US7034848B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for automatically cropping graphical images
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
•
Filing: 2001-01-05
•
Granted: 2006-04-25
•
Expires: 2021-01-05
Abstract
Abstract An image cropping system utilizes memory, an object detector, and an image cropper. A set of digital data that defines a graphical image is stored in the memory. The object detector analyzes the set of digital data and automatically identifies a portion of the digital data that defines an image of a particular object. The image cropper then uses the identified portion to determine a position of the object image within the graphical image. Based on the position of the object image within the graphical image, the image cropper automatically crops the digital data. In this regard, the position of the object image within the graphical image serves as a reference for determining which portions of the set of digital data should be cropped.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert E. Sobol
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:49
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/222; H04N5/262; H04N5/2621; H04N1/00; H04N1/21; H04N1/2104; H04N1/387; H04N1/3872
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A system for automatically cropping graphical images, comprising: memory for storing digital data that defines a graphical image captured by said system; an object detector configured to perform a search of said digital data for an object of a particular type; and an image cropper configured to automatically identify, based on said search, at least one object of said particular type within said graphical image as an object of interest based on a position of said at least one object within said graphical image but not based on any other graphical image captured by said system, said image cropper further configured to automatically perform a cropping operation on said graphical image such that said at least one object identified as an object of interest is moved closer to a center of said graphical image.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
134 words
A system for automatically cropping graphical images, comprising: memory for storing digital data that defines a graphical image captured by said system; an object detector configured to perform a search of said digital data for an object of a particular type; and an image cropper configured to automatically identify, based on said search, at least one object of said particular type within said graphical image as an object of interest based on a position of said at least one object within said graphical image but not based on any other graphical image captured by said system, said image cropper further configured to automatically perform a cropping operation on said graphical image such that said at least one object identified as an object of interest is moved closer to a center of said graphical image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one object is an image of a person's face, and wherein said object detector is configured to search said digital data for facial images.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said cropping operation is based on a size of said at least one object.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said cropping operation is performed such that said at least one object is substantially centered between two edges of said graphical image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 1 , further comprising: an input device for receiving an input from a user; and a system manager configured to enable said image cropper based on said user input.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 1 , further comprising an image capturing device configured to receive an image of a scene and to produce said digital data based on said image received by said image capturing device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 6 , wherein said image capturing device includes a lens for receiving said image of said scene and an image converter for producing said digital data based on said image of said scene.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said image cropper is configured to identify said at least one object as an object of interest based on whether said at least one object is located close to a center of said graphical image.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
106 words
A system for automatically cropping graphical images, comprising: memory for storing digital data that defines a graphical image; an object detector configured to analyze said digital data and to automatically identify a graphical object within said graphical image; and an image cropper configured to make a determination as to whether said a graphical object is close to an edge of said graphical image and to automatically identify, based on said determination, said graphical object as an object to be removed from said graphical image and to automatically crop said digital data based on said determination such that said graphical object is removed from said graphical image.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
106 words
A system for automatically cropping graphical images, comprising: memory for storing digital data that defines a graphical image; an object detector configured to analyze said digital data and to automatically identify a graphical object within said graphical image; and an image cropper configured to make a determination as to whether said a graphical object is close to an edge of said graphical image and to automatically identify, based on said determination, said graphical object as an object to be removed from said graphical image and to automatically crop said digital data based on said determination such that said graphical object is removed from said graphical image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 9 , wherein said graphical object is an image of a face.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
137 words
A system for automatically cropping graphical images, comprising: means for capturing graphical images; memory for storing digital data that defines a graphical image captured by said capturing means; means searching said digital data for an object of a particular type; and means for automatically cropping said graphical image, said cropping means configured to automatically identify, based on said searching means, at least one object of said particular type within said graphical image as an object of interest based on a position of said at least one object image within said graphical image but not based on any other graphical image captured by said capturing means, said cropping means configured to crop said graphical image such that said at least one object identified as an object of interest is moved closer to a center of said graphical image.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
137 words
