基于SIFT和PCA的图像感知哈希方法

提出了一种新颖的基于尺度不变特征变换(SIFT)和主成分分析(PCA)的感知哈希方法。SIFT特征在通常的图像处理中具有很强的稳定性,并具有尺度和旋转不变性,通过对哈希生成两阶段框架的详细分析,SIFT算法用来提取图像的局部特征点,PCA用来对特征数据的信息压缩。每个特征点的PCA基的叠加构成图像哈希,在叠加中采用了伪随机处理,增强了算法安全性,图像之间的相似度通过哈希的归一化相关值来确定。实验分析表明该方法对各种复杂攻击,如图像旋转、光照变化、图像滤波等具有较好的稳健性,对比基于非负矩阵分解的图像哈希方法在图像识别应用中具有更好的性能。     

Random Gray code and its performance analysis for image hashing

The discrete-binary conversion stage, which plays the role of converting quantized hash vectors into binary hash strings by encoding, is one of the most important parts of authentication-oriented image hashing. However, very few works have been done on the discrete-binary conversion stage. In this paper, based on Gray code, we propose a key-dependent code called random Gray (RGray) code for image hashing, which, according to our theoretical analysis and experimental results, is likely to increase the security of image hashing to some extent and meanwhile maintains the performance of Gray code in terms of the tradeoff between robustness and fragility. We also apply a measure called distance distortion, which was proposed by Rothlauf (2002) [1] for evolutionary search, to investigate the influence of the discrete-binary conversion stage on the performance of image hashing. Based on distance distortion, we present a theoretical comparison of the encodings applied in the discrete-binary conversion stage of image hashing, including RGray encoding. And our experimental results validate the practical applicability of distance distortion on the performance evaluation of the discrete-binary conversion stage.     

指纹图像特征点提取算法研究

为了将指纹纹理中的有效信息提取出来,通过指纹图像预处理和特征点提取两个步骤,提出了一种指纹图像的特征点提取算法。图像预处理主要包含图像增强、二值化、细化,而特征点提取则采用模板搜索提取法。最终通过MATLAB GUI系统将采集的指纹图像进行处理,在用户界面内显示图像处理结果以及特征点提取结果,说明该设计很好地实现了算法目的,并且具有很好的稳定性和扩展性。     

Rotation, scaling and translation invariant image watermarking using feature points

In this article, a novel robust image watermarking scheme is presented to resist rotation, scaling, and translation （RST）. Initially, the original image is scale normalized, and the feature points are then extracted. Furthermore, the locally most stable feature points are used to generate several nonoverlapped circular regions. These regions are then rotation normalized to generate the invariant regions. Watermark embedding and extraction are implemented in the invariant regions in discrete cosine transform domain. In the decoder, the watermark can be extracted without the original image. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme is robust to traditional signal processing attacks, RST attacks, as well as some combined attacks.     

Block-based image steganalysis: Algorithm and performance evaluation

Traditional image steganalysis is conducted with respect to the entire image frame. In this work, we differentiate a stego image from its cover image based on steganalysis of decomposed image blocks. After image decomposition into smaller blocks, we classify image blocks into multiple classes and find a classifier for each class. Then, steganalysis of the whole image can be obtained by integrating results of all image blocks via decision fusion. Extensive performance evaluation of block-based image steganalysis is conducted. For a given test image, there exists a trade-off between the block size and the block number. We propose to use overlapping blocks to improve the steganalysis performance. Additional performance improvement can be achieved using different decision fusion schemes and different classifiers. Besides the block-decomposition framework, we point out that the choice of a proper classifier plays an important role in improving detection accuracy, and show that both the logistic classifier and the Fisher linear discriminant classifier outperforms the linear Bayes classifier by a significant margin.     

图像特征的伪装效果评估技术

定义以目标形心为中心、以目标图像的轮廓为模板的八联通区域作为该目标伪装效果评估的直接背景.依据目标识别机理和相关的伪装原则,从图像的统计、形状和纹理三个方面分别筛选并提取出目标及其8个直接背景的19个特征值;根据3σ法则,对提取的特征值进行归一化处理后构成9行19列评估矩阵,在此基础上,采用BP神经网络建立了伪装效果量化评估模型.利用积累的大量工程伪装检测数据开展了系统试验;利用获取的试验数据作为样本集,对模型进行了训练、验证和测试.试验结果表明:所建立的伪装效果量化评估模型预测结果与专家评估结果的相关度达到0.82,能有效消除伪装效果评估过程中由操作人员主观因素对评估结果造成的影响,具有良好的科学性和可靠性.     

