Apparatus and method for processing and reproducing image information

• US 5,856,877 A
• Filed: 07/03/1996
• Issued: 01/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oce-Nederland B.V. (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Oce-Nederland B.V. (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Burger, Johan Hendrik, Jansen, Edwin F. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Kim Yen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams, Kimberly A.
• Application Number:
  US08/999,834
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 358/448, 358/452, 358/451, 358/453, 358/455, 358/456, 358/527, 358/537, 358/538, 382/254, 382/173
• US Class Current: 358/452
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/10 Character recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1478 of characters or characters lines
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/414 Extracting the geometrical structure, e.g. layout tree; Block segmentation, e.g. bounding boxes for graphics or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/387 Composing, repositioning or otherwise geometrically modifying originals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3873 defined only by a limited number of coordinate points or parameters, e.g. corners, centre; for trimming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/40062 Discrimination between different image types, e.g. two-tone, continuous tone

Abstract

Layout analysis is used in operating a digital reproduction apparatus. The device automatically segments the digital image dot data corresponding to a document image to be reproduced, to determine layout elements of the document. This is shown on a display. An operator can now select a specific layout element, such as a text column, by indicating it, and instruct the image processing unit of the apparatus to process only that element. The processing operations include color printing, gradation changing, moving and enlargement/reduction.

Claims

1. An apparatus for processing an image represented as dot information, comprising:

image source means for supplying said image in a bit-map domain represented as digital dot information;

segmentation means, responsive to the image source means, for automatically segmenting the image into a plurality of layout elements by transforming the image from the bit-map domain into a layout-element domain;

display means, responsive to the segmentation means, for displaying the segmented image to an operator;

first selection means, responsive to the display means and the segmentation means, for enabling the operator to select at least one layout element by the operator indicating any portion of the layout element to the first selection means via a position indication device;

second selections means, responsive to the display means, for enabling the operator to select a processing operation; and

processing means, responsive to the first and second selection means, for processing at least a portion of the image, corresponding to the selected layout element, in the bit-map domain according to the selected processing operation.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said processing operation comprises changing a grey value scale.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the processing operation comprises changing the color in the print on an image support.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said processing operation comprises the introduction of a raster.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the processing operation comprises changing the orientation.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the processing operation comprises changing the location.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the segmentation means searches the digital image dot information for objects formed by clusters of adjoining information-bearing image dots, and performs the automatic segmenting into layout elements on the basis of said objects.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:

the segmentation means assigns to each object a frame, hereinafter referred to as an object box, having two horizontal and two vertical sides and, stores the location data of the object box in a memory.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

the segmentation means assigns an object label to an object, said object label being representative of the type of information of said object.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the segmentation means only makes use of objects having predetermined object labels in the said segmenting.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the said predetermined object labels are those labels which indicate that the object represents a character.

12. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein prior to the cutting operations the segmentation means first determine whether and, if so, to what extent the page image is skew with respect to the vertical and horizontal directions and, if so, align the set of objects by adapting the location data of the objects in accordance with a rotation through the skew angle.

13. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising:

printer means, responsive to the processing means, for printing the processed image.

14. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein:

the dot information in said image corresponds to a plurality of types of layout elements;

the segmentation means automatically categorizes each layout element by the type to which the layout element corresponds;

the apparatus further including;

supplemental selection means, responsive to the first selection means, for enabling an operator to select at least one type of layout element;

wherein the processing means processes all layout elements of the type selected by the operator.

15. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising:

proxy means, responsive to the first and second selection means, for providing, separately from the image, digital dot information representing the at least one selected element.

16. An apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said processing means includes:

creating means for creating a receiving image; and

transfer means for providing a selected layout element to the creating means.

17. An apparatus as in claim 16, wherein said processing operation includes:

a copying &

pasting function such that the operator can copy a selected layout element and paste it into said receiving image.

18. An apparatus as in claim 16, wherein:

said means for displaying said image displays the same together with said receiving image.

19. An apparatus as in claim 18, wherein:

the transfer means provides a selected layout element by copying the selected layout element to said creating means.

20. An apparatus as in claim 16, wherein:

the processing means also compiles a receiving image from layout elements provided thereto.

21. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the processing operation includes:

changing the size of the at least one selected layout element.

22. A method for processing an image represented as dot information, comprising:

a) supplying said image in a bit-map domain represented as digital dot information;

b) automatically segmenting the supplied image into a plurality of layout elements by transforming the image from the bit-map domain into a layout-element domain;

c) displaying the segmented image to an operator;

d) enabling the operator to select at least one layout element by the operator indicating any portion of the layout element via a position indication device;

e) enabling the operator to select a processing operation; and

f) processing at least a portion of the image, corresponding to the selected layout element, in the bit-map domain according to the selected processing operation.

23. A method as in claim 22, wherein the processing operation includes:

changing a grey value scale.

24. A method as in claim 22, wherein the processing operation includes:

changing the color.

25. A method as in claim 22, wherein the processing operation includes:

introducing a raster.

26. A method as in claim 22, wherein the processing operation includes:

changing the orientation.

27. A method as in claim 22, wherein the processing operation includes:

changing the location.

28. A method as in claim 22, wherein the processing operation includes:

changing the size of the at least one selected layout element.

29. A method as in claim 22, wherein the step b) includes:

b1) searching the image for objects formed by clusters of adjoining information-bearing dots; and

b2) segmenting the image according as a function of the objects found.

30. A method as in claim 29, wherein the step b) includes:

b3) assigning an object box to each object, an object box having two horizontal and two vertical sides.

31. A method as in claim 30, wherein the step b) includes:

b4) assigning an object label to an object, the object label representing the type of information of said object.

32. A method as in claim 22, further comprising:

g) printing the processed image.

33. A method as in claim 22, wherein:

the dot information in an image corresponds to a plurality of types of layout elements;

the step b) includes;

b1) automatically categorizing each layout element by the type to which the layout element corresponds;

wherein the step d) includes;

d1) enabling the operator to select at least one type of layout element;

d2) selecting all layout elements of the type selected by the operator;

wherein the step f) processes all layout elements of the type selected by the operator.

34. A method as in claim 22, further comprising:

g) providing, separately from the image, digital dot information representing the at least one element selected by the operator.

35. A method as in claim 22, further comprising:

g) creating a receiving image; and

h) providing a selected layout element for said creating step g).

36. A method as in claim 35, further comprising:

i) displaying said image for which the layout elements have been segmented together with said receiving image.

37. A method as in claim 35, wherein:

i) compiling said receiving image from layout elements provided thereto.

38. A method as in claim 35, wherein the step h) includes:

h1) copying a selected layout element to said receiving image.

39. A method as in claim 35, wherein the step h) includes:

h1) transferring a selected layout element for said creating step g).

40. A method as in claim 35, wherein said processing operation includes:

a copying &

pasting function such that the operator can copy a selected layout element and paste it into said receiving image.