Abstract: A system and method for processing a digital image for rendering are provided. The method includes performing one or more Line Width Control (LWC) operations on digital image data including pixels having pixel values representing gray levels and tag states providing information for specialized rendering techniques thereby changing one or more pixel values resulting in one or more inaccurate pixel tag states, identifying and reassigning one or more inaccurate pixel tag states for improving the rendering of the resultant digital image. An apparatus, such as an image processing system, capable of performing line width control and tag reassignment is also provided.

Abstract: As set forth herein, computer-implemented methods and systems facilitate halftoning by adapting 2nd generation halftone techniques to the spatial frequency content of an image utilizing a spot function introduced in conjunction with a technique for determining seed locations, which results in halftone images exhibiting improved edge and detail rendition. A dominant orientation of pixels in an input image is employed to select a pre-generated stochastic screen used to determine the seed locations.

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 watermarking documents and/or images using 2nd generation stochastic halftoning. The watermark is used to spatially vary the gray level at which a frequency modulation-to-amplitude modulation transition occurs. The encoding algorithm uses as inputs a contone image and a watermark. The visibility of the watermark is controlled by the magnitude of the difference between the AM-to-FM transition threshold values.

Abstract: This closure provides image processing methods and apparatus for corner enhancing a digital image for rendering on an image output device. According to an exemplary method, the method determines whether or not image pixels are associated with a corner as a function of the USAN values generated for the image pixels. Subsequently, one or more pixels associated with a corner are modified to render a corner enhanced image.

Abstract: Provided are methods, apparatus and systems related to watermark decoding via spectral analysis of an image. According to one exemplary method, spectral analysis is performed to decode a watermark within an image, where the pixel spacing associated with the image was modulated to encode the watermark.

Abstract: Provided are methods, apparatus and systems related to watermark encoding via pixel spacing modulation. According to one exemplary embodiment, a method modulates the pixel spacing associated with an image to encode a watermark.

Abstract: A technique for cross-channel correction in real time for digital color printing in which the full resolution value of a selected colorant is combined with low resolution versions of the remaining colorants to provide a basis for correcting the selected colorant based upon the data for the other colorants employed. The pixel values of sub-samples of the remaining colorants are derived from the cell in which the full resolution selected colorant is taken; and, the desired output value is selected from a look-up table established for the known printing process.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a video camera and video processing alert system for detecting a vehicle in reverse. According to one exemplary embodiment, the system operates according to the following guidelines or steps: (1) Acquire video containing features relevant to reverse detection, (2) Identify feature(s) within the video frame that are relevant to a vehicle in reverse, (3) Examine identified features to extract the evidence of vehicle backing up for a current frame, (4) Apply temporal filtering on the frame-to-frame evidence, (5) Use filtered evidence for decision on triggering the alarm, (6) Triggering an alarm if indicated by the decision. The system can be implemented with relative low cost and complexity, due to the affordability of video cameras, and the fact that many drive-through locations have existing video capture infrastructure.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that include a video-based analysis system that detects, tracks and archives vehicles in video stream data at multiple resolutions. The system includes an image capturing device that captures video stream data having video at a first high resolution. A vehicle detection module detects at least one vehicle within the video. A vehicle analysis module is configured to analyze the video and to extract one or more key vehicle features from the video to enable identification of a vehicle of interest (VOI) according to a set of predetermined criteria. A subsampling module creates a reduced resolution video stream in a second subsampled resolution that is lower than the first high resolution while maintaining the one or more extracted key features within the reduced resolution video stream in the first high resolution, and archives the reduced resolution video stream into a video database.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for reproducing an image using one or more halftone screens for one or more respective colorants in the methods and apparatus reducing the beating of one or more excitation frequencies with one or more harmonic frequencies associated with the halftone screens. According to an exemplary method, one or more halftone screens are selected such that the fundamental frequency of an excitation frequency coincides with a harmonic frequency of a halftone screen.

