Embodiments of the present invention relate to an encoding method, an image encoder and image transmission system. The encoding method includes: processing raw image data to obtain at least two channels of different output images; and performing multi-stream encoding on the at least two channels of output images, to form at least two corresponding channels of encoded data to support at least two types of service requirements. A multi-stream encoding manner is used in the encoding method, to adopt different encoding strategies for different service requirements thereby implementing services smoother while meeting the different service requirements.

An image inspection apparatus includes an illuminating section for irradiating illumination light, a line camera in which a plurality of imaging elements are arrayed to be linearly arranged, the line camera receiving the light irradiated from the illuminating section and reflected on the inspection target object, a display section for displaying an image captured by the line camera, an optical axis adjusting section for adjusting an optical axis of the line camera, a trigger setting section for specifying a trigger that specifies timing when the inspection target object is imaged by the line camera, an aspect ratio adjusting section for adjusting longitudinal and lateral pixel resolutions of the image captured by the line camera, and a display control section for displaying the optical axis adjusting section, the trigger setting section, and the aspect ratio adjusting section on the display section in order.

Methods and apparatus to count people are disclosed. Example people counting apparatus disclosed herein include a difference calculator to calculate a degree of similarity between a first characteristic dataset and a second characteristic dataset representative of face detections in images. Disclosed example people counting apparatus also include a limiter to store the first characteristic dataset and the second characteristic dataset in a plurality of characteristic datasets associated when the degree of similarity does not satisfy a threshold, and to store the first characteristic dataset in the plurality of characteristic datasets and discard the second characteristic dataset when the degree of similarity satisfies the threshold to limit a number of stored characteristic datasets. Disclosed example people counting apparatus further include a comparator to compare the plurality of characteristic datasets to each other to determine a number of unique faces in an environment during a first period of time.

Methods and apparatus to count people are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a populator to populate a list with first characteristic datasets obtained from first image data representative of an environment during a first period of time, respective ones of the first characteristic datasets representative of a face detected in the environment during the first period of time; a comparator to compare the first characteristic datasets to each other to determine a first number of unique faces in the environment during the first period of time; and a discarder to delete the first characteristic datasets from the list when the first period of time has ended, the populator to re-populate the list with second characteristic datasets obtained from second image data representative of the environment during a second period of time subsequent to the first period of time.