Abstract: In a copier with a stapler and a sorter, an image read with a reader unit and a mark indicating a binding position designated from an operation unit are displayed on a CRT, and after an operator checks the binding position, the image is printed out on a sheet by a printer unit and the printed sheets are stapled at the designated position with a stapler. In this manner, the sheets are prevented from being stapled at a different position from that the operator desires.

Abstract: A fast, memory efficient, and accurate document image matching system is disclosed. Document image matching is based on identifying anchor points of characters in the document. The document matching process includes a feature extraction step where anchor points, e.g., points representing approximate locations of characters, are identified as features for matching. In a particularly efficient implementation, the anchor points are "pass codes" in a two-dimensionally encoded representation of a document image.

Abstract: An apparatus for managing picture data receives picture data representing a number of pictures at different times, generates a time code indicating the time of receipt of each picture, and stores the received picture data with a header that includes the time code. In order to retrieve selected pictures, retrieval parameter information is entered to indicate a selected time period, and the picture data that was received during the selected time period is retrieved. The apparatus also forms reduced size picture data for each received picture and stores the reduced size picture data in the header together with the time code for the corresponding picture. Upon retrieving selected ones of the stored pictures, the corresponding reduced size picture data is used to display simultaneously several reduced size pictures representing the pictures that have been retrieved.

Abstract: An image filing apparatus includes a read unit to read an image of an original, a judgment unit to judge whether the original read by the read unit is a specific original or not, an extraction unit to extract the image of a specific area of the original which was judged as a specific original by the judgment unit, a setting unit to set the image extracted by the extraction unit as a title of the original which is not judged as a specific original by the judgment unit, a storage unit to store the image which is not judged as a specific original in a memory medium, and a forming unit to form a management table in which the title set by the setting unit and the storing address of the image to be stored in the memory medium are made to correspond to each other.

Abstract: A system and method for automated data capture of sequential form numbers at a collator/press assembly machine is provided. The system of the present invention includes an optical reader, a conventional personal computer including generally available spreadsheet software, an optional printer and a standard form collator/press assembly machine.

Abstract: An attaching unit attaches an additional-information packet to a collection of main information, wherein the additional-information packet comprises sensory information corresponding to sensory impressions of a human being that has processed the collection of main information, the sensory impressions being with respect to circumstances under which the collection of main information has been processed.

Abstract: In an image retrieval apparatus, a desired image is recorded on a storage medium so as to correspond to an index image, and a recorded image is retrieved using an index image selected by the user. When recording an image on a storage medium or when retrieving an image from a storage medium, an index image can be assigned using a mark sheet on which a plurality of index images are printed. The image retrieval apparatus prints a mark sheet having a format corresponding to the number and the size of index images input by the user.

Abstract: At a storage unit 5, at least intermediate resolution picture data for monitor display, high resolution picture data for print, and print control data for controlling print operation of the high resolution picture data are recorded onto an optical disc. At the time of print operation, a system controller 6 reproduces print control data recorded on the optical disc to control a picture processing block 3, and a printer unit 2, etc. so as to implement thereto, e.g., expansion processing and/or color processing of picture, etc. corresponding to the print control data to carry out print operation.Thus, at the time of print operation, user can automatically carry out print out operation without designating print operation.

Abstract: A method and device for securely duplicating sensitive documents. A marking element is entered on the original document to identify its confidential nature, as well as an encoded rules elements which defines duplication restrictions of the document. For each duplication request (101) for a sensitive document (102), the document is digitized (103) to determine the presence of a marking element (104) and to find the duplication restrictions, i.e., the encoded rules elements (106). Duplication may be performed (110) depending on the restrictions defined in the rules elements (106) and after an authorization check (108). A duplication may be obtained by requesting the computerized original of the document from the document issuer. In addition to the selective control of reproduction of documents the method and device is particularly suitable for preventing the duplication of documents for fraudulent purposes, multiple duplication of selected documents, and for copyright administration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for controlling the function of document processing machines such as copying machines and facsimile machines. Control data is submitted to a controller in a two-dimensional symbology having error correcting capability. The control data is decoded and used to process a plurality of documents without the need of a manual keying of instructions by an operator controlling the document processing machine.

