US6606411B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for automatically classifying images into events
Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures LLC
•
Filing: 1998-09-30
•
Granted: 2003-08-12
•
Expires: 2018-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A method for automatically classifying images into events, the method includes the steps of: receiving a plurality of images having either or both date and/or time of image capture; determining one or more largest time differences of the plurality of images based on clustering of the images; and separating the plurality of images into the events based on having one or more boundaries between events which one or more boundaries correspond to the one or more largest time differences.
Inventors
- 👤 Alexander C. Loui
- 👤 Eric S. Pavie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 06:29
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/50; G06F16/58; G06F16/583; G06F16/5838; G06F18/00; G06F18/20; G06F18/23; G06V; G06V10/00; G06V10/40; G06V10/50; G06V10/507; G06V10/70; G06V10/74; G06V10/75; G06V10/758; G06V10/762; G06V20/00; G06V2201/00; G06V2201/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for automatically classifying images into events, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a plurality of images having either or both date and/or time of image capture; (b) determining one or more largest time differences of the plurality of images based on time and/or date clustering of the images; and, (c) separating the plurality of images into the events based on having one or more boundaries between events which one or more boundaries correspond to the one or more largest time differences.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for automatically classifying images into events, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a plurality of images having either or both date and/or time of image capture; (b) determining one or more largest time differences of the plurality of images based on time and/or date clustering of the images; and, (c) separating the plurality of images into the events based on having one or more boundaries between events which one or more boundaries correspond to the one or more largest time differences.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as in claim 1 , wherein step (b) includes computing a time difference histogram and performing a 2-means clustering on the time difference histogram for defining the one or more boundaries.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as in claim 2 , wherein step (b) further includes mapping the time difference histogram through a time difference scaling function before performing the 2-means clustering.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as in claim 2 , wherein step (c) includes checking the images adjacent the one or more boundaries for similarity by comparing content of the images.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as in claim 4 , wherein step (c) includes checking the images adjacent the one or more boundaries for similarity by using a block-based histogram correlation technique.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as in claim 5 further comprising step (d) dividing the events into subject grouping by using an image content analysis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as in claim 6 , wherein step (d) includes dividing the events into subject grouping by using a block-based histogram technique.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
146 words
A method for automatically classifying images into events, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a plurality of images having either or both date and/or time of image capture; (b) determining one or more largest time differences of the plurality of images based on time and/or date clustering of the images; (c) separating the plurality of images into the events based on having one or more boundaries between events which one or more boundaries correspond to the one or more largest time differences; and (d) analyzing the events for content by dividing the images into a plurality of blocks and grouping the images into subject grouping based on block-based histogram correlation which includes computing a color histogram of each block and computing a histogram intersection value which determines the similarity between blocks, thereby refining and improving the overall classification and subject grouping of the events.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
146 words
A method for automatically classifying images into events, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a plurality of images having either or both date and/or time of image capture; (b) determining one or more largest time differences of the plurality of images based on time and/or date clustering of the images; (c) separating the plurality of images into the events based on having one or more boundaries between events which one or more boundaries correspond to the one or more largest time differences; and (d) analyzing the events for content by dividing the images into a plurality of blocks and grouping the images into subject grouping based on block-based histogram correlation which includes computing a color histogram of each block and computing a histogram intersection value which determines the similarity between blocks, thereby refining and improving the overall classification and subject grouping of the events.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4396903A
Cited
US4567610A
Cited
US5083860A
Cited
US5809161A
Cited
US5598557A
Cited
US5576759A
Cited
US5719643A
Cited
US5539841A
Cited
US5594807A
Cited
US5842194A
Cited
US5872859A
Cited
US5751378A
Cited
US6012091A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-08-11 | 2007-02-10 | 2007-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-08-11 | 2011-02-10 | 2011-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-08-11 | 2015-02-10 | 2015-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |