CPC Definition - Subclass G06V

Last Updated Version: 2023.01
IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
Definition statement

This place covers:

Higher-level interpretation and cognition of images or videos, which includes pattern recognition, pattern learning and semantic interpretation as fundamental aspects. These aspects involve the detection, categorisation, identification, authentication of image or video patterns by acquiring, preprocessing, extracting distinctive features or matching, supervised or unsupervised clustering or classification of these features or representations derived from them leading to one or several decisions, related confidence values (e.g. probabilities) or classification/clustering labels for explanatory purposes or to derive a certain meaning.

Pattern recognition or pattern learning in a specific, image or video-related context that includes:

  • scene-related patterns and scene-specific elements - G06V 20/00
  • character recognition or recognising digital ink; document-oriented image-based pattern recognition – G06V 30/00
  • human-related, animal-related or biometric patterns in in image or video data G06V 40/00.

Typical image or video understanding systems that include one or more of the following steps: media0.png

Figure 1. Processing steps involved in a pattern recognition system

These steps are provided as follows: image acquisition (G06V 10/10), image preprocessing (G06V 10/20), feature extraction (G06V 10/40), pattern recognition or pattern learning, e.g. matching, clustering or classifying techniques (G06V 10/70).

Image or video recognition can be carried out by using electronic means (G06V 10/70) or by using optical means (G06V 10/88).

Typically, a pattern recognition system involves one or more of the following techniques:

Individual data entity

Groups of data entities (classes)

One data sample

Authentication

Categorisation

Several data samples

Identification

Clustering

When a collection of data samples is provided, identification means selecting a particular sample having a (predefined) characteristic which distinguishes it from the others. Several data samples are generally matched against the one to be identified in a many-to-one process.

Authentication involves verifying the identity of a sample using a test of genuineness and it involves a one-to-one comparison with the genuine (authentic) sample.

Categorisation means assigning a data sample to a class according to certain distinguishing properties (or characteristics) of that class and it generally involves a one-to-many test in which one data sample is compared with the characteristics of several classes.

Clustering means grouping data samples in groups or classes based on their properties (or characteristics) and it generally involves a many-to-many (dis)similarity test.

Relationships with other classification places

Data mining and pattern recognition techniques in general are classified in G06F 18/00.

Some techniques of image or video understanding performed in the preprocessing step (Fig. 1, elem. 2) — which start with a bitmap image as an input and derive a non-bitmap representation from it — can also be encountered in general image analysis. If these techniques do not involve one of the functions of image or video pattern authentication, identification, categorisation or clustering, classification should be made only in the appropriate subgroups of subclass G06T. Some examples of these techniques are: general methods for image segmentation, e.g. obtaining contiguous image regions with similar pixels, for position and size determination of an object without establishing its identity, for calculating the motion of an image region corresponding to an object irrespective of the identity of the object, for camera calibration, etc.

Biometric recognition provided under G06V 40/00 does not cover techniques for medical image inspection or medical diagnosis.

Techniques based on coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using video object coding are provided under H04N 19/20.

Velocity or trajectory determination systems or sense-of-movement determination systems using radar, sonar or lidar are provided for under G01S 13/58, G01S 15/58, G01S 17/58, respectively.

General purpose image data processing, in particular image watermarking is provided under G06T 1/00, while selective content distribution, such as generation or processing of protective or descriptive data associated with content involving watermarking is covered by H04N 21/8358.

General purpose image data acquisition and related pre-processing using digital cameras and processing used to control digital cameras is provided under H04N 5/00.

Play-back, editing, or synchronising of a music score, including interpretation therefor, as well as transmission of a music score between systems of musical instruments for play-back, editing or synchronising is provided under G10H.

