Abstract: A layout apparatus includes: an item storage unit that stores items used in a layout; a first database that stores user's personal layout information and evaluation values with respect to each user; a second database that stores layout information and evaluation values of categories with respect to each category corresponding to attributes of the user; and a layout generation unit that generates a layout of a predetermined item using the predetermined item stored in the item storage unit based on at least either the personal layout information and evaluation values of a predetermined user stored in the first database or the layout information and evaluation values of a category corresponding to attributes of the predetermined user stored in the second database.

Abstract: Computer-executable instructions stored in a medium cause an output apparatus to perform first and second output control processes. The output apparatus includes a storage section for storing a plurality of document data sets having a predetermined order and acquired from a plurality of documents, and an output section for outputting images of a plurality of document data constituting the plurality of document data sets. In the first output control process, the output section outputs an image of a document data belonging to one document data set and to output an image of a document data belonging to the next document data set according to the predetermined order. In the second output control process, the output section outputs an image of a document data belonging to a specified attribute of one document data set and to output the next image based on the attribute.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a purchase history of a first user to a second (differing) user is provided herein. During operation a server is provided with an image and determines an identification of a first person within the image. Items that exist within the image, and that were purchased by the first person are also determined by the server. The server then provides information on the items purchased to a second user.

Abstract: A document processing system allows specifying disposition of a paper document at the time a reservation for the document is created in the document processing system. Quality assurance processing after scanning assures all needed processing is performed for the paper document and the corresponding electronic document. Once the quality assurance processing is complete, the disposition of the paper document is scheduled according to the specified disposition policy for the paper document. When the specified disposition policy for a document indicates the document needs to be destroyed, a user scans the unique identifier on the physical document at a first location, receives verification the document should be destroyed, and places the document in a container for documents to be destroyed. At a second location, a user scans the unique identifier on the document and receives verification the document should be destroyed. The physical document may then be destroyed.

Abstract: A method of generating a reflowable content file from a physical text source is described. An image of the physical text source is segmented into a plurality of glyphs and a character and font is determined for each of the glyphs. The font for each of the plurality of glyphs is determined based on two or more of the glyphs.

Abstract: A character recognition apparatus includes an extracting unit that extracts a numerical value reading region in which a numerical value that is a character string of a numeral is read from an image that is a character recognition target, a character recognizing unit that performs character recognition on the extracted numerical value reading region and obtains plural recognition candidates for each numerical value, and a selecting unit that selects a potential candidate from the plural recognition candidates on the basis of a numerical value range set for each numerical value reading region.

Abstract: Computer implemented methods for protecting and promoting products of a given brand by using machine readable codes, including assigning, by a given brand, a particular value to a machine readable code localized in a packaging of a product; a user scanning the machine readable code by using a mobile computing device having installed therein a processor adapted to read the machine readable code; upon the scanning being performed, establishing communication between the processor and a remote server for storing the scanned code and performing a series of checkings of the scanned code; depending on the result of the checkings the remote server assigns a monetary compensation from the brand to the user that is delivered through the processor; and the processor informing the user about the checking, wherein the machine readable code contains information regarding a marketing campaign of the given brand, a product code and the particular value encrypted.

Abstract: This disclosure provides various embodiments for archiving a business object. At least one particular business object is identified for archiving. The particular business object has associated data including type data corresponding to a business object type of the at least one particular business object, structured business data, and unstructured attachment data. At least one archive-type object is created corresponding to the particular business object by enriching the unstructured attachment data with type-specific metadata including data identifying at least one attribute of the business object type. The archive-type object is archive-system-independent. The at least one archive-type object is exported to at least one archiving system for storage in at least one memory device of the archiving system.

