Abstract: A method and system implements a high addressability characteristic into an error diffusion process. A histogram of the image is generated and the actual background and black reference values are determined. A gray level value representing a pixel is received. The gray level value has a first resolution which corresponds to an original input resolution. The gray level value is interpolated to generate subpixel gray level values which correspond to a second resolution. The second resolution is higher than the first resolution and corresponds to the high addressability characteristic. A threshold circuit thresholds the interpolated gray level value and generates an error value as a result of the threshold using the determined background and black reference values. The error value has a resolution corresponding to the first resolution. A portion of the error value is diffused to adjacent pixels on a next scanline.

Abstract: The image compression and expansion device comprises a recording medium, in which compressed image data, which are obtained by applying an Hadamard's transformation, a quantization and an encoding to original image data, and a quantization table are recorded. The compressed image data are decoded by a decoding unit. The decoded image data are dequantized by the quantization table. The dequantized image data are converted to corrected dequantized image data, which are then subjected to an inverse Hadamard's transformation, so that reproduced image data are generated. The quantization table is composed of quantization coefficients, each of which is to the power of 2.

Abstract: Recently, a number of reversible wavelet transforms have been identified which allow for exact reconstruction in integer arithmetic. Different transforms vary in how rounding is performed. The present invention provides a transform, which is linear except for the rounding with non-linear operations in order to create a reversible implementation. Also, the present invention also provides transforms which are decomposed into all FIR parts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for color calibrating an imager device is disclosed. The imager device is subjected to a plurality of light sources. Color channel responses are obtained from the imager device and the color calibrating coefficients are determined.

Abstract: Color printing systems frequently use multiresolution analysis, which creates intermediate lower resolution images, in applications such as descreening and filtering. The typical steps are to decompose the original image into sub bands, apply the application to one or more sub bands and then recompose the image, prior to color correction and color space transformation. This disclosure describes applying the color correction to one of the lower resolution sub bands and a simpler color space transformation to the final image as a way to reduce the amount of computation. The described multiresolution analysis is a wavelet transform.

Abstract: A texture-based text localization system proceeds directly in the compressed domain for DCT compressed JPEG images or MPEG videos. The DCT coefficient values in JPEG images and MPEG videos, which capture the directionality and periodicity of local image blocks, are used as texture feature measures to classify text areas. Each unit block in the compressed images is classified as either text or nontext. In addition, post-processing in both the compressed domain and the reconstructed candidate text areas can be used to refine the results. For video frames that contain text, the displacement of text between two consecutive frames is estimated which gives the velocity of the moving text. This temporal displacement information is also used to further refine the localization results. The text is then processed to provide content or speech output.

Abstract: A decoder for converting packet data into raster data is provided. The packet data includes data about a picture-compressed video signal and data about a picture format including a picture rate. The decoder comprising a first processing means, second processing means and a storage means. The first processing means converts the packet data into intermediate data such that picture compression is eliminated from the picture-compressed video signal and outputs the intermediate data. The second processing means receives the intermediate data from the first processing means and processes the intermediate data to output raster data for one frame at a frame frequency. The storage means stores the intermediate data for processing the intermediate data in the second processing means. The second processing means writes the intermediate data into the storage means at a frequency related to the picture rate and reads the raster data for one frame from the storage means at the frequency equal to the frame frequency.

Abstract: A computerized methodology for reducing swath scanner swath boundary discontinuities is provided by using a predetermined overlap of pixel rows during each sequential scan. Pixel data from a first scan of the overlapped pixel rows is compared to the pixel data from a second scan of the overlapped pixel rows, identical pixels of the overlapped pixel rows ideally having the same representative scan data. Errors are compensated by weighting representative scan data for each pixel row, linearly decreasing the weighting in proportion to the proximity to the swath boundary. In one embodiment, the weighting factor is an increase or decrease in the first scan data relative to the percent change in white level intensity captured in the second scan of the overlapped pixel rows.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, system, and program for converting an externally defined four dimensional colorant, e.g., CMYK, to an equivalent four dimensional colorant, e.g., C'M'Y'K, having components of a printer. A measurement is made of first color values, e.g., L.sup.* a.sup.* b, of a first set of patches having predetermined combinations of varying percentages of three primary colors, e.g., CMY, printed by the printer. Each combination of known CMY values are correlated with corresponding color values, e.g., L.sup.* a.sup.* b, as input to a first inversion program for determining CMY values for any given color value (L.sup.* a.sup.* b). A measurement is also made of second color values, e.g., L.sup.* a.sup.* b, of a second set of patches having predetermined varying percentages of a fourth colorant (K) printed by the printer. The first inversion program is used to determine CMY values corresponding to the color values, L.sup.* a.sup.* b, for the varying percentages of the fourth colorant (D).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for compressing and decompressing multiple data sets (e.g., multiple color planes in a color image) in which interdependencies between the data sets, as well as spacial correlation within each data set, are used to create a plurality of compressed output data sets wherein one of the compressed output data sets includes data relating to all of the original uncompressed data sets and wherein each of the remaining output data sets includes data relating only to a particular one of the original uncompressed data sets. Advantageously, the disclosed techniques provide compression ratios approaching those of known vector compression algorithms while simultaneously providing decompression memory usage characteristics analogous to those found in planar compression systems. Thus, exemplary embodiments of the invention simultaneously provide relatively low peak and average memory requirements, corresponding to relatively low memory cost and relatively high data throughput, respectively.

