Abstract: An apparatus and a method for correcting image errors in a shuttle type of a scanner, in which a predetermined pattern is printed on a recordable paper. Then the recordable paper is positioned at an initial position, and the printed pattern on the recordable paper is scanned and scanned pattern data are stored. The pattern data are then compared to preset reference data so as to calculate an amount of image errors. Continuously, the amount of corrections corresponding to the amount of the image errors are determined from a preset correcting table and the amount of the corrections are stored. Finally, a document is scanned and scanned document data are corrected by the stored amount of corrections. Accordingly, the stable data can be obtained by correcting the image errors in the shuttle type of the scanner in such a manner as described above.

Abstract: An interlaced image processing module and corresponding method facilitate improved processing of interlaced motion images. In one embodiment, the interlaced image processing module receives image data frames having interlaced first and second fields and produces a reference field and error field. The reference field corresponds to the still image content of the interlaced frame, whereas the error field corresponds to the motion content of the interlaced frame, particularly the motion between fields. Motion between fields is thus represented in the error field, without redundant representation of the still image content provided by the first field. Where there is little motion between fields, the error terms will be small so the predictor preserves the coding efficiency provided by any auto-correlation in the image.

Abstract: A technique for segmenting an image into text areas and non-text areas in which an image is stored with the following information per pixel: gray scale intensity (4 bits) and an indication of whether the pixel is neutral or color (1 bit). The image, e.g. a scanned RGB image, is converted to 0-15 levels of intensity and has a neutral/color indication bit assigned to each pixel. The technique proceeds in three phases as follows: Tile the image by square blocks, e.g. 6×6 or 8×8 for 600 dpi images, and store information about each block in a buffer; sweep the buffer left to right three tile rows at a time and make a preliminary decision for every tile-block in the middle row; examine the decision made in the previous step in a context block, e.g. a 3×3 block, and make revisions if necessary.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for representing a movie having a sequence of frames includes generating a pixel level frame to frame correspondence; representing the original frame sequence as a multi-image morph; and deriving from the multi-image morph a basis of feature vectors describing principal changes among frames and representing the movie in terms of the basis.

Abstract: A sequence of angiographic images is made up of frames of data. A sample sequence, made up of a number of such frames, is compressed using a lower value of the quantization factor and the resulting average compression ratio is determined. The same sample sequence is also compressed using a higher value for the quantization factor and another average compression ratio is determined. The value of the quantization factor corresponding to a desired average compression ratio of the entire sequence can then be determined by linear interpolation.

Abstract: A system is presented for reconstructing blurred text on a word-by-word basis. The text is scanned and compared with a priori data concerning characteristics of the text, including zone characteristics of each letter of the alphabet. Comparisons are made between the line spacing of an image undergoing test and standard spacing. Such tests can also determine whether the image undergoing test was recorded while maintaining a tilted position. The blurred text is reconstructed on a word-by-word basis and may be displayed on a monitor. If the image undergoing test was photographed at an excessive focal length, the system is capable of detecting this and aborting analysis.

Abstract: In a method for fractal coding of signals, in which a domain block d is investigated for a range block r to be transmitted from an original signal, so that, after using the calculation rule r*=v·d+b, an approximated range block r* is generated, v·d being a linear function and b being an offset vector, the offset vector b in general has different components b=(b1, b2, . . . , bn) the offset vector b preferably being composed of weighted orthogonal basic functions of an orthogonal transformation.

Abstract: An apparatus and a concomitant method is disclosed for encoding wavelet trees to generate bitstreams with flexible degrees of spatial, quality and complexity scalabilities. The zerotree entropy (ZTE) encoding method is extended to achieve a fully scalable coding method by implementing a multiscale zerotree coding scheme.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for converting block form image data into raster form image data by using a buffer memory. The apparatus comprises an obtainer for obtaining a number of pixels of given image data in a raster direction, wherein the given image data represents an original image. A calculator of the apparatus calculates an amount of image data temporarily stored in the buffer memory by comparing the amount of image data based on the number of pixels and a capacity of the buffer memory. A storage controller of the apparatus divides the image data based on the amount calculated by the calculator and stores the divided image data into the buffer memory. The apparatus also comprises a converter for generating raster form image data by connecting the divided image data read out from the buffer memory based on the number of pixels of the divided image data in the raster direction and the number of pixels of the original image in the raster direction.

Abstract: The invention provides an information processing apparatus in which data is encoded with a desired compression ratio without producing significant degradation in the quality of the encoded data. The apparatus includes: a monitor for monitoring the amount of encoded image data which has already been generated prior to current image data to be encoded; and an encoder for encoding the current image data to be encoded selectively using either a reversible encoding algorithm or an irreversible encoding algorithm wherein the encoding algorithm is selected depending on the above-described amount of codes.

Abstract: Image data compression apparatus for generating compressed output data to be handled by an output data handling channel having an output data capacity per image comprises a data compressor for compressing image data so as not to exceed a target quantity of data per image; in which the target quantity of data per image is higher than the output data capacity per image.

Abstract: Entered symbols are converted by a code ID table to code IDs numbered in order of increasing code length. Code IDs outputted by the code ID table are replaced by means of an ID conversion table, after which the outputted codes are delivered to a code table and to a code-length table. A Huffman code outputted by the code table is packed by a packer based upon a Huffman code length outputted by a code-length table. In accordance with the local occurrence probability of entered codes, the ID conversion table 103 is updated per prescribed number of symbols. Accordingly, the correspondence between Huffman codes and symbols is altered dynamically and it is possible to prevent a decline in the efficiency of encoding of data in which there is a dynamic variation in the probability distribution (occurrence probability) of symbols.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for image coding. A reference frame memory for storing image data of a reference frame, a search memory for storing image data of a search frame, a motion detection means for reading image data from the reference frame memory and the search memory and calculating it to detect a motion vector, and a judgement means for generating a motion vector distribution from the motion vector detected by the motion detection means on a search range of the search frame M fields or M frame (M is an integer of one or larger) apart from the reference frame and deciding a search position between images N fields or N frames (N is an integer larger than M) part based on the motion vector distribution are provided, and the motion detection means performs motion detection at the search position decided by the judgement means. The search range can be thereby enlarged without increment of the search block transfer rate when an image is coded.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus performs a conversion process according to observation environment light of an output image. The apparatus includes a conversion processor for performing a conversion process on image data, on the basis of light source information corresponding to the observation environment light of the output image. The apparatus has a first mode to perform the conversion process according to a plurality of light source information, and to output in parallel simultaneously the image data converted on the basis of the plurality of light source information, and a second mode to select desired light source information from among the plurality of light source information by an instruction of a user, and to perform the conversion process according to the selected light source information.

Abstract: An apparatus and a concomitant method is disclosed for encoding wavelet trees in a wavelet-based coding technique using backward predictive coding of wavelet transformed coefficients, which addresses both balanced and unbalanced wavelet trees and increases the overall coding efficiency.

Abstract: A digitized image is encoded by detecting edges in the image, encoding the position and sharpness of the detected edges, filtering the image by a low-pass filter to generate a low-frequency image, and encoding the low-frequency image. A digitized image encoded in this way is reconstructed by generating a horizontal edge image and a vertical edge image from the encoded edge position and sharpness information, synthesizing a pair of high-frequency images by filtering the horizontal and vertical edge images with an edge synthesis filter, decoding the low-frequency image, and performing an inverse wavelet transform on the decoded low-frequency image and the high-frequency images.

Abstract: A ruled line extracting apparatus obtains circumscribed rectangles of pixel concatenation regions included in an input pattern, and calculates the most frequent value of their heights. Additionally, the apparatus integrates segments by ignoring a wild card segment, and calculates the most frequent value of height/width of extracted straight lines and segments structuring the straight line. Next, it performs a process for integrating/deleting straight lines using each threshold value based on the highest frequency value. Then, it checks/deletes a straight line according to a distribution of black pixels around the straight line, and recognizes the remaining straight lines as ruled line candidates.

Abstract: A low cost image transform device capable of converting an input image to the linear drawing style in real time is presented. An edge signal of the input image is detected and normalized. The normalized edge signal is then non-linear transformed to decrease the intermediate tone level of the edges so that lines can be seen more clearly. Inversion control is further used to reverse the lightness and darkness of the non-linear transformed edge signal. The inverted signal is subsequently level adjusted and then mixed with a delayed version of the input signal using an externally controlled ratio signal. The resulting output signal is a drawing or painting type image. Since these processes are executed by simple addition or multiplication, the linear drawing style image is obtained in real time, in which edges having high-light and shaded contrast are extracted from the input image.

Abstract: A method detects if an image is compressed. The method determines a block grid within the image and establishes blocks from the determined grid. The method then computes differences between samples inside the established blocks and differences between samples across the established blocks. The method determines that the image is compressed based on characteristics derived from statistics of the computed differences.

Abstract: A method and system for performing instruction of handwriting skills by animated display of the required stroke motions with simultaneous audio verbal description of these same motions, including the means for a student to practice this lesson with use of a pen based input device by which the pen motion is captured, displayed on a computer monitor, and communicated to an evaluation algorithm which rates the quality of the writing. Based on this handwriting evaluation, the system includes means to provide visual and auditory reward, and generate the subsequent instructions and exercise for the student using embedded expert teaching knowledge. In the preferred embodiment, a tablet with a fastening mechanism fixes into position the paper duplicate of the handwriting lesson presented on the computer screen and the pen writing device is a special ballpoint pen capable of leaving a hard copy trace of the student writing.