Abstract: A computer-implemented method of matching color elements for objects having different source color definitions within a print job prior to printing, includes identifying all source colors to be printed within the print job and object type associated with each instance of a source color; identifying any source colors having at least two different source color definitions; for each source color having at least two different source color definitions, selecting one of the source color definitions in accordance with a predetermined criterion; and assigning the selected source color definition to at least one other instance of the source color for that object type. The predetermined criterion may include for each source color having at least two different source color definitions for the same object type, assigning the selected source color definition to all other instances of the source color for that object type.

Abstract: A method for enhancing color fidelity in multi-reproduction, includes scanning an image to be reproduced, wherein the image contains an invisible digital watermark including color information; decoding the color information contained in the watermark; comparing the decoded color information with the scanned image; generating a correction table from the differences between the decoded color information and the scanned image; and performing color correction on the scanned image using the correction table. This method confines the color error to one generation, even when copies go through multiple reproduction.

Abstract: A secure content object protects electronic documents from unauthorized use. The secure content object includes an encrypted electronic document, a multi-key encryption table having at least one multi-key component, an encrypted header and a user interface device. The encrypted document is encrypted using a document encryption key associated with a multi-key encryption method. The encrypted header includes an encryption marker formed by a random number followed by a derivable variation of the same random number. The user interface device enables a user to input a user authorization. The user authorization is combined with each of the multi-key components in the multi-key encryption key table and used to try to decrypt the encrypted header. If the encryption marker is successfully decrypted, the electronic document may be decrypted. Multiple electronic documents or a document and annotations may be protected by the secure content object.

Abstract: A programmable document includes a physical document having at least one sheet of material and information recorded thereon and a computer attached to the physical document. The computer includes an input/output device, a processor and a memory storing the recorded information in digital form and metadata pertaining to the physical document. By attaching small, inexpensive, computing devices to paper documents, various electronic information associated with the physical document can be retained, updated and modified.

Abstract: A method of information extraction from a Web page using an initial wrapper which has become partially inoperative, wherein the initial wrapper comprises an initial set of rules for extracting information and for assigning labels from a wrapper set of labels to the extracted information, includes using the initial set of rules to extract strings from the Web page parsed in forward direction; analyzing the extracted strings according to the initial set of rules for assigning labels associated with the wrapper; assigning labels to those strings which satisfy the label rules; using the initial set of rules to extract strings from the Web page in backward/(opposite) direction; analyzing the extracted strings according to the set of rules for assigning labels associated with the wrappers; and assigning labels to those unlabeled strings from which satisfy the label rules.

Abstract: A method for converting a legacy document into an XML document, includes decomposing the conversion process into a plurality of individual conversion tasks. A legacy document is decomposed into a plurality of document portions. A target XML schema including a plurality of schema components is provided. Local schema are generated from the target XML schema, wherein each local schema includes at least one of the schema components in the target XML schema. A plurality of conversion tasks is generated by associating a local schema and an applicable document portion, wherein each conversion task associates data from the applicable document portion with the applicable schema component in the local schema. For each conversion task, a conversion method is selected and the conversion method is performed on the applicable document portion and local schema. Finally, the results of all the individual conversion tasks are assembled into a target XML document.

Abstract: A method of information extraction from a Web page using a broken wrapper, includes using the wrapper to extract strings from the Web page parsed in forward direction; analyzing the extracted strings according to a set of rules for assigning labels associated with the wrapper; assigning labels to those strings which satisfy the label rules; classifying the extracted strings based on content features of the labeled extracted strings; validating those labeled extracted strings which satisfy the label rules within some threshold value.

Abstract: A method for run-time streak removal from a scanned image includes providing a scan line of image data from the scanned image; detecting corrupted data within the scan line; evaluating image data located in a neighborhood before and after the corrupted data on the scan line; if the evaluated image data in the neighborhood is smooth, replacing the corrupted data with image data determined by a linear interpolation process; and else if the evaluated image data in the neighborhood is not smooth, replacing the corrupted data with image data determined by the linear prediction process. Various techniques can be used to evaluate the image data located in the surrounding neighborhood. For example, a filter selection step may be used based on prediction discrepancies.

Abstract: A system and method for classifying an image block of a printed image into contone, halftone, or error diffusion classes, includes scanning the printed image; selecting an n by n block of pixels from the scanned image in a luminance channel; calculating an array of DCT coefficients of the pixel block, wherein the calculated DCT coefficients are representative of spatial frequency and spatial orientation of the pixel block; comparing the array of DCT coefficients with an array of predetermined values, wherein the array of predetermined values are indicative of contone, halftone and error diffusion classes; and determining the image classification of the pixel block based on the comparison of the DCT coefficients with the array of predetermined values. If the image is determined to be halftone, then the method further evaluates the DCT coefficients to determine the frequency of the halftone screen.

Abstract: A method for forming a multi-color, clustered dot-off-dot halftone screen, includes defining a range of density values for pixels of a first color and assigning those density values to positions along a pixel growth curve; defining a range of density values for pixels of a second color and assigning those density values to positions along the pixel growth curve; and defining the pixel growth curve, such that a plurality of consecutively filled pixels form a cluster along the curve and such that pixels widely separately along the curve are also widely separated within the halftone cell. Density values for pixels of third and fourth colors may be sequentially assigned to positions along the pixel growth curve.

