US5901245A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for detection and characterization of open space in digital images
Assignee: Apple Inc
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Filing: 1997-01-23
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Granted: 1999-05-04
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Expires: 2017-01-23
Abstract
Abstract A method for detecting open space in a digital image, the method comprises the steps of creating an activity map for permitting determination of the activity of the digital image; determining which pixels in the activity map are below a threshold; and identifying open space as contiguous pixels of the activity map having values below the predetermined threshold.
Inventors
- 👤 James Warnick
- 👤 Rajiv Mehrotra
- 👤 Robert A. Senn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 19:25
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/50; G06F16/58; G06F16/583; G06V; G06V10/00; G06V10/20; G06V10/25; G06V10/40; G06V10/50; G06V10/507; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99943; Y10S707/99944; Y10S707/99945
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for automatically detecting an open space region in a digital image, comprising the steps of: (a) creating a corresponding activity map from the digital image for permitting determination of the activity of the digital image; (b) analyzing the activity map to determine an activity threshold value; (c) determining which pixels in the activity map are below the activity threshold value; and (d) analyzing the threshold activity map for identifying contiguous pixel regions of the activity map having values below the activity threshold corresponding to open space regions in the digital image.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for automatically detecting an open space region in a digital image, comprising the steps of: (a) creating a corresponding activity map from the digital image for permitting determination of the activity of the digital image; (b) analyzing the activity map to determine an activity threshold value; (c) determining which pixels in the activity map are below the activity threshold value; and (d) analyzing the threshold activity map for identifying contiguous pixel regions of the activity map having values below the activity threshold corresponding to open space regions in the digital image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as in claim 1, wherein the step of analyzing the activity map to determine an activity threshold value includes analyzing the activity map to determine an image dependent threshold.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as in claim 2, wherein the step of creating the activity map is created by using either edge detection, local entropy measurement, local texture analysis, local color/luminance difrence analysis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method as in claim 2, wherein the step of creating the activity map includes determining an activity value at a pixel which activity value is computed as a maximum absolute difference between a value of a predetermined pixel and its neighboring pixel values in the digital image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the image dependent threshold is determined by an analysis of a histogram of the activity map histogram.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for automatically characterizing an open space region in a digital image, comprising the steps of (a) creating a corresponding activity map from the digital image for permitting determination of the activity of the digital image: (b) analyzing the activity map to determine an activity threshold value; (c) determining which pixels in the activity map are below the activity threshold value; (d) analyzing the threshold activity map for identifying contiguous pixel regions of the activity map having values below the activity threshold corresponding to open space regions in the digital image; (e) extracting image metadata associated with the open space region.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for automatically characterizing an open space region in a digital image, comprising the steps of (a) creating a corresponding activity map from the digital image for permitting determination of the activity of the digital image: (b) analyzing the activity map to determine an activity threshold value; (c) determining which pixels in the activity map are below the activity threshold value; (d) analyzing the threshold activity map for identifying contiguous pixel regions of the activity map having values below the activity threshold corresponding to open space regions in the digital image; (e) extracting image metadata associated with the open space region.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method as in claim 6, wherein step (e) includes identifying individually or any combination of either a shape of the open space, location of the open space in the digital image, color of the open space, or texture of the open space as the metadata.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as in claim 7, wherein determining the threshold includes analyzing the activity map to determine an image dependent threshold.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
99 words
A system for automatically detecting an open space region in a digital image, the system comprising: (a) means for creating a corresponding activity map from the digital image for permitting determination of the activity of the digital image; (b) means for analyzing the activity map to determine an activity threshold value; (c) means for determining which pixels in the activity map are below the activity threshold value; and (d) means for analyzing the threshold activity map for identifying contiguous regions of the activity map having values below the activity threshold corresponding to open space regions in the digital image.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
99 words
A system for automatically detecting an open space region in a digital image, the system comprising: (a) means for creating a corresponding activity map from the digital image for permitting determination of the activity of the digital image; (b) means for analyzing the activity map to determine an activity threshold value; (c) means for determining which pixels in the activity map are below the activity threshold value; and (d) means for analyzing the threshold activity map for identifying contiguous regions of the activity map having values below the activity threshold corresponding to open space regions in the digital image.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system as in claim 9, wherein said means for determining the pixels below the threshold includes analyzing the activity map to determine an image dependent threshold.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system as in claim 10, wherein said means for creating the activity map uses either edge detection, local entropy measurement, local texture analysis, local color/luminance difference analysis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system as in claim 10, wherein said means for creating the activity map includes determining an activity value at a pixel which activity value is computed as a maximum absolute difference between a value of a predetermined pixel and its neighboring pixel values in the digital image.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 10, wherein means for determining the image dependent threshold is determined by analyzing a histogram of the activity map.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
107 words
A computer program product for automatically detecting an open space region in a digital image, comprising: a computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of: (a) creating a corresponding activity map from the digital image for permitting determination of the activity of the digital image; (b) analyzing the activity map to determine an activity threshold value; (c) determining which pixels in the activity map are below the activity threshold value; and (d) analyzing the threshold activity map for identifying contiguous regions of the activity map having values below the activity threshold corresponding to open space regions in the digital image.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
107 words