Abstract: The present invention provides a document processing apparatus, document processing method and a storage medium for storing thereof on purpose to offer document filing in which document can be registered with a little computation cost and with high speed, and retrieval can be performed with little oversight. In the document processing apparatus, a similar character classifying element classifies characters in a document image into similar character categories in advance and stores the classified categories together with their representative image features. When the document image is registered, a pseudo character recognizing element executes, without identifying each character in the text region, classification into character categories based on the image features less than those used in the ordinary character recognition and stores the category strings generated by identifying each character with the inputted image.

Abstract: Machine readable fragments of a code pattern that is parameterized in N-dimensional space, where N.gtoreq.2, are affixed to two or three dimensional physical objects, such that the objects are uniquely identified by the addresses of the machine readable address space fragments affixed thereto.

Abstract: An image retrieving apparatus for retrieving a first image by a second image associated with the first image, comprises a read unit for reading a plurality of images on a sheet, a discriminating unit for discriminating the images on the sheet read by the read unit as second images, and a storage unit for storing the second images discriminated by the discrimination unit in a storage medium.

Abstract: A data storage device located at a first location stores data representing plural images of a dynamic video image stream. A host processor located at a second location stores a program file representing a search algorithm for searching for a desired image among the images represented by the data stored at the first location. The program file representing the search algorithm is downloaded from the host processor to the data storage device. The downloaded program file is used to search for the desired image in the video data stored in the data storage device at the first location.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus of integrating multimedia materials with didactic printed materials present selected relevant multimedia material in response to the sensing of control codes embedded in context sensitive and/or content sensitive didactic printed material. A store of multimedia information is created, and the store is correlated to related context and/or content sensitive didactic printed material. The store is categorized to transmit certain categories of the stored information from the store to a multimedia display in response to the reception of certain input signals obtained from certain codes embedded in the didactic printed material. The printed didactic material controls the display of the multimedia material. Either preexisting didactic printed material or currently created didactic printed material can be efficiently and economically integrated with multimedia materials to display certain selected multimedia materials at sensitive places of the printed materials.

Abstract: A method for storing, processing, and retrieving images in/from a graphic database. The graphic database is a digital database which is created by converting an original image into a digital format and arranging and organizing the digital format so as to identify elements of the converted image. The graphic database is so arranged and organized as to enable the identifiable elements of the converted image to be searched and displayed with the look and format of the original image.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus which includes a primary scanner for scanning an original X-ray image obtained using a grid and recorded on a recording medium with light in a primary scanning direction. A clock signal generator generates clock signals having a frequency N times as high as a frequency of pixel clock signals, wherein the pixel clock signals correspond to a desired pixel size, and wherein N is a positive integer. A converter converts a light beam from the recording medium into electric signals by a scanning operation of the primary scanner, and converts the electric signals into digital signals based on the clock signals. A low pass filter is provided which has at least one set of filter characteristics having a cut-off frequency between 1/3 and 2/3 of the frequency of the pixel clock signals for filtering the digital signals converted by the converter.

Abstract: While Web servers and clients, such as Mosiac, have opened the door to on-line publishers and consumers of information, these services have only been available to those having an Internet connection. In other words, individuals that do not have a direct Internet connection, including a computer and a data channel to the Internet, cannot search for documents and other resources available through the Web. The present invention obtains documents by receiving a facsimile transmission of a document with at least one search term and performing a search based on search terms on the received document.

Abstract: A personal imaging computer system, which is connectable to and operable with a computerized local or wide area network, identifies characters in a document on which the characters are formed. The system scans the document to obtain a gray-scale image of the document, generates a binary image from the gray-scale image by comparing the gray-scale image with the threshold, segments the binary image to locate individual characters within the binary image and to determine the shape of the individual characters, extracts gray-scale image information from the gray-scale image for each such individual character based on the location and shape of the character in the binary image, recognition-processes the extracted gray scale image information to determine the identity of the character, and stores the identity of the character. The character identities are stored in a character file in association with the image so as to facilitate image retrieval with a text-based search over many such character files.

