System, method, and computer program product for determining whether text within an image includes unwanted data, utilizing a matrix

• US 8,358,844 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2012
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: McAfee, LLC
• Original Assignee: McAfee, Inc. (McAfee, LLC)
• Inventors: Narayanan, Udhayakumar Lakshmi
• Primary Examiner(s): Do, Anh Hong
• Application Number:
  US13/447,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20120201458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 281 Days
• Field of Search: 382/176, 382/186, 382/261, 382/267, 358/3.06, 358/1.9, 358/447, 358/462, 340/12.25, 340/5.61, 709/201, 709/206, 709/204, 706/20, 707/999, 250/221, 250/208.1
• US Class Current: 382/176
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for determining whether text within an image includes unwanted data, utilizing a matrix. In operation, a matrix corresponding to an image is generated. Additionally, text within the image is identified utilizing the matrix. Furthermore, it is determined whether the text includes unwanted data.

Claims

1. A method to be performed in conjunction with a processor operating in an electronic environment, comprising:

parsing a plurality of pixels of an image;

identifying a property associated with a predetermined portion of the plurality of pixels;

determining whether each pixel of the plurality of pixels includes the property;

entering a predetermined value for each of the plurality of pixels in a matrix at a location corresponding to the pixel, wherein the predetermined value is based upon whether the pixel includes the property;

identifying text within the image, utilizing the matrix; and

determining whether the text includes unwanted data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the property is a background property of the image.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined portion is a majority of the plurality of pixels.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pixels include all of the pixels of the image.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a dimension of the matrix is a function of a resolution of the image.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein entering the predetermined value includes:

entering a first predetermined value if the pixel includes the property; and

entering a second predetermined value if the pixel includes does not include the property.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first predetermined value is representative of the pixel corresponding to a background of the image.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the second predetermined value is representative of the pixel corresponding to a character of the image.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein identifying the text within the image includes identifying a maximum height of entries in the matrix having the second predetermined value.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein identifying the text within the image includes identifying contiguous entries in the matrix having the second predetermined value.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the text is identified by comparing the contiguous entries with predefined patterns representative of text.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein identifying the text further includes identifying the contiguous entries as a sub-matrix.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein identifying the text further includes comparing the sub-matrix to at least one predefined matrix associated with text.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the text is determined to include unwanted data, based on a comparison of the text with predefined text known to be unwanted.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the image is received from an electronic message.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the unwanted data includes an unsolicited electronic message.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the unsolicited electronic message includes an advertisement.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising reacting if it is determined that the text includes the unwanted data.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the reacting includes at least one of deleting, quarantining, categorizing, and reporting the unwanted data.

20. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory medium for performing operations, comprising:

parsing a plurality of pixels of an image;

identifying a property associated with a predetermined portion of the plurality of pixels;

determining whether each pixel of the plurality of pixels includes the property;

entering a first predetermined value for each of the plurality of pixels in a matrix at a location corresponding to the pixel if the pixel includes the property;

entering a second predetermined value for each of the plurality of pixels in the matrix at a location corresponding to the pixel if the pixel includes does not include the property;

identifying text within the image, utilizing the matrix; and

determining whether the text includes unwanted data.

21. A system, comprising:

a processor configured for performing the operations of;

parsing a plurality of pixels of an image;

identifying a property associated with a predetermined portion of the plurality of pixels;

determining whether each pixel of the plurality of pixels includes the property;

entering a first predetermined value for each of the plurality of pixels in a matrix at a location corresponding to the pixel if the pixel includes the property;

entering a second predetermined value for each of the plurality of pixels in the matrix at a location corresponding to the pixel if the pixel includes does not include the property;

identifying text within the image, utilizing the matrix; and

determining whether the text includes unwanted data.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the processor is coupled to memory via a bus.