Importance

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Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for determining one or more characteristics of a sub-image within an electronic image. In one embodiment, the present invention includes an alpha image generator and a characterizer. The alpha image generator provides an alpha image of the subject being characterized, separated from a background of the input image. In another embodiment, the alpha image generator also may provide a summed area table. The characterizer determines a characteristic of the subject from the alpha image. In another embodiment, a first characteristic of the subject is derived from the alpha image. The characterizer determines a second characteristic based upon the first characteristic. In yet another embodiment, the determination of the second characteristic is simplified by eliminating all the unlikely estimates of the second characteristic in the overall potential estimates of the second characteristic. In one embodiment, simplification is accomplished by segmenting the alpha image and eliminating portions of the alpha image that do not correspond to the second characteristic. In a further embodiment, the remaining potential estimates are scored based upon the correlation of the alpha image with the estimate, the best estimate having the best score.

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First Claim