Abstract: When restoring a scanned halftone image of a damaged document, parameters of the halftone structure (geometry) are estimated, as is an intended contone gray level for damaged portions of the image. Locations of halftone cell tiles in the scanned image are determined based on the halftone structure, and a halftone profile model is generated using the estimated halftone parameters and contone information. Image segments are aligned using global features for coarse alignment and halftone structure for fine alignment, such as in cases where the scanned halftone image contains unconnected fragments. Missing parts of the damaged document image are filled in using the halftone profile model and estimated contone values.

Abstract: An image processing system, apparatus and method are disclosed for corner enhancing a digital image for rendering on an image output device. According to one exemplary method, pixels associated with corner regions of the digital image are determined using a plurality of vector windows. Subsequently, one or more corner pixels are modified to sharpen the rendering of the digital image on the image output device.

Abstract: A method of achieving process-direction sub-raster magnification adjustment using non-redundant overwriting. The raster imager provides overwriting while the image path provides non-redundant data for each pass according to the desired magnification adjustment. The same laser power level can be used for the multiple writes, or optionally, it may be varied to further improve spatial resolution of the adjustment.

Abstract: The present application describes a method for the creation of customized/personalized videos and displays from stock audio/video databases that provide information in a particular subject area. The described method can be applied to many varied fields. For each field, a list of possible applications of customized videos is presented. The customized/personalized videos can be generated from a collection of stock video clips and personal data (i.e. databases) by: 1) collecting and establishing a stock information database 2) collecting personalized information/desired data; 3) parsing, sorting, and indexing stock video segments to meet a particular user's needs; 4) defining a workflow of the contents based on time, location, or cause-effect relationship of contents; and, 5) using video creation tools such as a scripting based approach (e.g., AVISynth©) and/or a playlist interface to stream or assemble the video clips.

Abstract: Raster Output Scanners and printing systems are presented along with methods for mitigating banding in printing systems, in which electronic banding compensation is employed using cross-process direction light source intensity banding correction profiles tailored to corresponding reflective facets of a rotating polygon.

Abstract: As set forth herein, computer-implemented methods and systems facilitate halftoning using a parametrically controlled spot function based on triangle tessellation, which in turn facilitates dot growth control of periodic halftone using an irregular seed structure. The spot function determines the shape of the halftone dot used to reproduce a given pixel. The spot function is well suited for growing halftone dots arrayed on a non-regular grid and can also be used for grids with regular order. The spot function includes adjustable parameters for controlling its sharpness and slope.

Abstract: This disclosure provides method and systems of recording a predetermined event associated with a moving object, the predetermined event captured with an image capturing unit and one or more of the associated frames compressed, producing one or more motion vectors. According to one exemplary embodiment, vehicle counting is performed based on motion vectors produced during the data compression process, either inline or offline.

Abstract: A method for determining the occurrence of a short-term parking violation includes receiving video data in a sequence of frames provided by an image capture device monitoring a parking area over a duration of time. The method includes determining the presence of a vehicle captured in at least one of the sequence of frames. The method tracks the location of the vehicle across the sequence of frames. The method further determines a spatial location of the vehicle in each frame. The method includes determining spatio-temporal information describing the location of the vehicle as a function of time by associating the spatial location of the vehicle at each frame with the time instant at which the frame was captured. In response to the spatio-temporal information indicating that the vehicle becomes stationary, the method determines a duration that the vehicle is stationary using the determined spatio-temporal information of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for determining parking availability includes receiving video data from a sequence of frames taken from an image capture device that is monitoring a parking area. The method includes determining background and foreground images in an initial frame of the sequence of frames. The method further includes updating the background and foreground images in each of the sequence of frames following the initial frame. The method also includes determining a length of a parking space using the determined background and foreground images. The determining includes computing a pixel distance between a foreground image and one of an adjacent foreground image and an end of the parking area. The determining further includes mapping the pixel distance to an actual distance for estimating the length of the parking space.

Abstract: A method for determining a parking violation includes receiving video data as a sequence of frames provided by a camera. The method includes defining a location of an exclusion zone in the video data. The method includes detecting a vehicle located in the defined exclusion zone. The detecting includes determining a background in an initial frame of the video data and determining a background in a select frame by applying a predetermined updating process. The detecting includes subtracting the background of the select frame from the initial frame to obtain an image difference. The detecting includes classifying the pixels in the image difference as foreground or background pixels and classifying the pixels in the foreground image as vehicle or non-vehicle pixels. The method includes determining a duration that the detected vehicle is in the exclusion zone based on a number of the sequence of frames including the detected vehicle.

Abstract: A method and a system for determining a parking boundary violation includes receiving video data from a sequence of frames taken from an image capture device monitoring a parking area including at least a single parking space. A boundary is determined for defining at least one parking space in the parking area. A vehicle is detected in the parking area. A determination is made whether the detected vehicle is violating a parking regulation based on a position and size of the vehicle within the boundary.

