Patent Document ID: 7805003
Application ID: 10716782
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A computer-implemented method for identifying multiple objects within an image, the method comprising: receiving, in a programmable computer system, an image that includes two or more non-overlapping embedded images from an input device coupled to the programmable computer system; identifying a plurality of edge pixels in the image based on a respective gradient value associated with each of the plurality of edge pixels, wherein the gradient value of each edge pixel satisfies a first threshold value; identifying one or more non-edge pixels in the image based on a respective gradient value associated with each of the plurality of non-edge pixels, wherein the gradient value of each non-edge pixel satisfies a second threshold value; selecting an edge pixel from the plurality of edge pixels; identifying a substantially connected component that includes non-edge pixels and a plurality of substantially connected edge pixels being substantially connected to the selected edge pixel, wherein a number of non-edge pixels in the substantially connected component is based on a level of tolerance for non-edge pixels; and identifying within the image a bounding area, wherein the bounding area surrounds the substantially connected component.