Image analysis – Color image processing – Pattern recognition or classification using color
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-19
2002-07-23
Tran, Phuoc (Department: 2621)
Image analysis
Color image processing
Pattern recognition or classification using color
C382S162000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06424738
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for processing an image input from an image input device such as a digital camera.
BACKGROUND ART
In a carrier service called a door-to-door delivery service, a computer communication system is generally introduced to maintain security for packages and realize high-speed operations.
FIG. 9
schematically shows the flow of a package in a carrier service. A package from a sender
91
is collected in a cargo collection agent
92
. When a carrier comes to the cargo collection agent
92
to pick up the package, he/she inputs the data (slip number) of the package to a handy terminal he/she is carrying. The package is then carried to an outgoing office
93
. In this case, the package data in the handy terminal is uploaded into a personal computer installed in the outgoing office
93
. This package data is transmitted from the outgoing office
93
to a host computer
98
in a head office. The package is sequentially carried to an outgoing center
94
, an incoming center
95
, and an incoming office
96
to be delivered to a receiver
97
. Every time the package is carried to the outgoing center
94
, the incoming center
95
, and the incoming office
96
, the package data is transmitted to the host computer
98
in the head office. The host computer
98
in the head office performs tracking management for the package on the basis of the package data until the package is delivered to the receiver
97
.
If, for example, the written address or name of the receiver is wrong, the package cannot be delivered to the receiver. In this case, the package is carried back to the incoming office
96
and stored therein until the sender
91
or the receiver
97
makes an inquiry about the package. When an inquiry about the package is made, a search for the package is made by using the package tracking data managed by the host computer
98
in the head office, thereby finding the “addressee unknown” package and delivering it to the receiver.
Upon reception of an inquiry about the package, the host computer
98
in the head office searches for the package tracking data with the slip number handed to the sender
91
to find the “addressee unknown” package. If, however, the sender
91
loses or discards the received slip, the operator must go to the depository. There, it can take much time to find the package. In this case, therefore, the operator cannot give an immediately reply, and must make contact with the inquirer afterward. In addition, the package may not be found after a long search. As a result, problems are posed in terms of reliability as well as security and quick operation.
It is an object of a present invention to analyze the feature of an image of an article and store feature data indicating the feature in correspondence with the image so as to enable a quick search for the image of the desired article on the basis of the feature data.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus for processing an input image, comprising:
image input means for inputting an image of an article;
analyzing means for analyzing a feature of the article on the basis of the image of the article which is input from the image input means, and obtaining feature data indicating the analysis result;
image storage means for adding the feature data obtained by the analyzing means to the image input from the image input means, and storing the feature data and the image in correspondence with each other;
designation means for designating feature data to be used for a search; and
search means for searching the image storage means for an image corresponding to the feature data designated by the designation means, and outputting the image.
According to the present invention, therefore, the feature of an image of the article is analyzed, and pieces of feature data indicating the feature are stored in correspondence with the image. With this operation, the image of the desired article can be quickly searched out on the basis of the feature data. By only imaging articles in advance, therefore, a desired article can be quickly specified from a plurality of articles on the basis of the images.
Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present invention.
The objects and advantages of the present invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5032904 (1991-07-01), Murai et al.
patent: 5513271 (1996-04-01), Rao et al.
patent: 6014464 (2000-01-01), Kurzweil et al.
patent: 6181818 (2001-01-01), Sato et al.
A. Jain et al; Image Retrieval Using Color and Shape; 1996; pp. 1233-1244; Pattern Recognition vol. 29, No. 8.
C. Faloutsos; Efficient and Effective Querying by Image Content; 1994; pp. 231-262; Journal of Intelligent Information Systems.
Katsumura Noriyoshi
Takatsuto Hiroaki
Alavi Amir
Casio Computer Co. Ltd.
Frishauf Holtz Goodman & Chick P.C.
Tran Phuoc
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