References
Application-oriented references

Examples of places where the subject matter of this place is covered when specially adapted, used for a particular purpose, or incorporated in a larger system:

Detecting, measuring and recording for medical diagnostic purposes

A61B 5/00

Identifications of persons in medical applications

A61B 5/117

Postal sorting

B07C 3/10

Input arrangements for interaction between user and computer

G06F 3/01

Testing to determine the identity or genuineness of paper currency or similar valuable papers

G07D 7/00

Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Programme-controlled manipulators

B25J 9/00

Optical viewing arrangements in vehicles

B60R 1/00

Testing machines or structures

G01M

Investigating or analysing materials by determining their chemical or physical properties

G01N

Radio direction-finding; Radio navigation; Determining distance or velocity by use of radio waves; Locating or presence-detecting by use of the reflection or reradiation of radio waves; Analogous arrangements using other waves

G01S

Geophysics

G01V

Optical elements, systems, or apparatus

G02B

Photomechanical production of textured or patterned surfaces, e.g. for printing, for processing of semiconductor devices

G03F

Control or regulating systems in general

G05B

Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements

G06F 3/00

Content-based image retrieval

G06F 16/50

Fourier, Walsh or analogous domain transformations

G06F 17/14

Security arrangements for protecting computer systems against unauthorised activity

G06F 21/00

Authentication of user input in security arrangements for computers

G06F 21/30

Computer-aided design

G06F 30/00

Handling natural language data

G06F 40/00

Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers

G06K 7/00

Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings

G06K 19/00

Computer systems based on specific computational models

G06N

Data processing for business purposes, logistics, stock management

G06Q

General purpose image data processing, e.g. general purpose image acquisition, image watermarking or specific image analysis processor architectures or configurations

G06T 1/00

Geometric image transformation in the plane of the image, e.g. rotation of a whole image or part thereof

G06T 3/00

Image enhancement or restoration

G06T 5/00

Image analysis in general

G06T 7/00

Image analysis, in particular analysis of motion using feature-based methods

G06T 7/246

Image analysis, in particular determination of transform parameters for the alignment of images using feature-based methods

G06T 7/33

Image analysis of texture

G06T 7/40

Image analysis, in particular depth or shape recovery

G06T 7/50

Image analysis, in particular determining position and orientation of objects using feature-based methods

G06T 7/73

Image analysis, in particular determination of colour characteristics

G06T 7/90

Image coding, e.g. from bit-mapped to non bit-mapped

G06T 9/00

Contour coding, e.g. using detection of edges

G06T 9/20

Two-dimensional image generation

G06T 11/00

Three-dimensional image rendering

G06T 15/00

Lighting effects in 3D image rendering

G06T 15/50

Three-dimensional modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects

G06T 17/00

Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics

G06T 19/00

Individual entry and exit registers

G07C 9/00

Intruder alarms using image scanning and comparing means

G08B 13/194

Burglar, theft or intruder alarm

G08B 13/196

Traffic control systems for road vehicles

G08G 1/00

Labels, tag tickets or similar identification or indication means

G09F 3/00

Speech recognition

G10L 15/00

Speaker recognition

G10L 17/00

Bioinformatics

G16B

Chemoinformatics and computational material science

G16C

Healthcare informatics

G16H

Semiconductor devices

H01L

Secret or secure communication

H04L 9/00

Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents, e.g. facsimile transmission

H04N 1/00

Studio circuitry for television systems

H04N 5/222

Closed circuit television systems

H04N 7/18

Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using video object coding

H04N 19/20

Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals, region motion estimation for predictive coding

H04N 19/543

Special rules of classification

The subject-matter classified in the application-oriented groups G06V 20/00 - G06V 40/00 is also classified in the groups G06V 10/10 (Image acquisition) or G06V 10/20 (Image preprocessing) when specific adaptations of the application-related context occur at the stages of image acquisition or, respectively, image preprocessing.

Pattern recognition or pattern learning techniques for images or video understanding involving feature extraction (Fig. 1, elem. 3) or matching, clustering or classification (Fig. 1, elem. 4) should be classified in G06V 10/40 or G06V 10/70 in general, thus irrespective whether an application-related context provided by the groups G06V 20/00 - G06V 40/00 exists.

Glossary of terms

In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:

Pattern

Data with inherent variability, or a representation derived from it, having some explanatory characteristic or a meaning, e.g. an object depicted in an image

Image and video understanding

Techniques for semantic interpretation, pattern recognition or pattern learning specifically applied to images and videos

Feature extraction

Deriving descriptive or quantitative measures from data

Clustering

Grouping or separating patterns according to their (dis)similarity or closeness

Classification

Assigning labels to patterns