Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium

• US 20040086184A1
• Filed: 10/28/2003
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Matsugu, Masakazu, Takahashi, Fumiaki, Kondo, Toshiaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,076,099 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20104 Interactive definition of region of interest [ROI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20168 Radial search
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30196 Human being; Person
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/12 Edge-based segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/181 involving edge growing; involving edge linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/194 involving foreground-background segmentation

Abstract

The objective of the present invention is to provide a simple and accurate process for extracting an object from an image, which is used to impose a great load for an operator. According to the present invention, an image processing apparatus comprises an object extracting unit, for performing a predetermined process for image data for a position or an area that is designated and for extracting a specific object from an image, an outline part deciding unit, for selecting and authenticating an arbitrary segment of an outline obtained by the extracting unit, and an outline synthesis unit, for linking and synthesizing together the outline segments that are authenticated. Since a closed curve is formed by synthesizing the outline segments obtained by repeating the above process, and the outline of the object is thus determined, the outline segment that is extracted from the image and matches the correct outline of the object is sequentially selected and authenticated. The thus authenticated outline segments are linked and synthesized to gradually form the overall outline of the object.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

input means for entering information for a designated position on an image;

extraction means for extracting the boundary of said image in accordance with said information that is entered and the characteristics of said image;

decision means for deciding to obtain one part of an outline using said extraction means; and

processing means for linking a plurality of outlines obtained through a plurality of decisions made by said decision means, and for determining the limits of a closed area.

2. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said decision means includes selection mans for selecting one part of said outline extracted by said extraction means, and a part to be selected is determined by a manual instruction of a user.

3. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said characteristic of said image is either a density, a color or a texture, or a combination of a density, a color and a texture.

4. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said information for said position is entered by sid user, and is either one point in an image, outline tracing, dot formation or enclosing.

5. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said decision is made for a plurality of portions that constitute said outline.

6. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said extraction means performs a plurality of extraction processes in parallel to a single image.

7. An image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said plurality of extraction processes include an area base type, a trace type and an enclosure line type.

8. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processing means includes inquiry means for confirming whether a determined closed area is to be corrected, and wherein, in accordance with the results of the inquiry, said processing mans corrects said closed area.

9. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the end of said outline that is authenticated is displayed on a display device to be identified.

10. An image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the end point of said outline is displayed by using a figure symbol.

11. An image processing method comprising:

an input step of entering information for a designated position on an image;

an extraction step of extracting the boundary of said image in accordance with said information that is entered and the characteristics of said image;

a decision step of deciding to obtain one part of an outline at said extraction step; and

a processing step of linking a plurality of outlines obtained through a plurality of decisions made at said decision step, and of determining the limits of a closed area.

12. A computer-readable storage medium on which an image processing program is stored, said image processing program comprising:

an input step of entering information for a designated position on an image;

an extraction step of extracting the boundary of said image in accordance with said information that is entered and the characteristics of said image;

a decision step of deciding to obtain one part of an outline at said extraction step; and

a processing step of linking a plurality of outlines obtained through a plurality of decisions made at said decision step, and of determining the limits of a closed area.

13. An image processing apparatus comprising:

designation means for designating a closed outline in an arbitrary shape;

setting means for setting a predetermined standard point based on said designated outline;

division means for employing image data in a plurality of areas in a predetermined shape, each of which includes a line segment connecting a predetermined point on said outline to said standard point, to divide said outline into said plurality of areas; and

processing means for renewing said outline based on dividing point positions obtained by the division, and for obtaining the shape including the outline that is renewed.

14. An image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said processing means is used to extract an object enclosed by an outline, and said designation means sets an outline so as to involve said object inside.

15. An image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said processing means is used to extract an object enclosed by an outline, and said designation means sets an outline inside said object.

16. An image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said setting means sets said standard point to the position of the center of gravity of said outline.

17. An image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said setting means sets said standard point at a plurality of positions in said outline.

18. An image processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said areas in said predetermined shape are determined by selecting the standard point that is closest to a point on said outline.

19. An image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said areas in said predetermined shape are areas for which points of said outline are sampled at a predetermined interval and in which line segments connecting sampling points and said standard points are included.

20. An image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said processing means sets a renewal interval for said outline, and renews said outline based on said dividing point positions in said areas in said predetermined shape, including a point on said outline at said renewal interval.

21. An image processing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein it is selectable by said processing means to renew all of the set outline or to renew the outline by setting the renewal interval.

22. An image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said processing means obtains said outline shape by tracing an outline for image data in a thick line area including said outline that is renewed.

23. An image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said processing means calculates a predetermined estimation function for said outline that is renewed, and calculates said outline shape for said object through a dynamic outline process for moving individual points on said outline to positions where an estimation function value is minimum.

24. An image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said processing means increases a resolution for the area division as the number of renewals of an outline is increased, and reduces a sampling interval for an outline as the number of renewals of said outline is increased.

25. An image processing method comprising:

a designation step of designating a closed outline in an arbitrary shape;

a setting stp of setting a predetermined standard point based on said designated outline;

a division step of employing image data in a plurality of areas in a predetermined shape, each of which includes a line segment connecting a predetermined point on said outline to said standard point, to divide said outline into said plurality of areas; and

a processing step of renewing said outline based on dividing point positions obtained by the division, and of obtaining the shape including the outline that is renewed.

26. A computer-readable storage medium on which an image processing program is stored, said image processing program comprising:

a designation step of designating a closed outline in an arbitrary shape;

a setting stp of setting a predetermined standard point based on said designated outline;

a division step of employing image data in a plurality of areas in a predetermined shape, each of which includes a line segment connecting a predetermined point on said outline to said standard point, to divide said outline into said plurality of areas; and

a processing step of renewing said outline based on dividing point positions obtained by the division, and of obtaining the shape including the outline that is renewed.

27. An image processing method comprising:

an image input step of entering an image including an object to be extracted;

an outline setup step of setting a closed outline in a predetermined shape;

an outline renewal step of renewing said predetermined shape of said closed outline by a predetermined method;

a renewal result display step of displaying the renewed outline by superimposing said renewed outline onto an input image;

an instruction input step of instructing to halt or start the renewal of said outline; and

an outline output step of outputting the shape of said renewed outline.

28. An image processing method according to claim 27, wherein said outline renewal step further comprises:

a renewal interval setup step of designating a renewal interval on said outline;

a non-renewal interval step of designating a non-renewal interval on said outline; and

a outline part renewal step of renewing the shape of said outline at said renewal interval using a predetermined method.