Patent ID: 8437573

Claim:
A computer implemented method for creating a mask associated with an image, comprising: receiving, by a processor, a first sample of pixels of the image identified to be included in the mask, wherein the first sample of pixels has one or more characteristics, wherein respective values for the one or more characteristics satisfy one or more criteria for inclusion in the mask; receiving, by the processor, a second sample of pixels of the image identified to not be included in the mask, wherein the second sample of pixels has the one or more characteristics, wherein the respective values for the one or more characteristics do not satisfy the one or more criteria for inclusion in the mask; creating, by the processor, a classifier to classify each pixel of the image as included in the mask, not included in the mask, or unsure; training, by the processor, the classifier using the first sample of pixels and the second sample of pixels to determine whether each pixel is to be classified as included in the mask, not included in the mask, or unsure; and classifying, by the processor, each pixel of the image as included in the mask, not included in the mask, or unsure.