Abstract: A method and a system for determining a parking angle violation includes receiving video data from a sequence of frames taken from an image capture device monitoring a parking area. The method further includes determining a first line in a current frame where the line represents a nominal orientation of the parking area. The method includes detecting a presence of a vehicle in the parking area. The method includes determining a second line in the frame where the line represents the orientation of the detected vehicle. The method further includes computing an angle between the first and second lines. The method includes determining whether the detected vehicle is violating a parking regulation based on the computed angle.

Abstract: Described herein is a method of determining parking lot occupancy from digital images, including a set-up procedure that includes receiving a layout of a parking lot and estimating parking space volume for at least one viewing angle and the probability that an observed pixel belongs to the parking space volume. The method further includes acquiring one or more image frames of the parking lot from at least one digital camera; performing pixel classification using a vehicle detector on the acquired image frames to determine a likelihood that a pixel belongs to a vehicle; computing a probability that a parking space is occupied by a vehicle based on a spatially varying membership probability density function and a likelihood of vehicle pixels within a region of interest; and determining parking lot vacancy via a comparison of the computed probability that a parking space is occupied by a vehicle to a pre-determined threshold.

Abstract: As set forth herein, computer-implemented methods and systems facilitate halftoning using boundaries and centers of a polygonal tiling with a parameterized spot function that operates within the tiles. Defining the halftone structure includes defining the polygonal tiling with a specification of the polygon boundaries and center, and setting and applying parameters of the spot function, which utilizes center-to-boundary distances. The tiling can be defined explicitly, by defining a tile structure, or providing centers, one per polygon, and vertices for the polygons. The vertices and centers are used to generate the polygon boundaries. The polygonal tiling can be regular (e.g., repetitive) or irregular, and can also be varied in a manner adapted to the image content or to data that is being embedded.

Abstract: Provided is a 3-colorant DOD (dot-off-dot) periodic halftone geometry used to render an image. The DOD 3-colorant halftone geometry includes a base colorant halftone screen with hexagonally tiled halftone dots arranged in a hexagonal pattern, the hexagonally tiled halftone dots having a first fundamental frequency vector Vh1, a second fundamental frequency vector Vh2, and a third fundamental frequency vector Vh3, where Vh3 is substantially equivalent to Vh1+Vh2.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that facilitate compensating for slow scan direction displacement (e.g., skew and/or bow) defects in a raster line using slow-scan electronic registration. Input image data is buffered at low-resolution (e.g., 600 spi or the like). Displacement compensation is performed as the low-resolution contone image data is converted to high-resolution (e.g., 2400 spi or the like), and a displaced (e.g., staggered) halftoning threshold array is indexed to account for detected displacement. Displacement compensation is again performed during conversion of the high-resolution contone image data to high-resolution binary image data that is used to generate an output image.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for halftoning an image are provided using a parametrically controlled hexagonal halftone dot shape threshold function that reduces tone reproduction irregularities in the halftoned image which can occur at darker gray levels. The halftoning transforms image data representing contone image pixels into halftoned image data in the form of clustered-dot hexagonal halftone screens for representing halftone dots of a halftoned image. Weight parameters can be used to control the rate at which a respective vertex of a halftone dot approaches a vertex of a neighboring halftone dot in relation to gray level. The hexagonal halftone dot shape threshold function can also control the shape of the sides of the halftone dots.

Abstract: As set forth herein, computer-implemented methods and systems facilitate employing a single stochastic screen defined up to a specified transition level. The dots at the specified level are connected to form a triangle tessellation with an associated spot function. For up to three colorants, a vector screening technique is employed, which involves a first colorant dot being grown from the vertices, second colorant dot grown from the triangle center, and a third colorant dot grown from the side midpoints. Growth in this manner ensures separation of colorants up to a certain density level. In cases where fourth colorant is to be used at a given pixel, the fourth colorant can be added using methods typically used for clustered screens, such as stochastic screening of the lightest colorant, in order to mitigate color shift sensitivity issues.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein are directed to detecting and/or measuring distortions of substrate media that can occur during a printing process. The distortion can be detected and/or measured using a composite image generated from a reference image having a first periodic pattern and print image, disposed on a test substrate media, having a second periodic pattern. The first and second periodic patterns are specified so that the composite image includes a moiré pattern having moiré fringes resulting from interference between the first periodic pattern associated with the reference image and the second periodic pattern associated with the print image. The moiré fringes can be used to detect and calculate an amount of distortion of the test substrate media.

Abstract: Disclosed are moiré-free color halftoning methods, apparatus and systems to digitally reproduce an original color image. The disclosed embodiments are particularly useful for rendering a color image with a color printing device. According to one exemplary embodiment, an image forming method utilizes three or four rotated hexagonal screens which can include regular shaped hexagon screens or convex tessellated hexagon screens.