Abstract: An apparatus comprises: unit configured to divide input document data into a body region, a caption region, and an object region; unit configured to acquire text information included in each of the body region and the caption region; unit configured to search the text information in the body region for an anchor term, to extract an anchor term from the text information in the caption region, and to generate a bi-directional link between a portion corresponding to the anchor term in the body region and a portion of the object region to which the caption region is appended; and unit configured to convert the input document data into digital document data in which the portion corresponding to the anchor term in the body region and the portion corresponding to the object region to which the caption region is appended are bi-directionally linked based on the link.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus successively designates each page of an input page image as a processing target, detects an anchor expression constituted by a specific character string, and associates a highlight position corresponding to the anchor expression with a link identifier. When the anchor expression and the link identifier are registered in a link configuration management table, if the same anchor expression is already registered in the table, the apparatus updates the table in such a way as to mutually associate the link identifiers of the same anchor expression. The apparatus generates page data of an electronic document based on a link identifier relating to a processing target page image and its highlight position and transmits the generated page data. The apparatus generates information usable to link the relevant link identifiers based on the link configuration management table, after completing the processing for all pages, and transmits the generated information.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises: a character information acquisition unit configured to acquire character information included in each of a body region and a caption region; an accumulation unit configured to divide the character information acquired from the body region into predetermined set units and to accumulate the character information and position information of the divided set unit in a memory; an anchor term extraction unit configured to extract an anchor term from the character information acquired from the caption region; an anchor term search unit configured to search, based on the character information accumulated in the memory for each set unit, for the set unit including the anchor term extracted; a link information generation unit configured to generate link generation information that associates the set unit found by the anchor term search unit with the object region to which the caption region including the anchor term is appended.

Abstract: This invention generates a digital document by applying character recognition to character images in a document image, and rendering the character recognition result on the document image in a transparent color. This digital document allows to specify a part corresponding to a search keyword on the document image upon conducting a search. When this digital document is generated, it includes a description required to use glyph data (font data) of a simple character shape commonly to a plurality of character types as font data used upon rendering the character recognition result. Therefore, even when the digital document needs to save font data, an increase in file size can be minimized. Also, by rendering using a simple character shape, the data size of the font data itself can be reduced.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to generate data optimal for both display and reuse from an image. From an input image, vector data of a display foreground layer, vector data of a non-display foreground layer, and a display background layer in which a portion of the input image is filled are generated. Next, electronic data including the display foreground layer, display background layer, and the non-display foreground layer is generated. By using the multi-layered electronic data, a composite image of the display foreground layer and the display background layer is provided for display, and the layers for display are switched for reuse. This makes it possible to provide data optimal for both display and reuse.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus segments an image into a plurality of regions in accordance with attributes of a plurality of types, and acquires feature amount data from image information of a region of a first attribute (an image region) from among the plurality of regions. The apparatus then applies compression processing to the image and acquires compressed data. The apparatus outputs the acquired feature amount data and compressed data as output data of the image.

Abstract: A region division portion extracts an “object”, an “anchor expression accompanying the object” and a “text including the anchor expression” from image data based on a paper document and an electronic document. A link processing portion generates link information that associates, in two ways, the “object”, the “anchor expression included in the text” or the “text including the anchor expression” with each other. Then, a format conversion portion converts the link information into electronic document data including two-way link information. When this electronic document data is displayed by an application and one of the “object” and the “anchor expression included in the text” is selected, the other can be displayed according to the link information.

Abstract: Even when captions of a plurality of objects use an identical anchor expression, the present invention can associate an appropriately explanatory text in a body text as metadata with the objects.

Abstract: According to the present invention, it is possible to create electronic document data capable of highlighting an object detected through a search so that a user can easily recognize it. An image processing apparatus extracts an object from an input image and extracts metadata related to the object. The image processing apparatus, when determines to describe with a shape in accordance with the shape of the object, creates a vector path description of frame described with a shape in accordance with the shape of the object. Then, the image processing apparatus creates an electronic document including data of the input image and the vector path description of frame with which the metadata is associated. When a keyword search is performed on the created electronic document, highlight display is performed in accordance with the vector path description of frame with which metadata that matches the keyword is associated.

