An image processing system and method for identifying content within image data

AN IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING CONTENT WITHIN An image processing system for identifying content within image data. The image processing system comprises a processor that is arranged to: arrange image data in a Markov random field (MRF); and calculate state upper bound values of pairs of variables in the image data that are associated with an edge. The calculation of the state upper bound values is performed by the processor assigning the maximum state values of all of the states of a first variable of the pair of variables to the states of a second variable of the pair of variables, identifying the first and second variables from the pair of variables based on a number of states within each of the first and second variables, and determining a single state solution for identifying content in the image data based on the calculation of the state upper bound values. Retrieve 701 image data Split data 703 into two sets Process set A to 705 obtain U(setA) Process set B to 707 obtain U(setB) Determine the set with largest upper 709 bound among all current sets Output NO Are there >1 state state solutions in the 713 solution determined set? Split state solutions 715 in the determined set into new set A and new set B Fig. 7A