Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems, methods and devices for detection of image regions using a masking condition and an entropy measure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reformatting electronic documents is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises performing layout analysis on an electronic version of a document to locate text zones, assigning attributes for scale and importance to text zones in the electronic version of the document, and reformatting text in the electronic version of the document based on the attributes to create an image.

Abstract: A mobile communications device with an integrated camera is directed towards text. A video stream is analyzed in real time to detect one or more words in a specified region of the video frames and to indicate the detected words on a display. Users can select a word in a video stream and subsequently move or extend the initial selection. It is thus possible to select multiple words. A subregion of the video frame comprising the detected word(s) is pre-processed and compressed before being sent to a remote optical character recognition (OCR) function which may be integrated in an online service such as an online search service.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an accepting unit that accepts image information about each of a plurality of image elements to be synthesized; a comparing unit that compares a threshold value with a mixing ratio used in an operation to synthesize the image information according to a given mixing ratio; and a setting unit that sets an attribute of an image element in an area where the plurality of image elements are overlapped with each other synthesized according to a comparison result obtained by the comparing unit.

Abstract: A document management apparatus acquires block information of each page, which is obtained by executing block segmentation processing for each page of document data of a first version. A matched block and a mismatched block between the first version and a second version are discriminated on the basis of the block information acquired in association with the document of the first version and block information obtained by executing block segmentation processing for each page of document data of the second version. A page is generated by laying out a block that is determined as a matched block and exists in a page containing a block determined as a mismatched block in the document data of the first version and a block that is determined as a mismatched block in the document data of the second version while maintaining the block sequence in the whole document data of the second version.

Abstract: In a color pair selecting section, a color pair which is used for 2-color printing is selectively inputted from a plurality of colors. In a print data separating section, print data is separated into data in different printing forms. In a print data developing section, one of the data in the different printing forms is color converted and developed by using one of the color pair and the other data in the different printing forms is color converted and developed by using the other one of the color pair. In an image drum up/down section, image drums to form images by colors other than the color pair are discriminated and held inoperative. Deterioration of expressing ability in the 2-color printing is prevented and a decrease in lives of the image drums which are not used is prevented.

Abstract: A document management apparatus according to the invention is aimed at easily processing, managing and reusing newly taken image data in accordance with user's needs. The apparatus includes: a document area analyzing unit; a text information analyzing unit; a text information semantic analysis unit; a managing unit; an integrated information presenting unit; and a user-designated semantic setting unit capable of allowing the user to change the semantics of the text information presented by the integrated information presenting unit and to set the changed semantics.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of recognizing a text from an image. The method includes dividing the image into a predefined number of regions through a clustering technique; setting a certain area of the regions as a background region; identifying the outer peripheral pixel and inner peripheral pixel of each region except for the background region of the divided regions; setting a region identified as having one of its outer peripheral pixel and its inner peripheral pixel corresponding to a pixel of the background region, as a boundary region; and setting a region identified as having any of its outer peripheral pixel and its inner peripheral pixel not corresponding to a pixel of the background region, as a center text region, and excluding the boundary region from a binary-coding object of the text.

Abstract: A method and system for printing a web page include converting the web page content to an image and segmenting the image into a plurality of regions. At least one of the regions is selected, and the selected region is printed.

Abstract: A fact extraction tool set (“FEX”) finds and extracts targeted pieces of information from text using linguistic and pattern matching technologies, and in particular, text annotation and fact extraction. Text annotation tools break a text, such as a document, into its base tokens and annotate those tokens or patterns of tokens with orthographic, syntactic, semantic, pragmatic and other attributes. A user-defined “Annotation Configuration” controls which annotation tools are used in a given application. XML is used as the basis for representing the annotated text. A tag uncrossing tool resolves conflicting (crossed) annotation boundaries in an annotated text to produce well-formed XML from the results of the individual annotators. The fact extraction tool is a pattern matching language which is used to write scripts that find and match patterns of attributes that correspond to targeted pieces of information in the text, and extract that information.

Abstract: A system and method processes object oriented image data by initially parsing the object oriented image data into non-neutral image data and neutral image data. A second parser circuit parses the neutral image data into black image data, grey image data, and white image data. A neutral processing circuit processes the black image data, grey image data, and the white image data. The system also classifies object oriented image data to be rendered by an object oriented rendering system. To perform the classification, the object oriented image data to be rendered is received and classified and assigned as one of a plurality of possible first level object types. The process further classifies and assigns, to the object oriented image data to be rendered, one of a plurality of possible second level object types related to the first level object type assigned to the object to be rendered.

Abstract: Generic visual categorization methods complement a general vocabulary with adapted vocabularies that are class specific. Images to be categorized are characterized within different categories through a histogram indicating whether the image is better described by the general vocabulary or the class-specific adapted vocabulary.

Abstract: A test document is parsed into components which may include bounding boxes, segments, and points. Test code makes calls to properties and methods of components in order to verify document layout. Rather than take absolute measurements of component placement, components are evaluated relative to each other. Layout verification logic may be part of a larger software test system.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a first generating unit configured to generate first attribute information of an image and pixels of the image based on rendering commands, a second generating unit configured to perform image area separation processing on an image generated by the first generating unit and to generate second attribute information of the pixels of the image, and an attribute information generating unit configured to generate third attribute information of the pixels of the image based on the generated first attribute information and the second attribute information. In this image processing apparatus, the attribute information generating unit is configured to generate the third attribute information of pixels contained in an object of the image represented by the first attribute information which is identical for each pixel in the object based on a combination of the first attribute information and the second attribute information.

Abstract: A Mixed Media Reality (MMR) system and associated techniques are disclosed. The MMR system provides mechanisms for forming a mixed media document that includes media of at least two types (e.g., printed paper as a first medium and digital content and/or web link as a second medium). In one particular embodiment, the MMR system includes an MMR user, a MMR computer, a user printer that produces a printed document, a networked media server, an office portal, a service provider server, an electronic display that is electrically connected to a set-top box, a document scanner, a network, a capture device, a cellular infrastructure, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) technology, Bluetooth® technology, infrared (IR) technology, wired technology, and a geo location mechanism.

Abstract: Systems and methods of automatically adjusting brightness of a digital image are provided. A particular method includes accessing data including a first digital image and identifying text and background in the first digital image. The method also includes calculating an average pixel value exclusive of the text and the background for the first digital image. The method further includes adjusting a brightness setting associated with the first digital image based on the calculated average pixel value.

Abstract: In bitmapping an input rendering command to a bitmap, a logic operation designated by the rendering command is analyzed in accordance with the source and pattern as the logic operation target and a logic operation code. On the basis of the analysis result, an additional information operation corresponding to each pixel of the bitmap is created. On the basis of the additional information operation, additional information of each pixel is created. When image processing based on the additional information is executed for the bitmap, high-quality output image data can be created.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a first memory that stores a first document file; a second memory that stores a second document file obtained by revising the first document file; an extraction unit that extracts a revised area of the second document file based on the first document file corresponding to the second document file and the second document file; and an extracted area specifying file generation unit that generates a file specifying the revision area extracted by the extraction unit.

Abstract: A method, system and data structure for providing a 3+1 layer MRC image, including a black text layer. The black text layer includes pixel data corresponding to black text in an image and may be assigned a predetermined value for the color of black. According to one or more embodiments, using thresholding processing along with various morphological operations, the black text layer may be generated.

Abstract: A method of processing an image includes receiving a digital version of the image, processing the digital version of the image through at least two binarization processes to thereby create a first binarization and a second binarization, and processing the first binarization through a first optical character recognition process to thereby create a first OCR output file. Processing the first binarization through a first optical character recognition process includes compiling first metrics associated with the first OCR output file. The method also includes processing the second binarization through the first optical character recognition process to thereby create a second OCR output file. Processing the second binarization through the first optical character recognition process includes compiling second metrics associated with the second OCR output file. The method also includes using the metrics, at least in part, to select a final OCR output file from among the OCR output files.

Abstract: An image processing device includes a separation unit that separates image information including a first image having plural color components and a second image having a specific color component and to be overlaid at least in part on the first image into a specific color component image of the same color component as the specific color component and an image with color components other than the specific color component among the plural color components; a color conversion unit that performs color conversion of the image with color components other than the specific color component, separated by the separation unit; and a combination unit that combines the color-converted image with color components other than the specific color component, converted by the color conversion unit, and the specific color component image separated by the separation unit.

Abstract: The present invention deals with text comprising image parsed to graphemes. A result of character recognition is creation of one or more versions of characters for each grapheme. All possible words versions are obtained using all characters versions, and all parsing versions are examined. A supplementary data of several types is applied successively in the preliminarily prescribed order to the examined words. The processing with the use of supplemental data may be represented as a three times repeated processing of the same text fragment with the use of supplementary information becoming available at each time. The examination comprises three steps. 1) A set of chains LPG is built using all obtained recognized grapheme-to-character versions. 2) All obtained versions are analyzed with the successive application of subsequent supplemental data types in connection with the preliminarily assigned order or with a joint application thereof. 3) A supplementary space recognition correction.

Abstract: Providing text flow in or around an irregular container, such as a non-rectangular graphic, is disclosed. In the case of flow around a container, the intersection, if any, between a proposed text rectangle and the irregular container is determined. A valid rectangle, if any, that is not within the bounds in the x-direction of an area of intersection between the proposed text rectangle and the graphic is identified as a valid text area within the proposed text rectangle. In the case of flow around a container, one or more difference areas, if any, in which a proposed text rectangle is present but the container is not present are found. A valid rectangle, if any, that is not within the bounds in the x-direction of any of said one or more difference areas is identified as a valid text area within the proposed text rectangle.

Abstract: A translation device has a translation processing unit that outputs character-area-character data by performing a translation process on the character-area-character data of an input image representing a figure-containing document, and outputting figure-area-character data by performing a translation process on the figure-area-character data of an input image representing a figure-containing document, a figure identification information searching unit that searches figure identification information used to identify a figure contained in a character area of the figure-containing-translation data, a linked page number searching unit that searches a page number in a character area of the figure-containing-translation data, a page number extracting unit that extracts a page number of a page included in figure area of figure identification information, and a page number rewriting unit that rewrites the searched page number linked to the figure identification information to the extracted page number of a page.

Abstract: Camera-based services are provided to a user of a portable communication device by recognizing text contained in an image. An image of an environment is captured using a camera within the portable communication device so as to obtain image data. The image data is processed such that text data is recognized and extracted from the image data. Data related to the text data is then output in a form recognizable by a user of the portable communication device. The text data can be processed on the portable communication device to obtain the data related to the text data. Alternatively, the processing is performed by a processing unit external to the portable communication device. Translated and audio versions of the text data are output to the user. One camera-based service provides price and product information related to a product described in an image captured by the camera.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for segmenting image data into windows and rendering a best-estimate outline delineating document windows may include adjusting a background white threshold differently than adjusting a white threshold normally used to classify pixels as white for video processing purposes. Such an independently arrived at threshold may be more suitable for the different task of differentiating between document background and document content.

Abstract: A method and system for providing, in accordance with a standard format, formatted information to an image-processor, especially software and/or components. The formatted information is related to defects of a chain of appliances including an image-capture appliance and/or an image-restitution appliance. The image-processor uses the formatted data to modify the quality of at least one image derived from or addressed to the chain of appliances. The formatted information includes data characterizing defects of the image-capture appliance, especially distortion characteristics, and/or data characterizing defects of the image-restitution appliance, especially distortion characteristics. The method fills in at least one field of the standard format with the formatted information. This field is designated by a field name and contains at least one field value.

Abstract: A data obfuscation method, apparatus and computer program product are disclosed in which at least selected text entities such as words or abbreviations in a document are obfuscated to prevent the disclosure of private information if the document is disclosed. A user establishes various configuration parameters for selected text entities desired to obfuscated. The document is processed and text entities matching the configuration parameters are tagged for obfuscation. The tagged entities are then substituted in the document with obfuscating text. The obfuscating text can be derived from a hash table. The hash table may be used to provide a reverse obfuscation method by which original data can be restored to an obfuscated document.

Abstract: The method of processing objects, in which method a digital image (1) is obtained of the surface of each postal object, which image includes address information (2), and an identifier or time stamp for the postal object is associated with the digital image of the postal object in a video-coding system, is characterized by the fact that said digital image is processed in order to extract a signature that serves as an identifier. The signature comprises a first component representative of a physical characteristic of the digital image and a second component (SC) which is a textual description of the address block. This method can be used to implement immediate video-coding in a postal sorting machine without requiring a delay line.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an efficient and flexible organization of data for an acceleration data structure (e.g., spatial index). In contrast to storing primitive information within a spatial index, embodiments of the invention may store pointers in the spatial index which point to or link to primitive-defining information in buffers. Storing pointers to primitive-defining information may reduce the size of the spatial index. Additionally, embodiments of the invention enable vertex and triangle sharing. Vertex and triangle sharing may reduce the amount of storage space required to define the primitives within the three-dimensional scene. Furthermore, the data organization provided by the embodiments of the invention allows for easy manipulation of the spatial index and primitive data.

Abstract: A image processing device has a reading unit, a graphics area extraction unit, a writing area extraction unit, a character string extraction unit and an association unit. The reading unit reads a document. The graphics area extraction unit extracts a graphics area from the document read by the reading unit. The writing area extraction unit extracts a writing area from the document read by the reading unit. The character string extraction unit extracts a character string presented in the graphics area. The association unit associates information of the writing area with the graphics area based on the character string extracted by the character string extraction unit.

Abstract: The present invention comprises, in order to allow recognition of content of information indicated in a medium accurately, based on an image data obtained by reading a medium, an extraction unit for extracting each of plural information items from an image data obtained by reading a medium in which each of plural information items satisfying a predetermined relationship is indicated in plural areas, a recognition unit for recognizing content of each of plural information items, and a confirmation unit which evaluates whether or not content of plural information items recognized by the recognition unit is correct based on the predetermined relationship, and confirms content of plural information items as recognized by the recognition unit if correct, and executes correction of recognition content recognized by the recognition unit if incorrect, based on the predetermined relationship, to confirm content of plural information items.

Abstract: Precise grayscale character segmentation apparatus and method. The precise grayscale character segmentation apparatus comprises an adjustment and segmentation unit for adjusting and segmenting an inputted low resolution text line image undergone coarse segmentation, so as to generate an adjusted character image; a character image binarization unit for generating a binary character image from the character image inputted therein; a noise removal unit for removing noise information in the binary character image generated by the binarization unit; and a final character image segmentation unit for generating a precisely segmented character image from the binary character image from which noise has been removed.

Abstract: An electronic camera includes a search unit for sequentially capturing and analyzing a monitor image for an object and for sequentially determining whether or not a figure of a specified form representing a print/picture image is included in the monitor image, and a memory for, responsive to determination that the figure is included in the monitor image, storing the monitor image including the figure as a candidate for the print/picture image.

Abstract: An image processing device includes a region extraction unit, a region compression unit, and a region synthesis unit for synthesizing the image data of the regions compressed by the region compression unit. The device further includes a compression method selection unit for selecting a compression method for each region, wherein the selection unit selects the compression method in accordance with a type of the region from among the plurality of compression methods, and wherein for each type of region, the selection unit selects a compression method only from compression methods in the plurality of compression methods that are designated for the type of region. And, the region compression unit performs the compression process for the image data of each region using the compression method selected for the region by the compression method selection unit.

Abstract: A layout analysis program, a layout analysis apparatus, layout analysis method and a medium can highly accurately extract a text block from an image if the image is a color image.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for context-based adaptive image processing wherein print job elements are processed according to context, which may be determined by segmentation and analysis of print job elements.

Abstract: A method of automatically adding tags to photos based on content of the photos and geographical information about where the photo was taken includes taking a photo with a camera of a personal navigation device, generating a geographical tag for the photo with the personal navigation device and attaching the geographical tag to the photo to generate a geotagged photo, transferring the geotagged photo to an optical character recognition (OCR) server, performing OCR on the geotagged photo with the OCR server and generating image description tags from text recognized in the geotagged photo, attaching selected tags to the geotagged photo, the selected tags being selected from the generated image description tags, and uploading the geotagged photo along with the attached selected tags to a photo sharing server, photos on the server being searchable by geographical tags or selected tags associated with the photos.

Abstract: Driver reporting documents are managed by a method comprising scanning a physical driver log sheet including an analog graph to obtain an electronic image data file which is stored on a system. A unique identifier is associated to the electronic image data file. The electronic image data file is processed to capture data regarding reported activity, wherein analog grid information is extracted as digital information and to capture data regarding non-grid activity. The data regarding reported activity is processed to determine compliance with activity standards and a report on compliance with activity standards is generated. A system for implementing this method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus including an input part configured to input document data of a document, an extracting part configured to automatically extract partial image data from the document data, a storage part configured to store the document data and configuration data of the document data, a registering part configured to associate the document data with the partial image data and register the document data and the associated partial image data in the storage part, a generating part configured to generate push-type data based on the configuration data, and a transmitting part configured to transmit the push-type data.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that identifies halftone regions within a digital image. During operation, the system receives a region from the digital image, wherein the digital image is a bi-level image, wherein each pixel has two possible color values. Next, the system computes a variation index for a region of the digital image, wherein the variation index indicates how frequently adjacent pixel values in the region differ. If the variation index for the region is greater than an upper threshold, the system determines that the region is a halftone region.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method for generating fees using a receiving device, involves distributing censored video from a distributor video to a receiving device; and uncensoring the censored video using the receiving device upon payment of a fee. The receiving device uses overlay data received from the distributor to uncensor the censored video by overlaying the overlay data over the censored video using a video overlay frame to overlay a video frame containing the censored video data in accordance with boundaries determined by an alpha plane within the receiving device. This abstract should not be considered limiting since embodiments consistent with the present invention may involve more, different or fewer elements.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for binarizing images represented by sets of multivalent pixel values in a computationally efficient manner are described In a grayscale image to be binarized, one group of pixel values represents “foreground”, e.g., text to be converted to black, while another group represents a shaded “background” region to be converted, e.g., to white. The difference between foreground and background is often a function of the scale of the image components, e.g., text and/or other images. Filters in the form of morphological operators, computationally efficient quick-open and quick-close morphological operators are employed to binarize images, e.g., grayscale images. The methods and apparatus effectively handle both smooth and sharp image background structures in a computationally efficient manner.

Abstract: An image processing method for reducing a power consumption. The image processing method may reduce the power consumption by classifying an input content into a conversion target region and a preservation target region and by converting a luminance of pixels included in the conversion target region. Also, the image processing method may effectively perform a luminance conversion for pixels by separating the input content into the conversion target region and the preservation target region based on a luminance of the pixels of the input content. The image processing method may convert the luminance of the pixels of the conversion target region to maintain a contrast between text pixels and background pixels.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system are disclosed for computer assisted document modification. One embodiment is a method for software execution. The method automatically extracts articles, in a first phase, from documents to generate different zones of the articles. Different zones of the extracted articles are displayed. In a second phase, plural different zones are manually modified with a document correction tool.

Abstract: Provided is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag generating method and device, and a contents receiving method using the same. The contents receiving method using the RFID tag generating device includes: a terminal detecting a virtual tag corresponding to contents; receiving a password to be used once, corresponding to the virtual tag; authenticating a user by determining whether the password to be used once corresponds to a password input by the user; receiving an identification code of the virtual tag when the password to be used once corresponds to a password input by the user; and receiving the contents matching the identification code of the virtual tag, and providing the same to the user.

Abstract: A portable reading device includes a computing device and a computer readable medium storing a computer program product to receive an image and select a section of the image to process. The product processes the section of the image with a first process and when the first process is finished processing the section of the image, process a result of the first process with a second process. While the second process is processing, repeats the first process on another section of the image.

Abstract: Upon synthesizing objects, information bits indicating the types of objects are lost. To solve this problem, this invention provides an image processing apparatus having discrimination means for discriminating a type of object to be rendered, determination means for determining the presence/absence of synthesis of the discriminated object, synthesis means for synthesizing an object and information of the type of object in accordance with the determination result, and processing means for appending information indicating the type of synthesized object to a rendering result obtained by rendering the object to be rendered in units of pixels.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are related to systems and methods for locating text in a digital image.

Abstract: A system for electronically distilling information from a business document uses a network scanner to electronically scan a platen area, having a business document thereon, to create a bitmap. A network server carries out a segmentation process to segment the scan generated bitmap into a bitmap object, the bitmap object corresponding to the scanned business document; a bitmap to text conversion process to convert the bitmap object into a block of text; a semantic recognition process to generate a structured representation of semantic entities corresponding to the scanned business document; and a document generation process to convert the structured representation into a structure text file.