Method and apparatus for data clustering including segmentation and boundary detection
US7349922B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 14, 2001 |
| Grant date | Mar 25, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 10, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99948
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for clustering data, particularly regarding an image, that constructs a graph in which each node of the graph represents a pixel of the image, and every two nodes represent neighboring pixels associated by a coupling factor. Block pixels are selected with unselected neighboring pixels coupled with a selected block to form aggregates. The graph is coarsened recursively by performing iterated weighted aggregation to form larger blocks (aggregates) and obtain hierarchical decomposition of the image while forming a pyramid structure over the image. Saliency of segments is detected in the pyramid, and by computing recursively, a degree of attachment of every pixel to each of the blocks in the pyramid. The pyramid is scanned from coarse to fine starting at the level a segment is detected, to lower levels and rebuilding the pyramid before continuing to the next higher level. Relaxation sweeps sharpen the boundaries of a segment.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.