1. A system comprising: an imaging device configured to capture a subject image including agricultural produce, the subject image including red (R) image data and near-infrared (NIR) image data; and a processing device configured to specify a region in the subject image corresponding to the agricultural produce based on: (a) an index calculated from reflectance of R light and NIR light derived from the R image data and the NIR image data, and (b) a geometric pattern of the region extracted from at least the R image data.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the index calculated from the reflectance of R light and NIR light is a Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) , and the processing device is configured to specify a specific region as the region corresponding to the agricultural produce if the both of the following conditions are met: (a) the NDVI of the specific region exceeds a threshold value, and (b) the geometric pattern of the specific region matches a predetermined characteristic information of the agricultural produce.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device includes an image sensor, and the image sensor includes: red pixels which capture the R image data, and NIR pixels which capture the NIR image data.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device includes two image sensors disposed a predetermined distance from each other, and each of the two image sensors includes red pixels which capture the R image data.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the processing device is configured to obtain information of a size of the agricultural produce based on the subject image from at least one of the two image sensors.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the two image sensors are configured to capture a stereoscopic image of the agricultural produce.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processing device is configured to estimate a growth situation of the agricultural produce based on the R image data and the NIR image data.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processing device is implemented in a server, and the imaging device is configured to transmit the subject image to the processing device in the server over a network connection.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device and the processing device are configured to be locally coupled such that the processing device calculates the growth index without receiving the subject image over a network connection.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein the processing device is configured to estimate the growth situation to calculate a growth index.

11. The system according to claim 7, wherein the processing device is configured to estimate an amount of the agricultural produce to be harvested based on information derived from the estimated growth situation.

12. The system according to claim 7, wherein the processing device is configured to estimate a proper harvest timing based on the growth situation.

13. The system according to claim 7, wherein information of the growth situation includes a size of the agricultural produce.

14. The system according to claim 7, wherein the processing device is configured to generate a mapping data of an agricultural region based on information derived from the estimated growth situation.

15. A device comprising: an interface configured to receive a subject image including agricultural produce, the subject image including red (R) image data and near-infrared (NIR) image data; and a processing device configured to specify a region in the subject image corresponding to the agricultural produce, wherein the processing device is configured to specify the region corresponding to the agricultural produce based on: (a) an index calculated from reflectance of R light and NIR light derived from the R image data and the NIR image data, and (b) a geometric pattern of the region extracted from at least the R image data.

16. A method of producing agricultural products, comprising: growing agricultural produce, capturing, by an imaging device, a subject image including the agricultural produce, the subject image including red (R) image data and near-infrared (NIR) image data; specifying, by a processing device, a region in the subject image corresponding to the agricultural produce; monitoring a growth situation of the agricultural produce based on the R image data and the NIR image data; and harvesting the agricultural produce at a proper harvest timing.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising: estimating the proper harvest timing based on the growth situation.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein monitoring the growth situation includes calculating a growth index of the agricultural produce based on the R image data and the NIR image data.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein capturing the subject image includes capturing images of a same subject of the agricultural produce from different angles.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein estimating the proper harvest timing includes: estimating a first harvest timing of the agricultural produce in a first region of a farm based on the growth situation of the agricultural produce in the first region, and estimating a second harvest timing of the agricultural produce in a second region of a farm based on the growth situation of the agricultural produce in the second region, and wherein harvesting the agricultural produce includes harvesting the agricultural produce in the first region according to the estimated first harvest timing, and harvesting the agricultural produce in the second region according to the estimated second harvest timing. Dated this 18/09/2015 [JAYANTA PAL] IN/PA 172 OF REMFRY & SAGAR ATTORNEY FOR THE APPLICANT[S]

Description:As Enclosed , Claims:We Claim:

1. A system comprising:
an imaging device configured to capture a subject image including agricultural produce, the subject image including red (R) image data and near-infrared (NIR) image data; and
a processing device configured to specify a region in the subject image corresponding to the agricultural produce based on:
(a) an index calculated from reflectance of R light and NIR light derived from the R image data and the NIR image data, and
(b) a geometric pattern of the region extracted from at least the R image data.

