Methods of segmenting a digital image

1. A method comprising: using a fuzzy logic inference method to calculate segmentation parameters for segmenting a digital image into objects of the image.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the segmentation parameters are smoothness, scale and shape.

3. A method of segmenting a digital image comprising the steps of:

(a) performing a preliminary segmentation of the image into sub-objects;

(b) defining a model object by selecting sub-objects that define the model object;

(c) providing sub-object and model object features;

(d) using a fuzzy logic inference system to calculate segmentation parameters based on at least one of the sub-object and model object features; and

(e) performing segmentation of the image using the segmentation parameters.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the segmentation parameters are smoothness, scale and shape.

5. The method according to claim 3 including repeating steps (b), (c) and (d).

6. The method according to claim 3 including the steps of:

(f) setting a threshold for the point at which a sub-object ceases to be considered part of the model object;

(g) performing a feature discrepancy measure between at least one of the sub-object features in the segmented image and at least one of the model object features for convergence; and

(h) repeating step (d) if convergence is not achieved.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the feature discrepancy measure is based on scale and size of the objects.

8. The method according to claim 3 wherein the preliminary segmentation is performed using boundary-based image segmentation or region-based image segmentation.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein the boundary-based image segmentation includes an optimal edge detection or watershed segmentation, and the region-based image segmentation includes a multilevel thresholding or a region-growing method.

10. The method according to claim 3 further including the step of:

(d) performing segmentation of the image using the segmentation parameters.

11. The method according to claim 10 further including the step of:

repeating step (c).

12. The method according to claim 11 further including the step of:

testing the image segmentation for convergence to the model object.

13. A non-transitory computer readable memory having recorded thereon statements and instructions for execution by a computer to carry out the method of claim 3 .

14. A method of segmenting an image comprising the steps of:

(a) performing a preliminary segmentation;

(b) providing initial input segmentation parameters;

(c) using a fuzzy logic inference system using the initial input segmentation parameters and object features to evaluate new segmentation parameters; and

(d) performing segmentation of the image using the new parameters.

15. The method according to claim 14 including the step of:

(e) testing for convergence and repeating step (c).

16. The method according to claim 15 including the step of repeating step (d).

17. A non-transitory computer readable memory having recorded thereon statements and instructions for execution by a computer to carry out the method of claim 14 .

18. A method of calculating segmentation parameters for segmenting an initially segmented digital image comprising the steps of:

(a) defining a model object by selecting sub-objects that define the model object;

(b) providing sub-object and model object features; and

(c) using a fuzzy logic inference system to calculate segmentation parameters based on at least one of the sub-object features and the model object features.

19. A non-transitory computer readable memory having recorded thereon statements and instructions for execution by a computer to carry out the method of claim 18 .

20. A system for segmenting a digital image comprising:

a fuzzy logic inference system configured to define a model object by selecting sub-objects that define a model object, calculate segmentation parameters based on at least one sub-object and model object feature, and calculate segmentation parameters based on at least one of the sub-object features and the model object features.

21. A system for segmenting a digital image according to claim 20 comprising:

a segmentation module configured to segment the image using the segmentation parameters.

22. A system for segmenting a digital image according to claim 21 comprising:

a preliminary segmentation module configured to initially segment the image into sub-objects.