Method and apparatus for classifying objects in sonar images
First Claim
1. A scene classifier for classifying objects in images consisting of a matrix of pixels, each pixel having a known greyness level comprising:
- (a) snippet selection means for selecting portions of images for classification;
(b) a scene classifier connected to and receiving input from the snippet selection means, said scene classifier containing(i) at least two parameter extraction modules selected from the group consisting of edge parameter module, smoothness module, frame parameter module, cuer detection module, highlight and shadow module and texture module, and(ii) a Bayesian Classifier connected to and receiving input from said at least two parameter extraction modules.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for classifying objects in images utilize means for selecting portions of those images which contain objects and means for classifying those objects based upon parameters of the selected portions, which parameters are useful for classifying the objects. The selecting means preferably is a shadow and highlight detector, a statistical window detector and a neural network window detector whose output is combined in a combined cuer. The parameters are determined from the greylevels and positions of pixels using one or more modules which perform certain mathematical operations on this data. Such parameters include edge parameters, smoothness, clutter, presence and characteristics of highlights and shadows, and texture. The invention is particularly useful for classifying objects in sonar images as natural or man-made.
97 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A scene classifier for classifying objects in images consisting of a matrix of pixels, each pixel having a known greyness level comprising:
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(a) snippet selection means for selecting portions of images for classification; (b) a scene classifier connected to and receiving input from the snippet selection means, said scene classifier containing (i) at least two parameter extraction modules selected from the group consisting of edge parameter module, smoothness module, frame parameter module, cuer detection module, highlight and shadow module and texture module, and (ii) a Bayesian Classifier connected to and receiving input from said at least two parameter extraction modules. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of classifying into at least one category, objects in an image comprised of a matrix of pixels, each pixel having a known greyness level comprising the steps of:
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a) defining a set of windows, each window comprised of a set of adjacent pixels such that each pixel of the image is included in at least one window; b) classifying each window as a highlight, shadow or background according to the greyness levels of the pixels in each window; c) selecting those windows which have been classified as containing at least one of a highlight and a shadow; d) grouping the selected windows into snippets, each snippet containing at least one selected window; e) determining at least one parameter which is useful for classifying objects in the image and which can be obtained from the greyness levels and position of selected pixels in the image; f) establishing a probability of objects found in an image being within the at least one category based upon the determined parameters; g) examining each shipper for the presence and values of the determined parameters; and h) classifying objects within each snippet by comparing the values to the established probability. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification