Abstract: In an apparatus for detecting an address region on postal matter, an image having address information of the postal matter is converted to a digital signal, and a region associated with the digital signal is found. The associated region is converted to rectangular data indicating a rectangular region circumscribed with the associated region. The rectangular data is subjected to predetermined processing and compared with already known information, thereby easily and exactly effecting address region judgment.

Abstract: A system for producing a raster image derived from a data structure including a data processing apparatus, a recognizer which performs recognition on an input bitmap to the data processing apparatus to detect identifiable objects within the input bitmap, a mechanism for producing a hybrid data structure including coded data corresponding to the identifiable objects and to non-identifiable objects and the input bitmap, and an output device capable of developing a visually perceptible raster image derived from the input bitmap in the hybrid data structure. The raster image is derived from the input bitmap and thus includes no misrecognition errors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assigning a temporary label to each connected area in an image by scanning the image by using a window which has a size of two pixels in the vertical direction and of a plurality of pixels in the horizontal direction. A set of values of pixels contained in the above window is obtained and one of predetermined temporary label assignment rules corresponding to the obtained set of pixel values is selected. A temporary label is assigned to each pixel contained in the window, based on the above one of the temporary label assignment rules determined as above, and based on temporary labels of pixels in the second group in the window at the above each location. In addition, the temporary labels are converted to true labels, by scanning the image pixel within the at least one circumscribing area only, where each circumscribing area is predetermined so that the at least one circumscribing area contains all pixels which do not belong to a background area in the image.

Abstract: A user enters a document processor simple instructions of the use of an output document and the image finish of the document, for example, by a design instruction input unit. In response to the simple instructions, a design parameter determining unit determines design parameters. An area dividing unit divides the input image into partial image areas of document elements. A logic identifier applying unit applies logic identifiers to the document elements. An output image generator unit processes the document image according to the design parameters provided respectively for the logic identifiers, whereby forming an output image as instructed.

Abstract: An automatic image quality controlling apparatus in an electronic copier classifies image data obtained through an image pickup means is divided into character part and picture part, detects an overall height of characters based on a distance between character lines in character part and detects an overall width of characters based on a distance between character columns in character part. Based on the information thus obtained, the apparatus decides an overall size of outline squares for characters, assumes positions of segments where characters should be located, comparatively judges whether any isolated image data resides in the assumed segments, separates irregular components based on the result determined and erases the irregular components separated.

Abstract: A character recognition system or the like in which character identities are stored in accordance with a hierarchical order established during processing to separate text image areas from non-text image areas. To separate text image areas from non-text image areas, blocks of pixels are selected from pixel image data by outlining contours of connected components in the pixel image data, determining whether the outlined connected components include text units or non-text units, selectively connecting text units widthwisely to form text lines, and selectively connecting text lines vertically to form text blocks. After blocks of pixels have been so selected, text blocks are segmented into lines of pixel image data, and characters are cut from the lines of pixel image data so obtained. If desired, the characters may be cut by a two-step cutting process in which non-touching and non-overlapping characters are first cut out, and touching characters are then cut out.

Abstract: In a character recognition system or the like, method and apparatus for selecting blocks of pixels from pixel image data so as to permit identification and grouping of similarly-typed pixels, such as text-type pixels and non-text-type pixels. Pixel image data is inputted and, if the pixel image data is not binary image data then the pixel image data is converted into binary pixel image data. Blocks of pixel image data are selected by outlining contours of connected components in the pixel image data, determining whether the outlined connected components include text unit or non-text units based on the size of the outlined connected components, selectively connecting text units widthwisely to form text lines based on proximity of adjacent text units, and selectively connecting text lines vertically to form text blocks based on proximity of adjacent text lines and on the position of non-text units between text lines. A hierarchical tree is formed based on the outlined connected components.

Abstract: An information processing methodology gives rise to an application program interface which includes an automated digitizing unit, such as a scanner, which inputs information from a diversity of hard copy documents and stores information from the hard copy documents into a memory as stored document information. Portions of the stored document information are selected in accordance with content instructions which designate portions of the stored document information required by a particular application program. The selected stored document information is then placed into the transmission format required by a particular application program in accordance with transmission format instructions. After the information has been transmission formatted, the information is transmitted to the application program. In one operational mode, the interface interactively prompts the user to identify, on a display, portions of the hard copy documents containing information used in application programs or for storage.