Abstract: A method for printing a coded document includes receiving a print job, generating a document-file identifier, storing a document-file table entry into a document-file table, and printing a coded document. The document-file table entry includes the document-file identifier and the original document-file path. The coded document includes the received document-file data and the generated document-file identifier. A method for scanning a coded document includes receiving scan-document data indicative of a coded document, extracting the document-file identifier from the scan-document data, and searching a plurality of document-file table entries for the scanned document-file identifier. Each of the plurality of document-file table entries includes an entry document-file identifier and an entry document-file path, and may also include a table entry lifetime and/or a plurality of document-file variations. A pull-copy system includes an image forming apparatus, a storage unit, and a processor.

Abstract: A method for creating reusable composite components from interpreted pages of rendered document during dynamic document construction involves first obtaining a list of document components from the page and identifying any non-cached components. The individual reusable document components (RDCs) are cached having been rendered to their respective bounding box dimensions. These RDCs are then permuted into combinations of RDCs and each composite RDC is cached rendered relative to each other in a bounding box of sufficient size to adequately contain the combination. Then, combining RDCs to form composite reusable underlays RULs and caching the composite RULs rendered to full-page size. Any portion of each RDC of each composite RUL falling outside the boundary of RULs full-page size is clipped. If a method renders pages having a combination of reusable components and non-cached components, the first step assesses the page for the possibility of having an underlay-overlay pair.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to processing a scanned form by causing an action to occur. The scanned form includes a unique identifier that indicates that the action is to occur when the form is scanned. The unique identifier is detected in the scanned form data. The scanned form data may be transmitted to a server to use the unique identifier to identify the action to execute for processing the scanned data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes at least one processor. An input unit is configured to input image data. A correction unit performs a correction for the image data based on a result of analysis of the data. A storage unit stores the corrected image data. A processing unit performs a correction for the corrected image data using a correction parameter in accordance with a user instruction. The processing unit corrects the corrected image data stored by the storage unit using a changed correction parameter, when the correction parameter has been changed according to a user instruction. When a correction instruction based on an image analysis is input after correction of the image data by at least one of the correction unit and the processing unit, the correction unit makes a correction for the input image data input based on a result of analyzing the image data.

Abstract: A document processing system allows specifying disposition of a paper document at the time a reservation for the document is created in the document processing system. A default disposition policy for the paper document can be selected, a different defined disposition policy can be selected, or a new disposition policy can be created. Quality assurance processing after scanning assures all needed processing is performed for the paper document and the corresponding electronic document. Once the quality assurance processing is complete, the disposition of the paper document is scheduled according to the specified disposition policy for the paper document.

Abstract: A system and method for collecting and managing information taken from tokens, like credit cards and gift cards, includes a portable computing device (PCD). The PCD may support a token recognizer that may comprise hardware and/or software that may reside in memory of the PCD. The token recognizer may work in combination with a camera. The token recognizer may comprise a broad recognizer module and an optical character recognition (“OCR”) module. The camera of the PCD may capture images of one or more physical tokens. These captured images of the physical tokens may be processed by the token recognizer so that digital images as well as data provided by the physical tokens may be maintained in memory of the PCD for later presentation to the user. These later presentations on the PCD may be used for account management and for conducting transactions, such as making payment at a point-of-sale (POS) terminal.

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). The present invention provides a system, method, and computer program product for creating an ad hoc association between users. Captured digital images of paper documents or portions associated with a user are received. Document recognition features are extracted from the captured digital image. An ad hoc association is created between the user and another user associated with an existing document recognition feature similar to the extracted document recognition features.

Abstract: A method of conducting pattern matching is provided that includes establishing probe categories. Each probe category corresponds to pattern characteristics of one of a plurality of subpopulations. Moreover, the method includes coordinating combinations of the subpopulations and probe categories with pattern matching systems such that each combination corresponds to at least one of a plurality of the pattern matching systems, obtaining pattern data for an object, configuring the obtained object pattern data as a probe, and determining the probe category of the probe. Furthermore, the method includes conducting a matching transaction between the probe and each of the subpopulations using the at least one matching system corresponding to each combination of subpopulation and the determined probe category, and determining at least one candidate match when the probe matches at least one enrollment data record in the at least one matching system of any of the subpopulations.