Blurred fingerprint image enhancement: algorithm analysis and performance evaluation

A conventional automatic fingerprint matching process uses similarity score to quantify similarity between fingerprint images to be matched, and the similarity score can be determined with a minutiae extraction algorithm (MEA) which extracts minutiae from fingerprint images. The performance of MEA relies on the quality of fingerprint images. In case of blurred fingerprint images, it becomes difficult to obtain a reliable similarity score. As the result, an image enhancement algorithm should be incorporated with MEA when the fingerprint image is blurred. In this study, Volterra filter is proposed to enhance blurred fingerprints and compared against different enhancement algorithms. Experimental results show that Volterra filter outperforms other techniques such as Laplacian, Wiener, and Gabor filters for enhancing blurred images and its calculation complexity is moderate among techniques considered in this study.     

Robust feature points extraction for image registration based on the nonsubsampled contourlet transform

In this letter, a new feature points extraction method based on the nonsubsampled contourlet transform (NSCT) is proposed for image registration. The primary motivation of this work is to determine the effectiveness of the NSCT transform in extracting feature points for image registration. Preliminary experimental results show that the registration accuracy and robustness of the proposed algorithm is acceptable and very promising, and confirm the success of the proposed NSCT-based feature points extraction approach.     

Perceptual image quality: Effects of tone characteristics

Tone mapping refers to the conversion of luminance values recorded by a digital camera or other acquisition device, to the luminance levels available from an output device, such as a monitor or a printer. Tone mapping can improve the appearance of rendered images. Although there are a variety of algorithms available, there is little information about the image tone characteristics that produce pleasing images. We devised an experiment where preferences for images with different tone characteristics were measured. The results indicate that there is a systematic relation between image tone characteristics and perceptual image quality for images containing faces. For these images, a mean face luminance level of 46-49 CIELAB L* units and a luminance standard deviation (taken over the whole image) of 18 CIELAB L* units produced the best renderings. This information is relevant for the design of tone-mapping algorithms, particularly as many images taken by digital camera users include faces.     

The cost and performance tradeoffs of buffered memories

An analysis of the performance enhancement achieved and the incremental costs accrued in buffering (using a cache memory) memory systems is made. Buffering is found to be cost-effective even for minicomputer memories. The study indicates that the flagged registered swap algorithm is superior to three other common algorithms used. It is shown that when jobs are switched, a substantial number of memory requests are required before the buffer fills and gives a high hit ratio. It is also shown that individuaIly buffered main-memory modules can be interleaved to achieve very high system performance.     

Representing images using points on image surfaces.

This paper presents a new approach to represent an image by "verge points," which are defined as high-curvature points on the image surface. This representation offers a compact and reversible way to preserve the essence of the original image. Various applications, such as compression, edge detection, image enhancement, and image editing, can be achieved based on this representation. In this paper, the whole procedure for verge point representation is presented. Based on these verge points, image reconstruction can be easily achieved via iterative linear interpolation. These extracted verge points with compatible properties are further linked into verge curves to offer more compact representation. Progressive representation is also developed based on a multiscale extraction scheme. Some potential applications are then presented to demonstrate the versatility of this representation.     

景象匹配评估系统中图像特征指标的选择——（二）相关面统计特征

在图像匹配评估系统中,图像特征指标体系的选择,除了图像自身的统计特征,度量实时图与其准图的相似性特征也是很重要的。定义了几个相关面统计特征,并通过实验说明这些特征与匹配性能的关系,这些特征与图像统计特征一起构成了图像特征指标体系的一部分。     

序列图像的多码率混合编码及其性能分析

本文针对序列图像提出了一种可称为MRHC的多码率编码方法。该方法把信源和信道编码组成一个整体,利用3D小波图像能量分布的特点,在完成压缩编解码的同时完成纠错编解码。从而达到码率优化分配,提高了序列图像在噪声信道中的传输的质量。     

Robust image hashing based on random Gabor filtering and dithered lattice vector quantization

In this paper, we propose a robust-hash function based on random Gabor filtering and dithered lattice vector quantization (LVQ). In order to enhance the robustness against rotation manipulations, the conventional Gabor filter is adapted to be rotation invariant, and the rotation-invariant filter is randomized to facilitate secure feature extraction. Particularly, a novel dithered-LVQ-based quantization scheme is proposed for robust hashing. The dithered-LVQ-based quantization scheme is well suited for robust hashing with several desirable features, including better tradeoff between robustness and discrimination, higher randomness, and secrecy, which are validated by analytical and experimental results. The performance of the proposed hashing algorithm is evaluated over a test image database under various content-preserving manipulations. The proposed hashing algorithm shows superior robustness and discrimination performance compared with other state-of-the-art algorithms, particularly in the robustness against rotations (of large degrees).     