A system for automatically cropping graphical images, comprising: means for capturing graphical images; memory for storing digital data that defines a graphical image captured by said capturing means; means searching said digital data for an object of a particular type; and means for automatically cropping said graphical image, said cropping means configured to automatically identify, based on said searching means, at least one object of said particular type within said graphical image as an object of interest based on a position of said at least one object image within said graphical image but not based on any other graphical image captured by said capturing means, said cropping means configured to crop said graphical image such that said at least one object identified as an object of interest is moved closer to a center of said graphical image.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 11 , wherein said at least one object is an image of a person's face, and wherein said searching means is configured to search said digital data for facial images.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 11 , wherein said cropping means crops said graphical image based on a size of said at least one object.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 11 , wherein said cropping crops said graphical image such that said at least one object is substantially centered between two edges of said graphical image.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 11 , further comprising: means for receiving an input from a user; and means for enabling said cropping means based on said user input.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 11 , further comprising a means for receiving an image of a scene and for producing said digital data based on said image received by said receiving means.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for automatically cropping graphical images, comprising: capturing a graphical image; storing digital data that defines said graphical image; automatically searching said digital data for an object of a particular type; automatically identifying, based on said searching, at least one object of said particular type as an object of interest based on a position of said at least one object within said graphical image but not based on any captured image other than said graphical image; and automatically cropping said graphical image based on said identifying such that said at least one object identified as an object of interest is substantially centered between at least two edges of said graphical image.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for automatically cropping graphical images, comprising: capturing a graphical image; storing digital data that defines said graphical image; automatically searching said digital data for an object of a particular type; automatically identifying, based on said searching, at least one object of said particular type as an object of interest based on a position of said at least one object within said graphical image but not based on any captured image other than said graphical image; and automatically cropping said graphical image based on said identifying such that said at least one object identified as an object of interest is substantially centered between at least two edges of said graphical image.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein said at least one object comprises an image of a person's face.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein said cropping is further based on a size of said at least one object.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein said searching and cropping are automatically performed in response to said storing.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 17 , further comprising: receiving an input from a user; and enabling said cropping based on said user input.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 17 , further comprising enabling a user to select the type of automatic cropping to be performed in said cropping.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 17 , further comprising making a determination as to whether said at least one object is a facial image, wherein said cropping is based on said determination.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 17 , further comprising determining an extent that said at least one object is from a center region of said graphical image, wherein said identifying is based on said determining.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
153 words
A system for automatically cropping graphical images, comprising: an image capturing device configured to capture graphical images; memory for storing digital data that defines a graphical image captured by said image capturing device; an object detector configured to automatically detect a face within said graphical image; and an image cropper configured to make a determination as to whether said face is within a particular region of said graphical image and to automatically identify said face as an object of interest based on said determination if said face is within said particular region, said image cropper further configured to automatically perform a cropping operation on said graphical image such that said face is moved closer to a center of said graphical image if said face is determined to be an object of interest, wherein said cropping operation is not based on any image captured by said image capturing device other than said graphical image.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
153 words
A system for automatically cropping graphical images, comprising: an image capturing device configured to capture graphical images; memory for storing digital data that defines a graphical image captured by said image capturing device; an object detector configured to automatically detect a face within said graphical image; and an image cropper configured to make a determination as to whether said face is within a particular region of said graphical image and to automatically identify said face as an object of interest based on said determination if said face is within said particular region, said image cropper further configured to automatically perform a cropping operation on said graphical image such that said face is moved closer to a center of said graphical image if said face is determined to be an object of interest, wherein said cropping operation is not based on any image captured by said image capturing device other than said graphical image.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 25 , wherein said object detector is further configured to detect a second face in said graphical image, and wherein said image cropper is configured to perform said cropping operation such that said second face is removed from said graphical image.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for automatically cropping graphical images, comprising: storing digital data that defines a graphical image; detecting a plurality of faces within said graphical image; determining an extent that at least one of said faces is from a center region of said graphical image; automatically identifying, based on said determining, said at least one face as an object of interest if said at least one face is within or close to said center region; and automatically cropping said graphical image based on said identifying such that said at least one face is substantially centered within said graphical image.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for automatically cropping graphical images, comprising: storing digital data that defines a graphical image; detecting a plurality of faces within said graphical image; determining an extent that at least one of said faces is from a center region of said graphical image; automatically identifying, based on said determining, said at least one face as an object of interest if said at least one face is within or close to said center region; and automatically cropping said graphical image based on said identifying such that said at least one face is substantially centered within said graphical image.