Apparatus, method and computer product for generating vehicle image

• US 8,290,211 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2007
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Takahashi, Kunikazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Akhavannik, Hadi
• Application Number:
  US11/882,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20070285809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,902 Days
• Field of Search: 382/104, 382/232
• US Class Current: 382/104
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence

Abstract

A recognition device includes a component identifying unit, an identification-region defining unit, a vehicle-image generating unit, and a data reduction-level setting unit. The component identifying unit identifies a component of a vehicle in an original image. The identification-region defining unit defines an identification region including an identification component for identifying the vehicle based on the component. The vehicle-image generating unit extracts the identification region and generates a vehicle image. The data reduction-level setting unit sets a data reduction level based on which a vehicle image is to be generated from an original image satisfying a predetermined condition.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium that stores therein a computer program for generating a vehicle image for identifying a vehicle from an original image, the computer program causing a computer to execute:

cutting a vehicle-body area out of the original image;

checking whether it is possible to recognize all numbers and letters on a license plate extracted from the vehicle-body area or not;

setting a data reduction level for limiting or prohibiting data reduction of the original image in a multi-level based on a result of the checking;

identifying a component of the vehicle in the vehicle-body area;

defining an identification region including an identification component for identifying the vehicle based on the component and the data reduction level;

extracting the identification region from the original image; and

generating the vehicle image based on extracted identification region.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 1, wherein, when the original image is shot from front of the vehicle,

the identifying includes identifying at least one of a license plate, a front bumper, a headlight, a front grill, a side mirror, and a manufacturer mark in the original image as the component, and

the defining includes defining the identification region including whole or part of the component.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 1, wherein, when the original image is shot from behind the vehicle,

the identifying includes identifying at least one of a license plate, a rear bumper, a taillight, a brake light, and a manufacturer mark in the original image as the component, and

the defining includes defining the identification region including whole or part of the component.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 1, wherein,

the checking includes checking whether a license number on the license plate is a registered one or not.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 10, wherein,

the checking includes checking whether the vehicle-body area has left-right symmetry or not.

4. A vehicle image generating apparatus that generates a vehicle image for identifying a vehicle from an original image, the vehicle image generating apparatus comprising:

an image recognition unit that cuts a vehicle-body area out of the original image, and checks whether it is possible to recognize all numbers and letters on a license plate extracted from the vehicle-body area or not;

a level setting unit that sets a data reduction level for limiting or prohibiting data reduction of the original image in a multi-level based on a result of the check by the image recognition unit;

an identifying unit that identifies a component of the vehicle in the vehicle-body area;

a defining unit that defines an identification region including an identification component for identifying the vehicle based on the component and the data reduction level; and

a generating unit that extracts the identification region from the original image, and generates the vehicle image based on extracted identification region.

5. The vehicle image generating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, when the original image is shot from front of the vehicle,

the identifying unit identifies at least one of a license plate, a front bumper, a headlight, a front grill, a side mirror, and a manufacturer mark in the original image as the component, and

the defining units defines the identification region including whole or part of the component.

6. The vehicle image generating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, when the original image is shot from behind the vehicle,

the identifying unit identifies at least one of a license plate, a rear bumper, a taillight, a brake light, and a manufacturer mark in the original image as the component, and

the defining units defines the identification region including whole or part of the component.

12. The vehicle image generating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein,

the image recognition unit further checks whether a license number on the license plate is a registered one or not.

13. The vehicle image generating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein,

the image recognition unit further checks whether the vehicle-body area has left-right symmetry or not.

7. A vehicle image generating method for generating a vehicle image for identifying a vehicle from an original image, the vehicle image generating method comprising:

cutting a vehicle-body area out of the original image;

checking whether it is possible to recognize all numbers and letters on a license plate extracted from the vehicle-body area or not;

setting a data reduction level for limiting or prohibiting data reduction of the original image in a multi-level based on a result of the checking;

identifying a component of the vehicle in the vehicle-body area;

defining an identification region including an identification component for identifying the vehicle based on the component and the data reduction level;

extracting the identification region from the original image; and

generating the vehicle image based on extracted identification region.

8. The vehicle image generating method according to claim 7, wherein, when the original image is shot from front of the vehicle,

the identifying includes identifying at least one of a license plate, a front bumper, a headlight, a front grill, a side mirror, and a manufacturer mark in the original image as the component, and

the defining includes defining the identification region including whole or part of the component.

9. The vehicle image generating method according to claim 7, wherein, when the original image is shot from behind the vehicle,

the identifying includes identifying at least one of a license plate, a rear bumper, a taillight, a brake light, and a manufacturer mark in the original image as the component, and

the defining includes defining the identification region including whole or part of the component.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 7, wherein,

the checking includes checking whether a license number on the license plate is a registered one or not.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 14, wherein,

the checking includes checking whether the vehicle-body area has left-right symmetry or not.