Abstract: An area discrimination system discriminates areas from each other in a binary image. The system includes a reducing unit for reducing a binary image supplied from an external unit, a skew detector for detecting skew of the binary image with respect to a predetermined direction, an extracting unit for extracting black connected components from the reduced image, a block forming unit for forming blocks, each of which includes a plurality of black connected components close to each other, a first merging unit for merging blocks satisfying first conditions into a a character string by using of the skew detected by said skew detector, the first conditions including at least a condition depending on skew of the binary image, and a second merging unit for merging character strings satisfying second conditions into a column by using of the skew detected by said skew detector, the second conditions including at least a condition depending on skew of the binary image.

Abstract: When a leading end of a run on an upper row in a binary mask which performs raster scan over a binary image is detected, a run label which was assigned to the same run when scanning a row preceding the current row by one row is read out, and label diversion destination data is read from a concatenation table using the read run label as an address. A temporary label is determined by comparing a concatenated label, which indicates the minimum label value of the runs prior to the run on the upper row of which leading end is detected and adjacent to the run existing on the run on the lower row of the binary mask, with the diversion destination data read from the concatenation table. If one of them is 0, the other label data is issued as the temporary label. If both of them are 0, a new label is issued as the temporary label. If the compared label values are different from each and are not 0, the smaller label value is written into the concatenation table using the larger label value as the address.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for selecting text and/or non-text blocks in a stored document includes functions and structure for identifying connected pixel components in a stored document, separating the identified pixel components into text and non-text components, searching the document for visible and invisible lines along edges of the non-text components, forming irregularly-shaped text and non-text blocks using the identified text components and the visible and invisible lines, detecting the text orientation for each formed text block, extracting text lines from the text block based on the detected orientation, detecting the skew angle for the stored document based on the extracted lines, and modifying the formed text and non-text blocks based on the detected skew angle. The thus-formed text blocks are preferably subjected to character recognition routines.

Abstract: A first image signal representing a Magen radiation image is obtained by exposing a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which the Magen radiation image has been stored in a subdivision pattern composed of at least a single subdivision, to stimulating rays, which cause the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation, the emitted light being detected. The kind of the subdivision pattern of the Magen image is discriminated on the basis of the first image signal or information given by an image recording system, which carries out an image recording operation. The kind of an image recording pattern of the Magen image is determined from the kind of the subdivision pattern, which has been discriminated.

Abstract: A device for coding still images has a device for segmenting the images into homogeneous regions whereto a specific label is attached, and a device for coding the contents of the contour. The contour coding device has a sub-assembly which detects contours for each regions, for each region successively considered, it detects points which are to form a series of control points and transforming the part of the contour joining two successive control points into a straight segment. Then the validity criterion is verified. If the criterion is not met, at least one supplementary control point is introduced between the two control points and so on until it is. The transformation is applied until the contour loop is completely closed.

Abstract: A note taking system that integrates word-processing functionality and computerized drawing functionality for processing ink strokes comprises novel methods that provide this functionality such as: a method for modeless operation of the note taking system that automatically switches between providing word-processing functionality and drawing functionality; a novel method for processing ink strokes as drawings, a unique method for processing ink strokes as writing, and other methods for parsing the ink strokes into words, lines, and paragraphs. The present invention also includes additional methods for manipulating figures such as a division between line and shape type figures, and a special handle performing either rotation or re-sizing.

Abstract: The invention is a learning type waveform recognizer that has a sequential signal extractor that extracts changes in the values of an input waveform signal at each point on the transition axis, a learning and recognition section that learns the relations between the changes extracted from the input signal and classified waveform signals and recognizes the degree of matching with the classified waveform at each point on the transition axis based on the learned relations, and an integrated recognition section that integrates the recognized results at points in an interval and performs an overall judgment by identifying the waveform of the input waveform signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a robust technique for quickly determining whether a binary input image originated as a blank page. The technique provides reliable sensing in the presence of various image and scanner noise in the input image. In broad terms, the invention contemplates reducing the input image with a low threshold, labeling (by size) connected components (8-connected or 4-connected), and performing a threshold analysis. The threshold analysis typically entails size and numerical thresholds, taking into account the characteristic dimensions of expected types of noise. In specific embodiments, the reduction is performed as a textured reduction wherein the image is divided into tiles, and a single row of pixels in each tile is checked to see whether there are any ON pixels. If there are, the corresponding pixel in the reduced image is ON, otherwise it is OFF. Optional morphological operations are performed to remove expected sources of noise (e.g., pepper noise and thin horizontal lines).