating a size of a relative area of each of the segments with respect to the image frame; coding the representative color and the relative area to produce a feature of the image; and generating a feature stream corresponding to the image having the feature encoded therein.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
140 words
An image searching method comprising the steps of: decoding features stored in a storage unit, in accordance with a search instruction from a user, the storage unit storing a feature stream having features of image frames encoded therein; and checking the decoded features against a search criteria provided by the user for identity match, wherein the feature stream is coded by the steps comprising: extracting segments of image areas from an image frame; attaching a segment number to each of the extracted segments; assigning a representative color to each of the extracted segments; calculating a size of a relative area of each of the segments with respect to the image frame; coding the representative color and the relative area to produce a feature of the image; and generating a feature stream corresponding to the image having the feature encoded therein.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 11 , wherein an image storage unit stores the image frames.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 11 , further comprising the step of: retrieving selected image frames that match the search criteria provided by the user.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 13 , wherein the retrieved image frames are retrieved from an image storage unit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2009-03-13 | 2009-09-12 | 2010-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-03-13 | 2013-09-12 | 2014-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-03-13 | 2017-09-12 | 2018-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |