Method and arrangement for ensuring quality during scanning/copying of images/documents
First Claim
1. A method for ensuring quality during the scanning/copying of images/documents, the method comprising the steps:
- feeding in the pages to be scanned/copied;
performing a first measurement of outer characteristics relating to skew, double-feeding/overlapping, deviating shape, and geometric deformation for calculating a first quality measure Q1;
comparing the first quality measure Q1 with a pre-determined first quality limit Q+1 and sending out a warning indicating re-feeding when Q1<
Q+1; and
performing an automatic adjustment in the form of geometric transformation in order to improve the first quality measure Q1 when Q1≧
Q+1;
analyzing the contents of the page with respect to structure and objects for calculating a second quality measure Q2;
comparing the second quality measure Q2 with a pre-determined second quality limit Q+2 and sending out a warning indicating re-feeding when Q2<
Q+2;
performing image improvement methods on each identified object if Q2≧
Q+2;
performing an information analysis on each page followed by a comparison with pre-defined form/document types for calculating a third quality measure Q3;
comparing the third quality measure Q3 with a pre-determined third limit Q+3 and sending out a warning indicating document error when Q3<
Q+3; and
calculating a fourth quality measure Q, which is a weighted combination of the quality measures Q1-Q3 when Q3≧
Q+3;
comparing the fourth quality measure Q with a pre-determined fourth quality limit Q+ and sending out a warning indicating insufficient quality when Q<
Q+; and
performing pre-processing for achieving a correct output format depending on pre-defined information concerning the printer/output unit when Q≧
Q+, wherein Q+, Q+1-Q+3 are entered and set by the user.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to an arrangement and a method for ensuring quality during scanning/copying of images/documents. The method includes the steps of feeding in the page(s) that are to be scanned/copied. Thereafter, a first measurement of outer characteristics is performed with respect to skew, double-feeding/overlapping, deviating shape, and geometric deformation for calculating a first quality measure Q1. Thereafter, the first quality measure Q1 is compared with a predetermined first quality limit Q+1. If Q1≧Q+1, then an automatic adjustment is performed in the form of a geometric transformation in order to improve the first quality measure Q1. Thereafter, the contents of the page are analyzed with respect to structure and objects in order to calculate a second quality measure Q2, which is compared with a predetermined second quality limit Q+2. If Q2≧Q+2, then image improvement methods are performed on each identified object. Thereafter, an information analysis of each page is performed, followed by a comparison with pre-defined form/document types for calculating a third quality measure Q3, which is compared with a predetermined third quality limit Q+3. If Q3≧Q3, then a fourth quality measure Q is calculated, which is an overall quality measure that is compared with a predetermined fourth quality limit Q+. If Q≧Q+, then pre-processing is performed in order to achieve a correct output format, depending on pre-defined information about the printer/output unit.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method for ensuring quality during the scanning/copying of images/documents, the method comprising the steps:
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feeding in the pages to be scanned/copied;
performing a first measurement of outer characteristics relating to skew, double-feeding/overlapping, deviating shape, and geometric deformation for calculating a first quality measure Q1;
comparing the first quality measure Q1 with a pre-determined first quality limit Q+1 and sending out a warning indicating re-feeding when Q1<
Q+1; and
performing an automatic adjustment in the form of geometric transformation in order to improve the first quality measure Q1 when Q1≧
Q+1;
analyzing the contents of the page with respect to structure and objects for calculating a second quality measure Q2;
comparing the second quality measure Q2 with a pre-determined second quality limit Q+2 and sending out a warning indicating re-feeding when Q2<
Q+2;
performing image improvement methods on each identified object if Q2≧
Q+2;
performing an information analysis on each page followed by a comparison with pre-defined form/document types for calculating a third quality measure Q3;
comparing the third quality measure Q3 with a pre-determined third limit Q+3 and sending out a warning indicating document error when Q3<
Q+3; and
calculating a fourth quality measure Q, which is a weighted combination of the quality measures Q1-Q3 when Q3≧
Q+3;
comparing the fourth quality measure Q with a pre-determined fourth quality limit Q+ and sending out a warning indicating insufficient quality when Q<
Q+; and
performing pre-processing for achieving a correct output format depending on pre-defined information concerning the printer/output unit when Q≧
Q+, wherein Q+, Q+1-Q+3 are entered and set by the user.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
measuring an outer border line and curvature of the page;
measuring lengthwise running lines; and
measuring lengthwise and transverse running lines/structures.
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3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of performing automatic adjustment in the form of geometric transformation includes the steps:
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adjusting skew by means of translation and rotation; and
performing a rubber-sheet transformation.
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4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of performing an analysis of the contents of the page with respect to structure and objects includes the steps of:
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performing a legibility analysis in the form of a spatial frequency analysis of the contents of the page to measure whether sufficient resolution has been used;
segmenting the contents of the page.
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5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of performing an information analysis includes the steps:
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performing a symbol identification; and
/orcomparing with pre-defined form/document types; and
/orcomparing the contents of the page with information tables that describe sets of form/document types.
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6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the result of the segmentation of the contents of the page being stored in the form of a vector IS={O1, G1, T1;
- O2, G2, T2;
. . . ;
On, Gn, Tn} where O1 is the object;
G1 is a two-dimensional curve that defines the border line for O1; and
T1 is the character class of the object.
- O2, G2, T2;
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7. The arrangement for ensuring quality during scanning/copying of images/documents, comprising:
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an interface/communications logical unit;
a control and monitoring unit connected to the interface/communications logic unit;
an image memory unit, connected to the interface/communications logic unit, for storing image information;
a measuring device connected to the control and monitoring unit and to the image memory unit for measuring outer characteristics relating to skew, double-feeding/overlapping, deviating shape, and geometric distortion/deformation, the measures being used by the control and monitoring unit for calculating a first quality measure Q1;
an adjustment device connected to the control and monitoring unit, to the image memory and to the measuring device, for automatically performing an adjustment in the form of geometric transformation in order to improve the first quality measure Q1;
an analysis device connected to the control and monitoring unit to the image memory unit and to the adjustment device, for analyzing the contents of the page with respect to structure and objects, the analysis being used by the control and monitoring unit to calculate a second quality measure Q2;
an improvement device connected to the control and monitoring unit, to the image memory unit and to the analysis device for performing image improvement methods on each identified object;
an information analysis device connected to the control and monitoring unit, to the imagery memory unit and to the improvement device for performing an information analysis of each page, the analysis being used by the control and monitoring unit for comparison with pre-defined form/document types for calculating a third quality measure Q3; and
a pre-processing device connected to the control and monitoring unit, to the image memory unit and to the information analysis device for performing pre-processing for achieving a correct output format depending on pre-defined information about a printer/output unit connected to the arrangement, whereby the control and monitoring unit respectively compares the quality measures Q1-Q3 with respective by the user entered and set quality limits Q+1-Q+3. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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Specification