Abstract: A scanning system routes scanned document information (110) to a specified location (120) based on scanned control sheet information (108). Each location (120) is associated with an existing identifier (118). Scanned control sheet information (108) is retrieved by the scanning system from graphical information displayed on a control sheet (102). The system compares a tentative identifier (124) obtained from the scanned control sheet information (108) to existing identifiers (118) to determine a location (120) to which scanned document information (110) should be routed.

Abstract: A scanning system routes scanned document information (110) to a specified location (120) based on scanned control sheet information (108). Each location (120) is associated with an existing identifier (118). Scanned control sheet information (108) is retrieved by the scanning system from graphical information displayed on a control sheet (102). The system compares a tentative identifier (124) obtained from the scanned control sheet information (108) to existing identifiers (118) to determine a location (120) to which scanned document information (110) should be routed.

Abstract: Disclosure document (101) is a classified communication document (102) or a non-communication document (104) by extracting (300) image information from a digitized image produced by a scanner (106). The image information is typically extracted after first applying a thresholding module (204) on the digitized image, and then applying a connected component processor (208) to the resulting binarized image. The character image information is compared (304) to stored image information. The stored image information may include criteria such as height, location, and density of the connected components within the image. Depending upon the results of the comparison, the document (101) is then classified (308) as either a communication document (102) or a non-communication document (104). If the document (101) is classified as a communication document (102), the subsequent pages are stored in the same file location as the recognized communication document (102).

Abstract: A lens system (100) and image plane (104) are used to capture a number of sample images (400) of a three dimensional scene, each sample image (400) corresponding to a different object distance (106). The in-focus portions of each of the sample images (400) are then merged into a composite image (620) which appears to have a depth of field greater than any of the sample images (400). In one embodiment, the lens system (100) is movably attached to a camera housing (302) such that a motor (304) can move the lens system (100) in the direction of the central axis of the lens system (100). A two dimensional array (300) of photo-sensors is mounted in the camera along the central axis of the lens system (100). As the lens system (100) is traversed along the central axis, points at various distances in front of the lens system (100) pass in and out of focus on the array (300) of photo-sensors.

Abstract: A stereographic image compressor (100) includes an Image Size and Position Unit (ISPU) (101) that resizes and repositions a pair of images which are indicative, respectively, of first and second fields of view (111, 114) of an image (104) and which are generated by a pair of image sensor arrays (106, 108). The ISPU (101) causes both images to have a same size and position. The ISPU (101) generates a first modified image signal (103) and a second modified image signal (105) indicative of such resized and repositioned images. A function processing unit (118) generates a difference signal (120) indicative of differences between the first modified image signal (103) and the second modified image signal (105) The difference signal (120) is compressed by a lossy compressor (122) for storage on a storage device (102). The first modified image signal (103) is also compressed by a lossy compressor (124) for storage on the storage device (102).

Abstract: A sample image (142) is recognized by normalizing (404) the size of a sample image (142) to the size of a referent images (146); and determining (406) a set of candidate images (147) from a set of referent images (146), wherein each of the candidate images (147) is within an acceptable distance from a different binarization (145) of the sample image (142). A system (120) for image recognition includes a scanning device (126), a normalization unit (134), a distance calculation unit (136), a classification unit (138), a disambiguation unit (140), and a display device (128).

Abstract: System and method for archiving and retrieving documents based on attributes of the document. The attributes are located by a processor that searches the document for a predefined set of attributes. The attributes may be particular words, word locations, font sizes, or other properties that can be located by a computer processor. The values associated with the attributes are stored in an index along with the document location. An attribute search may be performed on the index enabling quick location of documents with similar attributes to the search. A file provided the list of documents in order of similarity is provided as a result of the search. The system and method may further be used to retrieve similar documents by locating documents with similar attribute values to a provided document creating a file linked to the similar documents.

Abstract: A printed or handwritten character image is recognized by training (301) a plurality of lookup tables with a set of known referent characters; obtaining (302) a bitmap of a character image to be recognized; mapping (303) the bitmap onto a standardized character matrix; partitioning (304) the matrix into a plurality of sub-matrices; (305) determining a set of candidates for each sub-matrix; and selecting (306) a preferred candidate from among the set of candidates responsive to at least one pre-defined selection criterion. The invention is implemented by means of a scanner (102), a character mapper (104), a matrix partitioner (106), a candidate set builder (108), and a character selector (110).

Abstract: Compensation data 10 distilled from image sample population volume 12 compensates pixel records 25R and 25L of related images 26R and 26L. Each pixel address stores a parameter code defining a parameter level for that pixel along a code scale of levels of a parameter such as greyscale common to both related images. The pixel records are enhanced through compensation of these parameter codes to provide enhanced disparity information. Pixel pairer 28P establishes a set of pixel pairs from the related pixel records in image correspondence. Sample generator 28G determines discrepancy between the code levels of each pixel pair to provide image population 12 of code discrepancy samples between the pixel records. Each pixel pair established from the two pixel records yields a difference sample in the image population. Profile extractor 28E extracts population profiles 12E of code discrepancy samples from image population 12. Each population profile is a vertical slice (see FIG.

Abstract: A stereographic image compressor (100) includes a function processing unit (118) that generates a difference signal (120) indicative of differences between a first image signal (110) and a second image signal (112) which are indicative, respectively, of first and second fields of view (111, 114) of an image (104). The difference signal (120) is compressed by a lossy compressor (122) for storage on a storage device (102). The first image signal (110) is also compressed by a lossy compressor (124) for storage on the storage device (102). The image signals (110 and 112) are time synchronized by an image data synchronizer (116). The function processing unit (118) generates difference signal (120) by way of one of a plurality of mathematical operations.

Abstract: A set of stereoscopic images (300) is compressed. For apparent points (404) in the set of stereoscopic images (300), a region (502) is identified in each image (300) which represents at least the apparent point (404). The locations of these regions (502) within the images (300), together with the geometry of the vantage point (306) locations, specify the apparent depths (416) of the apparent points (404) in the scene. Information relating to the apparent depths (416) is recorded for the apparent points (404). This recorded depth information, together with just one of the stereoscopic images (300), can be used to later reconstruct the other stereoscopic image (300) for stereoscopic viewing. The set of stereoscopic images (300) can be still images or moving images, and they can be captured digitally, scanned from photographs, or computer-generated.

Abstract: The apparent depth (416) of an apparent point (404) in a set of stereoscopic images (300) is altered by moving a region (502) in at least one image (300) which corresponds to the apparent point (404). The location of the regions (502) within each image (300) representing the apparent point (404), together with the geometry of the vantage point (306) locations, specifies the depth (316) of an actual point (304) in a scene. The region (502) corresponding to the apparent point (404) in one of the images (300) is then moved to another location in the image (300), in order to produce another set of images (300) in which the apparent depth (416) of the apparent point (404) has been altered. In other embodiments, portions of both images (300) are moved, to place the apparent point (404) at a desired location both in terms of apparent depth (416) and apparent epipolar location (314).

Abstract: The correct orientation for a document scanned by an OCR system is determined from the confidence factors associated with multiple character images identified in the document. One disclosed orientation determination module (258) for determining the correct page orientation includes a confidence factor values buffer (402), a comparison module (404), a reference value buffer (406), a sort module (408), and a decision module (410). The orientation determination module (258) obtains arrays of confidence factor values that respectively correspond to first and second page orientations. The confidence factor values buffer (402) stores and indexes the confidence factor values, the sort module (408) sorts the values, and the reference value buffer (406) stores comparison information such as threshold levels.

Abstract: Two data sets are analyzed to determine disparity between them at various interrogation regions (302) of the data sets. The data sets can represent, for example, digital images, acoustical signals, or electrical signals. The size of interrogation regions (302) used for disparity analysis is varied dynamically. An initial interrogation region (302) from a reference data set is compared to several candidate regions (304) from a target data set. If none of the comparisons indicate a required level of similarity, the process is repeated with a larger interrogation region (302). This process of successively using larger interrogation regions (302) continues until either a maximum interrogation region (302) size is reached, or the required level of similarity is indicated in one of the comparisons.

Abstract: Detailed depth information in a three dimensional scene is recorded by a camera with a single lens system (100). In one embodiment, a lens (100) is movably attached to a camera housing (302) such that a motor (304) can move the lens (100) in the direction of the central axis of the lens (100). A two dimensional array (300) of photo-sensors is mounted in the camera along the central axis of the lens (100). As the lens system (100) is traversed along the central axis, objects at various distances (106) in front of the lens system (100) pass in and out of focus on the array (300) of photo-sensors. For a lens system (100) with a known focal length, the distance (108) between the lens system (100) and the array (300) when an object (102) comes into focus on the array (300) indicates the distance (106) between the lens system (100) and the object (102).

Abstract: A stereographic image compressor (100) includes an Image Size and Position Unit (ISPU) (101) that resizes and repositions a pair of images which are indicative, respectively, of first and second fields of view (111,114) of an image (104) and which are generated by a pair of image sensor arrays (106,108). The ISPU (101) causes both images to have a same size and position. The ISPU (101) generates a first modified image signal (103) and a second modified image signal (105) indicative of such resized and repositioned images. A function processing unit (118) generates a difference signal (120) indicative of differences between the first modified image signal (103) and the second modified image signal (105). The difference signal (120) is compressed by a lossy compressor (122) for storage on a storage device (102). The first modified image signal (103) is also compressed by a lossy compressor (124) for storage on the storage device (102).

Abstract: Task order system 10 processes task orders through processing conditions, and dispatches the task orders concerning user record documents throughout user network 10N. Task order 10T is carried on an input medium suitable for scanning such as ordinary paper, and specifies both the dispatch task and the record document The task order contains process codes 10P and dispatch images 10D. Scanner 10S receives the input medium and scans the task order thereon to obtain pixel images of the process codes and dispatch images. Process code detector 12D detects the process codes which initiate the processing of the task order. Dispatch decoder 14D receives the pixel images from the scanner for decoding the dispatch images to provide dispatch codes. Dispatcher 16D is responsive to the dispatch codes for dispatching the task order throughout the user network.

Abstract: An input carrier sheet 12C for document distribution system 10 carries input symbols hand entered by the user into pre-existing constraint grids 12. The constraint grids may be printed in continuous tone or halftone. The print only partially covers the underlying carrier, permitting the exposed carrier to reflect light. The grids have sufficient pigment to be visible to the user, but insufficient pigment to form foreground pixels along with the hand-entered stroke when detected during the scanning. The signal (symbol)-to-noise (carrier) ratio is enhanced by reducing the pigment content of the constraint grids which increases the reflectivity of the grids. The S/N may be further enhanced by placing the strokes of the hand-entered symbols on top of the grid which occults some of the grid pigment. The S/N is further enhanced by highly reflective brightening agents in the grid print, and by aperture effect during scanning.

Abstract: A personal imaging computer system, which is connectable to and operable with a computerized local or wide area network, identifies characters in a document on which the characters are formed. The system scans the document to obtain a gray-scale image of the document, generates a binary image from the gray-scale image by comparing the gray-scale image with the threshold, segments the binary image to locate individual characters within the binary image and to determine the shape of the individual characters, extracts gray-scale image information from the gray-scale image for each such individual character based on the location and shape of the character in the binary image, recognition-processes the extracted gray scale image information to determine the identity of the character, and stores the identity of the character. The character identities are stored in a character file in association with the image so as to facilitate image retrieval with a text-based search over many such character files.

Abstract: General apparatus 10 for carrying out non-linear aggregation compression and storage of pixel data is presented. Scanner device 10S receives record documents 10R containing record images 10D for providing analog data 10A. Analog-to-digital converter 12A digitizes the amplitudes of the analog data to provide digital data stream 12D. Mapping device 14 defines a non-linear series of aggregation segments (A, B, C . . . X, Y, and Z) along the scale of intensity which are aggregated to an aggregation level (a, b, c, . . . x, y, or z) within each segment. The basic steps of the general method are: Retrieving pixel image data from a data source to form data stream 12D; Defining a non-linear series of aggregation segments; Determining an aggregation level within each aggregation segment; Aggregating the intensity scale levels within each aggregation segment; Compressing the aggregated pixel data; and Storing the non-linearly aggregated pixel data in a memory device.