Performing document image management tasks using an iconic image having embedded encoded information

• US 5,765,176 A
• Filed: 09/06/1996
• Issued: 06/09/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Bloomberg, Dan S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HONG, STEPHEN S
• Application Number:
  US08/709,055
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 707/501, 707/511, 707/512, 707/513, 707/514, 707/515, 707/517, 707/526, 707/527, 707/529, 707/530, 345/335, 345/334, 345/349, 345/350, 382/175, 382/176, 382/180, 358/403, 358/401, 358/448, 235/454, 235/494
• US Class Current: 715/209
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation

Abstract

Encoded data embedded in an iconic, or reduced size, version of an original text image is decoded and used in a variety of document image management applications to provide input to, or to control the functionality of, an application. The iconic image may be printed in a suitable place (e.g., the margin or other background region) in the original text image so that a text image so annotated will then always carry the embedded data in subsequent copies made from the annotated original. The iconic image may also be used as part of a graphical user interface as a surrogate for the original text image. An encoding operation encodes the data unobtrusively in the form of rectangular blocks that have a foreground color and size dimensions proportional to the iconic image so that when placed in the iconic image in horizontal lines, the blocks appear to a viewer to be representative of the text portion of the original image that they replace. Several embodiments are illustrated, including using the iconic image as a document surrogate for the original text image for data base retrieval operations. The iconic image may also be used in conjunction with the original text image for purposes of authenticating the original document using a digital signature encoded in the iconic image, or for purposes of controlling the authorized distribution of the document. The iconic image may also carry data about the original image that may be used to enhance the performance and accuracy of a subsequent character recognition operation.

Claims

1. A method for operating a processor-controlled machine to perform a document image management operation using an iconic version of a text image, referred to as an iconic image, having encoded binary data embedded therein;

the machine including an image signal source for receiving image data;

memory for storing data; and

a processor connected for accessing instruction data stored in the memory for operating the machine;

the processor being further connected for receiving image data from the image signal source; and

connected for storing data in the memory;

the method comprising;

receiving image definition data defining an input iconic image from the image signal source;

the input iconic image having an appearance to a human viewer of a reduced-size version of an original text image;

the input iconic image including at least one image region including image definition data defining a plurality of rectangular blocks each having a foreground color and arranged in horizontal lines separated vertically by image regions of a background color;

the rectangular blocks having the appearance of representing text in the original text image;

the image definition data defining each rectangular block, referred to as an encoded data block, having a characteristic property that represents a portion of the binary data;

performing a decoding operation using the image definition data defining the plurality of rectangular blocks to produce the binary data encoded therein; and

performing a document image management operation using the binary data produced by the decoding operation.

2. The method of claim 1 for operating a processor-controlled machine to perform a document image management operation wherein the original text image represented by the iconic image is a content-specific text image;

and wherein the binary data embedded in the rectangular blocks and produced by the decoding operation indicates data related to the content-specific text image represented by the iconic image;

the document image management operation performing an operation using the data related to the content-specific text image.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the content-specific text image is stored in a memory device;

wherein the document image management operation is a retrieval operation; and

wherein the data related to the content-specific text image is memory location data indicating a data path to a memory location of the content-specific text image;

the document image management operation using the memory location data to access and obtain the content-specific text image from the memory location thereof.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the content-specific text image is received as an input text image;

wherein the document image management operation is a digital signature verification operation; and

wherein the data related to the content-specific text image is digital signature data indicating a digital signature for the content-specific text image;

the document image management operation using the input text image and the digital signature data to authenticate the content-specific text image.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the content-specific text image is received as an input text image;

wherein the document image management operation is a document authentication operation for authenticating an authorized sender of the content-specific text image; and

wherein the data related to the content-specific text image is encrypted data encrypted using a private key in possession of the authorized sender;

the document image management operation using the input text image, a public key paired with the private key and the encrypted data to decrypt the encrypted data in order to authenticate the authorized sender of the content-specific text image.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein image definition data defining the content-specific text image is provided by the signal source with the iconic image and is stored by the processor in the memory device;

and wherein the data related to the content-specific text image is content data related to the information content of the content-specific text image;

the document image management operation using the content data to perform the operation using the content-specific text image.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the document image management operation is a character recognition operation;

and wherein the content data related to the information content of the content-specific text image indicates data for use in performing the character recognition operation on the content-specific text image.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein the iconic image is a document surrogate for the content-specific text image;

the iconic image being used independently from the original content specific text image to represent the content-specific text image;

the data related to the content-specific text image including identification data indicating identifying information about the content-specific text image.

9. The method of claim 1 for operating a processor-controlled machine to perform a document image management operation wherein the original text image represented by the iconic image is a content-specific text image stored in a memory device;

and wherein the binary data embedded in the rectangular blocks and produced by the decoding operation indicates operation parameter data related to the document image management operation;

the document image management operation performing an operation using the content-specific text image stored in the memory device;

the document image management operation using the operation parameter data in performing the operation.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the document image management operation is a distribution operation controlling distribution of the content-specific text image;

and wherein the operation parameter data indicates an authorized destination of the content-specific text image.

11. The method of claim 1 for operating a processor-controlled machine to perform a document image management operation wherein the iconic image represents a non-specific text image indicating a class of document images;

and wherein the binary data embedded in the rectangular blocks and produced by the decoding operation indicates operation parameter data related to the document image management operation;

the document image management operation performing an operation using a respective one of the document images in the class of document images;

the document management operation using the operation parameter data in performing the operation.

12. An article of manufacture for use in a machine that includes a memory device for storing data;

a storage medium access device for accessing a medium that stores data; and

a processor connected for accessing the data stored in the memory device and for receiving data from the storage medium access device;

the article comprising;

a data storage medium that can be accessed by the storage medium access device when the article is used in the machine; and

data stored in the data storage medium so that the storage medium access device can provide the stored data to the processor when the article is used in the machine;

the stored data comprising instruction data indicating instructions the processor can execute;

the processor, in executing the instructions, receiving image definition data defining an input iconic image from the image signal source;

the input iconic image having an appearance to a human viewer of a reduced-size version of an original text image;

the input iconic image including at least one image region including image definition data defining a plurality of rectangular blocks each having a foreground color and arranged in horizontal lines separated vertically by image regions of a background color such that the rectangular blocks have the appearance of representing text in the original text image;

the image definition data defining each rectangular block, referred to as an encoded data block, having a characteristic property that represents a portion of the binary data;

the processor, further in executing the instructions, performing a decoding operation using the image definition data defining the plurality of rectangular blocks to produce the binary data encoded therein;

the processor, still further in executing the instructions, performing a document image management operation using the binary data produced by the decoding operation.