Fuzzy relaxation labeling reconsidered

Relaxation labeling is an iterative scheme for parallel information fusion forcing neighborhood constraint satisfaction. Rosenfeld et al. (1976) discussed various models for relaxation labeling: discrete, probabilistic, nonlinear probabilistic and fuzzy. Since then many new relaxation labeling schemes have been proposed only a few of which are incorporating methodologies from fuzzy set theory. It is shown that this is partly due to the traditional, but questionable classification of relaxation labeling schemes. A new classification is introduced which clarifies the role of fuzzy relaxation labeling. The new classification scheme is complemented by the introduction of a whole range of new fuzzy relaxation operators.