Patents by Inventor Bruce B. Fast

Bruce B. Fast has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5778103
    Abstract: A method is provided for identifying, correcting, modifying and reporting imperfections and features in pixel images that prevent or hinder proper OCR (Optical Character Recognition) and other document imaging processes. One embodiment of this invention provides that run length compressed images can be analyzed and corrected directly for improved performance. Major steps included in this invention for the enhancement of images for OCR and document imaging are: The detection of undesired printed matter and the deletion of undesired printed matter. Detection of undesired printed matter includes successive generation of entries into an array listing of undesired printed matter to be deleted. Deletion of undesired printed matter follows in a separate step for all types of undesired printed matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: TMSSequoia
    Inventors: Dana R. Allan, Bruce B. Fast
  • Patent number: 5729635
    Abstract: A method is provided for identifying, correcting, modifying and reporting imperfections and features in pixel images that prevent or hinder proper OCR (Optical Character Recognition) and other document imaging processes. One embodiment of this invention provides that run length compressed images can be analyzed and corrected directly for improved performance. Major steps included in this invention for the enhancement of images for OCR and document imaging are: The detection of undesired printed matter and the deletion of undesired printed matter. Detection of undesired printed matter includes successive generation of entries into an array listing of undesired printed matter to be deleted. Deletion of undesired printed matter follows in a separate step for all types of undesired printed matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: TMSSequoia
    Inventors: Bruce B. Fast, Dana R. Allen
  • Patent number: 5625719
    Abstract: For performing optical character recognition and other scanned document image processing the method for unshading dot shaded areas performs a statistical dot size analysis to determine the distribution of the dot sizes in the dot shaded area. In a separate step the most suitable dot size limitation is determined, followed by deleting dots falling within the so determined dot size limitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Inventors: Bruce B. Fast, Dana R. Allen
  • Patent number: 5594814
    Abstract: In a run-length coded document image process a horizontal line in textual matter is eliminated by establishing a work zone around the horizontal line and a buffer zone of predetermined width around the work zone. All black-run-length artifacts that extend outside of the buffer zone are protected, this includes protecting information in the work zone when there is a matching artifact in the opposing buffer zone (Character Reconstruction). All black items that are within the work zone and the buffer zone, and which are not protected are eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Inventors: Bruce B. Fast, Dana R. Allen
  • Patent number: 5594817
    Abstract: A method is provided for identifying, correcting, modifying and reporting imperfections and features in pixel images that prevent or hinder proper OCR (Optical Character Recognition) and other document imaging processes. One embodiment of this invention provides that run length compressed images can be analyzed and corrected directly for improved performance. Major steps included in this invention for the enhancement of images for OCR and document imaging are: The detection, correction and reporting of skew from text or graphical lines. The detection, correction, and reporting of varying image registration. The detection, conversion and reporting of inverse type. The detection, removal and reporting of dot shading and lines with protection of characters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Inventors: Bruce B. Fast, Dana R. Allen
  • Patent number: 5594815
    Abstract: The process for enhancing images of scanned documents identifies a variety of items in the scanned document which could make optical character recognition and other document image processing difficult or impossible. These items include identifying skew, registration, speck, lines intersecting printed matter, reverse printing, shaded printed matter. The process allows to register such items, take steps to correct skew and image registration, as well as reverse invert printing. Items to be removed are listed for deletion in one step. The image of the scanned document is stored and processed as a run-lngth coded image, except for a some operations in which parts of the run length coded image are converted to pixel image code for particular substeps of the process. The result of such a substep, e.g. a modified image, is then re-converted to run-length code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Inventors: Bruce B. Fast, Dana R. Allen
  • Patent number: 5590224
    Abstract: A method is provided for identifying, correcting, modifying and reporting imperfections and features in pixel images that prevent or hinder proper OCR (Optical Character Recognition) and other document imaging processes. One embodiment of this invention provides that run length compressed images can be analyzed and corrected directly for improved performance. Major steps included in this invention for the enhancement of images for OCR and document imaging are:the detection, correction and reporting of skew from text or graphical lines;the detection, correction, and reporting of varying image registration;the detection, conversion and reporting of inverse type;the detection, removal and reporting of dot shading and lines with protection of characters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Inventors: Bruce B. Fast, Dana R. Allen
  • Patent number: 5579414
    Abstract: In a run-length represented image an image area with reverse print is recognized. Two borders (left and right) are determined and in a plurality of steps the run transitions are removed, first on the left border of the area and then at the right border of the area, causing all runs within the area of reverse print to take on the reverse color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Inventors: Bruce B. Fast, Dana R. Allen