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 27 , wherein said cropping comprises removing, from said graphical image, at least one of said faces that is not identified as an object of interest.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for cropping a graphical image, comprising: detecting a plurality of faces in the graphical image; determining if at least one of the faces is close to a center of the graphical image; automatically selecting one of the faces to remain in the graphical image and one of the faces for removal from the graphical image based on the determining; and automatically cropping the graphical image based on said selecting such that the face selected for removal is removed from the graphical image.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for cropping a graphical image, comprising: detecting a plurality of faces in the graphical image; determining if at least one of the faces is close to a center of the graphical image; automatically selecting one of the faces to remain in the graphical image and one of the faces for removal from the graphical image based on the determining; and automatically cropping the graphical image based on said selecting such that the face selected for removal is removed from the graphical image.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 29 , further comprising determining a location in the graphical image of each of the plurality of faces.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 29 , wherein the cropping the graphical image comprises positioning one of the plurality of faces closer to the center.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 29 , wherein the cropping is performed such that said face selected to remain in the graphical image is moved closer to the center.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
52 words
A method for cropping a graphical image, comprising: detecting a face in a digital image of a picture; and automatically cropping the digital image based on a size of the face relative to the digital image, wherein the automatically cropping further comprises moving the face away from a center of the picture.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
52 words
A method for cropping a graphical image, comprising: detecting a face in a digital image of a picture; and automatically cropping the digital image based on a size of the face relative to the digital image, wherein the automatically cropping further comprises moving the face away from a center of the picture.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
116 words
A system for automatically cropping graphical images, comprising: memory for storing digital data that defines a graphical image; an object detector configured to detect a plurality of objects of a particular type within said graphical image; and an image cropper configured to make a determination as to whether at least one of said objects is close to a center of said graphical image and to automatically identify, based on said determination, said at least one object as an object of interest if said at least object is located close to said center, said image cropper further configured to crop said graphical image such that said at least one object is substantially centered within said graphical image.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
116 words
A system for automatically cropping graphical images, comprising: memory for storing digital data that defines a graphical image; an object detector configured to detect a plurality of objects of a particular type within said graphical image; and an image cropper configured to make a determination as to whether at least one of said objects is close to a center of said graphical image and to automatically identify, based on said determination, said at least one object as an object of interest if said at least object is located close to said center, said image cropper further configured to crop said graphical image such that said at least one object is substantially centered within said graphical image.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 34 , wherein said objects of a particular type are facial images, and wherein said object detector is configured to search said graphical image for facial images to detect said objects of said particular type.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 34 , wherein said image cropper is configured to automatically remove at least one of said detected objects that is not identified as an object of interest by said image cropper.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
66 words
A method for automatically cropping graphical images, comprising: detecting an object within said graphical image; determining whether said object is close to an edge of said graphical image; selecting said object for removal from said graphical image based on said determining if said determining indicates that said object is close to said edge; and automatically removing said object from said graphical image based on said selecting.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
66 words
A method for automatically cropping graphical images, comprising: detecting an object within said graphical image; determining whether said object is close to an edge of said graphical image; selecting said object for removal from said graphical image based on said determining if said determining indicates that said object is close to said edge; and automatically removing said object from said graphical image based on said selecting.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 37 , wherein said object is a face and said method further comprises searching said graphical image for facial images.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 37 , further comprising displaying said graphical image after said removing.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
51 words
A method for cropping a graphical image, comprising: detecting a face in a digital image of a picture; and automatically cropping the digital image based on a position of the face within the digital image, wherein the automatically cropping further comprises moving the face away from a center of the picture.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
51 words
A method for cropping a graphical image, comprising: detecting a face in a digital image of a picture; and automatically cropping the digital image based on a position of the face within the digital image, wherein the automatically cropping further comprises moving the face away from a center of the picture.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5164992A
Cited
US5781665A
Cited
US6009197A
Cited
US6297846B1
Cited
EP0824246A2
Cited
US5978519A
Cited
US6144755A
Cited
US5892854A
Cited
US6072538A
Cited
WO1999009887A1
Cited
US6128397A
Cited
EP0939381A2
Cited
US6650366B2
Cited
EP1120742A2
Cited
GB2370438A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2009-04-24 | 2009-10-24 | 2010-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-04-24 | 2013-10-24 | 2014-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-04-24 | 2017-10-24 | 2018-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |