Abstract: A compression and decompression system in which a reversible wavelet filter are used to generates coefficients from input data, such as image data. The reversible wavelet filter is an efficient transform implemented with integer arithmetic that has exact reconstruction. The present invention uses the reversible wavelet filter in a lossless system (or lossy system) in which an embedded codestream is generated from the coefficients produced by the filter. An entropy coder performs entropy coding on the embedded codestream to produce the compressed data stream.

Abstract: A method, system, object-oriented system, and computer program product for interfacing two software modules to support various applications. A base class, a zero-level abstract class having a declared virtual function, plural first-level derived classes of the zero-level abstract class having the declared virtual function, and plural second-level classes derived from the base class and the first-level derived classes of the abstract class having the declared virtual function are defined using multiple inheritance so that the virtual function is defined differently for plural instantiated objects of the second-level classes. A first application module communicates with a second application module which processes information to select a software object to be referenced for processing data. The second application module passes a reference defined to reference a first-level derived class and having a value of a reference to the selected software object which is derived from the first-level derived class.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting proper page orientation of a scanned document image. The document is subdivided into a series of word boxes. The number of ascending and descending text characters within the word can then be compared with the number expected for a properly oriented document to verify page orientation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing compression and/or decompression is described. In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a system having a buffer, a wavelet transform unit, and a coder. The wavelet transform unit has an input coupled to the buffer to perform a wavelet transform on pixels stored therein and to generate coefficients at an output. The coder is coupled to the wavelet transform unit to code the transformed pixels received from the buffer.

Abstract: A fast, memory efficient, and accurate document image matching system is disclosed. Document image matching is based on identifying anchor points of characters in the document. The document matching process includes a feature extraction step where anchor points, e.g., points representing approximate locations of characters, are identified as features for matching. In a particularly efficient implementation, the anchor points are “pass codes” in a two dimensionally encoded representation of a document image.

Abstract: A method of generating an output image having a lower resolution than that of a source image is provided. A thinned image is generated by discarding outer pixels of the source image. In parallel with generation of the thinned image, an averaged image is generated, such that each pixel of the averaged image represents an average of a subset of pixels in the source image. A first output image is then generated by subsampling the pixels of the thinned image. A final output image is generated as a function of both the first output image and the averaged image.

Abstract: This provides for processing information by receiving downsampled pixel values, via, for instance, error diffusion, and upsampling each of the downsampled pixel values to construct a block of upsampled pixel values using statistics based on template pattern values of a predetermined number of downsampled pixel values or using replication.

Abstract: A technique for selecting a display related image processing operation by acquiring user preferences over a network is described. A set of related images is transmitted from a local processing system to each of a plurality of remote processing systems over the network. Each of the images corresponds to a different version of the display related operation. User inputs selecting one or more of the images and indicative of user preferences regarding the images are received at each of the remote processing systems and transmitted over the network to the local processing systems. The user inputs are then used in the local processing system to select one of the plurality of versions of the display related operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing an automatically assembling an electronic document is disclosed. The electronic document comprises first and second sets of pages, in which the first set of pages has a first characteristic and the second set has a second characteristic. Using a parser or based on information embedded in the electronic document, the first and second sets of pages are identified. First and second output devices, that are respectively compatible with the first and second sets of pages, are selected. The sets of pages are routed to the respective output devices, where they are output. Identifying information is also routed to be output with the pages. After the pages are output, a complete document is automatically merged or assembled based on the identifying information. In a preferred embodiment, the electronic document has monochrome or black-and-white pages and color pages. The pages are identified within the document.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring, controlling and diagnosing operation of a machine such as a business office machine including a facsimile machine, a copier, and a printer. When the speed of communication between the remote device and machine is not urgent, a connectionless mode of communication may be used. The form of connectionless communication is an electronic mail message transmitted over the Internet. However, when a condition needs urgent action, a direct connection is used for communication such as communication via a telephone or ISDN line. The information obtained from the machine is stored in one or more data bases within a company and information of the machine is shared between a service department, engineering and design department, manufacturing department, and marketing department. As communication over the Internet via electronic mail is not secure, the connectionless-mode messages transmitted using Internet electronic mail are encrypted.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for storing document information in an application service provider (ASP) which is connected to a user terminal through a network, such as the Internet. The method on which the system and computer program product are based includes inputting the document information into the user terminal, inputting a previously created e-mail address into the user terminal, the e-mail address being confirmed by the ASP and corresponding to a storage location in the ASP, and sending the document information to the e-mail address via the network. The document information may be input into the user terminal either manually or automatically and a storage folder may be created for storing documents to the ASP. Where the user terminal is an Internet fax machine, the Internet fax machine can be set up to automatically send all document information received by the Internet fax machine to the ASP for storage.