Abstract: A related image searching method suitable for searching image files within a database is disclosed. The related image searching method includes steps of: selecting a context-of-interest from a displayed image according to a touch input event; analyzing a content characteristic in the context-of-interest area; determining an implication attribute of the content characteristic; and, searching the database according to the content characteristic and the implication attribute, so as to find out at least one image file with the same content characteristic or the same implication attribute. In addition, a user interface controlling method is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A system for processing image data, storing image data and accessing image data is provided. The system includes computing hardware, and one or more databases in communication with the computing hardware for storing image information. Upon receiving user instructions, the computing hardware is operable to combine a plurality of images to create a montage of mutually abutting images arranged within a pre-defined geometrical spatial envelope. The system is operable to manage the montage effectively as a single file for purposes of storing in the databases, and/or accessing from the databases.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method has storing, registering and displaying. The storing is storing a plurality of images having at least a first image in storage. The registering is registering first information related to the first image. The displaying is displaying, when the first image corresponds to a second image acquired by a camera, the first information or information related to the first information on a display.

Abstract: Methods and systems for automating insertion of content into media-based projects are disclosed. In one embodiment, images are uploaded from a user device to a server. The server performs image analysis on the uploaded images and obtains automatic image information. After presentation of the initial project, the user manually interacts with the uploaded images to provide user inputs to the project. The system observes the user interactions to generate manual image information based on the user interactions with the project. Based on the automatic image information and the manual image information, the present invention automatically updates a printable photobook or other media-based project after automatically inserting relevant content into the project. This produces a faster and more seamless user experience, and increases the number of customers purchasing the ultimate product by minimizing friction points to purchase.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for organization and presentation of content. In some embodiments, a plurality of images and a plurality of similarity rules for image categorization are received. For each image in the plurality of images, that image and each remaining image from the plurality is compared by: applying each similarity rule to the image and a remaining image from the plurality to obtain a numeric result, and recording the numeric result for the pair of images in a numeric representation, the numeric representation embodying similarities. The numeric representation is used as a reference for clustering the plurality of images into clusters of similar images, and each image is stored with a marker denoting a cluster to which it has been assigned.

Abstract: Method for inserting a barcode image in a document including receiving a request to encode one or more properties about the document as a barcode image in the document, the request being received through a document editor, generating the barcode image based on the properties, wrapping the barcode image inside a container object, and inserting the container object into the document.

Abstract: Visually encoded data is captured along with one or more visual elements, the encoded data is decoded and one composite view is displayed that incorporates information related to the decoding data, such as a decode confirmation or decoded data, and the visual elements. The recognition and decoding process may additionally provide for transforming the captured visual elements to accommodate the allocated display area of small sized display, such as the display associated with a handheld image capturing device. The invention is thus suited for capturing encoded data and branding elements, such as company or product logos, and displaying the branding elements in unison with data related to the decoded information.

Abstract: An embodiment provides for enabling retrieval of a collection of captured images that form at least a portion of a library of images. For each image in the collection, a captured image may be analyzed to recognize information from image data contained in the captured image, and an index may be generated, where the index data is based on the recognized information. Using the index, functionality such as search and retrieval is enabled. Various recognition techniques, including those that use the face, clothing, apparel, and combinations of characteristics may be utilized. Recognition may be performed on, among other things, persons and text carried on objects.

Abstract: An image retrieval method includes learning multiple object category classifiers with a processor offline and generating classifications scores of images as the semantic attributes; performing vocabulary tree based image retrieval using local features with semantic-aware co-indexing to jointly embed two distinct cues offline for near-duplicate image retrieval; and identifying top similar or dissimilar images using multiple semantic attributes.

Abstract: A server system receives a visual query from a client system, performs optical character recognition (OCR) on the visual query to produce text recognition data representing textual characters, including a plurality of textual characters in a contiguous region of the visual query. The server system also produces structural information associated with the textual characters in the visual query. Textual characters in the plurality of textual characters are scored. The method further includes identifying, in accordance with the scoring, one or more high quality textual strings, each comprising a plurality of high quality textual characters from among the plurality of textual characters in the contiguous region of the visual query. A canonical document that includes the one or more high quality textual strings and that is consistent with the structural information is retrieved. At least a portion of the canonical document is sent to the client system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for identifying an image based on Embedded Media Marker (EMM) identification. A hierarchal comparison including a first coarse comparison and a second refining comparison is used. The first coarse comparison compares an image with an EMM to images in a database at a low resolution. The results are fed to the second refining comparison, which conducts a comparison at a higher resolution than the first coarse comparison. By utilizing this hierarchical comparison approach, it is possible to identify the image with fewer false positives.

Abstract: Provided is an image information registration system including an image information acquisition unit that acquires image information appearing on a surface of a medium, a rotation angle information acquisition unit that acquires rotation angle information corresponding to a rotation angle of the medium with respect to a reading direction based on the image information, a retrieval information acquisition unit that acquires retrieval information including at least one item of attribute information and association system information that represents an association system which are correlated with the rotation angle information based on the rotation angle information, a target information acquisition unit that acquires one or plural items of target information stored in the association system identified by the association system information according to the retrieval information, and an image information registration unit that registers the image information according to the acquired one or plural items of target

Abstract: A computer based, digital image management system that visually presents an entire archive in a manner that facilitates easy, non-textual, searching for specific images. In one embodiment, the system includes two elements: a file management methodology and a graphical user interface. The file management method utilizes reference files that contain multiple properties (metadata) relating to each image file. Image files are grouped into a multiplicity of collections based on user-defined associations of the properties. The graphical user interface visually represents the groups of image files on 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional graphic metaphors. In addition, the graphical interface uses multiple display variables such as icons, mnemonics, size, movement, color, and luminance to signify relationships between groups, and/or communicate key properties of individual or groups of images.

Abstract: A system for identification and/or authentication of a user in a travel terminal, the system comprising: a multiuser interactive screen having one or more interaction zones, with which a user can interact; an image generation system for generating information on the interaction zone to provide information to the user with which the user can interact and; an image capture system which generates a captured image of any item in contact with the interaction zone; a recognition system for recognising one or more features from the captured image to enable identification and/or authentication of the user; a communication system for communicating with the user by means of the image generation means to confirm identification or request additional information.

Abstract: A printer, scanner device and methods for using same are described herein. A printer device may include a dedicated input that, when actuated, generates and sends a request to a computer for known data or a predetermined print job, e.g., schedule information from a personal information management (PIM) application. A scanner device may include another dedicated input that, when actuated, automatically scans a document fed to the device by the user and sends the scanned image to IM (or other) software on a computer, bypassing the need to manipulate the scanned image using scanner software. The device may be used with printed metapaper, which includes a barcode or other indicia identifying the metapaper and corresponds to a stored template image of the metapaper. When the metapaper is rescanned, the scan can be compared to the stored template information to identify changes and synchronize the changes with the IM software.

Abstract: A system and method for rights protection of a dataset that includes multiple trajectory objects includes determining an intensity power for embedding a watermarking key in a data trajectory. The data trajectory is modified to embed a watermarking key at the intensity power such that the intensity power guarantees an original pair-wise relationship between distance-based neighboring objects before and after embedding of the key such that a modified trajectory provides a watermarked version of the data trajectory.

Abstract: An apparatus to collectively store areas selected in an image includes an image-editing unit to load a standard image file, to display a standard image based on the standard image file, and to enable a user to edit the standard image, a zooming unit to zoom into and away from a position where a marker of an input unit is indicating on the standard image, and a selected-image-managing unit to collectively store one or more areas selected by the input unit as one or more corresponding image files.

