EP0629078A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Apparatus for processing and reproducing image information
Assignee: Canon Production Printing Netherlands BV
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Filing: 1994-06-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-06-06
Abstract
Abstract Layout analysis is used in operating a digital reproduction apparatus. Digital image dot data corresponding to a document image to be reproduced are analysed by the apparatus and the layout of the document is determined therefrom. This is shown on a display. An operator can now select a specific layout element, such as a text column, by indicating it, and instruct the image processing unit of the apparatus to process only that element. The processing operations include colour printing, gradation changing, moving and enlargement/reduction. A layout analysis method suitable for this application comprises two steps. In a first step, the image information is searched for clusters of adjoining informationbearing image dots. These clusters, known as objects, each form a character, graphic element, photograph, etc. In the second step, the set of clusters is divided in an iterative process into text blocks, lines and words. Only objects which represent a character are used in these conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 Edwin Franciscus Joseph Janssen
- 👤 Johan Hendrik Burger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:22
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/387; G; G06; G06V; G06V30/00; G06V30/10; G06V30/14; G06V30/146; G06V30/1475; G06V30/1478; G06V30/40; G06V30/41; G06V30/414; H04N1/3872; H04N1/3873; H04N1/40; H04N1/40062
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
Apparatus for reproducing an image, comprising operating means, means for supplying digital image dot information representing said image , a memory for storing image dot information, means for processing the supplied image dot information and means for printing the processed image dot information on an image support, characterised by segmentation means, connected to the memory, for segmenting the digital image dot information into layout elements, the operating means being connected to the segmentation means for receiving therefrom results of the segmentation and being provided with: - means for displaying said results to an operator, - first selection means for selecting one or more layout elements found during the segmentation, - second selection means for selecting a processing operation for changing the appearance of said image, said operating means also being connected to the processing means for controlling the same in order to process a selected layout element in accordance with a selected processing operation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing operation comprises changing the grey value scale.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing operation comprises changing the colour in the print on the image support.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing operation comprises the introduction of a raster.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing operation comprises changing the orientation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing operation comprises changing the location.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the segmentation means are adapted to search the digital image dot information for objects formed by clusters of adjoining informationbearing image dots, and perform the segmenting into layout elements on the basis of said objects.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the segmentation means assign to each object a frame, hereinafter referred to as an object box, having two horizontal and two vertical sides and, for each object, store the location data of the object box in a memory.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the segmentation means assign an object label to an object, said object label being representative of the type of information of said object.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first selections means are adapted to select all objects having a specific object label at once.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the segmentation means only make use of objects having predetermined object labels in the said segmenting.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the said predetermined object labels are those labels which indicate that the object represents a character.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 12, wherein prior to said segmenting the segmentation means first determine whether and, if so, to what extent the page image is skew with respect to the vertical and horizontal directions, and if so align the set of objects by adapting the location data of the objects in accordance with a rotation through the skew angle.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of segmenting into layout elements a page image in digital image dot information form, comprising dividing the page image into eversmaller blocks in consecutive operations by means of cutting operations in a first and second predetermined direction alternately, characterised in that objects each formed by a cluster of adjoining informationbearing image dots are first searched for in the digital image dot information and in that the objects are considered as basic elements in the said cutting operations.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method according to claim 14, characterised in that each object is assigned a frame, hereinafter referred to as an object box, having sides parallel to the said directions, said frame just enclosing the object, and that for determining the location of an object within the page image information is taken from the location of the object box of said object.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 14 or 15, characterised in that an object is assigned an object label which is a representative of the type of information of that object.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein only objects having predetermined object labels are used for the said cutting operations.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein the said predetermined object labels are those labels which indicate that the object represents a character.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
43 words
A method according to any one of claims 14 to 18, characterised in that a cutting operation divides a block into subblocks with the criterion that the objects of a first subblock are further away from an adjoining subblock than a predetermined distance.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
65 words
A method according to any one of claims 14 to 19, characterised in that prior to the cutting operations it is first determined whether and, if so, to what extent the page image is skew with respect to a cutting direction, and in that if so the page image is first aligned by displacing the objects in accordance with a rotation through the skew angle.
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