Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming apparatus main body that forms an image on a sheet; an image reading device provided downstream of the image forming apparatus main body to read an image formed on the sheet by the image forming apparatus main body; and a hardware processor that controls the image forming apparatus main body and the image reading device, wherein the hardware processor changes, in accordance with a secondary inspection result of secondary inspection in which a user performs visual check, a determination criterion for primary inspection of a read image that is a result of reading an image by the image reading device.

Abstract: A wound assessment method which can estimate a moisture level of the wound, and related image capture device. The wound area is imaged at least twice where the wound is illuminated under different illumination light intensities. The first image captured using a relatively low illumination light intensity is analyzed to assess the wound, for example measuring its size, color and texture. The second image captures using a relatively high illumination light intensity (e.g. using a flash) is analyzed to estimate the moisture level of the wound. The moisture level estimation method extracts white connected components from the second image, and estimates the moisture level based on the number, sizes, and centroid distribution of the white connected components. A 3D image of the wound may also be captured, e.g. using a structured-light 3D scanner of the image capture device.

Abstract: A wound assessment method which can estimate a moisture level of the wound, and related image capture device. The wound area is imaged at least twice where the wound is illuminated under different illumination light intensities. The first image captured using a relatively low illumination light intensity is analyzed to assess the wound, for example measuring its size, color and texture. The second image captures using a relatively high illumination light intensity (e.g. using a flash) is analyzed to estimate the moisture level of the wound. The moisture level estimation method extracts white connected components from the second image, and estimates the moisture level based on the number, sizes, and centroid distribution of the white connected components. A 3D image of the wound may also be captured, e.g. using a structured-light 3D scanner of the image capture device.

Abstract: A wound assessment method which can estimate a moisture level of the wound, and related image capture device. The wound area is imaged at least twice where the wound is illuminated under different illumination light intensities. The first image captured using a relatively low illumination light intensity is analyzed to assess the wound, for example measuring its size, color and texture. The second image captures using a relatively high illumination light intensity (e.g. using a flash) is analyzed to estimate the moisture level of the wound. The moisture level estimation method extracts white connected components from the second image, and estimates the moisture level based on the number, sizes, and centroid distribution of the white connected components. A 3D image of the wound may also be captured, e.g. using a structured-light 3D scanner of the image capture device.

Abstract: A patient identification method and related system use dynamic medical images of a patient, such as dynamic chest x-ray images, to generate pulsation and/or perfusion signals and use them for patient identification. A first pulsation and/or perfusion signal acquired from a current patient is compared to a previously stored second pulsation and/or perfusion signal associated with a known patient, to determine whether the current patient is the same as the known patient. At least one of the first and second pulsation and/or perfusion signals is generated from dynamic medical images. In some embodiments, one of the first and second pulsation and/or perfusion signals is pulsation-like signal obtained from electrocardiogram (ECG). When the current patient is determined to be different from the known patient, warning signals can be generated, and further steps can be taken to prevent medical procedures being conducted on the wrong patient.

Abstract: A wound assessment method which can estimate a moisture level of the wound, and related image capture device. The wound area is imaged at least twice where the wound is illuminated under different illumination light intensities. The first image captured using a relatively low illumination light intensity is analyzed to assess the wound, for example measuring its size, color and texture. The second image captures using a relatively high illumination light intensity (e.g. using a flash) is analyzed to estimate the moisture level of the wound. The moisture level estimation method extracts white connected components from the second image, and estimates the moisture level based on the number, sizes, and centroid distribution of the white connected components. A 3D image of the wound may also be captured, e.g. using a structured-light 3D scanner of the image capture device.

Abstract: A patient identification method and related system use dynamic medical images of a patient, such as dynamic chest x-ray images, to generate pulsation and/or perfusion signals and use them for patient identification. A first pulsation and/or perfusion signal acquired from a current patient is compared to a previously stored second pulsation and/or perfusion signal associated with a known patient, to determine whether the current patient is the same as the known patient. At least one of the first and second pulsation and/or perfusion signals is generated from dynamic medical images. In some embodiments, one of the first and second pulsation and/or perfusion signals is pulsation-like signal obtained from electrocardiogram (ECG). When the current patient is determined to be different from the known patient, warning signals can be generated, and further steps can be taken to prevent medical procedures being conducted on the wrong patient.

Abstract: Each of a plurality of image processing devices (MFPs) included in an image processing system which includes a storage as well. (1) When the user requests processing a job, (2) the job data is stored in the storage. (3) Each MFP confirms that there is an unprocessed job to be executed, and (4) judges whether the own device can process the job. (5) MFPs that have judged that the own device can process the job stores information of the own device into the storage, and (6) check information stored by other MFPs. (7) One of the MFPs judges that the own device is the most suitable MFP, (11) obtains the job data, and (12) processes the job.

Abstract: An image processing system including: storage; image processing devices; and job divider dividing an unprocessed job into partial jobs and store them into storage. Each image processing device includes: a first judging part to judge whether partial job stored in the storage can be processed by own device; a transmitter to, if the judgment result is positive, transmit and store first information indicating condition for processing the partial job, to the storage; an obtaining part to obtain second information indicating condition with which another image processing device processes the partial job, from the storage; a second judging part to judge whether own device should process the partial job, in accordance with standard common to the image processing devices, referring to first and second information; and job processor to process the partial job if second judging part judges positively.

Abstract: When an image of a read out document is acquired, an MFP obtains information of a read out state of the image (document orientation or the like) or a copy setting information (magnification and the like), qualified as the copy permissive condition embedded in the image. Copying is permitted only when the read out state of the image or the copy setting of the image matches the permissive condition embedded in the image.

Abstract: A method for controlling rights for purchasing and using a compilation of works, including the steps of compiling the compilation of works, obtaining rights to use the compilation of works in different formats, setting different options for a user to purchase the rights to use the compilation of works in different formats, and allowing a user to purchase the rights to use the compilation of works with different options such that they may be exercised based on the user's needs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing an image are provided that can suppress blur edges at an edge portion of a character so that sharpness and quality of the image can be improved. The apparatus comprises an inside and outside edge discrimination portion for discriminating whether a target pixel to be processed belongs to an inside edge or to an outside edge, a threshold value generating portion for selecting a threshold value from plural threshold values for error diffusion process in accordance with an area discriminated by the inside and outside edge discrimination portion to output the selected threshold value and an error diffusion process portion for performing the error diffusion process for multilevel input data concerning the target pixel by utilizing the threshold value generated by the threshold value generating portion so as to produce output data whose gradation steps are reduced.

Abstract: Each of a plurality of image processing devices (MFPs) included in an image processing system which includes a storage as well. (1) When the user requests processing a job, (2) the job data is stored in the storage. (3) Each MFP confirms that there is an unprocessed job to be executed, and (4) judges whether the own device can process the job. (5) MFPs that have judged that the own device can process the job stores information of the own device into the storage, and (6) check information stored by other MFPs. (7) One of the MFPs judges that the own device is the most suitable MFP, (11) obtains the job data, and (12) processes the job.

Abstract: An image processing system including: storage; image processing devices; and job divider dividing an unprocessed job into partial jobs and store them into storage. Each image processing device includes: a first judging part to judge whether partial job stored in the storage can be processed by own device; a transmitter to, if the judgment result is positive, transmit and store first information indicating condition for processing the partial job, to the storage; an obtaining part to obtain second information indicating condition with which another image processing device processes the partial job, from the storage; a second judging part to judge whether own device should process the partial job, in accordance with standard common to the image processing devices, referring to first and second information; and job processor to process the partial job if second judging part judges positively.

Abstract: When an image of a read out document is acquired, an MFP obtains information of a read out state of the image (document orientation or the like) or a copy setting information (magnification and the like), qualified as the copy permissive condition embedded in the image. Copying is permitted only when the read out state of the image or the copy setting of the image matches the permissive condition embedded in the image.

Abstract: Disclosed are an image processing apparatus that can decrease such a misjudgment that an area including an extremely small-sized character is judged to be a halftone-dot area when a judgment of a halftone-dot area is performed based on a number of isolated pixels in a predetermined area, and an image forming apparatus that utilizes the image processing apparatus. An isolated pixel signal that is outputted from an isolated pixel detection unit and that indicates whether a target pixel corresponds to an isolated pixel is inputted into a filter processing unit. The filter processing unit corrects the isolated pixel signal based on whether the target pixel should be handled as an isolated pixel. A judgment is then performed as to whether an area including the target pixel is a halftone-dot area, based on a signal outputted from the filter processing unit.

Abstract: Disclosed are an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an image forming apparatus utilizing the image processing apparatus that can decrease deterioration of image quality even when misjudgment occurs in judging a type of an image, such as a halftone-dot area and an edge area of a character, when performing predetermined image processing on the image. When an area judgment unit 440 judges that a target pixel is in an edge area of a character that is present on a halftone-dot area (when any one of signals S17 to S20 is “high”), an operation of image processing to be performed on the target pixel is switched in accordance with whether the target pixel is a color pixel or not and whether the halftone-dot area is a color area or not.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing an image are provided that can suppress blur edges at an edge portion of a character so that sharpness and quality of the image can be improved. The apparatus comprises an inside and outside edge discrimination portion for discriminating whether a target pixel to be processed belongs to an inside edge or to an outside edge, a threshold value generating portion for selecting a threshold value from plural threshold values for error diffusion process in accordance with an area discriminated by the inside and outside edge discrimination portion to output the selected threshold value and an error diffusion process portion for performing the error diffusion process for multilevel input data concerning the target pixel by utilizing the threshold value generated by the threshold value generating portion so as to produce output data whose gradation steps are reduced.

Abstract: An image read apparatus includes a group of CCDs reading out a document image, a data processing unit, a line buffer to delay data to obtain data of the same pixel, a comparison unit comparing data of the same pixel, a data table in which a threshold value that becomes the reference of comparison is stored in correspondence with each type of mode, a threshold value set unit referring to the data table to set the threshold value, a determination unit receiving the comparison result with the threshold value from the comparison unit to determine and control data to be sent downstream, and an averaging unit averaging the data sent from the determination unit to output the average as image data. An image read apparatus is provided that can prevent generation of a black streak or a white streak on a readout image caused by the presence of dust at the readout position, and that can improve the picture quality of the entire image.

Abstract: During reading process, an image reading unit read a white pressing plate (reference member) under a state where no original exists between the white pressing plate and an original glass plate. On the basis of the read image data, it is judged whether dirt is detected on the glass plate or not. If dirt is detected, a page in which a black line appears is determined. Information of the page is displayed on a display section. An original of the page is reread by the image reading unit.