Analyzing pixel data using image, thematic and object layers of a computer-implemented network structure
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- (a) specifying an object class, wherein a first plurality of objects belongs to the object class;
(b) specifying a filter;
(c) specifying process steps of a process hierarchy;
(d) acquiring first pixel values, wherein the first pixel values form a first image layer, and wherein the first pixel values are associated with first pixel locations;
(e) executing the process steps on a computer to generate the first plurality of objects by linking some of the first pixel locations to each of the first plurality of objects, wherein the first plurality of objects forms a first object network;
(f) linking each of the first plurality of objects to the object class;
(g) generating a second image layer by applying the filter to those first pixel values associated with first pixel locations that are linked to one of the first plurality of objects, wherein filtered pixel values form the second image layer, and wherein the filtered pixel values are associated with second pixel locations;
(h) generating a second object network by linking some of the second pixel locations to each of a second plurality of objects;
(i) determining a characteristic of one of the second plurality of objects by measuring the object; and
(j) displaying the measured object on a graphical user interface of the computer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An analysis system analyzes and measures patterns present in the pixel values of digital images using a computer-implemented network structure that includes a process hierarchy, a class network and a data network. The data network includes image layers, thematic layers and object networks. Various types of processing are performed depending on whether the data of the digital images is represented in the image, thematic or object layers. Pixel-oriented and object-oriented processing is combined so that fewer computations and less memory are used to analyze the digital images. Pixel-oriented processes, such as filtering, are selectively performed only at pixel locations that are assigned to a specified thematic class of a thematic layer or that are linked to a particular object of the object network. Similarly, object-oriented processing is performed at pixel locations linked to objects generated using thematic layers or using image layers on which pixel-oriented processes have already been performed.
60 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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(a) specifying an object class, wherein a first plurality of objects belongs to the object class; (b) specifying a filter; (c) specifying process steps of a process hierarchy; (d) acquiring first pixel values, wherein the first pixel values form a first image layer, and wherein the first pixel values are associated with first pixel locations; (e) executing the process steps on a computer to generate the first plurality of objects by linking some of the first pixel locations to each of the first plurality of objects, wherein the first plurality of objects forms a first object network; (f) linking each of the first plurality of objects to the object class; (g) generating a second image layer by applying the filter to those first pixel values associated with first pixel locations that are linked to one of the first plurality of objects, wherein filtered pixel values form the second image layer, and wherein the filtered pixel values are associated with second pixel locations; (h) generating a second object network by linking some of the second pixel locations to each of a second plurality of objects; (i) determining a characteristic of one of the second plurality of objects by measuring the object; and (j) displaying the measured object on a graphical user interface of the computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method comprising:
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(a) specifying an object class, wherein an object of a data network belongs to the object class; (b) specifying a thematic class; (c) specifying process steps of a process hierarchy; (d) acquiring first pixel values, wherein the first pixel values form a first image layer, and wherein the first pixel values are associated with first pixel locations; (e) executing the process steps on a computer to generate a second image layer of second pixel values by filtering the first pixel values of the first image layer, wherein the second pixel values are associated with second pixel locations; (f) generating a thematic layer by assigning the thematic class to certain of the second pixel locations; (g) generating a third image layer of third pixel values by processing those second pixel values associated with second pixel locations that are classified as belonging to the thematic class, wherein the third pixel values are associated with third pixel locations; (h) generating an object network based on the third pixel values, wherein the object network comprises the object, and wherein certain of the third pixel locations are linked to the object; (i) determining a characteristic of the object of the object network by measuring the object; and (j) displaying the measured object on a graphical user interface of the computer. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising:
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(a) specifying an object class and a thematic class, wherein an object of a data network belongs to the object class; (b) specifying a first algorithm and a second algorithm; (c) acquiring pixel values, wherein a first image layer comprises the pixel values; (d) generating a second image layer by filtering the pixel values, wherein the filtered pixel values are associated with pixel locations; (e) generating an object network of the data network by linking a first plurality of the pixel locations to the object based on the filtered pixel values; (f) generating a thematic layer by assigning the thematic class to a second plurality of the pixel locations based on the filtered pixel values; (g) executing the first algorithm on a computer to process those filtered pixel values that are associated with the first plurality of the pixel locations; (h) executing the second algorithm on the computer to process those filtered pixel values that are associated with the second plurality of the pixel locations; and (i) displaying the object on a graphical user interface of the computer. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method comprising:
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(a) acquiring pixel values of a digital image that includes an edge, and wherein the pixel values are associated with pixel locations; (b) generating an object network based on the pixel values, wherein the object network comprises an object, and wherein the object is linked to certain of the pixel locations; (c) generating a thematic layer based on the pixel values, wherein the thematic layer has a first thematic class and a second thematic class, wherein the thematic layer is generated only at pixel locations that are linked to the object, and wherein the pixel locations are assigned the first thematic class or the second thematic class; (d) detecting the edge in the digital image by identifying each pixel location belonging to the first thematic class that has a predetermined number of neighboring pixel locations belonging to the second thematic class; and (e) displaying the edge in the digital image on a graphical user interface. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method comprising:
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(a) acquiring a digital image comprising pixel values; (b) generating a thematic layer based on the pixel values, wherein a first thematic class and a plurality of other thematic classes are assigned to pixel locations associated with the pixel values; (c) generating an object network by segmenting pixel locations associated with contiguous thematic classes of the thematic layer; (d) assigning a first object class to objects of the object network that are linked to pixel locations assigned to the first thematic class; (e) modifying the thematic layer classes for those pixel locations that are linked to the objects of the first object class; (f) modifying the objects of the first object class by segmenting contiguous thematic classes of the thematic layer; (g) classifying the objects of the object network according to membership in a second object class; (h) measuring the objects that are assigned to the second object class; and (i) displaying the measured objects on a graphical user interface. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A method comprising:
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(a) acquiring a digital image comprising pixel values; (b) generating an object network by segmenting contiguous regions in the digital image; (c) classifying the objects of the object network according to a membership function of a first object class; (d) assigning a first thematic class to those pixel locations that are linked to the objects of the first object class; (e) identifying pixel locations that are assigned the first thematic class and that fulfill a criterion of a second thematic class; (f) resegmenting the objects of the first object class by grouping contiguous pixel locations assigned to the first thematic class and the second thematic class; (g) classifying the objects of the object network according to a membership function of a second object class; (h) measuring the objects that are assigned to the second object class; and (i) displaying the measured objects on a graphical user interface. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification