Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a print data receiving unit that receives print data designating black as a color material for printing a code information portion; a discriminating unit that discriminates as to whether or not black as a color material is in a usable state; a print data generation unit that generates, when the discriminating unit discriminates that the color material of black is not the usable state, the print data that changes a designation of the color material of black as to the code information portion of the print data received by the print data receiving portion into a designation of other color material enabling the code information to be read by a code information reading apparatus; and an image forming unit that forms an image by the print data thus changed by the print data generation unit.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are related to systems and methods for connected-component labeling.

Abstract: A method for decomposition and rendering of video content and user interface for operating the method thereof is disclosed. First, a plurality of target shots are recognized from a video, the video is decomposed into a plurality of video units based on the playtime of each target shot. Then, the video frame of target shot is decomposed into a background scene and at least one foreground object. The editing process is performed on the background to generate the plentiful visual effect. The video content of each video unit is known by analyzing the information of the foreground object, and therefore each video unit can be annotated. Furthermore, the user interface reintegrates the foreground object in the background scene and generates the customized video content according to users' request, so that viewers may get more enjoyment on game watching.

Abstract: A method for characterizing an arrangement of template regions includes identifying a first bounding box that includes one or more template regions, identifying a second bounding box of one or more template regions that are not in the first bounding box, organizing the first and second bounding boxes into a new bounding box, and designating the new bounding box as the characterized arrangement of template regions.

Abstract: Methods and systems for segmenting printed media pages into individual articles quickly and efficiently. A printed media based image that may include a variety of columns, headlines, images, and text is input into the system which comprises a block segmenter and a article segmenter system. The block segmenter identifies and produces blocks of textual content from a printed media image while the article segmenter system determines which blocks of textual content belong to one or more articles in the printed media image based on a classifier algorithm. A method for segmenting printed media pages into individual articles is also presented.

Abstract: A method for associating text with image data of documents is herein described. The method includes receiving image data of a document with manually marked text and recognizing the manually marked text. The image data is then annotated (e.g., tagged) using the manually marked text and the image data of the document is stored. When manually marked text is recognized, recognized text may be generated for annotating the image data of the document and used to populate a field associated with the image data. The field may be a name of the document or a subject line of an e-mail message, for example. A method including identifying the location of manually marked text in a first scanned document to automatically identify and annotate text in a corresponding location in a second scanned document is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention deters information leakage by a flexible monitoring method according to the characteristic of an image or document. A job analysis section analyzes a print job and separates image data and attribute information. An image generator generates print image data from the image data by referring to the attribute information. A digital watermark generator and synthesis section embed at least part of the attribute information in the print image data. An image transmitter transmits, to a monitoring server, the print image data with at least part of the attribute information added. A monitoring method selector selectively operates the image transmitter or the digital watermark generator and synthesis section based on the attribute information.

Abstract: Based on average values for respective color components calculated by an average value calculating section, a histogram generating section obtains, for respective pixels of interest, a maximum value of the average values among the color components and a maximum difference in the average values among the color components, and generates histograms respectively for the maximum value and the maximum difference in which histograms a number of pixels for a density bin is considered as a frequency-of-occurrence value. A determination section obtains a number of density bin having a predetermined frequency-of-occurrence value or more for each of the histograms for the maximum value and the maximum difference, and determines that the data of image is of a blank page image when both of the numbers of density bins are not greater than a bin threshold value which is set according to scanning modes or printing modes.

Abstract: A document processing method comprises adding document markers to predetermined locations of an electronically stored document. These are printed with the document. The document is scanned and the scanned document markers are used to process the scanned image. This processing comprises at least pixel threshold setting, and determination of the locations of the scanned image which are to be processed to derive the pixels of a digital version of the document. This enables local deformations in the paper document to be corrected, and enables correct thresholds for the printing and scanning operations to be applied. The electronically stored document can be processed to derive a set of document properties which can be used when constructing the digital version.

Abstract: A system for extracting data from a document may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The processor may identify one or more landmarks based on predefined characteristics that are associated with known landmarks. After one or more landmarks are defined, business rules may indicate one or more areas that may contain data to be extracted. The business rules may also indicate the type of data in the area and processing methods that may be used to extract the data. After determining the business rules, the processor may determine whether the data is in the area and/or extract the data.

Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, an apparatus for analyzing and determining correlation of information contained in a given form containing blocks, at least one of the blocks containing data indicative of a header, the rest of the blocks containing data in association with header information, comprising: a memory for storing templates having nodes, character data associated with said nodes respectively, and relative position information between said nodes; and a processor for analyzing and determining correlation of the information according to a process comprising: obtaining data contained in said blocks in the given form, determining relative position of said blocks to produce relative position information, analyzing the data obtained from the blocks and the relative position information of the blocks in comparison with the character data and the relative position information of said nodes of said templates, and determining correlation of the data contained in said blocks.

Abstract: The present invention improves processing speed of search processing of objects. To achieve this, in an image processing apparatus capable of extracting an object contained in input data, and of storing data about the object in a storage device, there are provided a detecting section for detecting a relationship of one or more objects; a section for generating object related information for relating the one or more objects which have a relationship and are detected by the detecting section; a selecting section for selecting a single search type from a plurality of search types; a searching section for searching for the object data stored in the storage device and the object related information in accordance with the search type selected by the selecting section; and a display section for displaying the one or more objects searched in accordance with the object relating information searched by the searching section.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention discloses, a method for processing a document image. The method comprises segmenting the document image into a picture component and a non-picture component; compressing the non-picture component; and saving the uncompressed picture component and the compressed non-picture component in memory so that the document image may be recomposed to form a recomposed image based on the uncompressed picture component and the compressed non-picture component.

Abstract: Systems and methods analyze the physical structure of text rows in a document image, including the positions of one or more alignments of one or more character blocks in one or more text rows of the document image. The systems and methods determine one or more groups of text rows that are placed into a class based on the structures of the text rows, such as the positions of the one or more alignments of the one or more character blocks in each text row. A pattern matching system then determines if one or more classes should be further combined into a combined class.

Abstract: An image processing device, which includes: an original reception unit that receives an original image; a dot image generation unit that generates, on the basis of additive information to be added to the original image, a dot image in which a plurality of dots each formed by one or more pixels are arranged; a state alteration unit that, when any of the dots in the dot image is determined to be not extractable, alters a state of the non-extractable dot on the basis of a relationship between a position on the dot image generated by the dot image generation unit and a corresponding position on the original image; and a composite image generation unit that generates a composite image by superimposing, on the original image, the dot image having the state of the non-extractable dot altered by the state alteration unit.

Abstract: A method for changing the depth at which an image is focused is provided in a portable imaging device that includes an image recording arrangement that has a lens system, an image sensor for recording images, and a display arrangement for presentation of the recorded images. The method includes moving a movable focusing frame covering a part of a recorded image presented on the display to identify an area of interest in the presented image. The method also includes analyzing the image within the frame to obtain a setting required to focus the image within the frame and applying the obtained setting to the full presented image to focus the presented image at the depth defined by the current position of the movable focusing frame.

Abstract: A document processing apparatus includes a marking detection part that detects a marking written on the form from data read by a first reading part, an attribute name extraction part that extracts a character string described beforehand within or near a marking area of the detected marking as an attribute name, an attribute name detection part that detects the attribute name, extracted by the attribute name extraction part, stored in an attribute information memory and specifies the descriptive position of the detected attribute name from the data read by a second reading part that reads the form on which the attribute values are entered, and an attribute value extraction part that extracts the character string around the detection position of the attribute name detected from the read data, and registers the extracted character string as the attribute value of the attribute associated with the attribute name in the attribute information memory.

Abstract: The present invention aims to prevent a problem that an image on a document sheet is erased due to misdetection of a line-shaped noise. A copy machine 1 compares RGB values of a target pixel with averaged RGB values (Step S103). If only one of the RGB values has a difference that is greater than a prescribed value Ref2 (Step S103: YES), the copy machine 1 extracts the target pixel as a line-shaped noise pixel, and moves to a line-shaped noise correction (Step S108) while holding the address of the target pixel in a line-shaped noise address storing area 49b. If two of the RGB values have differences (Step S103: NO, Step S104: YES) and a difference between these two of the RGB values is no greater than a prescribed value Ref3 (Step S105: YES), the copy machine 1 extracts the target pixel as a line-shaped noise pixel, and moves to the line-shaped noise correction (Step S108) while holding the address of the target pixel in the line-shaped noise address storing area 49b.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for identifying captions associated with images in media material. A captioner includes a selector module and a caption identifier module. The selector module identifies text-blocks potentially associated with images in the media material. The caption identifier module identifies which text-blocks are captions associated with images in the media material, based on the textual and proximity features of the text-block and the images. The captioner may also include a caption feedback module to modify the determining of the caption identifier module.

