Embedding Hot Spots in Imaged Documents

• US 20070047818A1
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Graham, Jamey, Erol, Berna, Hull, Jonathan, Van Olst, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 8,949,287 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/190
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/40 Document-oriented image-based pattern recognition

Abstract

A Mixed Media Reality (MMR) system and associated techniques are disclosed. The MMR system provides mechanisms for forming a mixed media document that includes media of at least two types (e.g., printed paper as a first medium and digital content and/or web link as a second medium). In one particular embodiment, the MMR system includes a method, system, and computer program product for adding a hotspot to an imaged document. A source document is converted to an imaged document, from which features are extracted. Hotspots are added to the imaged document, and the imaged document, hotspot definitions, and the feature representation are stored.

Claims

1. A method of adding a hotspot to an imaged document, comprising:

converting a source document into an imaged document from which a feature representation can be extracted;

extracting features from the imaged document to create the feature representation;

adding a hotspot to the imaged document based upon a hotspot definition; and

storing together the imaged document, the hotspot definition, and the feature representation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein converting comprises scanning the source document.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein converting comprises rendering the source document.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein extracting features further comprises, in response to a print command, capturing coordinates corresponding to a printed representation of the imaged document and the hot spot.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising formulating the hotspot definition, comprising:

designating a location for the hotspot within the imaged document; and

defining a clip associated with the hotspot.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising rendering a page layout suing the feature representation, the layout comprising a printed representation of the imaged document including the hot spot.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising storing the page layout.

8. A computer program product for adding a hotspot to an imaged document, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable medium; and

computer program code, coded on the medium, for;

converting a source document into an imaged document from which a feature representation can be extracted;

extracting features from the imaged document to create the feature representation;

adding a hotspot to the imaged document based upon a hotspot definition; and

storing together the imaged document, the hotspot definition, and the feature representation.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein converting comprises scanning the source document.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein converting comprises rendering the source document.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein extracting features further comprises, in response to a print command, capturing coordinates corresponding to a printed representation of the imaged document and the hot spot.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising computer program code coded on the medium for formulating the hotspot definition, comprising:

designating a location for the hotspot within the imaged document; and

defining a clip associated with the hotspot.

13. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising computer program code coded on the medium for rendering a page layout suing the feature representation, the layout comprising a printed representation of the imaged document including the hot spot.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, further comprising computer program code coded on the medium for storing the page layout.

15. A system for adding a hotspot to an imaged document, comprising:

a conversion module for converting a source document into an imaged document from which a feature representation can be extracted;

a feature extraction module for extracting features from the imaged document to create the feature representation;

a hot spot module for adding a hotspot to the imaged document based upon a hotspot definition; and

a storage module for storing together the imaged document, the hotspot definition, and the feature representation.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein converting comprises scanning the source document.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein converting comprises rendering the source document.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the feature extraction module is further configured for, in response to a print command, capturing coordinates corresponding to a printed representation of the imaged document and the hot spot.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the hotspot module is further configured for formulating the hotspot definition, comprising:

designating a location for the hotspot within the imaged document; and

defining a clip associated with the hotspot.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising a render module for rendering a page layout suing the feature representation, the layout comprising a printed representation of the imaged document including the hot spot.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the storage module is further configured for storing the page layout.