Contour Line Prediction for Faster Training Image Annotation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for creating training images for machine learning require significant manual labor and time, especially when dealing with images containing complex contour lines, and existing annotation tools are inadequate for handling such images.

Innovation Solution

An image processing apparatus that includes an image acquiring unit, a contour line predicting unit, and an image output unit, utilizing a learned model to predict contour lines in target images, thereby automating the creation of training images.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual operations are used to create training images, then annotation tools can handle simple images, but the process requires large amounts of labor and time and cannot handle images with complicated contour line shapes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability to handle complicated contour line shapesVSAvoidlabor and time efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical annotation operations with an automated image processing system that uses machine learning models to predict contour lines. The system substitutes human labor with computational algorithms that can automatically identify and annotate complex contour lines in images, thereby handling complicated shapes without increasing labor requirements.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service annotation by training a machine learning model to automatically predict contour lines without human intervention. Once trained, the model can independently process images and generate annotations for complex contour lines, making the system self-sufficient for handling various image types including those with complicated shapes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If automated annotation tools are used, then labor and time are reduced, but these tools cannot handle images with complicated contour line shapes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelabor and time efficiencyVSAvoidcapability to handle complicated contour line shapes
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by training a machine learning model in advance with diverse training data that includes images with complicated contour line shapes. This pre-training enables the automated annotation tool to handle complex shapes when deployed, resolving the limitation of conventional automated tools that cannot process complicated contours.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameters of the annotation approach by using machine learning models with adjustable parameters that can be optimized for different image types. By tuning the model parameters and using appropriate loss functions during training, the system achieves the capability to detect and annotate complex contour line shapes while maintaining automated efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If more training data is collected to improve machine learning model accuracy, then image analysis accuracy improves, but the amount of manual work required increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage analysis accuracyVSAvoidtime for creating training images
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses copying by generating synthetic training data through data augmentation techniques. Instead of manually collecting diverse real images, the system creates copies and variations of existing training images through transformations such as rotation, scaling, and flipping, thereby expanding the training dataset without proportional increases in manual work.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies segmentation by dividing the training data creation process into manageable components. It processes images in segments and uses automated annotation on portions of images, combining these segmented results to create comprehensive training datasets, thereby reducing the overall time required compared to manual annotation of complete images.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4697267A1Image processing device, image processing method, and program
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 RESONAC CORP
  • EP4697267A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4697267A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4697267A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An image processing apparatus includes an image acquiring unit that acquires a target image indicating a target position specified by a user; a contour line predicting unit that predicts a contour line near the target position based on a learned model that has learned a relationship between a position in an image and a contour line near the position; and an image output unit that outputs a training image indicating a prediction result of the contour line near the target position.