Abstract: Embodiments of an image processing system and methods for aligning features suitable for use in early skin-cancer detection systems are described herein. Corresponding skin features between a reference image and a later-captured image are precisely aligned. Curvatures are used to align body outlines of corresponding images using body-background masks. An initial-displacement flowfield map, generated from the aligned body outlines, may be applied to a filtered version of the later-captured image to generate a pre-warped image. The pre-warped image and a filtered version of the reference image are divided into a plurality of overlapping chips and a correlation is performed between corresponding chips. A transformation map may be generated based on the chip correlations.

Abstract: An image compensating method. First, multiple scanning lines are used to scan a document and a longitudinal black and white pattern, in order to produce the actual gray level value for multiple pixels with respect to each of the scanning lines and the document, as well as a correctional gray level value for complete black and a correctional gray level value for complete white with respect to the longitudinal black and white pattern. Then, the compensational gray level value with respect to the actual gray level value for each of the pixels is obtained according to the correctional gray level value for complete black, the correctional gray level value for complete white, the theoretical gray level value for complete black, the theoretical gray level value for complete white, and the actual gray level value for each of the pixels. Then, the procedure is complete.

Abstract: An overall processing time to rasterize, at the first device, the electronic document to be rendered is computed. Also, a rendering time to render, at the first device, the electronic document to be rendered is computed. When the overall processing time to rasterize at the first device is greater than the rendering time to render at the first device, the electronic document to be rendered is parsed into a first document and sub-documents. A productivity capacity of each node is determined, the productivity capacity being a measured of the processing power of the node and the communication cost of exchanging information between the first device and the node. A sub-document is rasterized at a node when a productivity capacity of the node reduces the processing time to rasterize the electronic document to be rendered to be less than the computed overall processing time.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of replicating the primary human field of view in an image.

Abstract: The present invention relies on the two-dimensional information in documents and encodes two-dimensional structures into a one-dimensional synthetic language such that two-dimensional documents can be searched at text search speed. The system comprises: an indexing module, a retrieval module, an encoder, a quantization module, a retrieval engine and a control module coupled by a bus. A number of electronic documents are first indexed by the indexing module and stored as a synthetic text library. The retrieval module then converts and input image to synthetic text and searches for matches to the synthetic text in the synthetic text library. The matches can be in turn used to retrieve the corresponding electronic documents. It should be noted that a plurality of matches and corresponding electronic documents may be retrieves ranked by order according the similarity of the synthetic text.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for finding correspondence between portions of two images that first subjects the two images to segmentation by weighted aggregation (10), then constructs directed acylic graphs (16,18) from the output of the segmentation by weighted aggregation to obtain hierarchical graphs of aggregates (20,22), and finally applies a maximally weighted subgraph isomorphism to the hierarchical graphs of aggregates to find matches between them (24). Two algorithms are described; one seeks a one-to-one matching between regions, and the other computes a soft matching, in which is an aggregate may have more than one corresponding aggregate. A method and apparatus for image segmentation based on motion cues. Motion provides a strong cue for segmentation. The method begins with local, ambiguous optical flow measurements. It uses a process of aggregation to resolve the ambiguities and reach reliable estimates of the motion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a mosaic image by mosaic processing of an image are provided, in which an object to be used in a mosaic is acquired from a received image, the object is stored in a storage medium, a target image to be mosaic-processed is received, a mosaic block size is set, at least one object selected from among objects stored in the storage medium is received for use as a mosaic block, the target image is divided into a plurality of areas each having the mosaic block size, and the object is set as a mosaic block by reflecting a color of each divided area in the object.

Abstract: 17-valued data of a pixel in a multi-valued image is divided into two divisions for a two-pass printing, obtaining the division data. Next, by using an index pattern where arrangements of the numerals of 1 to 16 are dispersed, each dot data of C, M and Y in the division data is arranged. First, six dot data of C are assigned to the respective minor pixels of the numerals of 1 to 6 in accordance with a value of C1=6. Next, four dot data of M are assigned to the respective minor pixels of the numerals of 7 to 10 in accordance with a value of M1=4. Further, one dot data of Y is assigned to the minor pixel of the numerals of 11 in accordance with a value of Y1=1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing method, an image processing apparatus and an image processing program for dealing with inverted characters (outlined characters) constituted by white pixels on a black ground in a tree structure same as that of normal characters constituted by black pixels on a white ground. In the present invention, black pixel blocks and white pixel blocks are sampled recursively from a binary image, tree structure data indicating a positional relation between the sampled black pixel blocks and white pixel blocks is created, an inverted image is created by white-black-inverting the insides of black pixel blocks that can include inverted characters, of black pixel blocks included in the tree structure data, white pixel blocks and black pixel blacks are sampled from the created inverted image, and data regarding the sampled white pixel blocks and black pixel blocs is added to corresponding nodes of the tree structure data.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for processing paper forms includes accepting a filled-in paper form conforming to a template at a computer system having a local memory, wherein the template is not stored in the local memory. Identification information is extracted from the filled-in paper form using the computer system. The identification information indicates a network address of a remote storage location external to the computer system, in which the template is stored. The template is retrieved responsively to the identification information by communication with the remote storage location via a wide area network (WAN). The filled-in paper form is processed responsively to the retrieved template.

Abstract: This disclosure describes methods for using embedded auxiliary signals in documents for copy detection and other applications. In on application, the auxiliary signal is formed as an array of elements selected from a set of print structures with properties that change differently in response to copy operations. These changes in properties of the print structures that carry the embedded auxiliary signal are automatically detectable. For example, the changes make the embedded auxiliary signal more or less detectable. The extent to which the auxiliary data is detected forms a detection metric used in combination with one or more other metrics to differentiate copies from originals. Examples of sets of properties of the print structures that change differently in response to copy operations include sets of colors (including different types of inks), sets of screens or dot structures that have varying dot gain, sets of structures with different aliasing effects, etc.

Abstract: Systems and methods for interactive, user-driven detection, creation and completion of form fields in a digital document are provided. A document with form fields that require completion by a user is received, after which form fields are detected at the direction of the user. Once the user selects a possible form field, the system creates the appropriate fillable form field based on size, type, location, related text and other parameters of the form field and surrounding document. Additional levels of interaction include predictive text, pattern development and automatic completion of previously completed fields.

Abstract: A method for segmenting at least a pair of regions of an image. High resolution data is obtained of the image. Each one of the pair of the regions in the image is marked. Graph cuts are used on the downsampled data to obtain first voxels along an outer boundary of a selected one of the pair of marked regions and second voxels along an inner boundary the selected region. The graphs cuts are projected to the previously obtained high-resolution image data. First and second sets of seeds are placed on the first voxels and a second set of seeds respectively. The first seeds grow into first areas extending inwardly of the selected region while simultaneously the second seeds grow into second areas extending towards the first extending areas until the first areas and the second areas meet to thereby establish the outer boundary of the selected region.

Abstract: A watermark information embedding apparatus generates a document image from electronic document data that has been input thereto, modifies the electronic document data based upon the document image and embeds information in the electronic document data. The apparatus includes a document image generator for generating a document image from the electronic document data; a document analyzer for detecting layout information of each constituent image in the generated document image; a normalization information calculation unit for calculating normalization information, which is for normalizing placement of each constituent image, based upon the detected layout information; a modification unit for modifying the electronic document data; and an embedding unit for embedding information in the modified electronic document data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a preview generating unit configured to generate, based on image data, a preview image that is expected to be output; an attribute extracting unit configured to extract an attribute of at least one portion in the image data; a display unit configured to display the preview image; a position-information obtaining unit configured to obtain position information indicative of a position of a specified portion in the preview image; and a processing unit configured to perform, on the image data, a process according to an attribute that corresponds to the position.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for localized labeling in digital images. A region is obtained within which a global labeling solution for an image lies. The region is covered with a set of multiple overlapping tiles. A labeling function is applied to each tile in two or more subsets of the tiles to generate a local labeling for each of the tiles in the subsets. The local labeling for tiles in a first subset are input as a boundary condition to the labeling function when applied to overlapping tiles in a second subset. The local labelings for all of the tiles in all of the subsets are merged to form a global labeling for the image. The labeling function may be executed in parallel on two or more of the tiles.

