Image Sameness Determination via Area Difference Analysis

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining whether two images are the same struggle to accurately assess differences in image quality, particularly in cases where differences in hues or color tone are subtle and not perceptible to the human eye.

Innovation Solution

An information processing device generates difference information by comparing a first image and a second image, dividing the images into multiple areas, and calculating total area difference amounts. It then determines whether the images are the same based on these total area difference amounts, using a threshold value to assess perceptibility to the human eye.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If existing methods for determining whether two images are the same are used, then the determination process is simple, but the accuracy of assessing subtle differences in image quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of assessing image quality differencesVSAvoidcomplexity of determination process

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The image is divided into multiple areas (e.g., multiple blocks or regions) rather than treating it as a single unit. Difference information is calculated separately for each area, and total area difference amounts are obtained by summing differences within each area. This segmentation approach enables more precise detection of subtle image quality differences while maintaining a manageable determination process through systematic regional analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If difference information is calculated for the entire image as a whole, then the calculation process is simple, but the ability to detect subtle localized differences deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection of subtle localized differencesVSAvoidcomplexity of difference calculation

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The image is divided into multiple areas (e.g., multiple blocks or regions) rather than treating it as a single unit. Difference information is calculated separately for each area, and total area difference amounts are obtained by summing differences within each area. This segmentation approach enables more precise detection of subtle image quality differences while maintaining a manageable determination process through systematic regional analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different areas of the image are analyzed independently with their own difference calculations. By focusing on local regions rather than the entire image uniformly, the method can detect subtle localized differences in specific areas while maintaining overall image comparison capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If traditional image comparison methods are used, then computational resources are conserved, but the accuracy of determining image sameness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of image sameness determinationVSAvoidcomputational resources consumed

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The image is divided into multiple areas (e.g., multiple blocks or regions) rather than treating it as a single unit. Difference information is calculated separately for each area, and total area difference amounts are obtained by summing differences within each area. This segmentation approach enables more precise detection of subtle image quality differences while maintaining a manageable determination process through systematic regional analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The method calculates difference information for multiple areas and obtains total area difference amounts, which provides more comprehensive analysis than traditional single-value comparison. This partial excess action (calculating more difference metrics than minimum required) improves determination accuracy by capturing nuanced variations across different image regions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS12315219B2Information processing device, determination method, and non-transitory recording medium

Publication Date: 2025.05.27 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

An information processing device includes circuitry to generate difference information related to a difference between a first image and a second image. The difference information has a plurality of areas. The circuitry further obtains a total value of differences in each of the plurality of areas as one of a plurality of total area difference amounts and determines whether the first image is same as the second image based on each of the plurality of total area difference amounts.