IP Library Granted Patent US 9,613,290
Granted Patent B2
US 9,613,290 · App. 14/551,824 · Granted Apr 4, 2017

Image comparison using color histograms

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,613,290
App. No.
14/551,824
Granted
Apr 4, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture for image comparison using color histograms are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein to compare images include adjusting a color histogram associated with an input image based on a first reference color histogram associated with a first reference image to determine a first adjusted color histogram associated with the input image. Such example methods also include comparing the first adjusted color histogram and the first reference color histogram to determine whether the first reference image matches the input image. Such example methods further include displaying a version of the first reference image adjacent to a display of the input image in response to determining that the first reference image matches the input image.

Claims (74)

1. A method to compare images, the method comprising:

adjusting, by executing an instruction with a processor, a color histogram associated with an input image based on a first reference color histogram associated with a first reference image to determine a first adjusted color histogram associated with the input image;

comparing, by executing an instruction with the processor, the first adjusted color histogram and the first reference color histogram to determine whether the first reference image matches the input image; and

displaying, by executing an instruction with the processor, a version of the first reference image adjacent to a display of the input image in response to determining that the first reference image matches the input image.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 , further including:

adjusting the color histogram associated with the input image based on a second reference color histogram associated with a second reference image to determine a second adjusted color histogram associated with the input image;

comparing the second adjusted color histogram and the second reference color histogram to determine whether the second reference image matches the input image; and

displaying a version of the second reference image adjacent to a display of the input image in response to determining that the second reference image matches the input image.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the adjusting of the color histogram associated with the input image includes adjusting the color histogram associated with the input image based on the first reference color histogram and a scale factor to determine the first adjusted color histogram associated with the input image.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the version of the first reference image corresponds to a thumbnail version of the first reference image.

5. The method as defined in claim 1 , further including:

capturing the input image with a camera; and

processing digital pixels of the input image to determine the color histogram associated with the input image.

6. A method to compare images, the method comprising:

adjusting, by executing an instruction with a processor, a color histogram associated with an input image based on a first reference color histogram associated with a first reference image to determine a first adjusted color histogram associated with the input image, the adjusting including:

multiplying a value of a first bin of the color histogram associated with the input image by a scale factor to determine a scaled bin value; and

determining an adjusted value of a corresponding first bin of the first adjusted color histogram to be a smaller of the scaled bin value and a value of a corresponding first bin of the reference color histogram;

comparing, by executing an instruction with the processor, the first adjusted color histogram and the first reference color histogram to determine whether the first reference image matches the input image; and

displaying, by executing an instruction with the processor, a version of the first reference image adjacent to a display of the input image in response to determining that the first reference image matches the input image.

7. A method to compare images, the method comprising:

adjusting, by executing an instruction with a processor, a color histogram associated with an input image based on a first reference color histogram associated with a first reference image to determine a first adjusted color histogram associated with the input image;

comparing, by executing an instruction with the processor, the first adjusted color histogram and the first reference color histogram to determine whether the first reference image matches the input image, the comparing including:

determining a sum of differences between bins of the first adjusted color histogram and corresponding bins of the first reference color histogram; and

comparing the sum to a threshold to determine whether the first reference image matches the input image; and

displaying, by executing an instruction with the processor, a version of the first reference image adjacent to a display of the input image in response to determining that the first reference image matches the input image.

8. A tangible computer readable medium comprising computer readable instructions which, when executed, cause a processor to at least:

adjust a color histogram associated with an input image based on a first reference color histogram associated with a first reference image to determine a first adjusted color histogram associated with the input image;

compare the first adjusted color histogram and the first reference color histogram to determine whether the first reference image matches the input image; and

display a version of the first reference image adjacent to a display of the input image in response to determining that the first reference image matches the input image.

9. The tangible computer readable medium as defined in claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to:

adjust the color histogram associated with the input image based on a second reference color histogram associated with a second reference image to determine a second adjusted color histogram associated with the input image;

compare the second adjusted color histogram and the second reference color histogram to determine whether the second reference image matches the input image; and

display a version of the second reference image adjacent to a display of the input image in response to determining that the second reference image matches the input image.

10. The tangible computer readable medium as defined in claim 8 , wherein to adjust the color histogram associated with the input image, the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to adjust the color histogram associated with the input image based on the first reference color histogram and a scale factor to determine the first adjusted color histogram associated with the input image.

11. The tangible computer readable medium as defined in claim 8 , wherein the version of the first reference image corresponds to a thumbnail version of the first reference image.

12. The tangible computer readable medium as defined in claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to:

capture the input image with a camera; and

process digital pixels of the input image to determine the color histogram associated with the input image.