Abstract: Inventive two-dimensional barcodes, each having encoded digital information in a bitmap representing preferably randomized encoded data bits, are printed onto a printed medium. The bitmap may further include a plurality of block identifiers, spaced a predetermined number of encoded data bits apart, which are used to make corrections for missing or added data bits when the barcode is decoded. Upon decoding a barcode printed on the printed media, the digital information is scanned and the number of horizontal and vertical edges in each respective column and row of the barcode are determined. An edge is determined by selecting a pixel and determining if the two pixels adjacent to the selected pixel are of different colors. After all of the edges are counted, selected groups of columns and rows are analyzed to determine local minimas in the number of counted horizontal and vertical edges in each selected group which provide the column and row center line for each selected group.

Abstract: A document data filing apparatus automatically selects attribute values indicating visual features of a desired document from the code data of document data inputted. The attribute value generation unit generates attribute values indicating visual features of the document data inputted as coded data from the document data input unit. At this point, the presence or absence of dot data and specific words and characters are judged. The document data storage unit stores the document data in association with its attribute for retrieval. The attribute value designation unit makes an operator designate the attribute value as retrieval key to the document data to be retrieved The readout unit reads the document data corresponding to the designated attribute value from the document data storage unit. The display unit displays the document data. The retrieving technique is applied to a word processor.

Abstract: A marker encoded and provided in the side channel of an analog rendering provides digital information about the analog rendering with which it is simultaneously provided. Perceptible non-intrusive, computer-interpretable encodings, incorporated into printed, handwritten, pictorial or video communication renderings, and audible, non-intrusive, computer-perceptible encodings in audio renderings, using available side channel bandwidth in those media, allow generating or preprocessing computer-to-recognizing computer communication of a wide range of information relating to the generation and reproduction of the main channel analog information, such as error correction encoding, scan order encoding, object identification and algorithms used in generating the analog information.

Abstract: Stored alternative position data indicate alternative positionings of a class of document segments. Data are obtained that define an image set showing a document. An alternative identifier identifying one of the alternative positionings is also obtained. The alternative identifier, the alternative position data, and the data defining the image set are used to obtain segment data defining a segment of the image set. The segment is in the class of document segments. The segment is also at the position indicated by the alternative position data for the identified positioning. To store the document in a database, the segment data and a document identifier can be stored so that a search can determine that the segment is from the document. Similarly, the segment data and a segment class identifier can be stored so that a search can determine that the segment is in the identified class of document segments.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including plural paper sheet feeding trays and an operating panel to input information for setting of copying operations. An image memory and a reading and recording portion scan character(s) in a predetermined area of documents and store the character(s) in the image memory. Further, a sorting portion sorts the scanned documents based on the character(s), and an output portion outputs copied document based on the stored characters.

Abstract: A system and method for coding of documents, such as in a litigation support setting, uses machine readable indicia to increase the speed and accuracy of coding operations. For example, bar codes can be used on the documents to represent document numbers or other unique identifier, and can also be provided on "blotters" or menus and used to represent keyword data to be coded. Thus, a coding operator can scan a bar code or other indicium on the document and then scan the bar codes for all appropriate keywords. The system would then associate that document with those keywords. Once the bar codes or other indicia have been affixed to the documents, they can be used during further copying or imaging operations to make sure that the document feeders for those operations do not misfeed any documents, by automatically scanning the indicia and checking that they appear in the expected order. If they do not, the process can be stopped and the operator notified.

