Patent ID: 6832002
Filing Date: 2004-12-14
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
A method for segmentation of a digital picture consisting of a multiplicity of single picture elements comprising the following steps:(a) determining if one of one and several features relating to contiguous picture objects comprising picture elements and picture segments are conforming or not conforming based on a specific homogeneity criterion by means of referencing a predetermined tolerance for each feature as a termination criterion, within which feature values relating to the contiguous picture objects in question may differ; (b) if one of one feature and several features relating to the contiguous picture objects are determined to be conforming then merging the conforming picture objects; and (c) repeating the resulting segmentation until the resulting segmentation converges in a stable or approximately stable condition in which no further contiguous picture objects are determined to be conforming, wherein a feature difference is determined from a comparison between the specific homogeneity criterion and a tolerance via heterogeneity introduced by merging and arising from a potential combination of the contiguous picture objects.