The bounded variation quantity (B.V.Q.) and its application to feature extraction

The concept of bounded variation quantity (B.V.Q.) is proposed as a local feature of patterns, especially waveform patterns and picture patterns. It is closely connected with the mathematically complicated concepts of total variation and distribution, but the result is shown by a simplified form (i.e. a summation of absolute differences) for concrete calculations. Its availability is also demonstrated through several applications such as seismic-wave analysis, the estimation of standard deviation in an independent Gaussian process and a method of detecting the directionality of picture patterns.