Abstract: Systems and methods are described that facilitate encrypting document status information into a scanned image of a document using a mixed raster content document parsing protocol, in accordance with various features described herein. A text string comprising status information can be imaged into a mask layer that overlays the scanned image. Additionally or alternatively, the text string can be encrypted into a binary image that is encoded into the mask layer and overlaid on the image. The image itself is parsed into a background layer and one or more mask layers comprising different portions of the document. The encrypted mask layer comprising the text string and/or binary image can be generated using the same color as the background layer, such that the document status information is invisible and does not cause unwanted artifacts during printing or conversion of the document between formats.

Abstract: An image background remover is disclosed that performs background removal of JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) compressed image data without first performing a complete decompression of the compressed image data.

Abstract: An image processing system as disclosed, including at least one input processing device functionally coupled to at least one output processing device, document information configured in a format such as scanning format or a document creating format converted to a common exchange format, and a common exchange format being converted to a format such as a document viewing format or document printing format. An image processing method also disclosed, including inputting document information, converting inputted document information configured in a document format such as a scanning format or a document creating format to a common exchange format, and converting the common exchange format to a document format such as a document viewing format or a document marking format.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for de-screening an image signal utilizing a bank of filters to provide several increasingly blurred versions of the original image signal is disclosed. At any given time, one or more of the blurred versions are created, on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The outputs from a selected pair of blurred signals are then blended together to create a variable blending output that can vary smoothly from no blurring to maximum blurring in a smooth and continuous manner. In addition, the apparatus and methods provide enhanced text and line art by using a variable un-sharp masking mechanism with independent post-blur sharpening control, and detect and enhance neutral (no-color) output pixels.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that facilitate mitigating searchable electronic document size increases associated with embedded font definition files by embedding only font size information. When a document is scanned or converted into a PDF or XPS document image, glyphless font size information describing character dimensions for fonts used in the document is embedded into the document image. The glyphless font size information is on the order of a few kilobytes in size, and is later read by a searcher to facilitate highlighting search terms identified in the document image in response to a user query. A highlight block is generated to have a width substantially equal to the combined widths of the characters in the queried term, which are described in the glyphless font information. The highlight block is then overlaid on the image of the queried term, and presented to the user.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that facilitate encrypting document status information into a scanned image of a document using a mixed raster content document parsing protocol, in accordance with various features described herein. A text string comprising status information can be imaged into a mask layer that overlays the scanned image. Additionally or alternatively, the text string can be encrypted into a binary image that is encoded into the mask layer and overlaid on the image. The image itself is parsed into a background layer and one or more mask layers comprising different portions of the document. The encrypted mask layer comprising the text string and/or binary image can be generated using the same color as the background layer, such that the document status information is invisible and does not cause unwanted artifacts during printing or conversion of the document between formats.

Abstract: A method and a system for dynamically thresholding an image signal. The system comprises a computing block. The computing block receives the image signal and a minimum and a maximum within each of a set of windows centered on the current pixel in the image signal, and computes, for each of the windows, based on the current pixel and the respective minimum and maximum, a respective indicator representing the distance and direction of the current pixel relative to a respective threshold plane, and outputs a control signal based on the indicators.

Abstract: A method and system for de-screening an image signal utilizing a bank of filters to provide several increasingly blurred versions of the original image signal is disclosed. At any given time, only two of these blurred versions are created, on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The outputs from the selected pair of blurred signals are then blended together to create a variable blending output that can vary smoothly from no blurring to maximum blurring in a smooth and continuous manner. In addition, the method provides the capability to enhance text and line art by using a variable un-sharp masking mechanism with independent post-blur sharpening control, and the capability to detect and enhance neutral (no-color) output pixels.

Abstract: The image data is analyzed to identify blobs having similar characteristics. Various blobs are gathered together and placed into a foreground plane based on one or more color characteristics and/or spatial characteristics. Each blob gathered onto a foreground plane has a color that is similar to a color associated with that foreground plane. One or more portions of the image data that is not mapped into any foreground plane may be mapped into a background plane.

Abstract: The embodiments herein provide a method for maintaining information about scanned documents that keeps such information with the physical documents. With embodiments herein this information is maintained in both physical (printed cover sheets) and electronic formats (magnetic media, optical media, electronic storage, etc.). The embodiments herein scan a physical document into electronic memory as a first electronic document. In addition, the methods herein print markings on a cover sheet to be maintained with the physical document that was scanned. The markings are described as being computer readable information because the markings are computer readable and comprise information such as scan parameters and an electronic storage location of the first electronic document.