Abstract: A printer is provided which is capable of shortening time required to complete overlay printing. The printer includes a job controlling section to divide received data into a printer language-dependent portion being dependent on a printer language and print job information being not dependent on a printer language, a form controlling section to produce form bit-mapped data based on form information, and a bit-mapped controlling section to produce bit-mapped data representing non-form based on a result from analysis of a printer language-dependent portion and to perform overlay printing on a form and a non-form by overlaying bit-mapped data on form bit-mapped data. Since control on overlay printing is performed in accordance with form information in printing job information, the printer can be free from constraint of a printer language.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a reference member, a reading unit, a first reference value setting unit, a detecting unit, a second reference value setting unit, a determining unit, and a pixel value setting unit. The reading unit obtains image data and reference data. The first reference value setting unit sets a first reference value based on the reference data. The detecting unit detects a usage state of the reading unit. The second reference value setting unit sets a second reference value in accordance with the usage state. If the determining unit determines that the first reference value is in a predetermined condition, the pixel value setting unit sets a pixel value based on the image data and the first reference value; otherwise, the pixel value setting unit sets the pixel value based on the image data and the second reference value.

Abstract: Systems and methods of recognizing a business document and creating a document signature. In one embodiment, a business document is scanned and a business document image is created. The business document image is compared to a template database. If a matching template is found, document fields are defined and extracted. If no matching document template is found, the document image is compared to a skeleton database. If a matching document skeleton in found, document fields are defined and extracted. A document skeleton is generated and then stored in the template database. If no matching document skeletons are found in the skeleton database, document fields are manually extracted. A document skeleton is then generated from the identification of static and variable strings and stored in the skeleton database. Document fields are validated after all document fields have been extracted.

Abstract: In a computer system in which information represented by digital data is output to plural pages of recording medium, and then information on the plural pages of recording medium is read to use digital data representing the read information, authentication information is embedded in information of a start page selected by the computer system; a page number of the start page embedded the authentication information is notified to a user; information on the plural pages of recording medium is read, wherein the start page is positioned so as to be read first; digital data read from the plural pages of recording medium is authenticated based on the authentication information embedded in the start page; and a process for the digital data read from the plural pages of recording medium is controlled in accordance with a result of the authentication.

Abstract: A document processing apparatus includes a region extracting unit that extracts a plurality of regions in a document image, a recognition unit that recognizes a character string, a conversion unit that converts the recognized character string, a setting unit that sets first boundary lines that surrounds the document image and at least one second boundary line in a space between adjacent regions of the plurality of regions, an enlargement/reduction unit that moves in parallel at least one line of the first and second boundary lines under a restraint condition that at least one line does not intersect any of the plurality of regions, and enlarges or reduces at least one of the regions in accordance with the parallel movement so long as each region does not get out of a cell; and an insertion unit that inserts the converted character string into each of the regions.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for automatically segmenting input document images into regions of black text, white space, and image content. A set of scanned training documents representing the range of text and images to be processed is coarsely tagged to classify regions by content type. The training images are divided into bricks, parameters describing individual brick features are evaluated, and the bricks are classified according to the parameter values. A classification map that relates parameter values to classification codes describing content type is constructed by generating linear equations separating a parameter space into parameter regions along classification boundaries. After training, input documents are scanned and divided into bricks, and brick parameters are converted into an index into the classification map, to classify document regions by content.

