US 7,567,714 B2
	System, method and apparatus for clustering features
Marlin L. Gendron, Pass Christian, Miss. (US); Geary J. Layne, Slidell, La. (US); and Maura C. Lohrenz, Pearl River, La. (US)
Assigned to The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D.C. (US)
Filed on Nov. 23, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/997,091.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/585790, filed on Jul. 07, 2004.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/585789, filed on Jul. 07, 2004.
Prior Publication US 2006/0009955 A1, Jan. 12, 2006
Int. Cl. G06K 9/62 (2006.01); G06K 9/48 (2006.01); G06K 9/40 (2006.01); G06K 9/46 (2006.01); G06K 9/66 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 382—225  [382/241; 382/242; 382/266; 382/190]

43 Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for identifying a boundary of a cluster in a bitmap, the bitmap having at least one initially set bit, the method comprising: applying an expansion shape to each of the initially set bits in the bitmap on a computer; identifying vertex bits on the boundary of the cluster, the cluster including at least one expansion shape on the computer; for a current boundary bit with a first, second, and a third adjacent bit, evaluating at least two diagonally opposite adjacent bits if at least two of the first, the second, and the third adjacent bits are set on the computer; wherein one of the diagonally opposite adjacent bits is between the first and second adjacent bits; and assigning the adjacent set bit that was evaluated first as the new current bit on the computer if both of the two diagonally adjacent bits are clear.