Abstract: Methods and systems for spectrally-encoding plural source images and for providing the spectrally-encoded plural source images in a composite image, for rendering the composite image on a substrate, and for recovering at least one of the encoded source images from the rendered composite image. A desired source image is recovered when the rendered composite image is subjected to illumination by one or more illuminants and the desired source image is detected by one or more sensors in an image capture device. The spectral characteristics of the colorants, illuminants, and sensors are employed to spectrally encode the source image in the composite image.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for implementing a trapping operation on a digital image during image processing. More specifically, the invention is directed to implementation of a trapping technique to prevent visual gaps or overlaps between colors on a poorly registered image that is produced by an imaging device, e.g. a color printer. The invention is most advantageously used in an imaging device that incorporates therein a split-level buffer.

Abstract: A first digital image is combined with a transformed first digital image to authenticate and reconstruct the first digital image. When viewed in the standard manner, the combined image appears to be the first digital image. The transformed first digital image cannot be seen. When the bits within each pixel of the combined image are reversed, i.e. the least significant bit (LSB) is exchanged with the most significant bit (MSB), and the resultant image is viewed, then the transformed first digital image is seen. In this way, the transformed first digital image can be hidden inside the noise bits of the first digital image. The method is applied to color pixels by treating each color byte independently. The transformed first digital image can be encrypted before combining with the first digital image. The transformed first digital image can be inversely transformed back to the first digital image for authentication and reconstruction.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for spectrally-encoding plural source images and for providing the spectrally-encoded plural source images in a composite image, for rendering the composite image on a substrate, or for recovering at least one of the encoded source images from the rendered composite image such that the recovered source image is made distinguishable. The rendered composite image includes at least a first source image that is encoded and rendered with use of a selected colorant so as to be visually discernible on the substrate during a plurality of modes of intended illumination as a “background” image, and a second, “narrow band” source image that is encoded in the composite image so as to be recovered when illuminated by at least a selected of the plurality of modes of intended illumination that employs complementary narrow band illuminant.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for spectrally-encoding plural source images and for providing the spectrally-encoded plural source images in a composite image, for rendering the composite image on a substrate, or for recovering at least one of the encoded source images from the rendered composite image such that the recovered source image is made distinguishable. At least one of the source images includes image content in the form of a textured image. When the rendered composite image is subjected to illumination by one of the narrow band illuminants for which a source image was encoded, the textured image in the recovered source image becomes visually detectable.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for spectrally-encoding plural source images and for providing the spectrally-encoded plural source images in a composite image, for rendering the composite image in a physical form, or for recovering at least one of the encoded source images from the rendered composite image such that the recovered source image is made distinguishable. Stereogram generation techniques can be employed to provide the image content of one or more stereogram source images encoded in the composite image. When the composite image is subjected to illumination by a narrow band illuminant, an observer can identify the pattern correspondence necessary for comprehending the image content of the stereogram source image.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for spectrally-encoding plural source images and for providing the spectrally-encoded plural source images in a composite image, for rendering the composite image in a physical form, or for recovering at least one of the encoded source images from the rendered composite image such that the recovered source image is made distinguishable. The composite image is generated using an image-dependent dynamic range determination so as to provide a maximum usable contrast in a recovered source image.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for spectrally-encoding plural source images and for providing the spectrally-encoded plural source images in a composite image, for rendering the composite image in a physical form, or for recovering at least one of the encoded source images from the rendered composite image such that the recovered source image is made distinguishable. Source image confusion in a rendered composite image is controlled by application of a multi-illuminant gray component replacement (GCR) technique to the darkness common to the different colorants under the multiple illuminants.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for spectrally-encoding plural source images and for providing, the spectrally-encoded plural source images in a composite image, for rendering the composite image in a physical form, or for recovering at least one of the encoded source images from the rendered composite image such that the recovered source image is made distinguishable. A noise component is introduced in the encoding of the plurality of source images so as to mask at least one of the source images during spectral demultiplexing.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for spectrally-encoding plural source images and for providing the spectrally-encoded plural source images in a composite image, for rendering the composite image in a physical form, or for recovering at least one of the encoded source images from the rendered composite image such that the recovered source image is made distinguishable. The rendered composite image may be subjected to a varying field of illumination, generated, for example, by a switched sequence of individually activated, differing illuminants. This sequenced array of illuminants causes a corresponding sequence of source images to be recovered in rapid succession, thus imparting a sense of change, such as motion, between or within the recovered source images.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for spectrally-encoding plural source images and for providing the spectrally-encoded plural source images in a composite image, for rendering the composite image in a physical form, or for recovering at least one of the encoded source images from the rendered composite image such that the recovered source image is made distinguishable. For example, when the rendered composite image is subjected to illumination by one of the narrow band illuminants for which a source image was encoded, the source image becomes visually detectable by an observer.

