Abstract: An increasing nonlinear-filter represented as a plurality of basis elements along with the filter values at those basis elements by finding, for each output value k of the filter, all possible observations X that result in an output value k or greater. The set of all values that map to an output value k or greater have at least one minimal element at these are known in the art as basis elements. These basis elements are arranged in a list, numbered 1 through M. Constructing a table in which basis element number corresponds to the filter output value at that basis element. Thereafter, each of the N samples (X1, . . . , XN) is inspected in turn. For each sample X1, testing each of its possible values with its respective interval components wherein, if the M basis elements are A1, . . . , AM and if basis element number j is being inspected, then each value of X1 is tested against Aij. For each value of X1=t1, . . .

Abstract: What is disclosed herein is an identification apparatus and method comprising an array of retractable pins in association with a housing attached to a base component through which each pin individually passes. The apparatus is attached to a primary device and in communication therewith. Each retractable pin is in individual physical contact with spring tension means positioned below the pin and located in a containment sleeve within the housing. Each spring continuously exerts pressure on the base of their respective pins so as to push the pin up through the base component. At the base of each spring is a pressure sensitive pad in communication with the primary device.

Abstract: A method is presented for encoding auxiliary information in digital images which enables the encoding of both compact auxiliary information specific to a given image and a secret message into a given image such that the hidden message contained therein is only revealed in such a way that neither the image itself nor the auxiliary information alone are sufficient to reveal the secret message. Specifically, a method for encoding an auxiliary message in a digital image, is presented having the first step of creating a set of Training Vectors from all N×N windowed observations of a digital image (D) and corresponding pixels of a message (I). Then, statistically estimating a function T from the set of Training Vectors which map the N×N windowed observations of the digital image (D) to the corresponding pixels of the message (I); and writing out the statistically estimated function T as a representation of the hidden message.

Abstract: What is presented is a method for rendering gray half-toned images from a received image wherein the received image is bitmap data including at least a plurality of gray-scale pixel tiles that define the image. The method includes the steps of first receiving a gray image so as to extract pixel tile information of the received image. The next step is matching loosely the pixel tile information with at least one of a plurality of templates, wherein the match is determined from looseness intervals between the templates and the pixel tile information. Then, outputting a portion of enhanced pixel tile information wherein the enhanced pixel tile information is formed from data associated with a matching template. The output signals are such that a preferred thresholding of the image is performed.

Abstract: A system for the secure physical attachment of a second device to a first device is disclosed comprising a first and second inter-connection attachment means in physical association with each device. The second inter-connection attachment means physically mates with its corresponding first inter-connection attachment means. Additionally, means for detecting the physical mating of each of the first and second inter-connection attachment means is provided. The detecting means is preferably associated with at least one of the devices and in communication with each of it's associated device's inter-connection attachment means. Means are provided for determining that the first and second inter-connection attachment means have been securely mated and, if not, means are provided for indicating the status of the completion of the secure attachment there between.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of template fitting for fitting a plurality of templates in correspondence with a gray-scale image, including receiving gray-scale image information of an observed image; defining a window of the gray-scale image information so as to enable a loose-gray-scale fit between the defined window and the plurality of templates; extracting a plurality of pixels of the image information and using the window to which to fit at least one of the plurality of templates. Further, fitting one of the plurality of templates to the defined window within a threshold looseness interval associated with the template wherein a looseness interval between the window of image data and the template is less than the threshold looseness interval.

Abstract: A document processing system including a plurality of model images stored in a memory is provided. The model images are represented by a first information set with the first information set varying as a function of object-based coordinates. At least one of the plurality of model images includes a text containing region having index information intended for use in storing one or more document pages. Moreover, a query image represented as a second set of information varying as a function of object-based coordinates is provided. In practice, an image localization module corresponds the second set of information with a portion of the first set of information to obtain the text containing region, and a text extraction module extracts the index information from the text containing region to facilitate the storing of the one or more document pages.

Abstract: A portable, post slit decurler and high capacity stacker module for use with a machine, such as, a desktop page printer, includes a decurler that decurls prints after they have been slit into thirds, halves, or whole prints. The post slit decurler and high capacity stacker module sits in a receiving tray of a copier/printer and is separately powered or “hard wired” into the copier/printer.

Abstract: A data processing system is disclosed. The system comprising a downloading subsystem for creating a first event related entry including a first upload indicator and a second event related entry including a second upload indicator and a first uploading subsystem and a second uploading subsystem, both of which are communicatively coupled with the downloading subsystem.

Abstract: An error diffusion technique seeks to remove artifacts resulting from the diffusion of large errors. This technique removes artifacts resulting from instances where there is little difference between a source color and a target color but there is a large diffused error component. The error diffusion technique clips a combination vector resulting from the combination of a source color with the diffused error component so that the combination vector extends roughly one quarter of the width of a color gamut beyond the boundary of the color gamut. This helps to prevent ever-increasing error vectors and, thus, helps prevent certain artifacts in images that are output.

Abstract: A method for sharing action information between a plurality of personal electronic time management systems through a multi-user personal computer and a second personal computer is disclosed. The method involving first entering into the personal time management system time information for an action and entering into the personal time management system action description information for the time entered. Then, dynamically entering into the personal time management system circle of interest member information from a list of predetermined circle of interest members, the circle of interest member information designating a breadth of sharing of the action such each action previously entered can be programmed dynamically to have a circle of interest member information which is composed of any combination of the predetermined circle of interest members.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for detecting insets in the structure of a document page so as to further complement the document layout and textual information provided in an optical character recognition system. A system employing the present method preferably includes a document layout analysis system wherein the inset detection methodology is used to extend the capability of an associated character recognition package to more accurately recreate the document being processed.

Abstract: A color printing systems which deposits colors on a separation by separation basis is calibrated to determine a printed color responsive to a requested color, based on a mapping of device independent colors to printer output colors. The system provides trapping to correct misregistration between printer output colors due to imperfect placement of said separation color. Such a system includes calibration data stored in a device memory mapping a set of device independent colors to printer output colors; a trapping processor, using calibration data to determine device independent colors for printer colors. Also included is a trapping calculation processor, converting device independent colors to a color space in which equivalent color differences in human color perception are approximately equivalent values, determining whether to trap, a trap color, and a trapping location for the trapping color.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for performing filtering operations on a digital image. One embodiment is enhancement of the contour fidelity of the image represented by a plurality of pixels, by storing pixel values representing a segment of the image in memory; isolating a plurality of regions of the pixels of said image segment to form a plurality of windows including a central pixel and a plurality of pixels surrounding said central pixel. Then comparing at least two of the regions of pixels within the windows with a set of standard pixel patterns for each of the windows and identifying matching pixel patterns within each of the windows.

Abstract: There is provided a method for creating a geometric hash tree in a document processing system having a memory. A plurality of images are stored in the memory and organized in a database. Each image includes curve groups wherein each curve group is corresponded with a feature set. The method for creating a geometric hash tree includes the steps of: (1) associating a list of basis triples with an affine coordinate set, the basis triples and the affine coordinate set both varying as a function of the images and their corresponding curve groups; (2) storing both the affine coordinate set and the list of basis triples in the memory; (3) quantizing the affine coordinate set into a plurality of subsets; (4) assigning an order to the plurality of subsets; and (5) creating a geometric hash tree with the quantized affine coordinate set using the order from (4) such that the geometric hash tree is more compact in size than a conventional geometric hash table.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for improving the efficiency of color correcting subsampled luminance and chrominance based data. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a method of applying a full conversion between color spaces for one pixel in a selected pixel block. Chrominance values are assigned to the remaining pixels based upon their luminance values relative to the luminance value of the converted pixel. The invention may be used to convert between various types of color spaces, and may be used in the processing of both device dependent and device independent data.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for improving the efficiency of color correcting subsampled luminance and chrominance based data. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a method of applying a full conversion between color spaces for one pixel in a selected pixel block. Chrominance values are assigned to the remaining pixels based upon their luminance values relative to the luminance value of the converted pixel. The invention may be used to convert between various types of color spaces, and may be used in the processing of both device dependent and device independent data.

Abstract: A transmission job originating station for controlling transmission of job information, based on the processing of a print job in a printing system, is provided. The control system includes a document generating subsystem for providing at least a portion of the print job to be delivered to a print machine and a user interface for programming a set of information including one or more confirmation destinations with each confirmation destination being disposed remotely of the transmission job originating station. The transmission job originating station further includes a control subsystem which, in response to the processing of at least a portion of the print job at the printing machine, reads the set of information and determines each confirmation destination, programmed with the user interface, to which the job information is to be transmitted.

Abstract: A transmission job originating station for controlling transmission of job information, based on the processing of a print job in a printing system, is provided. The control system includes a document generating subsystem for providing at least a portion of the print job to be delivered to a print machine and a user interface for programming a set of information including one or more confirmation destinations with each confirmation destination being disposed remotely of the transmission job originating station. The transmission job originating station further includes a control subsystem which, in response to the processing of at least a portion of the print job at the printing machine, reads the set of information and determines each confirmation destination, programmed with the user interface, to which the job information is to be transmitted.

Abstract: A method for generating forms using halftones along with a set of low-complexity image processing steps to extract the characters for recognition. The method exploits texture differences between character strokes and halftoned boxes or text fields. Form frames are rendered as black and white halftones and characters are extracted by exploiting differences in texture between the frames and the character strokes. A sequence of simple image processing operations, easily done in hardware, eliminates the frames while leaving the characters intact. Halftones, giving the appearance of a light color as in the dropout-color method, are easily produced by page description languages; thus, blank and filled-in forms can be scanned, printed, stored and photocopied at low cost.