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AmazonGranted patentAI & softwareInterest 6/10

Amazon patents image editing tool that separates objects using color shifts

Amazon describes a system that uses a type of artificial intelligence called a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) to create multiple versions of a photo with different colors but the same object shapes. By comparing how specific pixels change color across these versions, the system groups them together to create masks that separate objects from the background.

Why it mattersThis technique could make it easier for photo editing apps to automatically identify and isolate specific items in a picture without needing manual selection.

In the filing’s own words

To identify sets of pixels in a first image that correspond to different objects or a background, a first image is provided to a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN). The GAN determines alternate images that retain the structural characteristics of the first image, such as the locations and shapes of objects, while modifying style characteristics, such as the colors of pixels. The images generated by the GAN may then be analyzed, such as by using a k-means clustering algorithm, to determine sets of pixels at the same location that change color in a similar manner across the set of images. A set of pixels that changes in a similar manner across the images generated by the GAN may be used as a mask representing an object or background to enable modification of the image without interfering with other objects.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A system comprising: one or more non-transitory memories storing computer-executable instructions; and one or more hardware processors to execute the computer-executable instructions to: access a first image having a first set of structural characteristics and a first set of style characteristics, wherein the first set of structural characteristics is associated with one or more of locations or shapes of objects depicted within the first image, and wherein the first set of style characteristics is associated with colors of pixels within the first image; provide the first image to a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) that is trained to generate images having alternate style characteristics based on input images; receive, from the GAN, a plurality of second images, wherein each second image of the plurality of second images includes: the first set of structural characteristics; and a respective second set of style characteristics having at least one first style characteristic that differs from the first set of style characteristics, wherein each respective set of style characteristics further includes at least one second style characteristic that differs from at least one other respective set of style characteristics; determine based on at least a subset of pixels of the plurality of second images, a tensor, wherein the tensor associates a location of a pixel within a respective image with a respective color value of the pixel for each second image of the plurality of second images; use a clustering algorithm to determine, based on the tensor, a first set of pixels associated with a first set of changes in color values that occur within at least a threshold portion of images included in the plurality of second images; use the clustering algorithm to determine, based on the tensor, a second set of pixels associated with a second set of changes in color values that occur within the at least a threshold portion of images included in the plurality of second images; generate, based on the first set of pixels being associated with the first set of changes in color values, first mask data associated with the first image; and generate, based on the second set of pixels being associated with the second set of changes in color values, second mask data associated with the first image.

Facts

Company
Amazon (AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.)
Official title
Systems for determining image masks using multiple input images
Patent number
US12749198B2
Application number
18193039
Filed
Mar 30, 2023
Granted
Sep 29, 2026
Inventors
3
Claims
20

Classified under

G06T 7/12 Physics & computingG06T 7/50 Physics & computingG06T 7/70 Physics & computingG06T 7/90 Physics & computingG06V 10/25 Physics & computingG06V 10/56 Physics & computing

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.