A computer program product for automatically detecting an open space region in a digital image, comprising: a computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of: (a) creating a corresponding activity map from the digital image for permitting determination of the activity of the digital image; (b) analyzing the activity map to determine an activity threshold value; (c) determining which pixels in the activity map are below the activity threshold value; and (d) analyzing the threshold activity map for identifying contiguous regions of the activity map having values below the activity threshold corresponding to open space regions in the digital image.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer program product as in claim 14, wherein the step of analyzing the activity map to determine an activity threshold value includes analyzing the activity map to determine an image dependent threshold.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer program product as in claim 15, wherein the step of creating the activity map is created by using either edge detection, local entropy measurement, local texture analysis, local color/luminance difference analysis.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
The computer program product as in claim 15, wherein the step of creating the activity map includes determining an activity value at a pixel which activity value is computed as a maximum absolute difference between a value of a predetermined pixel and its neighboring pixel values in the digital image.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer program product as in claim 15, wherein the image dependent threshold is determined by analyzing a histogram of the activity map.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
103 words
A system for automatically characterizing an open space region in a digital image, the system comprising: (a) creating a corresponding activity map from the digital image for permitting determination of the activity of the digital image; (b) analyzing the activity map to determine an activity threshold value; (c) determining which pixels in the activity map are below the activity threshold value; (d) analyzing the threshold activity map for identifying contiguous pixel regions of the activity map having values below the activity threshold corresponding to open space regions in the digital image; and (e) means for extracting metadata associated with the open space region.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
103 words
A system for automatically characterizing an open space region in a digital image, the system comprising: (a) creating a corresponding activity map from the digital image for permitting determination of the activity of the digital image; (b) analyzing the activity map to determine an activity threshold value; (c) determining which pixels in the activity map are below the activity threshold value; (d) analyzing the threshold activity map for identifying contiguous pixel regions of the activity map having values below the activity threshold corresponding to open space regions in the digital image; and (e) means for extracting metadata associated with the open space region.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system as in claim 19, wherein extracting metadata means includes means for identifying individually or any combination of a shape of the open space, a location of the open space in the digital image, a color of the open space, or a texture of the open space as the metadata.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system as in claim 20, wherein means for determining the threshold includes means for analyzing the activity map to determine an image dependent threshold.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
117 words
A computer program product for automatically characterizing an open space region in a digital image, comprising: a computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of: (a) creating a corresponding activity map from the digital image for permitting determination of the activity of the digital image; (b) analyzing the activity map to determine an activity threshold value; (c) determining which pixels in the activity map are below the activity threshold value; (d) analyzing the threshold activity map for identifying contiguous pixel regions of the activity map having values below the activity threshold corresponding to open space regions in the digital image; and (e) extracting metadata associated with the open space region.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
117 words
A computer program product for automatically characterizing an open space region in a digital image, comprising: a computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of: (a) creating a corresponding activity map from the digital image for permitting determination of the activity of the digital image; (b) analyzing the activity map to determine an activity threshold value; (c) determining which pixels in the activity map are below the activity threshold value; (d) analyzing the threshold activity map for identifying contiguous pixel regions of the activity map having values below the activity threshold corresponding to open space regions in the digital image; and (e) extracting metadata associated with the open space region.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
50 words
The computer program product as in claim 22, wherein step (e) includes identifying individually or any combination of a shape of the open space, a location of the open space in the digital image, a color of the open space, or a texture of the open space as the metadata.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer program product as in claim 23, wherein means for determining the threshold includes means for analyzing the activity map to determine an image dependent threshold.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
89 words
A digital capture device comprising: (a) means for creating a corresponding activity map from the digital image for permitting determination of the activity of the digital image; (b) means for analyzing the activity map to determine an activity threshold value; (c) means for determining which pixels in the activity map are below the activity threshold value; and (d) means for analyzing the threshold activity map for identifying contiguous pixel regions of the activity map having values below the activity threshold corresponding to open space regions in the digital image.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
89 words
A digital capture device comprising: (a) means for creating a corresponding activity map from the digital image for permitting determination of the activity of the digital image; (b) means for analyzing the activity map to determine an activity threshold value; (c) means for determining which pixels in the activity map are below the activity threshold value; and (d) means for analyzing the threshold activity map for identifying contiguous pixel regions of the activity map having values below the activity threshold corresponding to open space regions in the digital image.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
33 words
The digital capture device as in claim 25, wherein said analyzing the activity map to determine the threshold value means includes means for analyzing the activity map to determine an image dependent threshold.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
32 words
The digital capture device as in claim 26 further comprising means for creating said activity map means by using either edge detection, local entropy measurement, local texture analysis, local. color/luminance difference analysis.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
47 words
The digital capture device as in claim 26, wherein said activity map means includes means for determining an activity pixel value which activity value is computed as a maximum absolute difference between a value of a predetermined pixel and its neighboring pixel values in the digital image.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
The digital capture device of claim 26, wherein the image dependent threshold is determined by analyzing a histogram of the activity map.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-05-03 | 2002-11-02 | 2003-05-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-05-03 | 2006-11-02 | 2007-05-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-05-03 | 2010-11-02 | 2011-05-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |