Abstract: A system and method for processing documents is described. The system and method provide for executing a command as part of the execution of an application program, where execution of the command causes the transfer of the document between a processing device in a computer system and a peripheral device. The present invention also provides for transferring the document data between the processing device and the peripheral device in response to the command. The present invention further provides for archiving the document data in a memory in the computer system in response to the command and transparently to the execution of the application program.

Abstract: A system and method for processing documents is described. The system and method provide for executing a command as part of the execution of an application program, where execution of the command causes the transfer of the document between a processing device in a computer system and a peripheral device. The present invention also provides for transferring the document data between the processing device and the peripheral device in response to the command. The present invention further provides for archiving the document data in a memory in the computer system in response to the command and transparently to the execution of the application program.

Abstract: An example page taken from each document in a document database is processed by a page processor to yield an iconic representation for the example page. To form the iconic representation, the example page is segmented into text regions, line art regions, photograph regions, etc., and each region is reduced in a manner appropriate for that image type. Text is replaced with a block font and reduced, while graphics are reduced in level and/or spatial resolution. The reduced regions of the example page are then reassembled into the icon. When multiple icons are printed on a guide page, a user can visually identify the icon for an example page of a target document and supply the icon, or a label for the icon, to a document retrieval system, which selects candidate matching documents from the document database. For simplified processing, characters can be blocked and words formed into solid line segments with lengths proportional to word lengths.

Abstract: A calendar-based user interface for electronically stored documents is provided by virtue of the present invention. Each document has an associated time. A calendar view is constructed including an icon representing a particular document. The icon is presented at a location corresponding to the time of the document. In one embodiment, the calendar view includes a month view with each date having a corresponding area for presentation of document icons for documents processed on that date.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving a text image represented as a bitmap in a digital system. Character instances in the bitmap image are recognized and categorized according to their character type. The instances are used to derive a prototype character for each character type. The prototype character is an average of the instances, thus providing for cancellation of extraneous marks in the bitmap image. The prototype character is substituted for each character instance of its type in the bitmap image thus providing for uniformity of characters in a regenerated version of the original bitmap.

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: An automatic archiving system that makes document archiving largely transparent to the user. In one embodiment, documents scanned in or printed during the course of office equipment operation are automatically archived. For example, an office local area network (LAN) may interconnect a copier, a printer, a fax machine, and a document management workstation. Whenever, a document is copied, printed, or faxed, a document image is archived by the document management workstation without further user intervention. A single user command results in the document being copied and archived, printed and archived, or faxed and archived.

Abstract: An example page taken from each document in a document database is processed by a page processor to yield an iconic representation for the example page. To form the iconic representation, the example page is segmented into text regions, line art regions, photograph regions, etc., and each region is reduced in a manner appropriate for that image type. Text is replaced with a block font and reduced, while graphics are reduced in level and/or spatial resolution. The reduced regions of the example page are then reassembled into the icon. When multiple icons are printed on a guide page, a user can visually identify the icon for an example page of a target document and supply the icon, or a label for the icon, to a document retrieval system, which selects candidate matching documents from the document database. For simplified processing characters can be blocked and words formed into solid line segments with lengths proportional to word lengths.

Abstract: An electronic document management system that takes advantage of advanced document analysis techniques. The electronic document management system may provide automatic archiving of documents and retrieval without the need to navigate through a directory structure or specify a filename. Document comparison is facilitated by automatic retrieval of a previous version of a document. A digital copier alerts a user when a document to be copies already exists electronically within a database.

Abstract: An improved document management system with high-speed retrieval by example retrieves a document attaching a target document, in whole or part, by comparing descriptors of documents. A descriptor is derived from a pattern of labels, where each label is associated with a character, or more precisely, a character bounding box. A bounding box is found by examining contiguous pixels in an image. The particular label associated with a bounding box depends on the value of a metric measured from that bounding box. In one system, the metric is the spacing between the bounding box and an adjacent bounding box, in which the labels approximately reflect a pattern of word lengths. In other systems, where words lengths are not present, the metric might be pixel density and the pattern of labels approximately reflect a pattern of denser characters and sparser characters.

