Patent ID: 8542924

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for extracting an ordered set of boundary data points from a digital image, comprising: receiving a set of feature data comprising a plurality of feature data points representing pixel locations indicative of a presence of a specific feature in the image; receiving a set of edge data comprising a plurality of edge data points representing pixel locations indicative of a boundary between the specific feature and an adjoining area in the image; receiving data indicative of a selection of one of a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction of the boundary; transforming the edge data into a set of mean edge data comprising a plurality of mean edge data points e i ; identifying a first nearest neighbor mean edge point e i−1 in a first direction and a second nearest neighbor mean edge point e i+1 in a second direction; and assigning each mean edge data point e i one of a head and a tail based on an orientation of e i with respect to the feature and the predetermined one of a clockwise and a counterclockwise boundary direction to transform the set of mean edge data points into an ordered set of boundary data points; wherein the boundary data points are capable of being joined to form a plurality of ordered boundary segments, the ordered boundary segments being capable of being joined to form a closed loop in the predetermined direction.