Image analysis by object addition and recovery

• US 8,774,529 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2013
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Image Insight, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Image Insight, Inc.
• Inventors: Rubenstein, Eric P., Drukier, Gordon A.
• Primary Examiner(s): AZARIAN, SEYED H
• Application Number:
  US13/902,097
• Publication Number:
  US 20130259389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/103, 382/107, 382/155, 382/168, 382/181, 382/199, 382/203, 382/224, 382/232, 382/254, 382/274, 382/276, 382286-291, 382/305, 382/312, 382/218, 700/83, 700/94, 348/155, 348/143, 348/349, 715/716
• US Class Current: 382/218
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/13 Satellite images

Abstract

The invention described herein is generally directed to methods for analyzing an image. In particular, crowded field images may be analyzed for unidentified, unobserved objects based on an iterative analysis of modified images including artificial objects or removed real objects. The results can provide an estimate of the completeness of analysis of the image, an estimate of the number of objects that are unobserved in the image, and an assessment of the quality of other similar images.

Claims

1. A method for detecting an object in an image, the method comprising:

obtaining one or more real images;

analyzing the one or more real images and deriving a set of parameters defining each of the one or more real images;

creating a modified image by inserting at least one artificial object into at least one of the one or more real images, the artificial object comprising at least a portion of an object identified in the one or more real images;

analyzing the modified image to derive a set of parameters defining the modified image;

comparing the set of parameters defining each of the one or more real images with the set of parameters defining the modified image;

determining the likelihood of the object being present within the one or more real images based on the set of parameters;

repeating the steps of analyzing, comparing, and determining; and

stopping the steps of analyzing, comparing, and determining when the probability of additional, unidentified objects being present in the one or more real images has met a predetermined level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the artificial object comprises one or more optical characteristics selected from the group consisting of one or more of brightness, color, location, orientation, and reflectivity.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising recovering an optical characteristic from the at least one of the one or more real images.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising applying a recovered optical characteristic to one or more artificial objects.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the one or more optical characteristics are selected from the group consisting of one or more of brightness, color, location, orientation, and reflectivity.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the at least one artificial object to contain noise.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein noise is selected from the group consisting of hot-noise, detector noise, degradation due to optics and atmospheric effects, and combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more real images are selected from one or more of digital images and analog images, wherein the digital and analog images are obtained from one or more of an aerial still image, an aerial video image, a satellite still image, a satellite video image, a ground to ground still image, a ground to ground video image, a ground to air still image, a ground to air video image, a ground to water still image, a ground to water video image, a water to ground still image, a water to ground video image, a water to water still image, a water to water video image, an air to air still image, and an air to air video image.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein an area encompassed by the one or more real images is selected from one or more of a terrestrial area, an aquatic area, an aerial area, and an extraterrestrial area.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of analyzing further comprises digitizing the one or more real images.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of analyzing further comprises:

creating a plurality of image chips, wherein each of the plurality of image chips comprise a portion of each of the one or more real images; and

parsing the plurality of image chips at least into one or more groups of image chips having objects and one or more groups of image chips not having objects.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the steps of obtaining and analyzing further comprise enhancing at least a portion of the one or more real images by a method selected from one or more of adjusting contrast, adjusting color, extracting an image, collaging, registering, coadding, averaging, median-filter combining, sigma-clip averaging, splicing, histogram matching, mosaicking, convolution filtering, deconvolution filtering, unsharp-masking, edge detecting, Fourier transforming, reducing background noise, texture processing, creating multispectral data, using multispectral data, creating hyperspectral data, and using hyperspectral data.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of analyzing the one or more real images and deriving the set of parameters further comprises determining a data value for parameters selected from one or more of brightness, contrast, color, shape, orientation, and location.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying at least a portion of an object.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of identifying at least a portion of the object further comprises determining a total number of objects in an image or a portion of an image.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising comparing the identified object to known objects to identify a type of object.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of identifying at least a portion of the object occurs concurrently with or following the step of analyzing.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a confidence level for the one or more real images, wherein the confidence level is a probability of a number of objects in the one or more real images being identified.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is automated.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a report describing compiled results of repeating the steps of analyzing, comparing, and determining.

21. A system comprising:

at least one detector for obtaining at least one real image;

a processor; and

a non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium in communication with the processor, wherein the non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium comprises one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to;

direct the at least one detector to obtain one or more real images;

analyze the one or more real images and derive a set of parameters defining each of the one or more real images;

create a modified image by inserting at least one artificial object comprising at least a portion of an object identified in the one or more real images into at least one of the one or more real images;

analyze the modified image to derive a set of parameters defining the modified image;

compare the set of parameters defining each of the one or more real images with the set of parameters defining the modified image;

determine the likelihood of the object being present within the one or more real images based on the set of parameters;

repeat the steps of analyzing, comparing, and determining; and

stop the steps of analyzing, comparing, and determining when the probability of additional, unidentified objects being present in the one or more real images has met a predetermined level.