Improved sparse representation method for image classification

Among all image representation and classification methods, sparse representation has proven to be an extremely powerful tool. However, a limited number of training samples are an unavoidable problem for sparse representation methods. Many efforts have been devoted to improve the performance of sparse representation methods. In this study, the authors proposed a novel framework to improve the classification accuracy of sparse representation methods. They first introduced the concept of the approximations of all training samples (i.e., virtual training samples). The advantage of this is that the application of virtual training samples can allow noise in original training samples to be partially reduced. Then they proposed an efficient and competent objective function to disclose more discriminant information between different classes, which is very significant for obtaining a better classification result. The devised sparse representation method employs both the original and virtual training samples to improve the classification accuracy since the two kinds of training samples makes sample information to be fully exploited in a good way, also satisfactory robustness to be obtained. The experimental results on the JAFFE, ORL, Columbia Object Image Library (COIL‐100) AR and CMU PIE databases show that the proposed method outperforms the state‐of‐art image classification methods.