Abstract: A system and method of detecting duplicate document content in a large document collection and automatically highlighting duplicate or different document content among the detected document content using two-dimensional visual fingerprints.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing interactive applications. In one embodiment, the systems and methods may include: (a) identifying digital content published on digital content platforms (e.g., images published on webpages); (b) assigning a key to the digital content; and (c) processing the digital content through a tagging engine (e.g., a crowdsource network) to tag the content with contextual data. The systems and methods may further include: (d) maintaining a data repository, wherein the content and respective data are indexed by corresponding key; (e) receiving a data request from an enabled application, upon user-activation of the application, wherein the data request includes the key; (f) conducting a data search of the data repository based on the key; and (g) providing the content data, responsive to the data request, for rendering of the enabled and user-activated application.

Abstract: Techniques for ensuring maximum readability of barcodes displayed in pixel displays. The techniques use the characteristics of the pixel display to determine the form of the barcode in the pixel display. Determination of the form includes determining a size of the barcode which renders the barcode's elements easily readable by a barcode reader and a shape, and or orientation of the barcode in the display which permits the entire barcode to be displayed in the display. Additionally, in a barcode with redundant information, the amount of redundant information may be reduced in the displayed barcode. The techniques may be applied to both one-dimensional and two-dimensional barcodes.

Abstract: A document recognition system and method, where images are represented as a collection of primitive features whose spatial relations are represented as a graph. Useful subsets of all the possible subgraphs representing different portions of images are represented over a corpus of many images. The data structure is a lattice of subgraphs, and algorithms are provided means to build and use the graph lattice efficiently and effectively.

Abstract: A method of populating a placeholder of a document as images are captured by one or more image capture devices. A reference image is captured using the image capture device with a first set of capture settings. The reference image is inserted into a placeholder of a document. Target characteristics of a subsequent image to be captured are determined using one of the image capture devices. The target characteristics are determined based the reference image and at least one remaining placeholder in the document. A second set of capture settings are determined based on the determined target characteristics. The second set of capture settings are communicated to at least one of the image capture devices in order to enable the at least one image capture device to capture the subsequent image with the second set of capture settings. A placeholder of the document is populated with the subsequent image.

Abstract: A computer based, digital image management system that visually presents an entire archive in a manner that facilitates easy, non-textual, searching for specific images. In one embodiment, the system includes two elements: a file management methodology and a graphical user interface. The file management method utilizes reference files that contain multiple properties (metadata) relating to each image file. Image files are grouped into a multiplicity of collections based on user-defined associations of the properties. The graphical user interface visually represents the groups of image files on 2-dimentional or 3-dimensional graphic metaphors. In addition, the graphical interface uses multiple display variables such as icons, mnemonics, size, movement, color, and luminance to signify relationships between groups, and/or communicate key properties of individual or groups of images.

Abstract: Approaches for managing a library of digital images and information about any editing operations performed on those digital images are provided. A managed library of digital images and a referenced library of digital images may be maintained. Digital images may be moved from the managed library of digital images to the referenced library of digital images, and vice-versa. A preview digital image data may also be generated from master digital image data. Rather than performing image operations directly on the master digital image data, change data that identifies one or more operations to perform to a digital picture represented by either the preview digital image data or the master digital image data may be stored, thereby allowing operations to be performed on the preview digital image data when the master digital image data is not accessible. Digital image may be automatically renamed based on rules for doing so.

Abstract: An image scanning system comprising an image scanner and a terminal, wherein the image scanner comprises an image storing unit to store the image data; a terminal designation unit to designate the terminal as a transmission target; a terminal storing unit to record correspondence data to associate the image data with the terminal; an information notification unit to transmit a notification of information concerning image data to the designated terminal; a request receiving unit to receive a request for image data; and an image transmission unit to transmit the image data associated with the designated terminal for which the request has been received, and the terminal comprises: an indication unit to make an indication in response to receipt of the notification; and a request transmission unit to transmit the request to the image scanner when a user operation for requesting image data is received.