13. A tangible computer readable medium comprising computer readable instructions which, when executed, cause a processor to at least:

adjust a color histogram associated with an input image based on a first reference color histogram associated with a first reference image to determine a first adjusted color histogram associated with the input image, wherein to adjust the color histogram associated with the input image, the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to:

multiply a value of a first bin of the color histogram associated with the input image by a scale factor to determine a scaled bin value; and

determine an adjusted value of a corresponding first bin of the first adjusted color histogram to be a smaller of the scaled bin value and a value of a corresponding first bin of the reference color histogram;

compare the first adjusted color histogram and the first reference color histogram to determine whether the first reference image matches the input image; and

display a version of the first reference image adjacent to a display of the input image in response to determining that the first reference image matches the input image.

14. A tangible computer readable medium comprising computer readable instructions which, when executed, cause a processor to at least:

adjust a color histogram associated with an input image based on a first reference color histogram associated with a first reference image to determine a first adjusted color histogram associated with the input image;

compare the first adjusted color histogram and the first reference color histogram to determine whether the first reference image matches the input image, wherein to compare the first adjusted color histogram and the first reference color histogram, the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to:

determine a sum of differences between bins of the first adjusted color histogram and corresponding bins of the first reference color histogram; and

compare the sum to a threshold to determine whether the first reference image matches the input image; and

display a version of the first reference image adjacent to a display of the input image in response to determining that the first reference image matches the input image.

15. An apparatus to compare images, the apparatus comprising:

a histogram comparator to:

adjust a color histogram associated with an input image based on a first reference color histogram associated with a first reference image to determine a first adjusted color histogram associated with the input image; and

compare the first adjusted color histogram and the first reference color histogram to determine whether the first reference image matches the input image; and

a results interface to display a version of the first reference image adjacent to a display of the input image in response to determining that the first reference image matches the input image.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 15 , wherein the version of the first reference image corresponds to a thumbnail version of the first reference image.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 15 , further including:

an image interface to capture the input image with a camera; and

a histogram generator to process digital pixels of the input image to determine the color histogram associated with the input image.

18. An apparatus to compare images, the apparatus comprising:

a histogram comparator to:

adjust a color histogram associated with an input image based on a first reference color histogram associated with a first reference image to determine a first adjusted color histogram associated with the input image; and

compare the first adjusted color histogram and the first reference color histogram to determine whether the first reference image matches the input image, wherein the histogram comparator includes a bin adjuster to adjust the color histogram associated with the input image based on the first reference color histogram and a scale factor to determine the first adjusted color histogram associated with the input image; and

a results interface to display a version of the first reference image adjacent to a display of the input image in response to determining that the first reference image matches the input image.

19. The apparatus as defined in claim 18 , wherein the bin adjuster is further to:

multiply a value of a first bin of the color histogram associated with the input image by the scale factor to determine a scaled bin value; and

determine an adjusted value of a corresponding first bin of the first adjusted color histogram to be a smaller of the scaled bin value and a value of a corresponding first bin of the reference color histogram.

20. An apparatus to compare images, the apparatus comprising:

a histogram comparator to:

adjust a color histogram associated with an input image based on a first reference color histogram associated with a first reference image to determine a first adjusted color histogram associated with the input image; and

compare the first adjusted color histogram and the first reference color histogram to determine whether the first reference image matches the input image, wherein the histogram comparator includes:

a comparison metric determiner to determine a sum of differences between bins of the first adjusted color histogram and corresponding bins of the first reference color histogram; and

a threshold comparator to compare the sum to a threshold to determine whether the first reference image matches the input image; and

a results interface to display a version of the first reference image adjacent to a display of the input image in response to determining that the first reference image matches the input image.

Assignments (10)
RELEASE (REEL 053473 / FRAME 0001) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063603/0001 →
RELEASE (REEL 054066 / FRAME 0064) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063605/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063574/0632 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063561/0381 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 31, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063560/0547 →
RELEASE (REEL 037172 / FRAME 0415) Recorded Oct 13, 2022
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 061750/0221 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE 1 RECORDED ON 6-9-2020 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 053473 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPPLEMENTAL IP SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Oct 7, 2020
From: A.C. NIELSEN (ARGENTINA) S.A.; A.C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A
Reel/Frame 054066/0064 →
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 9, 2020
From: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NIELSEN UK FINANCE I, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053473/0001 →
SUPPLEMENTAL IP SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 30, 2015
From: THE NIELSEN COMPANY ((US), LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT FOR THE FIRST LIEN SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 037172/0415 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 19, 2014
From: LEE, MORRIS
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 034560/0309 →