Color Theme Extraction Using Energy Minimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for extracting colors from digital images are subjective and do not ensure exact color matches or locations, as they rely on approximate color distributions and do not account for user preferences or qualitative aspects like colorfulness and brightness.

Innovation Solution

A method that determines color densities in an image using qualitative parameters such as colorfulness, brightness, and saturation, and extracts theme colors by minimizing an energy function that considers color distances and densities, ensuring exact matches and allowing user control over the extraction process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If typical techniques extract colors from approximate color distribution (histogram), then the extraction process is simple and fast, but the extracted colors do not ensure exact color matches or locations in the image

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor matching precisionVSAvoidextraction process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional histogram-based statistical methods with a physics-inspired energy minimization system. Theme colors are treated as particles in color space that are attracted to high-density regions and repelled from each other, automatically converging to optimal color selections that guarantee exact image color matches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the color extraction problem by changing the parameter space from simple frequency counts in histograms to a multi-dimensional energy function that incorporates color density, inter-color distances, and user-defined qualitative parameters, enabling precise control over extraction outcomes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If traditional color extraction methods are used, then the process is automatic, but it does not account for user preferences or qualitative aspects like colorfulness and brightness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser preference adaptabilityVSAvoidextraction process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic, adjustable parameters that allow users to control the extraction process in real-time. Qualitative parameters such as colorfulness, brightness, and saturation can be modified during execution, enabling the system to adapt to different user preferences and application requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The energy minimization system incorporates feedback loops where the positions of theme colors continuously adjust based on their interactions with color density distributions and mutual repulsion forces, allowing the system to converge on optimal solutions that satisfy user-defined criteria.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If histogram-based color extraction is used, then computational resources are conserved, but colors are extracted based on frequency rather than actual visual importance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor representation accuracyVSAvoidcomputational energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces simple frequency counting with a physics-based energy minimization framework where theme colors behave like particles subject to attractive forces from high-density regions and repulsive forces from other theme colors, automatically identifying visually important colors through natural physical analogies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS8041111B1Subjective and locatable color theme extraction for images
Publication Date: 2011.10.18 ADOBE INC
  • US8041111B1 patent drawing
  • US8041111B1 patent drawing
  • US8041111B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Systems, methods, and program products for subjective and locatable color theme extraction for images. Determining a color density for each of a plurality of colors in an image where each of the plurality of colors belongs to a color space, extracting one or more distinct theme colors from the plurality of colors based on qualitative parameters and the determined color densities, and mapping each extracted theme color to a color occurring in the image where the mapping is based on a color distance between the theme color and colors occurring in the image.