Multi-agent Approach for Image Processing: A Case Study for MRI Human Brain Scans Interpretation

Abstract

Abstract. Image interpretation consists in finding a correspondence between radiometric information and symbolic labelling with respect to specific spatial constraints. To cope with the difficulty of image interpretation, several information processing steps are required to gradually extract information from the image grey levels and to introduce symbolic information. In this paper, we evaluate the use of situated cooperative agents as a framework for managing such steps. Dedicated agent behaviours are dynamically adapted function of their position in the image, topographic relationships and radiometric information available. Acquired knowledge is diffused to acquaintance and incremental refinement of interpretation is obtained through focalisation and coordination of agents tasks. Based on several experiments on real images we demonstrate the potential interest of multi-agents for MRI brain scans interpretation.

Thirty years of artificial intelligence in medicine (AIME) conferences: A review of research themes

“…An interesting line of work involving distributed and cooperative approaches to image segmentation and interpretation was presented over the years by the research group of C. Garbay [99,[137][138][139][140][141]. Their multi-agent approach was later also integrated with classical methods for image segmentation which are based on Markov random fields [142].…”

Chaotic multiagent system approach for MRF-based image segmentation

“…Also, Richard et al [21] have presented a MAS application for image processing concerning the high level vision task which is Magnetic Resonance Imaging brain scans interpretation.…”

Fuzzy Distributed Genetic Approaches for Image Segmentation

“…A MAS is a system composed of several software agents, collectively capable of reaching goals that are difficult to achieve by an individual agent or monolithic system. More details about MASs can be found in references [32,33,11,31].…”