Spatial and color clustering on an FPGA-based computer system

Miriam E. Leeser; Natalya V. Kitaryeva; Jill D. Crisman

doi:10.1117/12.327039

8 October 1998 Spatial and color clustering on an FPGA-based computer system

Miriam E. Leeser, Natalya V. Kitaryeva, Jill D. Crisman

Proceedings Volume 3526, Configurable Computing: Technology and Applications; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.327039
Event: Photonics East (ISAM, VVDC, IEMB), 1998, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

We are mapping an image clustering algorithm onto an FPGA- based computer system. Our approach processes raw pixel data in the red, green, blue color space and generates an output image where all pixels are assigned to classes. A class is a group of pixels with similar color and location. These classes are then used as the basis of further processing to generate tags. The tags, in turn, are used to generate queries for searching libraries of digital images. We run our image tagging approach on an FPGA-based computing machine. The image clustering algorithm is run on an FPGA board, and only the classified image is communicated to the host PC. Further processing is run on the host. Our experimental system consists of an Annapolis Wildforce board with four Xilinx XC4000 chips and a PCI connection to a host PC. Our implementation allows the raw image data to stay local to the FPGAs, and only the class image is communicated to the host PC. The classified pixels are then used to generate tags which can be used for searching a digital library. This approach allows us to parallelize the image processing on the FPGA board, and to minimize the data handled by the PC. FPGA platforms are ideally suited for this sort of initial processing of images. The large amount of image data can be preprocessed by exploiting the inherent parallelism available in FPGA architectures, keeping unnecessary data off the host processor. The result of our algorithm is a reduction by up to a factor of six in the number of bits required to represent each pixel. The output data is passed to the host PC, thus reducing the processing and memory resources needed compared to handling the raw data on the PC. The process of generating tags of images is simplified by first classifying pixels on an FPGA-based system, and digital library search is accelerated.

Citation Download Citation

Miriam E. Leeser, Natalya V. Kitaryeva, and Jill D. Crisman "Spatial and color clustering on an FPGA-based computer system", Proc. SPIE 3526, Configurable Computing: Technology and Applications, (8 October 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.327039

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available