Similarity-based online feature selection in content-based image retrieval.

Content-based image retrieval (CBIR) has been more and more important in the last decade, and the gap between high-level semantic concepts and low-level visual features hinders further performance improvement. The problem of online feature selection is critical to really bridge this gap. In this paper, we investigate online feature selection in the relevance feedback learning process to improve the retrieval performance of the region-based image retrieval system. Our contributions are mainly in three areas. 1) A novel feature selection criterion is proposed, which is based on the psychological similarity between the positive and negative training sets. 2) An effective online feature selection algorithm is implemented in a boosting manner to select the most representative features for the current query concept and combine classifiers constructed over the selected features to retrieve images. 3) To apply the proposed feature selection method in region-based image retrieval systems, we propose a novel region-based representation to describe images in a uniform feature space with real-valued fuzzy features. Our system is suitable for online relevance feedback learning in CBIR by meeting the three requirements: learning with small size training set, the intrinsic asymmetry property of training samples, and the fast response requirement. Extensive experiments, including comparisons with many state-of-the-arts, show the effectiveness of our algorithm in improving the retrieval performance and saving the processing time.     

Prostate mechanical imaging: 3-D image composition and feature calculations

We have developed a method and a device entitled prostate mechanical imager (PMI) for the real-time imaging of prostate using a transrectal probe equipped with a pressure sensor array and position tracking sensor. PMI operation is based on measurement of the stress pattern on the rectal wall when the probe is pressed against the prostate. Temporal and spatial changes in the stress pattern provide information on the elastic structure of the gland and allow two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction of prostate anatomy and assessment of prostate mechanical properties. The data acquired allow the calculation of prostate features such as size, shape, nodularity, consistency/hardness, and mobility. The PMI prototype has been validated in laboratory experiments on prostate phantoms and in a clinical study. The results obtained on model systems and in vivo images from patients prove that PMI has potential to become a diagnostic tool that could largely supplant DRE through its higher sensitivity, quantitative record storage, ease-of-use and inherent low cost.     

VBR video: tradeoffs and potentials

The authors examine the transport and storage of video compressed with a variable bit rate (VBR). They focus primarily on networked video, although they also briefly consider other applications of VBR video, including satellite transmission (channel sharing), playback of stored video, and wireless transport. Packet video research requires careful integration between the network and the video systems; however, a major stumbling block has resulted because commonly used terms are often interpreted differently by the video and networking communities. The paper then, has two main goals: (i) to clarify the definitions of terms that are often used with different meaning by networking and video-coding researchers and (ii) to explore the tradeoffs entailed by each of the various modalities of VBR transmission (unconstrained, shaped, constrained, and feedback). In particular, they evaluate the tradeoff among the advantages (better video quality, less delay, and more calls) that were identified by early proponents of VBR video transmission. An underlying theme of this paper is that increased interaction between the video and network design has potential for improving overall decoded video quality without changing the network capacity     

Semi-blind image restoration via Mumford-Shah regularization.

Image restoration and segmentation are both classical problems, that are known to be difficult and have attracted major research efforts. This paper shows that the two problems are tightly coupled and can be successfully solved together. Mutual support of image restoration and segmentation processes within a joint variational framework is theoretically motivated, and validated by successful experimental results. The proposed variational method integrates semi-blind image deconvolution (parametric blur-kernel), and Mumford-Shah segmentation. The functional is formulated using the T-convergence approximation and is iteratively optimized via the alternate minimization method. While the major novelty of this work is in the unified treatment of the semi-blind restoration and segmentation problems, the important special case of known blur is also considered and promising results are obtained.     

Hardcopy image barcodes via block-error diffusion.

Error diffusion halftoning is a popular method of producing frequency modulated (FM) halftones for printing and display. FM halftoning fixes the dot size (e.g., to one pixel in conventional error diffusion) and varies the dot frequency according to the intensity of the original grayscale image. We generalize error diffusion to produce FM halftones with user-controlled dot size and shape by using block quantization and block filtering. As a key application, we show how block-error diffusion may be applied to embed information in hardcopy using dot shape modulation. We enable the encoding and subsequent decoding of information embedded in the hardcopy version of continuous-tone base images. The encoding-decoding process is modeled by robust data transmission through a noisy print-scan channel that is explicitly modeled. We refer to the encoded printed version as an image barcode due to its high information capacity that differentiates it from common hardcopy watermarks. The encoding/halftoning strategy is based on a modified version of block-error diffusion. Encoder stability, image quality versus information capacity tradeoffs, and decoding issues with and without explicit knowledge of the base image are discussed.