Abstract: A method and system for storing and selectively retrieving information, such as words, from a document set. The method includes generating an image data set representative of the information contained in the document set. The method also involves generating a text data set representative of a text portion of the information contained in the document set. A text-image correspondence (TIC) table is generated that includes data representative of coordinates information corresponding to each phrase of the document set. A search phrase is identified in response to user-specified search criteria and the search phrase is identified in the text image data set. Then, the TIC table is used to identify the coordinates information corresponding to the search phrase identified in the text data set. A display of the portion of the page containing the search phrase is generated using the coordinates information.

Abstract: An attaching unit attaches an additional-information packet to a collection of main information, wherein the additional-information packet comprises sensory information corresponding to sensory impressions of a human being that has processed the collection of main information, the sensory impressions being with respect to circumstances under which the collection of main information has been processed.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus which can produce improved quality copies by taking into account the effects which normally occur when successive copies of copies are made. When a document is to be copied, image information is input to a processing device relating to certain parameters associated with the image characteristics such as, for example, the toner density, thickness of the image information, type of copier used, amount of toner available at the time of copying, etc. This image information is then stored on the document copy in the form of a bar code which will change as successive copies of copies are made in such a way that the image quality of the copies is not degraded.

Abstract: A marker encoded and provided in the side channel of an analog rendering provides digital information about the analog rendering with which it is simultaneously provided. Perceptible non-intrusive, computer-interpretable encodings, incorporated into printed, handwritten, pictorial or video communication renderings, and audible, non-intrusive, computer-perceptible encodings in audio renderings, using available side channel bandwidth in those media, allow generating or preprocessing computer-to-recognizing computer communication of a wide range of information relating to the generation and reproduction of the main channel analog information, such as error correction encoding, scan order encoding, object identification and algorithms used in generating the analog information.

Abstract: An electronic document-imaging arrangement wherein imaging means generates imaging-bits representing a given document and transfers these bits on a "per-document basis" to various successive electronic processing stages and, finally, to a data base storage unit (DBS); this arrangement also including a tag stage for creating tag bits unique for each such imaged document; these tag bits to be transferred with the imaging bits for each document to each such processing stage that handles the imaging bits, on a per document basis, and finally to DBS interface means for final matching and removal of the tag bits.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image input unit for inputting image information, a trimming unit for trimming an area for classifying and summarizing the image information input by the image input unit, a recognition unit for recognizing information representing each image information in the area trimmed by the trimming unit, and a search unit for searching image information by at least one of pieces of the information recognized by the recognition unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying morphological image criteria that identify image units in an undecoded document image having significant information content, and for retrieving related data that supplements the document either from elsewhere within the document or a source external to the document. The retrieved data can result from character code recognition or template matching of the identified significant image units, or the retrieved data can result directly from an analysis of the morphological image characteristics of the identified significant image units. A reading machine can allow a user to browse and select documents or segments thereof, and to obtain interactive retrieval of documents and supplemental data.

Abstract: A system and method for interposing stored images to moving video within multimedia computer programs, wherein the system recognizes specific identifiers upon an object or image that identify that the object or image is a visual aid to be incorporated into the multimedia program. In response to this recognition, a previously stored image associated with the identified object/image is retrieved and inserted into the multimedia computer program.

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 auto-changer stores media such as audio or video discs or tape cassettes in numbered slots in a magazine. For each of the media in the magazine, title information is entered from an input device and stored in a memory. The input device may be a manual device, such as a keyboard, or an automatic device, such as optical character recognition equipment. The titles are sorted in the memory and displayed on a display in, for example, alphabetic order, so that the user can find desired titles easily. When the user selects a title from the display, a changer transfers the corresponding medium from the magazine to a player.

Abstract: An electronic document-imaging arrangement which generates imaging-bits representing a given document and transfers these bits on a "per-document basis" to various successive electronic processing stages and, finally, to data base storage; this arrangement also including a tag unit adapted to create "sync-tag" bits unique for each such imaged document and transfer these tag bits, along with the imaging bits, for each document to each processing stage that handles the imaging bits on a per document basis, and finally to an associated interface for final matching and removal of the tag bits.

