Abstract: One embodiment of the invention relates to a method for establishing network connectivity by a data computing device in order to download and store a catalog. The catalog includes information identifying consumables available for purchase within a marketplace. The storage of the catalog within memory of the data computing device enables subsequent review of the marketplace without continued network connectivity.

Abstract: A character string region extracting apparatus comprises an extracting section for extracting a plurality of primitives from image information in which a character and a graphic pattern other than the character are mixedly present, a character string candidate region forming section for generating character candidate regions from the primitives and connecting the character candidate regions, thereby forming at least one character string candidate region, a character recognizing section for subjecting the character candidate regions included in the character string candidate region to character recognition, and a character string region extracting section for extracting a character string region from the character string candidate region by the character recognition.

Abstract: In a document filing apparatus, a file memory previously stores a plurality of documents including of line data, character data and image data. An image input section inputs a new document as image data. A character-line extraction section extracts line data and character data from the input image data. A document retrieval section retrieves a document to be compared with the new document from the file memory. A difference detection section detects differences of line data, character data and image data between the new document and the retrieved document. A register section registers the difference data and identification information of the retrieved document as the new document in the file memory.

Abstract: In an image filing apparatus, the registered format similar to an input format is correctly retrieved from a plurality of the registered formats in a format registration section. The image data of a new form is inputted through an image input section. A format registration section previously registers a plurality of formats of forms. A format discrimination section extracts the input format from the new form, compares the input format with the plurality of formats in the format registration section, and calculates similarities between the input format and the plurality of formats, respectively. A preservation section stores the image data of the new form by using the registered format selected from the plurality of formats in accordance with the similarity.

Abstract: A drawing processing apparatus for extracting figures from a drawing as numerical data, comprises a drawing input section for inputting a background drawing and a to-be-processed drawing having a figure on the background drawing, and outputting the drawings as image data, an image storing section for storing the image data corresponding to the background drawing and the to-be-processed drawing input by the drawing input section, a registration section for registering the background drawing and the to-be-processed drawing with each other using the image data read out from the image storing section, a vector forming section for dividing figures on the registered background drawing and to-be-processed drawing into a plurality of segments, and converting the segments into segment data of numerical values, thereby representing the segments as vectors, and a selecting section for selecting vectors, which correspond to the vectors formed from the figure on the background drawing, from among the vectors formed from t

Abstract: Information regarding the line segments constituting a line figure is input from an input section. An initial degree of certainty with respect to the attribute of each of the line segments is calculated by a degree of certainty-calculating section, on the basis of the information input from the input section. How the line segments are connected to other line segments is detected by a connection-detecting section. A compatible coefficient is determined by a degree of certainty-updating section in accordance with the connection detected by the connection-detecting section. By repeatedly executing calculation on the basis of the compatible coefficient, the initial degree of certainty calculated by the degree of certainty-calculating section is updated. Based on the updated degree of certainty, the attributes of the line segments are determined.

Abstract: With an image processing system, to-be-processed image data is run length coded. The pattern type of 1.times.M pixels of each row of the to-be-processed image data and a repetition count of the 1.times.M pixel pattern in the row direction are obtained. The run-length coded to-be-processed image data is logically filtered in accordance with the pattern type of the 1.times.M pixel pattern and its repetition count, thereby obtaining run-length coded processed image data.

Abstract: An image data filing system capable of facilitating an easy and accurate modification on the image filed in the system, without demanding a cumbersome operation for an operator. In the system, the image is modified by specifying an image to be modified among images filed in the system; displaying the specified image to be modified; specifying a region to be modified on the displayed image to be modified; obtaining a hard copy of the specified region to be modified; making a modification on the obtained hard copy of the specified region to be modified to obtain an modified image; and entering the modified image obtained on the hard copy into the system.