Abstract: A reversible Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) is described. The reversible DCT may be part of a compressor in a system. The system may include a decompressor with a reversible inverse DCT for lossless decompression or a legacy decompressor with an inverse DCT for lossy decompression.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that provides any type of data information in a facsimile message is configured to accept data information at a source terminal from an external device and send the data information to one or more destination terminals via a facsimile message. In particular, a processor formats the data information in the form of one or more non-standard frames that are conventionally used only to support point to point polling operations for two facsimile devices. The data information is accepted from an external data source and converted by the processor to the one or more NSF frames. A routing feature of the present invention allows the facsimile message containing the data information to one or more destination terminal which are user-selectable at the source terminal.

Abstract: An automatic reading assistance application for documents available in electronic form. An automatic annotator is provided which finds concepts of interest and keywords. The operation of the annotator is personalizable for a particular user. The annotator is also capable of improving its performance overtime by both automatic and manual feedback. The annotator is usable with any electronic document. Another available feature is a thumbnail image of all or part of a multi-page document wherein a currently displayed section of the document is highlighted in the thumbnail image. Movement of the highlighted area in the thumbnail image is then synchronized with scrolling through the document.

Abstract: A multi-function machine for combining and routing image data is disclosed. The multi-function machine includes a number of functional units, for instance, a digital copier which produces scanned image data, a printer which prints image data from a computer, and a facsimile device which receives and sends facsimile image data. Image data from one or a number of sources may be combined to form merged image data, corresponding to a merger of the individual images. The merged image data may then be conveyed to any of a number of user selectable destinations, including a printer, a host computer, or a facsimile device.

Abstract: An apparatus for communicating with a plurality of remote machines, of a plurality of machine types includes a computer system including a processor and memory a data communication means, coupled to the computer system and to the plurality of remote machines, for communicating with each of the plurality of remote machines, a first plurality of software objects within the memory for describing services for the plurality of remote machines, and a plurality of operations within the memory associated with the first plurality of software objects, the plurality of operations for satisfying requests described by the services of the first plurality of software objects.

Abstract: A system and method for performing scanning operations using a scanner connected to a server computer and transmitting acquired images from the scanner server to a client computer. A scan-to-application process is utilized which allows control of the scanner or other image acquiring device which is connected to a scanner server using a virtual TWAIN driver which interfaces to an application program running in the client computer. Image files are also transmitted to a local file storage device of the client computer using a scan-to-file operation. A network protocol is used to implement both the scan-to-application and scan-to-file operation. Computer memories are utilized to store data structures or tables containing various information utilized during the file transfer procedures. Computer memories are also used to buffer and store the protocol packet headers and transmitted information.

Abstract: A digital image reading apparatus including a reading device which reads an original document to obtain image data; a sub-scanning speed setting device which selectively sets a reading speed of the reading device in a sub-scanning direction; a data transfer device which transfers the obtained image data to an external device connected with the digital image reading apparatus with a communications device; a data rate adjusting device which determines a data rate between the digital image reading apparatus and the external device through a communications operation with the external device; and an image parameter setting device which sets at least one parameter relating to a read image on the basis of the communications operation with the external device, wherein, the sub-scanning speed setting device sets the reading speed of the reading device in the sub-scanning direction according to a value of the set parameter relating to the read image determined by the image parameter setting device.

Abstract: A system and method for handling duplex documents by exploiting bleed-through of the image on the back side of a document. The images of the back sides and front sides of documents are associated with one another to assure correct output in copying, faxing, scanning, etc. This increases reliability, eases recovery from errors including paper jams. Improved document handling capabilities also include avoiding twice duplicated and skipped pages and correcting page orientation errors.

Abstract: A method and system which allows a remote monitoring and diagnostic computer or system to communicate using different communication protocols which are stored within a data base. After a communication is received, it is analyzed to determine if there is a protocol identifier. If the protocol identifier exists, a data base is searched to determine the format of the header of the communication. Once the format of the header is determined, the header of the received communication is read to determine the information contained therein. This information is utilized to determine the actual format of the data which follows. If the protocol identifier does not exist, the received communication is examined to determine if it is in a format which matches one of a plurality of previously defined format.