Abstract: In various embodiments, old flood maps may be compared to new flood maps to determine which areas of the flood map have changed. These changed areas may be correlated against geographic area descriptions that are within changed areas of the flood map. The changed areas may also be analyzed to determine whether each area has had a change in status (e.g., from a high risk flood zone to a non-high risk flood zone or vice versa) or a change in zone within a status (e.g., from one flood zone to another flood zone). The information on type of change (or no change) may be used to populate a database that includes geographic area description identifiers. In some embodiments, detection of certain types of changes may initiate a manual comparison of the old and new flood maps to verify the change.

Abstract: Thresholding gray-scale images to produce bitonal images. In one example embodiment, a method for thresholding a gray-scale image to produce a bitonal image includes several acts. First, a first portion of gray-scale pixels of the gray-scale image are thresholded based on a global threshold and edge strength information. Next, a second portion of the gray-scale pixels are thresholded based on the global threshold and local pixel information. Finally, a third portion of the gray-scale pixels are thresholded based on a local threshold.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for the acquisition and correlation matching of points belonging to a stereoscopic pair of images, whereby the pair is formed by a first image and a second image representing a scene. According to the invention, the two images of the pair are acquired with a single acquisition instrument (30) comprising two sensors CCD (31, 32) in the optical focal plane. The matching of the acquired stereoscopic pair consists in determining, by means of correlation, the point in the second image that is homologous to a point in the first image. Said correlation is performed for a point from the first image using an optimally-sized correlation window. When the homologous point of a point from the first image has been determined, the position deviation between the point from the first image and the homologous point thereof is entered in a table. Once all of the homologous points of the points from the first image have been found, the results table is reset barycentrically.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and module for preprocessing ultrasound imaging. The method comprises a calculation step for constructing a multivalue vector field and a smoothing step for smoothing the whole volume data. The method further comprises a judgement step and minification and magnification steps. The module includes a calculation unit, a smoothing unit, a judgement unit, a minification unit and a magnification unit. According to the method for preprocessing ultrasound imaging, speckle noise can be eliminated effectively by calculating a mean value of a plurality of nodes distributed over the surface, so as to implement the smoothing. Therefore, this method is capable of smoothing data without compromising details.

Abstract: Processing content in a digital image into reflow content is presented. In operation, a computer system is configured to obtain a digital image from a source. The digital image comprises content including both reflow content and non-reflow content. The computer system identifies non-reflow blocks of content within the digital image and processes the digital image into reflow content, excluding the identified non-reflow blocks of content. The reflow content is copied to a digital content file or stream. The identified non-reflow blocks of content are also copied to the digital content file/stream. Information regarding the non-reflow blocks of content, such as its location in the digital image and a confidence rating, are included with the non-reflow block copied to the digital content file/stream.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a first document manager stores image data in an image storage device, associates the image data with a first identifier, outputs the image data via an image output device when the first identifier is specified via an operation device, and deletes the image data from the image storage device when a first condition is satisfied. A second document manager associates the image data with a second identifier, outputs the second identifier via the image output device, and outputs the image data via the image output device when the second identifier is input via an image input device. The first document manager does not delete the image data from the image storage device and prohibits the operation device from specifying the first identifier when the image data is associated with both the first and second identifiers.

Abstract: A method for interactive image segmentation includes receiving an image to be segmented, performing an offline computation of eigenvectors of a Laplacian of the image without using seed points, receiving seed points, and performing an online segmentation taking the seed points and the eigenvectors of the Laplacian as input and outputting a partition of the image.

Abstract: There is described a system and method for automatically discriminating between different types of data with an image reader. In brief overview of one embodiment, the automatic discrimination feature of the present image reader allows a human operator to aim a hand-held image reader at a target that can contain a dataform and actuate the image reader. An autodiscrimination module in the image reader in one embodiment analyzes image data representative of the target and determines a type of data represented in the image data.

Abstract: The class of a sheet is efficiently estimated and a pattern identification process which is robust to a variation in the medium can be performed by dividing an image pattern of the sheet into a plurality of areas (pixels or sets of pixels), weighting and selecting the areas, attaining the identification results for the respective areas and determining the identification result of the whole portion based on a logical combination of the identification results. Particularly, since the area weighting and selecting process is performed based on a difference between the classes and a variation in the class, the calculation amount can be reduced and the identification performance which is higher than that of a method which uniformly processes the whole portion of the pattern can be attained.