Abstract: A system for providing an internet fax service has an engine to process a raw fax document, received for a user of the internet fax service, using digital character recognition to produce recognized text or an associated formatted text document. A conversion engine may convert the raw fax to native file format being one of a) word processor format, b) spreadsheet format, c) slide presentation format, or d) another format that can be read on a user interface. An internet server is to make the native file format document available to the user over an internet. A fax content processing unit is to perform keyword scanning of the recognized text, and then allows the user to search for stored faxes by keyword. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: In one embodiment the present invention is a method for populating and updating a database of images of landmarks including geo-clustering geo-tagged images according to geographic proximity to generate one or more geo-clusters, and visual-clustering the one or more geo-clusters according to image similarity to generate one or more visual clusters. In another embodiment, the present invention is a system for identifying landmarks from digital images, including the following components: a database of geo-tagged images; a landmark database; a geo-clustering module; and a visual clustering module. In other embodiments the present invention may be a method of enhancing user queries to retrieve images of landmarks, or a method of automatically tagging a new digital image with text labels.

Abstract: An image processing and recording system and an image processing and recording method thereof are provided. An image processing and recording system includes a recording module, an access module, and an identification module. The recording module stores an image which includes N image blocks, and the N image blocks compose M image tiles. The identification module performs an image recognition procedure to identify a predetermined feature of the N image blocks picked up by the access module and generates N identification results. Each result includes an address of the tile in the image corresponding to the Kth image block, a corresponding address of the Kth image block in the image tile and whether the Kth image block has the predetermined feature. Thus, the access module can pick up the image blocks having the predetermine feature to perform a next image recognition procedure.

Abstract: An image registration server which can communicate with a client device, includes an image data receiving device for receiving image data transmitted from the client device, an image data generation device for generating image data representing the same image as an image represented by the image data received by the image data receiving device and having a different form of representation therefrom, and an image data storage device for storing the image data generated by the image data generation device so as to be accessible.

Abstract: A content selection apparatus selects a target content item which is a content item to be presented to a user, from a plurality of content items. The plurality of content items are sorted into a plurality of management units according to a creation date and time of each content item. The content selection apparatus includes a selection unit that selects a predetermined number of management units in ascending order of the number of sorted content items, and selects a content item that belongs to the selected management units as the target content item.

Abstract: A method for proactively creating a photobook includes identifying a group of images by a computer system and automatically creating a design for a photobook by the computer system without receiving a user's request for designing a photobook if the number of images in the group is determined to be within a predetermined range. Pages of the photobook incorporate a plurality of images in the group. The method further includes presenting the design of the photobook to a user for preview and receiving an order from the user for a physical manifestation of the photobook based on the design.

Abstract: A system and method are described for creating, managing and sharing photo stories. For example, one embodiment of a computer implemented method for selecting among a plurality of different photo story templates comprises: receiving a plurality of new photos from a user the photos having metadata associated; analyzing the photos and the metadata associated with the photos; responsively grouping the photos into a plurality of different photo stories based on the analysis of the photos and the metadata associated with the photos; and selecting a set of photo story design templates for each of the different photo stories based on the analysis of the photos and the metadata associated with the photos grouped into the different photo stories.

Abstract: A service card image repository and directory is described. A process includes receiving a request to store at least one service image and related data, determining that the service image has been approved, and then uploading the service image and related data. The method also includes assigning a unique identifier to the service image and related data, and storing the service image and related data in an image repository. Some embodiments include receiving a request to download a service image and related data, locating the requested service image, determining that the requested service image requires transcoding and/or scaling, and then transcoding and/or scaling the requested service image to form a modified service image. The modified service image is then transmitted to an entity.

Abstract: A method and system to extending naming of captured multimedia data to secondary applications is provided. The secondary applications are registered and associated with identifiers. The identifiers are stored in naming templates utilized by a file-naming engine. A multimedia-acquisition engine captures the multimedia data and communicates with the file-naming engine to generate a path that specifies a location to store the captured multimedia data. The file-naming engine processes the naming template to determine whether the secondary applications or default values are utilized to generate the path for the captured multimedia data.