Abstract: Image data is analyzed line by line to identify pixels having similar color and edge characteristics. The pixels on one line are linked to pixels on another line, if they share similar characteristics. The linked pixels are then grouped together in regions and the average color of the region is calculated. An image map is generated that identifies the regions to which the pixels belong, along with a final table of the regions appearing in the image.

Abstract: A method and a system for computing the function value of an input node based on function values of known nodes. A database of known nodes and their corresponding function values is formed. The known nodes are located such that a distance between any two adjacent known nodes is an integer power-of-two number. The database is searched for a first node such that the input node is located between the first node and an adjacent second node. The difference ? between the input node and the first node is computed. Then ? is shifted to the right by k positions, k being the logarithm in base 2 of the distance between the first and second nodes. The input node function value is computed by combining the first node function value with the product of the shifted ? and the difference between the function values of the second and first nodes. When used in MRC context, the above method and system is applied to each of the color MRC planes individually, instead of the merged output.

Abstract: A blob identifier uses edge continuity signal to analyze how to combine the current pixel into an existing blob or into the background image, or start a new blob. The blob identifier outputs a list of blob identifiers on a line-by-line basis.

Abstract: An efficient method and system for eliminating halftone screens from scanned documents while preserving the quality and sharpness of text and line-art is disclosed. The method and system utilizes one or more independent channels with different sensitivities (e.g., Max, High, and Low) to provide high quality frequency and magnitude estimation. The most sensitive channel (Max) derives the frequency estimate, and the remaining channels (e.g., High and Low) are combined to create the screen magnitude. The Max channel is the most sensitive and will usually report the existence of frequencies even when the screen is very weak. Therefore, the screen frequency must be additionally qualified by the screen magnitude. The screen magnitude can be interpreted as the level of confidence that the local neighborhood represents half-toned data.

Abstract: A highly efficient method and system for eliminating halftone screens from scanned documents while preserving the quality and sharpness of text and line-art is disclosed. The method and system utilizes a single channel screen frequency estimator module, which generates a screen frequency estimate for image data. The module generates a signal based on the highly filtered image signal at low contrast levels, and based on a reliable estimate to the halftone frequency at higher contrast levels. The single channel screen estimate module has adequate performance in resolution ranges from 300 to 600 dpi.

Abstract: The image data is processed into a background plane and a plurality of foreground planes. Holes are inserted onto the background plane, in regions which are assigned to a foreground plane. The background plane is sub-sampled, and holes remaining in the sub-sampled image are filled with the average color of the non-zero sub-sampled pixels over pre-determined blocks such as JPEG blocks. If a block is entirely made of holes, the block is filled with a constant color that is propagated from the average color of a previous block. The resulting background plane is far smoother than the original image data and thus can be effectively sub-sampled and highly compressed without adverse deterioration in reconstructed image quality.

Abstract: A method and a system for separating an image signal into a set of image planes in accordance with a control signal. The system comprises a selector module, an edge processing module and a foreground/background separation module. The selector module receives the control signal and produces a selector signal. The edge processing module receives the selector signal and produces a decision signal. The foreground/background separation module receives the image signal and the decision signal, and outputs a foreground signal and a background signal, a representation of the current pixel of the image signal being included in at least one of the foreground signal and the background.

Abstract: The image data is initially processed in a manner that is similar to that used to convert the image data into 3-layer mixed raster content format. After the image data is initially processed through a first stage of the three-layer segmentation process, rather than completing the segmentation into foreground and background planes, the image data is analyzed to identify regions having similar image characteristics. These regions are grouped together in cluster if they share color characteristics and are spatially close. The clusters are then sorted according to their size, and placed into a binary foreground plane based on one or more color characteristics. Each cluster gathered into a binary foreground plane having the same color as the color of the cluster.

Abstract: Methods and systems include a dependent min-max module the receives image data and generates a dependent Min value and a dependent Max value within a window around a pixel of interest. A dynamic threshold module, based on the dependent Min and Max values, generates continuity data and enhanced data suitable for identifying, for example, blobs.

Abstract: A method for improving mixed raster compression segmentation utilizes a second stage of a process to generate the MRC Selector plane by operating on a multibit selector (GraySel) signal which is produced by a first stage process. The first stage methods used to generated the GraySel can be PDL or scan oriented. The binary Selector signal produced by the second stage minimizes the compression noise evident in the reconstructed image. This second stage processing relies on knowing the size of the JPEG minimum coded unit (MCU) which will be used to compress the segmented Foreground and Background planes. The idea is to move false (soft) edges away from the real (hard) edges by as large a distance as possible up to the point where they fall off the boundary of the MCU block. Thus a soft edge which occurs between two hard edges is either eliminated or repositioned to the midpoint and a soft edge between a hard edge and the MCU boundary is moved to the boundary.