Information processing apparatus and information processing method

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for detecting a plurality of pixels of interest within an image and identifying luminance values corresponding to a predetermined object. The apparatus for detecting includes a memory configured to store first and second images captured using light of first and second wavelengths, respectively. The apparatus for detecting further includes at least one processor configured to detect a plurality of pixels of interest within the first captured image based on luminance values of the stored first and second captured images. The apparatus for identifying includes a memory configured to store a processed image, and at least one processor configured to determine frequencies of luminance values of the plurality of pixels of interest in the processed image and to determine a range of luminance values corresponding to a predetermined object within the processed image based on the determined frequencies of the luminance values.

1 . An information processing apparatus, comprising:
 a first memory configured to store a first image captured using light of a first wavelength and a second image captured using light of a second wavelength, the first wavelength being different from the second wavelength; and   at least one processor configured to detect a plurality of pixels of interest within the first captured image based on luminance values of the stored first and second captured images.   
     
     
         2 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one processor is configured to generate a binarized image in which the detected plurality of pixels of interest within the first captured image are represented by a first predetermined value and a plurality of other pixels within the first captured image are represented by a second predetermined value.   
     
     
         3 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one processor is configured
 to calculate differences in the luminance values between corresponding pixels of the stored first and second captured images, and 
 to detect the plurality of pixels of interest within the first captured image based on whether the calculated differences in the luminance values corresponding to the plurality of pixels of interest exceed a predetermined threshold value. 
   
     
     
         4 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one processor is configured to detect the plurality of pixels of interest that correspond to at least one skin area representing the skin of a user.   
     
     
         5 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second memory configured to store a processed image that includes the plurality of pixels of interest, wherein   the at least one processor is configured
 to determine frequencies of luminance values of the plurality of pixels of interest in the processed image, and 
 to determine a range of the luminance values corresponding to a predetermined object within the processed image based on the determined frequencies of the luminance values. 
   
     
     
         6 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the first memory and the second memory are the same memory.   
     
     
         7 . A method of using an information processing apparatus for detecting a plurality of pixels of interest within an image, the method comprising:
 storing a first image captured using light of a first wavelength and a second image captured using light of a second wavelength, the first wavelength being different from the second wavelength; and   detecting, by the information processing apparatus, a plurality of pixels of interest within the first captured image based on luminance values of the stored first and second captured images.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 generating a binarized image in which the detected plurality of pixels of interest within the first captured image are represented by a first predetermined value and a plurality of other pixels within the first captured image are represented by a second predetermined value.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 calculating differences in the luminance values between corresponding pixels of the stored first and second captured images, wherein   the detecting step comprises detecting the plurality of pixels of interest within the first captured image based on whether the calculated differences in the luminance values corresponding to the plurality of pixels of interest exceed a predetermined threshold value.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the detecting step comprises detecting the plurality of pixels of interest that correspond to at least one skin area representing the skin of a user.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 storing a processed image that includes the plurality of pixels of interest;   determining frequencies of luminance values of the plurality of pixels of interest in the processed image; and   determining a range of luminance values corresponding to a predetermined object within the processed image based on the determined frequencies of the luminance values.   
     
     
         12 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method of detecting a plurality of pixels of interest within an image, the method comprising:
 storing a first image captured using light of a first wavelength and a second image captured using light of a second wavelength, the first wavelength being different from the second wavelength; and   detecting a plurality of pixels of interest within the first captured image based on luminance values of the stored first and second captured images.   
     
     
         13 . A computer program for performing a method of detecting a plurality of pixels of interest within an image, the method comprising:
 storing a first image captured using light of a first wavelength and a second image captured using light of a second wavelength, the first wavelength being different from the second wavelength; and   detecting a plurality of pixels of interest within the first captured image based on luminance values of the stored first and second captured images.   
     
     
         14 . An information processing apparatus, comprising:
 means for storing a first image captured using light of a first wavelength and a second image captured using light of a second wavelength, the first wavelength being different from the second wavelength; and   means for detecting a plurality of pixels of interest within the first captured image based on luminance values of the stored first and second captured images.   
     
     
         15 . An information processing apparatus, comprising:
 a memory configured to store a processed image, the processed image being generated from an image and including a plurality of pixels of interest; and   at least one processor configured
 to determine frequencies of luminance values of the plurality of pixels of interest in the processed image, and 
 to determine a range of luminance values corresponding to a predetermined object within the processed image based on the determined frequencies of the luminance values. 
   
     
     
         16 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein
 the at least one processor is configured to group the plurality of pixels of interest into at least one group based on the determined frequencies of the luminance values.   
     
     
         17 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein
 the at least one processor is configured to determine the range of the luminance values corresponding to the predetermined object based on the luminance values of the one of the at least one group of the plurality of pixels of interest having the highest luminance values.   
     
     
         18 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein
 the at least one processor is configured
 to set a lower limit threshold value based on the minimum luminance value of the determined range, 
 to set an upper limit threshold value based on the maximum luminance value of the determined range, 
 to detect at least one mask area within the image based on the lower and upper limit threshold values, and 
 to generate a mask image in which pixels corresponding to the at least one mask area of the image are represented by a first predetermined value, and pixels corresponding to any areas outside the at least one mask area are represented by a second predetermined value. 
   
     
     
         19 . A method of using an information processing apparatus for identifying luminance values corresponding to a predetermined object, the method comprising:
 storing a processed image, the processed image being generated from an image and including a plurality of pixels of interest;   determining frequencies of luminance values of the plurality of pixels of interest in the processed image; and   determining, by the information processing apparatus, a range of the luminance values corresponding to the predetermined object within the processed image based on the determined frequencies of the luminance values.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 grouping the plurality of pixels of interest into at least one group based on the determined frequencies of the luminance values.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein
 the determining the range of the luminance values step comprises determining the range of the luminance values corresponding to the predetermined object based on the luminance values of the one of the at least one group of the plurality of pixels of interest having the highest luminance values.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 20 , further comprising:
 setting a lower limit threshold value based on the minimum luminance value of the determined range;   setting an upper limit threshold value based on the maximum luminance value of the determined range;   detecting at least one mask area within the image based on the lower and upper limit threshold values, and   generating a mask image in which pixels corresponding to the at least one mask area of the image are represented by a first predetermined value, and pixels corresponding to any areas outside the at least one mask area are represented by a second predetermined value.   
     
     
         23 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method of identifying luminance values corresponding to a predetermined object, the method comprising:
 storing a processed image, the processed image being generated from an image and including a plurality of pixels of interest;   determining frequencies of luminance values of the plurality of pixels of interest in the processed image; and   determining a range of the luminance values corresponding to the predetermined object within the processed image based on the determined frequencies of the luminance values.   
     
     
         24 . A computer program for performing a method of identifying luminance values corresponding to a predetermined object, the method comprising:
 storing a processed image, the processed image being generated from an image and including a plurality of pixels of interest;   determining frequencies of luminance values of the plurality of pixels of interest in the processed image; and   determining a range of the luminance values corresponding to the predetermined object within the processed image based on the determined frequencies of the luminance values.   
     
     
         25 . An information processing apparatus, comprising:
 means for storing a processed image, the processed image being generated from an image and including a plurality of pixels of interest;   means for determining frequencies of luminance values of the plurality of pixels of interest in the processed image; and   means for determining a range of luminance values corresponding to a predetermined object within the processed image based on the determined frequencies of the luminance values.