Abstract: Detection of a watermark in blocks of video or image data which has been subjected to affine geometric distortion is accomplished by approximating the distortion by a spatially varying translation of the blocks. The watermark is extracted by spatial translations of the blocks based on an assumed affine geometric distortion. The extracted watermarks are correlated with possible watermarks and the maximum correlator output is tested for statistical significance in order to determine whether a watermark is present in the image or video frame. The data may be compressed or uncompressed data. If the affine geometric distortion is known, a search for the maximum correlator output over a space of possible distortions can be performed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the analysis and correction of colour casts in a digitally represented image. According to a preferred embodiment, the crominance contents of the image may be transformed by use of a Hough-transformation or the like transformation, wherein the line structures in the carthesic system of co-ordinates for the crominance content is transformed to a representation in a Hough-diagram in the form of a polar system of co-ordinates, since such line structure is hereby transformed into a point structure. The Hough-diagram is examined with a view to finding a cell in the diagram which has the highest value and the cell found is saved. subsequently cells are neutralized in the Hough-diagram within a predetermined angular distance, and the Hough-diagram is re-examined with a view to finding that diagram cell which, following neutralization, has the highest value.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for the color correction of digital images that have been compressed. In a preferred embodiment, aspects of the color correction are carried out on the compressed image data to improve computational efficiency. One of a number of alternative methods is employed to accomplish the color correction on lossy or losslessly compressed images. The color transformation process accomplishes color correction on compressed image data in conjunction with compression or decompression operations. A second, simplified phase of the color correction may be applied subsequently to the decompressed image data in certain embodiments.

Abstract: A printer managing apparatus includes a physical printer managing unit for managing the outputting of the attribute information of individual physical printers and controlling the outputting of a job to the physical printers, a logical printer attribute information generating unit for logically selecting the attribute information of the physical printer from the physical printer managing unit for managing attribute information of physical printers to generate attribute information of a logical printer, and a logical-printer attribute-information managing unit for managing the generated attribute information of the logical printers. With such an arrangement, the attribute information set in the logical printer is obtained from the attribute information of the individual physical printers that form the logical printer. Therefore, the attribute information of the logical printer may more properly be set than by a manager.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to easily and firmly read an image and to reduce power consumption. An image reading and displaying apparatus comprises a scanner for reading an image of a document arranged on the side of a read face where photocells are arranged in a matrix form, to output image information, a RAM for storing the image information from the scanner and a display device of a light transmitting type such including a display face for displaying the image information stored in RAM, the display device being such arranged that a back face of the display face contacts with a back face of the read face. Since the back face of the display face is arranged so as to contact the back face of the read face, an operator can confirm the image to be read, whereby the image can be read with certainty.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an input unit for inputting image data having undergone orthogonal transformation, a generation unit for generating interframe difference image data, of adjacent frames with respect to the image data input by the input unit, using orthogonal transform coefficients, and an encoding unit for encoding the image data output from the generation unit. An image processing apparatus includes an input unit for inputting encoded data obtained by performing block encoding of interframe difference data using orthogonal transformation, a decoding unit for decoding the encoded data input by the input unit into orthogonal transform coefficient difference data, and an addition unit for adding the orthogonal transform coefficient data of a block different from a processed block to the difference data decoded by the decoding unit.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a scanner mechanism for fetching an image, a function of preparing a density histogram on the basis of the fetched image, a decision function of deciding a sort of the fetched image corresponding to a histogram distribution of a background area when the density histogram is divided into the background area and a character area having an image density higher than the background area, and a first image density frequency having a maximum frequency within a range of the background area, and a circuit for correcting a gradation of the fetched image, in accordance with a decision result of the decision function.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a video system such as a video game system through recognition of a visual pattern, or key. For example, the presence and identity of the key may enable and select certain features of the video system. The key may suitably consist of a locator mark and a selector mark, the presence of the locator mark identifying the presence of a key, and the selector mark identifying the particular key present. A key recognition system detects the presence of the locator mark and identifies the selector mark. The locator mark is preferably of a distinctive color, readily distinguishable from background objects. The selector mark may be chosen from a limited set of colors, and the color of the selector mark may then be identified to identify the key being used. In another aspect, the locator mark is located in a particular position within the selector mark and is then used by the key detector to scale a rectangle about the selector mark.

Abstract: In an image enhancement method and circuit, a luminance signal is extracted from input color signals. Histogram equalization is performed using a cumulative density function of the extracted luminance signal which is input in a screen unit. A transform function is controlled to map a mean level of the extracted luminance signal to itself, so that an adjusted luminance signal is output. The color signals are varied according to the variation of the luminance signals to output compensated color signals. Thus, image contrast is enhanced, and an undistorted color signal is provided at the same time. In order to reduce the hardware of the circuit, an interpolated cumulative density function is obtained by interpolating a quantized cumulative density function of an input luminance image and is used as a transform function. The transform function is controlled to map a mean level of the input luminance image to itself.

Abstract: An image compression system having: an image data supply unit for supplying image data divided into a block unit; a DCT unit for discrete-cosine-transforming the image data in the block unit supplied from the image data supply unit to generate DCT coefficients in the block unit; a coded data generating unit for successively generating coded data of the DCT coefficients at first and second compression factors each time the DCT coefficients of one block are generated by the DCT unit; a counter unit for accumulating the amount of coded data generated at each of the first and second compression factors by the coded data generating unit; and a compression factor estimating unit for estimating a compression factor suitable for generating coded data of a target amount, in accordance with the amounts of coded data accumulated at the first and second compression factors by the counter unit.