Abstract: A method of color image processing for mapping an input image from a full color gamut to a textured highlight color gamut includes defining an input color in a desired three dimensional color space by determining intensity values for a first color coordinate, a second color coordinate, and a third color coordinate. A halftone cell is partitioned into first and second regions such that the first region contains first pixels, and the second region contains second pixels. Based on the intensity values, a first number of first pixels are selected for rendering in a highlight color. The first number of first pixels are selected from all the first pixels in a first sequential order. Again based on the intensity values, a second number of first pixels are selected for rendering in a base color. This time the second number of first pixels are selected from all the first pixels in a second sequential order. Preferably, the second sequential order is opposite the first sequential order.

Abstract: An image rendering system and method use a sum-and-difference error diffusion technique that may be utilized in conjunction with image rendering using more than three colorants, e.g., inks. The colorants may be arbitrary and/or redundant. The sum-and-difference error diffusion technique involves two sets of steps. First, steps for performing specification of a colorant amount are separated from steps for determining colorant placement. Colorant placement is then performed by first summing the total number of colorant requests, including any associated error adjustments, and determining how many units of colorant will be rendered. Second, the adjusted colorant requests are sorted to fulfill the image rendering.

Abstract: Systems and methods to enable real-time and near real-time storyboarding on the World Wide Web in addition to a graphical user interface for video parsing and browsing the of the storyboard. Specifically, storyboarding can be accomplished on the World Wide Web by parsing an input video into representative or key frames. These frames then can be posted to a web document, or the like, for subsequent viewing by a user. This allows a video to be distilled down to the essential frames thus eliminating storage and bandwidth problems as well as eliminating the need for a user to view the entirety of the video. Furthermore, the graphical user interface allows a user to visually interact with an input video signal to determine the key or representative frames, or to retrieve video segments associated with already determined key frames.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a system and method to generate a style sheet comprising the steps of first determining a set of layout constraints such as design criteria to act as ‘soft’ constraints or could additionally include the requirements of a particular output device. Alternatively, the constraints could be explicitly specified or expressed as properties of a good layout design. Next, the present method has the step of representing the style properties of the document as problem variables. These variables could advantageously include font, text line, or color properties in addition to positioning properties including graphical style. Then, solving the constraint problem and outputting the generated style properties in the form of a style sheet wherein the style sheet is a Cascaded Style Sheet (CSS) or an Extensible Style Language (XSL) specification.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a system and method for method for fitness evaluation to be used with a directly calculated or iterative optimization method for automatic document assembly. The method for fitness evaluation includes the steps of first capturing the creator's desire as a set of relative weights to be applied to an intent vector. Then, calculating for each candidate document assembly a set of value-property functions that evaluate properties considered to be factors in a good design (e.g., the balance of the document component on the page). Next, an inferred intent vector needs to be determined for each candidate document assembly as a function of the calculated value property function. Note that if the inferred intent vector is determined by a matrix multiplication applied to the vector of value property function results then the relative weights and intent definition matrix can be multiplied together to provide a weight vector that can be applied directly to the value properties.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a system and method for specifying a custom document as a multi-criteria constraint optimization problem, and a method to automatically create the specified document using existing constraint optimization solving algorithms. The present method specifies the document, its content components, its layout requirements, and its desired aesthetic criteria are expressed as elements of a constraint optimization problem which when solved, results in an automated document layout for the set of content components that satisfies not only certain primitive content and layout constraints, but which also advantageously fulfills desired design properties and which provides a way to ensure that the generated document is well designed.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a system and method for specifying a custom document as a multi-criteria constraint optimization problem, and a method to automatically create the specified document using existing constraint optimization solving algorithms. The present method specifies the document, its content components, its layout requirements, and its desired aesthetic criteria are expressed as elements of a constraint optimization problem which when solved, results in an automated document layout for the set of content components that satisfies not only certain primitive content and layout constraints, but which also advantageously fulfills desired design properties and which provides a way to ensure that the generated document is well designed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing a streaming two-dimensional digital image segmentation is provided. The image segmentation method is compatible with architectures for scan-line processing and streaming image data. More particularly, the method is accomplished by detecting horizontal runs of non-background image elements potentially having a particular property, calculating an average strength value of the property for the run and comparing the value to a threshold. A separate strength value for the property and run start position are maintained for each vertical column of image elements. Thus, an average strength value of a vertical run is calculated for each image element in the horizontal run and compared with the average strength value for the horizontal run. If the results agree, the image elements are tagged accordingly (i.e. whether the property is present). However, a strategy for resolving the results is implemented when the horizontal and vertical analyses do not agree.

Abstract: Systems and methods to enable real-time and near real-time storyboarding on the World Wide Web in addition to a graphical user interface for video parsing and browsing the of the storyboard. Specifically, storyboarding can be accomplished on the World Wide Web by parsing an input video into representative or key frames. These frames then can be posted to a web document, or the like, for subsequent viewing by a user. This allows a video to be distilled down to the essential frames thus eliminating storage and bandwidth problems as well as eliminating the need for a user to view the entirety of the video. Furthermore, the graphical user interface allows a user to visually interact with an input video signal to determine the key or representative frames, or to retrieve video segments associated with already determined key frames.