US7092573B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and system for selectively applying enhancement to an image
Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures LLC
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Filing: 2001-12-10
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Granted: 2006-08-15
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Expires: 2021-12-10
Abstract
Abstract A method for processing a digital color image includes the steps of: providing a subject matter detector for distinguishing between target and background subject matters; applying the subject matter detector to the image to produce a belief map indicating the degree of belief that pixels in the image belong to target subject matter; providing an image enhancement operation that is responsive to a control signal for controlling the degree of image enhancement; and applying image enhancement to the digital image by varying the control signal according to the belief map to produce an enhanced image.
Inventors
- 👤 Jiebo Luo
- 👤 Andrew C. Gallagher
- 👤 Amit Singhal
- 👤 Robert T. Gray
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:47
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T5/00; G06T5/73; G06T5/75; G06F; G06F18/00; G06F18/20; G06F18/29; G06V; G06V10/00; G06V10/20; G06V10/26; G06V10/40; G06V10/56; G06V10/70; G06V10/84; G06V20/00; G06V20/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for processing a digital image, comprising the steps of: applying a subject matter detector to the digital image to produce a belief map of values indicating the degree of belief that pixels in the digital image belong to target subject matter, said values defining a plurality of belief regions; determining the sizes of each of said belief regions in said belief map; enhancing the digital image, said enhancing varying pixel by pixel in accordance with both the degree of belief and the size of the respective said belief region.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for processing a digital image, comprising the steps of: applying a subject matter detector to the digital image to produce a belief map of values indicating the degree of belief that pixels in the digital image belong to target subject matter, said values defining a plurality of belief regions; determining the sizes of each of said belief regions in said belief map; enhancing the digital image, said enhancing varying pixel by pixel in accordance with both the degree of belief and the size of the respective said belief region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said applying further comprises assigning one of three or more different belief values to each of the pixels of the digital image.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said assigning is based upon color and texture features.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method claimed in claim 2 , further comprising selecting one or more of a plurality of subject matter detectors and using said one or more subject matter detectors to produce said belief values.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method claimed in claim 4 , wherein said using further comprises reducing the resolution of the digital image prior to applying the subject matter detector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method claimed in claim 4 , further comprising selecting one or more of a plurality of image enhancement operations, and using said one or more image enhancement operations in said enhancing.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
103 words
A system for processing a digital image, comprising: a subject matter detector distinguishing between target and background subject matters in the digital image to produce a belief map of values indicating the degree of belief that pixels in the digital image belong to target subject matter, said values defining a plurality of belief regions; and a belief map analyzer determining sizes of said belief regions; an image enhancement operator enhancing said digital image, said image enhancement operator controlling the degree of image enhancement pixel by pixel, in accordance with both the degree of belief and the size of the respective said belief region.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
103 words
A system for processing a digital image, comprising: a subject matter detector distinguishing between target and background subject matters in the digital image to produce a belief map of values indicating the degree of belief that pixels in the digital image belong to target subject matter, said values defining a plurality of belief regions; and a belief map analyzer determining sizes of said belief regions; an image enhancement operator enhancing said digital image, said image enhancement operator controlling the degree of image enhancement pixel by pixel, in accordance with both the degree of belief and the size of the respective said belief region.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for processing a digital image, comprising the steps of: applying a subject matter detector to the digital image to produce a belief map of values indicating the degree of belief that pixels in the digital image belong to target subject matter; determining the location and size of each of a plurality of belief regions in said belief map; enhancing the digital image, said enhancing varying pixel by pixel in accordance with the degree of belief the size and the location of the respective said belief region.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for processing a digital image, comprising the steps of: applying a subject matter detector to the digital image to produce a belief map of values indicating the degree of belief that pixels in the digital image belong to target subject matter; determining the location and size of each of a plurality of belief regions in said belief map; enhancing the digital image, said enhancing varying pixel by pixel in accordance with the degree of belief the size and the location of the respective said belief region.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for processing a digital image, comprising the steps of: providing a subject matter detector for distinguishing between target and background subject matters; applying the subject matter detector to the image to produce a belief map of values indicating the degree of belief that pixels in the image belong to target subject matter; analyzing the belief map to generate a control signal; providing an image enhancement operation that is responsive to the control signal for controlling the degree of image enhancement; and applying image enhancement operation to the digital image by varying the control signal pixel by pixel according to the belief map to produce an enhanced image; wherein the analyzing includes determining the location and size of each belief region within said belief map and enhancing the control signal based on the locations.