Abstract: An imaging system utilizes an anamorphic optical system to concentrate a two-dimensional modulated light field in a process direction such that a one-dimensional scan line image extending in a cross-process direction is generated on an imaging surface. The modulated light field is generated by directing homogeneous light onto light modulating elements arranged in a two-dimensional array. The array is configured using a scan line image data group made up of pixel image data portions. An associated group of the light modulating elements aligned in the process direction is configured by each pixel image data portion. When a pixel value is “partially on” (i.e., between “fully on” and “fully off”), the light modulating elements of the associated group are configured such that modulating elements located in the center of each group are activated, and elements located on the upper and lower ends of each group are deactivated.

Abstract: Disclosed are FIFO type methods, systems and apparatus for electronically registering image data relative to a raster or other marking device. According to an exemplary method, a FIFO type data queuing configuration is provided, where the length of data memory segments associated with the FIFO are selected to correspond to the number of raster lines from the most upstream point of the physical raster to the point where the given pixel column intersects the physical raster.

Abstract: Systems and methods of halftoning an image for extended-colorant printing image spot colors are provided which perform a quality ranking of a plurality of periodic halftone screens to be used in halftoning the image and an objectionability ranking of the colorants used to produce the one or more image spot colors. Halftone screen-to-colorant assignments are then made using a ranked ordered pairing of the ranked screens and ranked colorants. The image is halftoned using these assignments and the results can be printed or saved for future printing. Pixel tags can be used to identify the ranked ordered halftone screen-to-colorant assignments.

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.

Abstract: A mechanism for providing edge enhancement or attenuation in a vector error diffusion process includes warping a marking decision color space as a function of at least one pixel value of a target pixel. The warping changes the membership of sets of error modified pixel values associated particular sets of marking. The warping is controlled by a function of pixel values of a target pixel from an input image. Therefore, the warping is constant for uniform portions of the image. Since pixel values change at edges or where colors change, a mechanism is provided for the presence of edges to influence the vector error diffusion process. Selection of the function by which the marking decision color space is warped provides a means for controlling the aggressiveness of the edge enhancement or attenuation. Equivalent processing includes warping or adjusting error modified pixel values according to corresponding functions.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a personalized medical video story, comprising: at least a portion of a prerecorded stock tutorial video having stock information and one or more uncompleted segments for inserting personalized medical information onto a single recording medium. The personalized medical information includes personalized health information including vital health statistics. The at least a portion of the prerecorded stock tutorial video includes stock information on a variety of medical maladies combined with the personalized medical information. The stock tutorial video includes insertion points within the uncompleted segments for inserting the personalized medical information. The personalized medical information at the insertion points is merged with the at least a portion of the prerecorded stock tutorial video for producing at least a portion of the personalized medical video story.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of producing a personalized medical record, comprising: incorporating at least a portion of a prerecorded stock tutorial video having stock information and one or more uncompleted segments for inserting personalized medical information onto a single recording medium. The personalized medical information can include personalized health information including vital health statistics. The method combines the at least a portion of the prerecorded stock tutorial video including the stock information on a variety of medical maladies with the personalized medical information. The stock tutorial video can include at least one predeterminable insertion point within the uncompleted segments for inserting the personalized medical information.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a personalized record/video, and method to produce the record/video, that combines stock tutorial record/video information with personalized information. Personalized information can include data that is, for example, inserted, overlaid, or parameterized information (still images, video, audio, text or graphics, etc.); sorted sequence of images and sorted differences from one personalized script to another personalized script; and/or a personalized framework for creating a personalized script that generates an asynchronous video.

Abstract: As set forth herein, computer-implemented methods and systems facilitate halftoning by adapting 2nd generation halftone techniques to the spatial frequency content of an image utilizing a spot function introduced in conjunction with a technique for determining seed locations, which results in halftone images exhibiting improved edge and detail rendition. A dominant orientation of pixels in an input image is employed to select a pre-generated stochastic screen used to determine the seed locations.