Abstract: A document storage and retrieval system is provided with means for storing a document body in the form of image, means for storing text information in the form of a character code string for retrieval, means for executing a retrieval with reference to the text information, and means for displaying a document image relating thereto on a retrieval terminal according to the retrieval result. Such a form of the system is available for retrieving the full contents of a document and also for displaying the document body printed in a format easy to read straight in the form of image. Accordingly, users are capable of retrieving documents with arbitrary words and also capable of reading even such a document as is complicated to include mathematical expressions and charts through a terminal in the form of image, the same as on paper. Further, the invention provides a system wherein the text information for retrieval is extracted automatically from the document image through character recognition.

Abstract: A catalogue card and a document card are used for a file system. The document card indicates a predetermined document. The catalogue card indicates a catalogue of the document. Since the catalogue of the document is input to the file system via the catalogue card instead of a keyboard, a user who is not used to operating a keyboard can easily input the catalogue and manage the document.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an operating board for indicating operating modes, a document reading member and an outputting member for outputting data. An image compressing member compresses image data read by the document reading member and a memory member records the compressed image data, wherein the outputting member produces an output image on a paper sheet based on the compressed image data recorded in the memory member. An image extracting member extracts the compressed data from image data which are obtained by reading the output image by the image reading member and a decompressing member decompresses the compressed image data which are extracted by the image extracting member, wherein the outputting member produces an output image on a paper sheet based on the decompressed image data. With input image data being preserved, the image data are compressed by an image compressing part are thus converted into a cryptograph.

Abstract: An electronic data filing apparatus is disclosed, which includes a unit for displaying an index image for retrieval of data stored in a data storing medium, a unit for storing relative data representing a relation between the data and the index image, a unit for selecting at least one index image from a plurality of index images displayed on the displaying unit, a unit for selecting at least one index image from a plurality of index images displayed on the displaying unit, and a unit for executing retrieval of data according to index image selected by the selecting unit and relative data stored in the storing unit. When a plurality of index images are selected by the selecting unit the retrieval means executes retrieval of data with a combination of relative data corresponding to individual selected index images.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing an image which is stored on an optical disk is read by a scanner. A plurality of images read out from the optical disk are edited to form an abstract image on the basis of a predetermined unit (e.g., one page), and code data (i.e., retrieval data) is added to the abstract image. The resultant image, including both the abstract image and the code data, is printed on a sheet. The code data is extracted from the printed image, and desired images are retrieved from the optical disk on the basis of the code data.

Abstract: Lithographic plates have an identifying folio and an image thereon. The image corresponds to a print image to be printed on sheet material such as newspaper stock. An image camera optically examines the identifying folios of each of the lithographic plates to ascertain folio information, and optically examines the images of each of the lithographic plates to ascertain image information including registration information and exposure information. A CPU records in an the electronic memory the ascertained folio information of the identifying folio of each lithographic plate and records in the electronic memory the corresponding ascertained image information of the image of each lithographic plate. An operator using a keyboard can access the image information of a particular plate recorded in the electronic memory by reference to the corresponding recorded folio information for the particular plate whereby the folio information and the image information are cross-referenced.

Abstract: In a digital imaging document handling system for sequentially feeding plural document sheets in a document feeding path from a document input to an electronic imaging station, wherein document sheet feeding stoppages in the document feeding path are detectable, a simplified job recovery system is provided by providing a duplicate image detection system for the automatic deletion of duplicate electronic document page images. The duplicate page images may be detected efficiently without full image comparisons by checksumming the pixels of multiple cell areas for the page, deleting the least significant figures, and comparing the respective cell checksums.

Abstract: An electronic document-imaging arrangement which generates imaging-bits representing a given document and transfers these bits on a "per-document basis" to various successive electronic processing stages and, finally, to a data base storage; this arrangement also including a tag unit adapted to create "sync-tag" bits unique for each such imaged document and transfer these tag bits, along with the imaging bits, for each document to each processing stage that handles the imaging bits on a per document basis, and finally to an associated interface for final matching and removal of the tag bits.