Abstract: The present invention provides novel microfluidic devices and methods that are useful for performing high-throughput screening assays and combinatorial chemistry. The invention provides for aqueous based emulsions containing uniquely labeled cells, enzymes, nucleic acids, etc., wherein the emulsions further comprise primers, labels, probes, and other reactants. An oil based carrier-fluid envelopes the emulsion library on a microfluidic device, such that a continuous channel provides for flow of the immiscible fluids, to accomplish pooling, coalescing, mixing, sorting, detection, etc., of the emulsion library.

Abstract: To print a certified document, a user may select or a system may receive a selection of a document to be certified. The system identifies a security template to be used based on the document and/or capabilities of the print device on which the document will be printed. The system may display the document with a non-secure overlay of the selected security template, add a unique security element to the document according to the template, and cause the document to be printed at the selected print device with the added security element without permitting the added security element to be fully displayed or printed on any other device.

Abstract: To print a certified document, a user may select or a system may receive a selection of a document to be certified. The system identifies a security template to be used based on the document and/or capabilities of the print device on which the document will be printed. The system may display the document with a non-secure overlay of the selected security template, add a unique security element to the document according to the template, and cause the document to be printed at the selected print device with the added security element without permitting the added security element to be fully displayed or printed on any other device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that facilitate identifying objects in a document (e.g., a PDF document) for automatic image enhancement (AIE). A PDF document is “chunked” or segmented into chunks, and boundaries between chunks are identified as real or imaginary. Chunks sharing imaginary boundaries are combined, while real boundaries are retained, to generate “de-chunked” objects. These objects are then classified, and an AIE application is executed on objects meeting pre-specified classification criteria. In this manner, objects of r which AIE is not desired are not subjected to the AIE application, thereby saving time and processing resources associated with enhancing the document.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for performing spatial gamut mapping on a received input color image having a plurality of pixels. A standard gamut-mapping algorithm is applied to the input color image to produce a gamut-mapped color image. A difference is computed between a selected channel of the input color image and the gamut-mapped image to produce a difference image. A local measure of complexity is derived for a given pixel in the difference image. One or more parameter values of a spatial bilateral filter are obtained from a lookup table based on the computed local measure of complexity. The spatial bilateral filter is applied, using the obtained parameter values, to the current pixel of the difference image to produce a modified pixel in a modified difference image. Thereafter, a modified gamut-mapped color image is obtained from the modified difference image and the gamut-mapped color image.

Abstract: A method and system convert an original digital image being represented by a first color space to a digital image being represented by a second color space by transforming the original image data represented by a first color space to second image data being represented by a second color space, the transformation causing the colors of the transformed image data to be substantially encodable in the second color space. The second image data represented by the second color space is transformed to third image data represented by the first color space, the transformation causing the colors of the transformed image data to be substantially encodable in the first color space. Distortions in the third image data represented by the first color space are corrected to form corrected image data represented by the first color space, and the corrected image data represented by the first color space is transformed to fourth image data represented by the second color space.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for performing spatial gamut mapping on a received input color image having a plurality of pixels. A standard gamut-mapping algorithm is applied to the input color image to produce a gamut-mapped color image. A difference is computed between a selected channel of the input color image and the gamut-mapped image to produce a difference image. A local measure of complexity is derived for a given pixel in the difference image. One or more parameter values of a spatial bilateral filter are obtained from a lookup table based on the computed local measure of complexity. The spatial bilateral filter is applied, using the obtained parameter values, to the current pixel of the difference image to produce a modified pixel in a modified difference image. Thereafter, a modified gamut-mapped color image is obtained from the modified difference image and the gamut-mapped color image.

Abstract: An image characterized by an original image gamut is received in an imaging device characterized by a device gamut. The original image gamut is enhanced to a first set of modified color values that occupy a greater fraction of the device gamut than the original image gamut. The modified color values of each pixel are mapped to new color values within the device gamut.

Abstract: The present application is a method of producing digital image objects with enhanced halftone edges. The method operates by selecting a target pixel location within the digital image; observing a set of pixels within a pixel observation window superimposed on the digital image relative to the target pixel location; generating edge-state codes for a plurality of pairs of neighboring vectors of pixels within the pixel observation window; generating edge-identification codes from the plurality of edge-state codes using at least one look-up table; and, utilizing the edge-identification code to select and apply to the digital image at the target pixel either a first halftone screen having a first fundamental frequency and a first angle or a second halftone screen having a second fundamental frequency and a second angle, wherein the second frequency and second angle are harmonically matched to the first frequency and first angle.

Abstract: A method and system convert an original digital image being represented by a first color space to a digital image being represented by a second color space by transforming the original image data represented by a first color space to second image data being represented by a second color space, the transformation causing the colors of the transformed image data to be substantially encodable in the second color space. The second image data represented by the second color space is transformed to third image data represented by the first color space, the transformation causing the colors of the transformed image data to be substantially encodable in the first color space. Distortions in the third image data represented by the first color space are corrected to form corrected image data represented by the first color space, and the corrected image data represented by the first color space is transformed to fourth image data represented by the second color space.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that facilitate identifying objects in a document (e.g., a PDF document) for automatic image enhancement (AIE). A PDF document is “chunked” or segmented into chunks, and boundaries between chunks are identified as real or imaginary. Chunks sharing imaginary boundaries are combined, while real boundaries are retained, to generate “de-chunked” objects. These objects are then classified, and an AIE application is executed on objects meeting pre-specified classification criteria. In this manner, objects of r which AIE is not desired are not subjected to the AIE application, thereby saving time and processing resources associated with enhancing the document.

