Patent ID: 8265339

Claim:
An image processing apparatus for specifying, in photographed images taken at a predetermined time interval and input sequentially, an image area as a target of predetermined processing, the image processing apparatus comprising: a reduced image generation unit that (i) has processing capability to generate reduced images, in accordance with a particular input photographed image, at K (K≧1) ratios within the predetermined time interval and (ii) is operable to generate reduced images at ratios indicated from among L (L>K) different ratios; a comparison unit operable to compare each reduced image generated by the reduced image generation unit with template images and to transmit comparison results; a specification unit operable to perform specification of the image area in accordance with the comparison results transmitted by the comparison unit; and a control unit that, for each photographed image that is input, is operable to (i) select M (M≦K) or fewer ratios for each photographed image in accordance with ratios indicated for a photographed image input prior to each photographed image, (ii) indicate the selected M or fewer ratios to the reduced image generation unit and make the reduced image generation unit generate each reduced image, (iii) make the comparison unit compare each generated reduced image, and (iv) make the specification unit specify the image area for each photographed image in accordance with, at least, comparison results transmitted by the comparison unit.