Abstract: An image of lower spatial resolution is converted into an image of higher spatial resolution efficiently and highly accurately. For such conversion, pixel data is ex-pressed by vectors in a color space of R, G, B, and not only an R component of low resolution but also R, G, B components are used to predict an R component of higher resolution.

Abstract: A real-time distortion analysis system (20) utilizes a baseline preparation processor (38) and a remote comparison processor (50) to determine (72, 78) a plurality of color and central moments for baseline and broadcast video streams respectively. The baseline stream is taken from a broadcast signal sent from a broadcast station (26), and the broadcast video stream is taken from a viewer signal sent from a remote receiving station (28, 30, 32) to viewers (34). The remote comparison processor (50) compares (82), on a frame by frame basis, the baseline and broadcast moments and determines a cumulative absolute difference which reflects differences between the two video streams. To conduct a frame by frame analysis of the two video streams, the system (20) temporally aligns the video streams. Alternatively, the system (20) uses a moment database (88) to compare the moments at a time subsequent to broadcast.

Abstract: An image processor includes spatial filters which execute parallel processing in units of component data of image data made up of a plurality of component data, and an original image color determination unit selects if input image data from a color image input unit is to be processed as a monochrome or color image. When it is selected that the input image data is to be processed as a monochrome image, the processing operations of the spatial filters for the image data are controlled to be executed stepwise.

Abstract: A system and method identify objects, such as fruits, vegetables, and images through the recognition of unique surface features represented by signals from a scanner that pass over the objects. The scanner signals are processed by applying a modified wavelet transform to them and comparing the results to previously stored data. The system uses an optical scanner, a processor that transforms the data acquired by the scanner to extract a translation invariant feature vector, and a comparator which compares the transformed signal to a predetermined set of vectors for a corresponding identification based upon the comparison set.

Abstract: A facsimile machine which includes a telephone conversation function that can securely shift the facsimile communication mode to a telephone conversation mode after facsimile communication, even if an error occurs during facsimile communication. This is accomplished without using a telephone conversation reservation function. At a point where after facsimile communication is started, facsimile communication may be stopped after the transmission of predetermined signals between the calling party side facsimile machine and the receiving party side facsimile machine, or due to error. In the case where a communication error occurs because of paper jamming, the main controller keeps occupying the communication line occupied by the line controller, and a signal sound on the occupied communication line is externally emitted by the speaker.

Abstract: An image-assisted monitoring of the displacement of an object, for example a catheter, relative to a vascular system, is enable in which the position of the object is continuously measured and reproduced in an MR angiogram. Shifts/deformations occurring in the course of an examination are determined by obtaining slice images which are compared with images of the same slice which are derived from an original data set. The MR angiogram and/or the position are corrected accordingly.

Abstract: A digital medical imaging unit normally comprises: a station 10 for capturing information relating to a patient ID, a scanner 20 associated with a device 16, 18, 19 for capturing information relating to the medical examination to be processed for scanning first medical image media, an editing station 30 designed to send the digital images to be edited to a printer 50. The unit comprises an editing controller 40 which receives, before the processing of a first medical image medium, information relating to the editing and records an item of chronological information on the capture of the data so as to order chronologically the images delivered by the scanner in order to associate with each other the images of a series to be edited on one and the same page of the editing medium.

Abstract: A user takes in digital image data and photographing information added thereto into a personal computer, and instructs, on a printing instruction screen, a printing format such as whether or not the photographing information should be printed and where the photographing information is to be printed. The content of the instruction is added to the digital image data as printing information and transferred to a printer via a recording medium, for example. The printer prints the photographing information on a picture print based on the printing information when the picture print is generated.

Abstract: A decompressor and decompression methods rotate and decompress compressed images for devices with asymmetric resolution. A compressed data file is transmitted and/or input to a decompressor. The decompressor receives a group of consecutive image blocks of the compressed data file and separately scaled-inverse-transforms each image block in the group. Then, each block is placed in a macroblock. Accordingly, the combination of the scaled blocks provides the required global scaling for image rotation. Thus, time and effort spent in scaling the decompressed image is avoided.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for controlling the amount of image compression data which is to be encoded in an image compression system using a wavelet transform. The amount of data accumulated in a channel buffer is controlled by removing from the wavelet-transformed image data, data cells which contain a frequency band and having a spatial orientation to which human eyes are less sensitive. An estimation is made as to how much data will accumulate in the channel buffer, based on a cyclic integration of the rate at which data is input to the channel buffer. The estimation is compared to a set of predetermined thresholds to determine how much if any of the wavelet-transformed image data is to be removed. If the estimation indicates an overflow, data cells D23, D43, and D83 are removed from the wavelet-transformed image frame. After overflow has been avoided, only data cell D23 is removed. If the estimation indicates an underflow, no data cells are removed.

Abstract: A method of printing a print image on a print medium using a printer includes providing a text printing mode, wherein a first predetermined number of bits identify a selected character to be printed. A host based printing mode is provided wherein selected bits each indicate whether a corresponding pixel should be printed. The printer is initialized to print in either one of the text printing mode and the host based printing mode. A second predetermined number of bits of a data stream associated with the print image to be printed are received within the printer. The second predetermined number of bits is examined to determine a presence of a command therein. The printer is enabled to print in an enabled printing mode. The enabled printing mode includes either the text printing mode or the host based printing mode, dependent upon the examination of the second predetermined number of bits. The printer is used to print on the print medium in the enabled printing mode.

Abstract: We discloses an efficient method for compressing a color image, visual block pattern truncation coding (VBPTC), in which the conventional block truncation coding (BTC) serves to encode an original image. This method defines the edge block according to human visual perception. If the difference between the two quantized values of BTC in a block is larger than a threshold which is defined by visual characteristics, the block will be identified as an edge block. In an edge block, the bitmap is adapted to compute block gradient orientation and to match the block pattern.

Abstract: Improved assistance is provided to an operator during jam recovery of an image-based financial document processing system used to process transaction items including debit and credit items. Information associated with a first group of transaction items is displayed after a jam condition has occurred to enable the operator to retrieve at least some of the transaction items of the first group of transaction items. Information associated with a second group of transaction items is displayed as the operator feeds transaction items from the second group of transaction items back into the system to reprocess these transaction items. The displayed information associated with the first group of transaction items and the displayed information associated with the second group of transaction items are compared to determine if a transaction item from the first group and a transaction item from the second group match.

Abstract: A printer has a computer system which stores and uses multiple application programs. The printer may be a label printer which includes a printing mechanism, and a computer for controlling the printer mechanism and the advancement of label stock for the printer mechanism to print labels on the label stock. Coupled to the printer may be a barcode scanner controllable by the computer. The system includes a memory accessible by the computer which stores a plurality of application programs. Each of the application programs contains instructions which are executable by the computer to operate the printer. An application program can be selected by a user, or a host computer interfaced to the printer, or automatically by the printer, for execution by the computer. Utility files are also stored in the memory separate from the application programs which may include data and programs utilized by the selected application program.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining the spatial transformation between an object which is three-dimensionally reproduced by a data set and the object itself. According to the method at least one X-ray image of the object is formed. A pseudo-projection image is calculated for a part of the volume represented by the data set, said pseudo-projection image being compared with the X-ray image. The parameters on which the calculation of the pseudo-projection image is based are varied until optimum registration is achieved.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an identification code assignment section for assigning an identification code for each page unit or print job unit of print images, a printing section for printing the print image and its corresponding identification code on a recording medium, a storage section for storing the print images and their corresponding identification codes, and an identification code read section for reading the identification code printed on the recording medium. The print image corresponding to the identification code read through said identification code read section is taken out from said storage section and the print image or the print image with the identification code are printed on a recording medium in said printing section.

Abstract: A difference in feed roller diameter from one printer to another causes a media to advance by a different amount for a given rotation of a drive shaft to which the feed roller is coupled. Such variation in advance distance is a linefeed error. Mean linefeed error is determined and corrected by printing a test plot having several areas. Each area is formed of the same image pattern, but is printed at a different linefeed error adjustment to compensate for mean linefeed error. The different adjustments are prescribed and span a typical compensation range for a given print engine model. The different adjustment factors cause banding to occur in some areas. The user picks one of the test pattern areas which has the highest print quality (i.e., least or no banding). The linefeed adjustment factor corresponding to such area is used for normal printing.

Abstract: A color image outputting apparatus adapted to generate display image data for simulatively displaying on an image displaying apparatus a color image to be formed on a recording sheet by means of an image recording apparatus. The apparatus includes: a conversion table for converting color image data into first color image data which exclude any influences of a ground color of the recording sheet; and a ground color correction circuit for correcting the first color image data outputted from the conversion table into second color image data in consideration of the ground color of the recording sheet to be used in the image recording apparatus. A data correction process to be performed by the ground color correction circuit is determined so that a measurement result on the ground color of the recording sheet is equated with a measurement result on a background color of the image displayed on the image displaying apparatus which corresponds to the ground color of the recording sheet.

Abstract: The invention relates to the editing of digital medical images.A digital medical imaging unit normally comprises: a station 10 for entering information relating to a patient Id, a scanner 20 for scanning first medical image media and associated with a means 16, 18, 19 of entering information relating to the medical examination to be processed, an editing station 30 designed to send the digital images to be edited to a printer 50. The only known automatic editing system consists of editing each digital image as soon as they are delivered by the scanner 20 on individual pages of an editing medium. The unit according to the invention comprises on the one hand an editing controller 40 which receives, before the processing of a first medical image medium, information relating to the editing, and on the other hand a counter of medical images processed by the scanner.Application to the automatic editing of several digital medical images on one and the same page of an editing medium.

Abstract: Printing data is managed per band in the form of intermediate band and is output through a banding process. The bands which are estimated to undergo print overrun are subject to rendering before execution of printing out, by reserving temporary band rasters. When the temporary band rasters cannot be secured because of deficiency of the memory vacant capacity, the bands are managed in the form of compressed data by rendering and compressing the intermediate data using a normal band raster. When rendering of additional printing data is required for the compressed data, the compressed data is restored to the normal band raster, following which both the additional print data and the compressed data are subject to rendering and then compression again. If memory deadlock occurs, all the bands are compressed by selecting suitable one of plural compression types.