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for processing a digital image, comprising the steps of: providing a subject matter detector for distinguishing between target and background subject matters; applying the subject matter detector to the image to produce a belief map of values indicating the degree of belief that pixels in the image belong to target subject matter; analyzing the belief map to generate a control signal; providing an image enhancement operation that is responsive to the control signal for controlling the degree of image enhancement; and applying image enhancement operation to the digital image by varying the control signal pixel by pixel according to the belief map to produce an enhanced image; wherein the analyzing includes determining the location and size of each belief region within said belief map and enhancing the control signal based on the locations.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method claimed in claim 9 further comprising selecting one or more of a plurality of subject matter detectors and using said one or more subject matter detectors to produce said belief values.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method claimed in claim 10 , wherein said using further comprises reducing the resolution of the digital image prior to applying the subject matter detector.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method claimed in claim 10 , further comprising selecting one or more of a plurality of image enhancement operations, and using said one or more image enhancement operations in said enhancing.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for processing a digital image, comprising the steps of: providing a subject matter detector for distinguishing between target and background subject matters; applying the subject matter detector to the image to produce a belief map of values indicating the degree of belief that pixels in the image belong to target subject matter, said values defining a plurality of belief regions; analyzing the belief map to generate a control signal; providing an image enhancement operation that is responsive to the control signal for controlling the degree of image enhancement; and applying image enhancement operation to the digital image by varying the control signal pixel by pixel according to the belief map to produce an enhanced image; wherein the analyzing includes determining the size of each belief region and enhancing the control signal based on the size.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for processing a digital image, comprising the steps of: providing a subject matter detector for distinguishing between target and background subject matters; applying the subject matter detector to the image to produce a belief map of values indicating the degree of belief that pixels in the image belong to target subject matter, said values defining a plurality of belief regions; analyzing the belief map to generate a control signal; providing an image enhancement operation that is responsive to the control signal for controlling the degree of image enhancement; and applying image enhancement operation to the digital image by varying the control signal pixel by pixel according to the belief map to produce an enhanced image; wherein the analyzing includes determining the size of each belief region and enhancing the control signal based on the size.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method claimed in claim 13 , wherein a plurality of subject matter detectors are provided, and further comprising the step of selecting one or more of the provided subject matter detectors.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method claimed in claim 14 , wherein the target subject matters include human flesh, clear blue sky, lawn grass, snow fields, and water bodies.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method claimed in claim 13 , wherein a plurality of image enhancement operations are provided, and further comprising the step of selecting one or more of the provided image enhancement operations.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method claimed in claim 16 , wherein the image enhancement operations include sharpening, noise reduction, JPEG de-blocking, tone scale adjustment, scene balance adjustment, and color re-mapping.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method claimed in claim 13 , wherein the target subject matter is human flesh.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method claimed in claim 13 , wherein the target subject matter is clear blue sky.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method claimed in claim 13 , wherein the target subject matter is lawn grass.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method claimed in claim 13 , wherein the target subject matter is snow field.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method claimed in claim 13 , wherein the target subject matter of is a body of water.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method claimed in claim 13 , wherein the image enhancement operation is sharpening.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method claimed in claim 13 , wherein the image enhancement operation is noise reduction.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method claimed in claim 13 , wherein the image enhancement operation is tone scale adjustment.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method claimed in claim 13 , wherein the image enhancement operation is scene balance adjustment.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method claimed in claim 13 , wherein the image enhancement operation is color re-mapping.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method claimed in claim 13 , wherein the image enhancement operation is JPEG de-blocking.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method claimed in claim 13 , wherein the image enhancement operation is image magnification employing interpolation.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method claimed in claim 29 , wherein the image interpolation is selectable between bilinear interpolation and fractal based interpolation.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method claimed in claim 13 , further comprising the step of reducing the resolution of the digital image prior to applying the subject matter detector.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
A computer readable program product stored on a computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 13 .
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein said values indicate more than two different degrees of belief that respective pixels in the image belong to target subject matter.
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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) | 2009-08-14 | 2010-02-13 | 2010-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-08-14 | 2014-02-13 | 2014-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-08-14 | 2018-02-13 | 2018-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |