Digital image processing system and method

• US 5,297,256 A
• Filed: 04/04/1991
• Issued: 03/22/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Crosfield Electronics Ltd. (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Crosfield Electronics Ltd. (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Burton, Robert F., Kin Kwok Chu, Eddie, Wolstenholme, Arthur T., Barraco, Ignazio
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaw, Dale M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tung, Kee M.
• Application Number:
  US07/681,638
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 358/404-406, 358/408, 371/67.1, 371/68.1, 371/68.2, 371/68.3, 395/162-164, 395/575, 395/200, 364/188
• US Class Current: 702/183
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00002 Diagnosis, testing or measuring; Detecting, analysing or monitoring not otherwise provided for error detection, error correction or monitoring in digital computers or digital computer components G06F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00005 relating to image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00007 relating to particular apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00013 Reading apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00015 Reproducing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00029 Diagnosis, i.e. identifying a problem by comparison with a normal state
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00042 Monitoring, i.e. observation H04N1/00029 - H04N1/00039 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00045 using a reference pattern designed for the purpose, e.g. a test chart
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0005 in service, i.e. during normal operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00053 out of service, i.e. outside of normal operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00055 automatically on a periodic basis
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00058 using a separate apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00079 remotely
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32 Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device H04N1/38, H04N1/387 take precedence

Abstract

A digital image processing system comprises a processor at a central, first site; and digital image processing equipment such as an analyze scanner and an expose scanner at a second site remote from the first site. The processor and the digital image processing equipment are connectable and are adapted to pass signals therebetween corresponding to signals generated by the digital image processing equipment. These signals may be representative of operator commands or digital data generated at the second site which can be monitored at the first site.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring at a first site digital image input scanning equipment at a second site remote from said first site to determine whether said digital image input scanning equipment is properly functioning, said method comprising causing from said first site said input scanning equipment at said second site to scan a line of an image whose pixel content is already know at said first site to generate scanned digital data;

transmitting information related to said scanned digital data to said first site; and

comparing said transmitted information with expected information stored at said first site that is related to said known pixel content to detect any errors in said scanned line caused by failure of said digital image input scanning equipment.

2. A method of monitoring at a first site digital image input scanning equipment at a second site remote from said first site to determine whether said digital image input scanning equipment is properly functioning, said method comprising:

(a) causing from said first site said input scanning equipment at said second site to scan a line of an image whose pixel content is already known at said first site to generate scanned digital data;

(b) transmitting information related to said scanned digital data to said first site;

(c) comparing said transmitted information with expected information stored at said first site which is related to said known pixel content to detect any errors in said scanned line arising from operation of said input scanning equipment;

(d) repeating steps (a)-(c) for each line of said image; and

(e) comparing the errors monitored in each said step (c) so as to enable random errors to be eliminated.