Image Classification With Label Propagation and KPCA for Scarce Labels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for few-shot image classification are not sufficiently reliable for real-world applications, as they often struggle to achieve high accuracy with only a few labeled examples.

Innovation Solution

A system that combines nearest-neighbor-based label propagation and kernel principal component analysis (KPCA) to classify images, using a neural network for feature extraction and iterative label propagation to enhance classification accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing few-shot learning methods are used for image classification, then the system can operate with limited labeled data, but the classification accuracy remains too low for real-world applications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclassification accuracyVSAvoidnumber of labeled examples
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the feature space into multiple clusters representing different image classes, then applies label propagation within each cluster separately. This segmentation allows the system to handle limited labeled data more effectively by focusing computational resources on local cluster structures rather than attempting global classification with insufficient labeled examples.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediate representation layer that transforms raw image features into a structured feature space where label propagation can occur. This intermediary transformation enables the system to leverage geometric relationships in the transformed space, improving classification accuracy even when direct classification from limited labeled examples would fail.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If more labeled examples are provided for training, then classification accuracy improves, but the system loses its few-shot learning capability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclassification accuracyVSAvoidfew-shot learning capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary clustering and feature space transformation on unlabeled data before label propagation begins. By pre-organizing the feature space into meaningful clusters and applying appropriate transformations, the system creates a structured foundation that enables accurate classification with minimal labeled examples, thus maintaining few-shot capability while achieving high accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts parameters such as cluster assignment thresholds, propagation weights, and feature transformation parameters based on the amount of available labeled data. This adaptability allows the system to optimize its behavior for few-shot scenarios while maintaining high accuracy, effectively bridging the gap between limited data and high performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If label propagation is applied in the original feature space, then the process is computationally efficient, but the classification accuracy is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclassification accuracyVSAvoidfeature space transformation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the feature space into a different dimensional representation where geometric relationships between classes become more pronounced. This dimensional transformation reveals hidden structures in the data that improve label propagation accuracy, while the transformation itself is designed to be computationally tractable through efficient algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies curvature-based transformations to the feature space, mapping linear relationships into curved manifolds where class boundaries become more distinct. This curved space transformation improves the effectiveness of label propagation by creating more separable class distributions, while maintaining computational efficiency through appropriate kernel choices and approximation methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS12347168B1System and method for classifying images with a combination of nearest-neighbor-based label propagation and kernel principal component analysis
Publication Date: 2025.07.01 HRL LAB
  • US12347168B1 patent drawing
  • US12347168B1 patent drawing
  • US12347168B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Described is a system for detecting and classifying new patterns of objects and images for applications where labeled data is scarce. In operation, the system trains a neural network with unlabeled images and extracts features with the neural network from both the unlabeled images and a set of labeled images to generate a feature space. Labels are propagated in the feature space using nearest neighbors, allowing for modeling of a per-class simplified distribution. An object in a new test image can then be classified using reconstruction error based on the per-class simplified distributions.