Top-down image segmentation using object detection and contour relaxation

A novel segmentation technique that starts with the whole image being a single region is presented. First, an object detection scheme, which marks those locations where local statistics deviate significantly from the overall statistics, provides location and approximate shapes of the major objects (regions) in the scene. Exact boundaries are subsequently obtained by a contour relaxation algorithm, which includes a general model for typical region shapes. Object detection and contour relaxation are repeated recursively until a stable segmentation result is achieved. Segmentation results are presented