Abstract: A method for smooth trapping of a small graphical object, includes receiving from a trap generator the location of a trap pixel in a small object that should be changed in color; determining the width of the small object containing the trap pixel; comparing the width of the thin object with a trap threshold width; if the width of the thin object is less than the trap threshold width, adjusting the hue of the trap pixel according to a predetermined relationship; and applying a trap correction to the trap pixel according to the adjusted trap hue. The predetermined relationship may be a linear relationship that interpolates the trap hue monotonically (from the original trap hue to the original object hue) for object widths less than the trap threshold width. The method may be applied to small objects and small font text objects.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method to detect streaks in the scanned documents. The principle of this method is that the profiles of streaks change very little from line to line, while profiles of other thin lines, as content of scanned documents, usually vary in a degree. Therefore, each scan-line can be searched for streak profiles. Once such a profile is detected, it is compared with a profile stored in a buffer, which represents a dynamic average of previously recorded scan-lines. If a stable streak profile is detected and lasted for a certain length, say one inch, the streak alarm can be turned on and a corresponding correction process can be applied for streak removal. With a limited buffer increase and without any major hardware modification, the proposed method can detect occurrence of streaks at run time of the scanning process.

Abstract: A system for providing item recommendations includes a memory, a device, responsive to a user request, for recording an item on a hardcopy medium, and a processor, for storing ratings of items and for generating recommendations for new items based on recommendation criteria. In response to the user request, the processor stores an implicit rating for the requested item in the memory, determines whether, based on the implicit rating and the recommendation criteria, to generate an item recommendation, and if the criteria for generating a recommendation is met, generates a recommendation of a new item. The recommender system may further store a representation of the recorded item in the memory. Recommendations may be based on item to item similarities, item to user similarities or user to user similarities.

Abstract: A method of improving edge rendering of objects includes dilation (or contraction) of an object's tag plane by one or more pixels into the surrounding region, with the adjacent tag region having a corresponding contraction (or dilation). The objects of interest (e.g., white text) are first identified; the corresponding object tag plane is then spread or choked, in a fashion analogous to trapping. In the case of negative text on a tint background, by expanding the tag plane for the negative text object, the text hint would be forced one pixel into the tint object plane everywhere along the perimeter of the negative text. This could then enable greatly improved negative text rendering.

Abstract: A method for correcting for edge defects caused by print characteristics of a print engine includes printing a set of actual color patches corresponding to a desired set of colors; defining an edge region and a uniform area region in each of the patches; for each color patch in the set of actual color patches: determining a difference between color in the edge region of the patch and color in the uniform area region of the patch; and generating an edge response to adjust color output of the print engine in the edge region to substantially match color output in the uniform area region. The method can perform edge correction for any edge region of an image. In one embodiment of the invention, the edge region may be determined by a trap engine associated with the print engine and the method can provide correction for trap pixels.

Abstract: A method of indexing images contained in scanned documents, wherein said scanned documents are stored in a repository, includes: for each document to be stored in the repository, dividing the document into a plurality of sections; scanning the plurality of sections; segmenting each scanned segment according to a predetermined coding model into image segment and non-image segments; associating each of the image segments with the document; and generating an index correlating the image segments with the document. The method may further include, at the time of image recall, displaying the index of image segments in a user interface; and responsive to selection of an image segment from the index, displaying the document information associated with the image segment in the user interface.

Abstract: A method of marking a unique code onto an edge of a sheet of material takes N stacks of sheet material, each stack having N1 sheets; prints a barcode uniquely identifying each stack on at least one edge of the stack so that each sheet of sheet material in the stack has the barcode printed on its edge. N1 stacks of sheet material are formed by collating the N stacks of sheet, wherein each of the N1 stacks has N sheets of sheet material, one sheet from each of the N stacks of sheet material. A second barcode uniquely identifying each of the N1 stacks is printed on at least one edge of the stack so that each sheet of sheet material in the stack has the barcode printed on its edge.

Abstract: The system and method analyzes activities of users in a recommender system to identify experts. Two types of experts may be identified: authoritative experts and hub experts. An authoritative expert is a user who creates items or documents in a given field that are acted upon by a large number of users within a community who are well connected in the given field. A hub expert is a user who is aware of important items or documents within a given field and uses, works or acts upon items or documents produced by authoritative experts. The system and method also identifies authoritative items (e.g., documents). An authoritative item or document is one which has been acted upon by a large number of users within a community who are well connected in the given field (i.e., hub experts).

Abstract: A method for selecting which rendering hint or tag to use when multiple tags may be associated with a pixel, includes prioritizing the set of input tags associated with an input image, such that each input tag has a unique priority relative to other input tags in the set; filtering the input image by selecting groups of input pixels, applying a filtering function to the contone data associated with each selected group of input pixels, and producing an output pixel having an output contone data for each selected group of input pixels; for each selected group of input pixels, comparing the priorities of the input tags associated with the selected group of input pixels and selecting as the output tag associated with the output pixel, that tag with the highest priority.

Abstract: A method of improving black print quality in a color printer having at least one color ink and black ink includes determining a location on a substrate where a black pixel is to be printed, printing a droplet of color ink at the location, and printing a droplet of black ink with the color droplet. If the color printer includes cyan, magenta and yellow, then a droplet of cyan ink, magenta ink or yellow ink may be printed with the droplet of black ink. For images containing black at a plurality of locations, the cyan, magenta and yellow droplets may be equally distributed among the plurality of locations. Alternatively, the cyan, magenta and yellow droplets may be distributed in accordance with a digital halftone screen.