Abstract: A binary image is generated by binarizing a multilevel image. An edge image is generated by extracting an edge component in the multilevel image. The binary image is segmented into a plurality of regions with different attributes. An outline candidate of a halftone region is extracted from the edge image. A second region segmentation result is output on the basis of the information of the outline candidate and information of the region segmentation result.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus produces electronic data from a document image in which a text part, a photograph part, etc. are mixed. This electronic data enables a user to display information in a required part. The apparatus extracts an object from an input image and integrates information on the extracted object and layout control information (script) for modifying a layout so as to generate integrated electronic data. A script program can be executed when the electronic data is used, which allows an object designated by a user to be magnified and rearranged so as to facilitate visualization of the object.

Abstract: This invention generates a digital document by applying character recognition to character images in a document image, and rendering the character recognition result on the document image in a transparent color. This digital document allows to specify a part corresponding to a search keyword on the document image upon conducting a search. When this digital document is generated, it includes a description required to use glyph data (font data) of a simple character shape commonly to a plurality of character types as font data used upon rendering the character recognition result. Therefore, even when the digital document needs to save font data, an increase in file size can be minimized. Also, by rendering using a simple character shape, the data size of the font data itself can be reduced.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a character recognition unit configured to perform character recognition on a plurality of character images in a document image to acquire a character code corresponding to each character image, and a generation unit configured to generate an electronic document, wherein the electronic document includes the document image, a plurality of character codes acquired by the character recognition unit, a plurality of glyphs, and data which indicates the glyphs to be used to render each of the character codes, wherein each of the plurality of glyphs is shared and used by different character codes based on the data when rendering characters that correspond to the plurality of character codes acquired by the recognition unit.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus extracts an object area (e.g., character, picture, line drawing, and table) from an input image and acquires a metadata to be associated with the object. The image processing apparatus generates a transparent graphics description for an object area having an attribute that requires generation of the transparent graphics description, and generates an electronic document while associating the transparent graphics description with the metadata. As transparent graphics description, an arbitrary shape of graphics can be used. Accordingly, the image processing apparatus can generate electronic document data suitable for a highlight expression, which is easy for users to recognize in a search operation using a keyword to search an object included in an electronic document.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to achieve both of high compressibility and high image quality property of an electronic file to improve user friendliness of the electronic file.

Abstract: When the content of a paper document is aiming to be recognized in an apparatus that has a scanner, an image of the paper document is subjected to region segmentation processing immediately after the paper document is read, and a recognition operation to be performed on each segmented region is specified by an operator on the basis of the result of the region segmentation processing. Therefore, a recognition method to be performed on each recognition target item can be selected from among recognition by using a recognition service server, recognition by downloading a program module from a program server, and recognition by using a locally-stored program module. As a result, recognition processing can be performed more efficiently.

Abstract: This invention provides the following environment. That is, an original document file corresponding to a document to be copied is specified from image data of that document to be copied, and a print process is made based on the specified file so as to prevent deterioration of image quality. Also, when a document to be copied is not registered, a registration process is executed to suppress deterioration of image quality in an early stage. Furthermore, since the document is converted into vector data, re-use of such document is facilitated, and deterioration of image quality can be suppressed even when an image process such as enlargement or the like is made. To this end, when an original digital file cannot be specified, an apparatus of this embodiment executes a vectorization process (S54), converts the obtained vector data into a data format that can be re-used by an application (S55), and registers the converted file in a file server (S56).

Abstract: An image in which at least one color component among a plurality of color components in an input color image has a resolution lower than that of the other color components is held as a base image. A rectangular region that includes an object image is extracted, a region of the object image and a region of a background image are specified in the rectangular region, and fill-up processing of the specified object image is executed in the base image. Fill-up processing executed at a boundary between the object image and the base image differs from fill-up processing executed at a boundary between the object image and the background image.

Abstract: Character code data and vector drawing data are both listed and provided in a re-editable manner. Electronic data is generated in which information obtained by vectorizing character areas in an image and information obtained by recognizing characters in the image are stored in respective storage locations. As for the electronic data generated in this manner, because character code data and vector drawing data generated from the input image are both presented by a display and edit program, a user can immediately utilize the both data.

Abstract: In an electronic document of drawing descriptions of a page image and a character, it is desired that although a font data necessary for drawing the character is held in the electronic document, the size of the electronic document is minimized. Furthermore, it is desired to ensure visibility at the time of highlighting of search. There is generated an electronic document in which a document image, a plurality of character codes obtained by executing a character recognition processing with respect to the document image, and a plurality of kinds of glyph data to be utilized in common with respect to the plurality of character codes when drawing characters corresponding to the plurality of character codes are stored. The plurality of kinds of glyph data are selectively used when characters corresponding to the character codes are drawn. It is desirable that the glyph data be the one in a simple form.