2. The system according to claim 1,
wherein the index calculated from the reflectance of R light and NIR light is a Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) , and
the processing device is configured to specify a specific region as the region corresponding to the agricultural produce if the both of the following conditions are met:
(a) the NDVI of the specific region exceeds a threshold value, and
(b) the geometric pattern of the specific region matches a predetermined characteristic information of the agricultural produce.

3. The system according to claim 1,
wherein the imaging device includes an image sensor, and
the image sensor includes:
red pixels which capture the R image data, and
NIR pixels which capture the NIR image data.

4. The system according to claim 1,
wherein the imaging device includes two image sensors disposed a predetermined distance from each other, and
each of the two image sensors includes red pixels which capture the R image data.

5. The system according to claim 4,
wherein the processing device is configured to obtain information of a size of the agricultural produce based on the subject image from at least one of the two image sensors.

6. The system according to claim 5,
wherein the two image sensors are configured to capture a stereoscopic image of the agricultural produce.

7. The system according to claim 1,
wherein the processing device is configured to estimate a growth situation of the agricultural produce based on the R image data and the NIR image data.

8. The system according to claim 1,
wherein the processing device is implemented in a server,
and
the imaging device is configured to transmit the subject
image to the processing device in the server over a network connection.

9. The system according to claim 1,
wherein the imaging device and the processing device are configured to be locally coupled such that the processing device calculates the growth index without receiving the subject image over a network connection.

10. The system according to claim 7,
wherein the processing device is configured to estimate the growth situation to calculate a growth index.

11. The system according to claim 7,
wherein the processing device is configured to estimate
an amount of the agricultural produce to be harvested based on information derived from the estimated growth situation.

12. The system according to claim 7,
wherein the processing device is configured to estimate a proper harvest timing based on the growth situation.

13. The system according to claim 7,
wherein information of the growth situation includes a size of the agricultural produce.

14. The system according to claim 7,
wherein the processing device is configured to generate a mapping data of an agricultural region based on information derived from the estimated growth situation.

15. A device comprising:
an interface configured to receive a subject image including agricultural produce, the subject image including red (R) image data and near-infrared (NIR) image data; and
a processing device configured to specify a region in the subject image corresponding to the agricultural produce,
wherein the processing device is configured to specify the region corresponding to the agricultural produce based on:
(a) an index calculated from reflectance of R light and NIR light derived from the R image data and the NIR image data, and
(b) a geometric pattern of the region extracted from at least the R image data.

16. A method of producing agricultural products, comprising:
growing agricultural produce,
capturing, by an imaging device, a subject image including the agricultural produce, the subject image including red (R) image data and near-infrared (NIR) image data;
specifying, by a processing device, a region in the subject image corresponding to the agricultural produce;
monitoring a growth situation of the agricultural produce based on the R image data and the NIR image data; and
harvesting the agricultural produce at a proper harvest timing.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:
estimating the proper harvest timing based on the growth situation.

18. The method according to claim 16,
wherein monitoring the growth situation includes calculating a growth index of the agricultural produce based on the R image data and the NIR image data.

19. The method according to claim 16,
wherein capturing the subject image includes capturing images of a same subject of the agricultural produce from different angles.

20. The method according to claim 17,
wherein estimating the proper harvest timing includes:
estimating a first harvest timing of the agricultural produce in a first region of a farm based on the growth situation of the agricultural produce in the first region,
and
estimating a second harvest timing of the agricultural produce in a second region of a farm based on the growth situation of the agricultural produce in the second region,
and
wherein harvesting the agricultural produce includes harvesting the agricultural produce in the first region according to the estimated first harvest timing, and
harvesting the agricultural produce in the second region according to the estimated second harvest timing.

Dated this 18/09/2015

[JAYANTA PAL]
IN/PA 172
OF REMFRY & SAGAR
ATTORNEY FOR THE APPLICANT[S]