Image processing apparatus and method for recognizing specific pattern and recording medium having image processing program recorded thereon

• US 6,643,400 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2000
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Hashimoto, Keisuke, Murakawa, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Mariam, Daniel G.
• Application Number:
  US09/538,735
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/141, 382/151, 382/159, 382/173, 382/176, 382/180, 382/181, 382/190, 382/194, 382/195, 382/199, 382/204, 382/205, 382/260, 382/291, 382/305, 382/306, 235/494, 348/87, 348/92, 358/403, 707/1-10
• US Class Current: 382/195
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/443 by matching or filtering
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/457 by analysing connectivity, e.g. edge linking, connected component analysis or slices
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/7515 Shifting the patterns to accommodate for positional errors

Abstract

The present invention provides an image processing apparatus capable of retrieving a specific pattern from an image at a high speed in an image recognizing processing. The apparatus creates a map image having pixels correspond to block regions of the image by one to one when retrieving a specific pattern from the image. Then, the apparatus labels each pixel of the map image based on feature of each block region of the image, detects a predetermined pattern specifying a region on the map image, specifies a block region on the original image corresponding to a position of the detected predetermined pattern on the map image, and retrieves the specific pattern in the specified block region.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus for retrieving a specific pattern of an image comprising:

a unit for dividing the image into a plurality of block regions, each of the block regions having a predetermined size;

a unit for creating a map image comprising a plurality of pixels, each of the pixels corresponding to one of the block regions by one to one;

a unit for extracting features of the image for each of the block regions;

a unit for deciding whether or not the extracted feature meets a predetermined condition;

a unit for labeling the pixel on the map image based on a result of the decision, the pixel corresponding to the block region of which feature meets the condition;

a unit for detecting a predetermined pattern for specifying a search region on the image from the labeled map image;

a unit for specifying the search region based on a position on the map image in which the predetermined pattern is detected; and

a unit for retrieving the specific pattern in the specified search region on the image.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a concentration value of a pixel, an edge amount and a co-occurrence characteristic is extracted as the feature amount.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined pattern for determining the search region is detected by using a filter having the same size as a size of the specific pattern in the map image.

4. An image processing method for retrieving a specific pattern of an image comprising:

dividing the image into a plurality of block regions, each of the block regions having a predetermined size;

creating a map image comprising a plurality of pixels, each of the pixels corresponding to one of the block regions by one to one;

extracting features of the image for each of the block regions;

deciding whether or not the extracted feature meets a predetermined condition;

labeling the pixel on the map image based on a result of the decision, the pixel corresponding to the block region of which feature meets the condition;

detecting a predetermined pattern for specifying a search region on the image from the labeled map image;

specifying the search region based on a position on the map image in which the predetermined pattern is detected; and

retrieving the specific pattern in the specified search region on the image.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein at least one of a concentration value of a pixel, an edge amount and a co-occurrence characteristic is extracted as the feature amount.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined pattern for determining the search region is detected by using a filter having the same size as a size of the specific pattern in the map image.

7. A computer readable recording medium in which a program for controlling the computer to retrieve a specific pattern from an image, the program being capable of executing the following functions:

a function for dividing the image into a plurality of block regions, each of the block regions having a predetermined size;

a function for creating a map image comprising a plurality of pixels, each of the pixels corresponding to one of the block regions by one to one;

a function for extracting features of the image for each of the block regions;

a function for deciding whether or not the extracted feature meets a predetermined condition;

a function for labeling the pixel on the map image based on a result of the decision, the pixel corresponding to the block region of which feature meets the condition;

a function for detecting a predetermined pattern for specifying a search region on the image from the labeled map image;

a function for specifying the search region based on a position on the map image in which the predetermined pattern is detected; and

a function for retrieving the specific pattern in the specified search region on the image.

8. The medium according to claim 7, wherein at least one of a concentration value of a pixel, an edge amount and a co-occurrence characteristic is extracted as the feature amount.

9. The medium according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined pattern for determining the search region is detected by using a filter having the same size as a size of the specific pattern in the map image.