System and method for manipulating regions in a scanned image

• US 6,263,122 B1
• Filed: 09/23/1998
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Simske, Steven J., Lee, Jeffrey P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johns, Andrew W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AZARIAN, SEYED H
• Application Number:
  US09/159,147
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 382/311, 382/310, 382/312, 382/313, 382/314, 382/315, 382/190, 382/191, 382/173, 382/176, 382/180, 382/282, 382/309, 358/453, 358/464, 358/462
• US Class Current: 382/311
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/40 Document-oriented image-based pattern recognition

Abstract

Scanned region type sensitivity logic and scanned region clustering/declustering logic allow the manipulation of regions within a scanned image. A scanned region type sensitivity logic allows the manipulation of region type attributes by allowing a user of a scanner product, through the use of a user interface, to adjust the sensitivity of a particular region type in real time, with the results of the adjustment displayed back to the user through the user interface. A scanned region clustering/declustering logic allows a user of a scanner product, through the use of a user interface, to manipulate the grouping of regions displayed to the user in real time. Both of these forms of scanning logic are predicated on the underlying use of a document analysis technology that stores probabilities (“p-values”) or other relative statistics on all plausible region types as part of the definition of the regions.

Claims

1. A system for manipulating region information generated by a scanner, comprising:

a document analysis software component; and

a user interface in communication with said document analysis software component, wherein said user interface is configured to allow the sensitivity adjustment of at least one of the attributes assigned to a predefined region in a scanned image, thereby allowing said user interface to reassign said predefined region.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said document analysis software component further comprises region type sensitivity logic.

3. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said document analysis software component further comprises region clustering/declustering logic.

4. The system as defined in claim 2, wherein said user interface and said region type sensitivity logic allow the manipulation of the sensitivity of a region of said scanned image.

5. The system as defined in claim 3, wherein said user interface and said region clustering/declustering logic allow the manipulation of the grouping of a plurality of regions of said scanned image.

6. A method for manipulating region information generated by a scanner, comprising the steps of:

scanning an image, said scanned image comprising at least one region;

analyzing said scanned image using document analysis software;

adjusting the sensitivity of at least one of the attributes of a predefined region in said scanned image using a user interface in communication with said document analysis software; and

reassigning said predefined region based on said adjusted sensitivity.

7. The method as defined in claim 6, further comprising the step of manipulating the sensitivity of said at least one region of said scanned image.

8. The method as defined in claim 6, further comprising the step of manipulating the grouping of a plurality of said regions of said scanned image.