Abstract: The teachings provided herein disclose a method for corner sharpening in the display of a bitmapped digital image. The method includes the steps of selecting a target pixel location within the digital image; observing a set of pixels within a pixel observation window superimposed on the digital image relative to the target pixel location; generating edge-state codes for a plurality of pairs of neighboring vectors of pixels within the pixel observation window; generating corner-identification codes from the plurality of edge-state codes using at least one look-up table so as to thereby identify corner pixels; and, assigning a pixel value in an output image plane in a location corresponding to the target pixel in the input image, such that assigned value extends a corner where indicated by a corner identification code, thereby producing a sharpening effect. The method may be used for improving the print quality of line-art corners and other fine details as found in both font and image data.

Abstract: The teachings provided herein disclose a method for the identification of edge pixels within a digital image. The method operates by generating edge-state codes for a plurality of pairs of neighboring vectors of pixels within a given observation window, and generating an edge-identification code from the plurality of edge-state codes using a look-up table. The edge identification provides information that can be used for subsequent treatments such as rendering anti-aliased pixels, selecting preferred halftoning and tone reproduction for edge pixels, corner sharpening, and object recognition and segmentation.

Abstract: The teachings provided herein disclose an image processing method for rendering a digital image possessing anti-aliased pixels by selecting a target pixel location within the digital image; observing a set of pixels within a pixel observation window superimposed on the digital image relative to the target pixel location; generating edge-state codes for a plurality of pairs of neighboring vectors of pixels within the pixel observation window; generating edge-identification codes from the plurality of edge-state codes using at least one look-up table; and, utilizing the edge-identification codes to select and apply to the digital image at the target pixel either anti-aliased rendering or conventional halftoning. The anti-aliasing may employ pixel signals that are high addressable and directionally biased to a particular orientation.

Abstract: An image characterized by an original image gamut is received in an imaging device characterized by a device gamut. The original image gamut is enhanced to a first set of modified color values that occupy a greater fraction of the device gamut than the original image gamut. The modified color values of each pixel are mapped to new color values within the device gamut.

Abstract: The teachings provided herein disclose an image processing method for rendering a digital image possessing anti-aliased pixels by selecting a target pixel location within the digital image; observing a set of pixels within a pixel observation window superimposed on the digital image relative to the target pixel location; generating edge-state codes for a plurality of pairs of neighboring vectors of pixels within the pixel observation window; generating edge-identification codes from the plurality of edge-state codes using at least one look-up table; and, utilizing the edge-identification codes to select and apply to the digital image at the target pixel either anti-aliased rendering or conventional halftoning. The anti-aliasing may employ pixel signals that are high addressable and directionally biased to a particular orientation.

Abstract: The teachings provided herein disclose a method for producing digital image objects with enhanced halftone edges. The method operates by selecting a target pixel location within the digital image; observing a set of pixels within a pixel observation window superimposed on the digital image relative to the target pixel location; generating edge-state codes for a plurality of pairs of neighboring vectors of pixels within the pixel observation window; generating edge-identification codes from the plurality of edge-state codes using at least one look-up table; and, utilizing the edge-identification code to select and apply to the digital image at the target pixel either a first halftone screen having a first fundamental frequency and a first angle or a second halftone screen having a second fundamental frequency and a second angle, wherein the second frequency and second angle are harmonically matched to the first frequency and first angle.

Abstract: The teachings provided herein disclose a method for corner sharpening in the display of a bitmapped digital image. The method includes the steps of selecting a target pixel location within the digital image; observing a set of pixels within a pixel observation window superimposed on the digital image relative to the target pixel location; generating edge-state codes for a plurality of pairs of neighboring vectors of pixels within the pixel observation window; generating corner-identification codes from the plurality of edge-state codes using at least one look-up table so as to thereby identify corner pixels; and, assigning a pixel value in an output image plane in a location corresponding to the target pixel in the input image, such that assigned value extends a corner where indicated by a corner identification code, thereby producing a sharpening effect. The method may be used for improving the print quality of line-art corners and other fine details as found in both font and image data.

Abstract: The teachings provided herein disclose a method for the identification of edge pixels within a digital image. The method operates by generating edge-state codes for a plurality of pairs of neighboring vectors of pixels within a given observation window, and generating an edge-identification code from the plurality of edge-state codes using a look-up table. The edge identification provides information that can be used for subsequent treatments such as rendering anti-aliased pixels, selecting preferred halftoning and tone reproduction for edge pixels, corner sharpening, and object recognition and segmentation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus include user interface and processing techniques that provide a solution for configuring an image processing path, and associated image processing module parameters, with minimal user input. The solution consists of two key components—a set of easily understood categories that describe the desired device output, and a system for mapping those categories to parameterized image processing paths. A method for processing a document comprises accepting a selection of a purpose for which a document is to be used, determining processing to be performed on the document based on the selection by loading rules controlling processing of the document based on the selection, wherein the rules comprises at least one script, scanning the document, determining a content of at least a portion of the document, applying the loaded rules to determine at least one technology to be used to process the document, and processing the document using the determined technology.