System and method for information stamping a digitized image

• US 6,512,856 B1
• Filed: 07/27/1999
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Davis, Kenneth P
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta, Bhavesh
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, KANJIBHAI B
• Application Number:
  US09/361,623
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/284, 382/274, 382/162, 382/312, 382/301, 380/243, 380/200, 380/216, 101/45, 348/239, 358/455, 345/593
• US Class Current: 382/284
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32144 embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp

Abstract

A scanned image is stamped with additional information at a user settable location and color during the scanning process. The information can be the time and date that the scan occurred or information supplied by the user. The location can be at one of the predefined locations or at a location defined by the user. The information is not limited to text but can also contain bitmap image information.

Claims

1. A method of stamping a digital image with stamping information comprising, the steps:

checking to see if stamping is enabled;

retrieving the stamping information from the user;

digitizing the image information from an object;

automatically selecting a color for the stamping information that maximizes the contrast between the image information and the stamping information;

inserting the stamping information into the digital image.

2. The method of claim 1 where the stamping information is text.

3. The method of claim 1 where the stamping information is a bit map image.

4. A digital imaging system comprising:

a first memory location configured to receive user definable information;

a second memory location configured to receive digitized image information from an object;

a means for digitizing image information from the object;

a processor configured to automatically combine the information from the first memory location with the information from the second memory location;

the processor configured to automatically choose a color for the user definable information that maximizes the contrast between the user definable information and the digitized image information.

5. The digital imaging system of claim 4 where the user definable information is text.

6. The digital imaging system of claim 4 where the user definable information is a bit map image.