METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING IMAGES OF RECEIPTS

• US 20130201307A1
• Filed: 02/08/2013
• Published: 08/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abukai, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Abukai, Inc.
• Inventors: Schloter, Philipp, Jacob, Matthias
• Granted Patent: US 10,044,938 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/632 for displaying or modifying preview images prior to image capturing, e.g. variety of image resolutions or capturing parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/80 Camera processing pipelines; Components thereof

Abstract

Systems and methods of processing images of expense receipts are provided. Images of expense receipts are received from an image capture device and an image filter is used to process the images. The filtered images are displayed to the user in a real-time preview portion of a user interface.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving user input indicating an activation of an image filter;

receiving image data for a receipt from an image capture device;

processing the image data using the image filter to obtain filtered image data;

providing, by a processing device, a user interface presenting a preview of an image of the receipt before a photograph of the receipt is taken, wherein the preview imitates a scan of the receipt in real time and wherein the preview is based on the filtered image data; and

allowing a user to refrain from taking the photograph after reviewing the preview of the image of the receipt.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second user input indicating a user request to take the photograph of the receipt;

taking the photograph of the receipt;

applying the image filter to the photograph of the receipt to obtain a filtered photograph of the receipt; and

storing the filtered photograph of the receipt in a memory.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the filtered photograph of the receipt is smaller in size than the photograph of the receipt.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

generating contextual data associated with one or more of the photograph of the receipt or the filtered photograph of the receipt; and

transmitting one or more of the photograph of the receipt, the filtered photograph of the receipt, or the contextual data to a server device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

compressing one or more of the photograph of the receipt, the filtered photograph of the receipt, or the contextual data.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

storing the photograph of the receipt in the memory.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the filtered photograph of the receipt emulates one or more of a black-and-white photocopy of the receipt or a grayscale photocopy of the receipt.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving second user input indicating a deactivation of the image filter; and

providing the user interface presenting a second preview of a second image of the receipt before the photograph of the receipt is taken, wherein the second preview is based on the image data.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the scan emulates one or more of a black-and-white photocopy of the receipt or a grayscale photocopy of the receipt.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface presents a second preview of a second image of the receipt before the photograph of the receipt is taken simultaneously with the preview of the image of the receipt, wherein the second preview is based on the image data.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a memory to store a plurality of images;

a processing device coupled to the memory, the processing device to;

receive user input indicating an activation of an image filter;

receive image data for a receipt from an image capture device;

process the image data using the image filter to obtain filtered image data;

provide a user interface presenting a preview of an image of the receipt before a photograph of the receipt is taken, wherein the preview imitates a scan of the receipt in real time and wherein the preview is based on the filtered image data; and

allow a user to refrain from taking the photograph after reviewing the preview of the image of the receipt.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processing device is further to:

receive a second user input indicating a user request to take the photograph of the receipt;

take the photograph of the receipt;

apply the image filter to the photograph of the receipt to obtain a filtered photograph of the receipt; and

store the filtered photograph of the receipt in the memory.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processing device is further to:

generate contextual data associated with one or more of the photograph of the receipt or the filtered photograph of the receipt; and

transmit one or more of the photograph of the receipt, the filtered photograph of the receipt, or the contextual data to a server device.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processing device is further to:

receive second user input indicating a deactivation of the image filter; and

provide the user interface presenting a second preview of a second image of the receipt before the photograph of the receipt is taken, wherein the second preview is based on the image data.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the user interface presents a second preview of a second image of the receipt before the photograph of the receipt is taken simultaneously with the preview of the image of the receipt, wherein the second preview is based on the image data.

16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions that, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving user input indicating an activation of an image filter;

receiving image data for a receipt from an image capture device;

processing the image data using the image filter to obtain filtered image data;

providing, by the processing device a user interface presenting a preview of an image of the receipt before a photograph of the receipt is taken, wherein the preview imitates a scan of the receipt in real time and wherein the preview is based on the filtered image data; and

allowing a user to refrain from taking the photograph after reviewing the preview of the image of the receipt.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the processing device is further to:

receive a second user input indicating a user request to take the photograph of the receipt;

take the photograph of the receipt;

apply the image filter to the photograph of the receipt to obtain a filtered photograph of the receipt; and

store the filtered photograph of the receipt in a memory.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the processing device is further to:

generate contextual data associated with one or more of the photograph of the receipt or the filtered photograph of the receipt; and

transmit one or more of the photograph of the receipt, the filtered photograph of the receipt, or the contextual data to a server device.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the processing device is further to:

receive second user input indicating a deactivation of the image filter; and

provide the user interface presenting a second preview of a second image of the receipt before the photograph of the receipt is taken, wherein the second preview is based on the image data.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the user interface presents a second preview of a second image of the receipt before the photograph of the receipt is taken simultaneously with the preview of the image of the receipt, wherein the second preview is based on the image data.