Abstract: A system for manipulating image fragments so that image processing devices such as copiers, fax machines and scanners may efficiently process oversize images. The system provides a user interface so that when an oversize image is scanned in multiple parts to produce multiple image fragments the user can manipulate the image fragments by performing drag, drop and merge operations on the image fragments. Embodiments of the invention include the use of a touch screen or mouse to allow the user to perform the operations. Other operations are selectable such as rotating an image fragment, zooming in or out on portions of the displayed fragments, merging the fragments into an integrated image and storing or printing the image fragments.

Abstract: An example page taken from each document in a document database is processed by a page processor to yield an iconic representation for the example page. To form the iconic representation, the example page is segmented into text regions, line art regions, photograph regions, etc., and each region is reduced in a manner appropriate for that image type. Text is replaced with a block font and reduced, while graphics are reduced in level and/or spatial resolution). The reduced regions of the example page are then reassembled into the icon. When multiple icons are printed on a guide page, a user can visually identify the icon for an example page of a target document and supply the icon, or a label for the icon, to a document retrieval system, which selects candidate matching documents from the document database. For simplified processing characters can be blocked and words formed into solid line segments with lengths proportional to word lengths.

Abstract: Automatic detection of defective pixel locations from digital images of scanned documents is provided. A list of tentative defect locations is kept, and as each document is scanned, entries are added to the list. As subsequent documents occur with the same color pixel in the same location, a count for that tentative defect location is incremented, but if the color of the pixel in that location changes, the count is reduced or zeroed. If a count for a location is incremented above a threshold, the tentative defect is flagged as an actual defect and a defect detector outputs or flags that pixel location as being an actual defect location. If memory size is constrained, the number of entries in the defect list is capped at some maximum size and a tentative defect location is added to the list only if an entry is available.

Abstract: A method for retrieving user-supplied information from a scanned version of a completed document is described. The method includes the steps of obtaining a first image of the document having information printed thereon in its blank format before other information has been added to it by the user. A second image of the document is obtained after information has been added to it by the user. The two images are aligned, and for each pixel in the first image which corresponds to information on the document, those pixels are deleted from the second image to create an image which corresponds to subtraction of the first image from the second image. Finally, a step is performed to electronically restore the information added by the user which was deleted during the subtraction operation.

Abstract: A system for restoring images with undefined pixel values at known locations is described. The threshold value and a neighborhood configuration are defined and are used to restore the image. The neighborhood configuration defines a geometric region, typically a fixed number of pixels, surrounding the target pixel. The threshold value specifies a number of pixels in the neighborhood configuration for which pixel values are known. In our system, for each pixel in one of the unknown regions an analysis is performed over the entire area defined by the neighborhood configuration. If the threshold number of pixels within that region is known, then the value of the unknown pixel is calculated. If the threshold value is not achieved, then analysis proceeds to the next pixel location. By continuing the process and reducing the threshold value when necessary or desirable, the complete image can be restored.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for formatting a document and creating a best document layout from an input list of picture and text objects is disclosed. The method includes calculating multiple document layouts while maintaining the correct reading order of the picture and text objects at all times. The method positions each picture and text object at multiple anchor points to create multiple document layouts, and then selects a best document layout which is the layout using the least number of pages to display the entire list of objects. If more than one layout uses the least number of pages, the layout positioning the least number of objects on the last page is the best layout.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for placing digital data on plain paper. One embodiment of the present invention allows for the digital data to undergo encryption before being placed on the plain paper. In one embodiment, a photocopier is used for transferring digital encrypted data to and from a plain piece of paper. The photocopier allows digital data to be stored onto plain paper after encryption, such that the digital data is secure. The photocopier also includes a device to recognize the encrypted digitized pixels on the page such that they may be decrypted and the original image reproduced.