EP0635798A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Data access based on human-produced images
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1994-07-20
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-07-20
Abstract
Abstract An item of data, such as data defining an image of a document (10), and identifying image data are stored in memory. The identifying image data define a human-produced identifying image (18) for the item of data. In response to query image data defining a human-produced query image (24) similar to the identifying image (18), the query image data and the identifying image data are used to access the item of data. The identifying image and query image can be produced making marks by hand, by controlling a machine to make marks, or by interactively using a machine to produce data defining an image. The identifying image (18) can be in a field (16) on a form requesting a store operation, and the form can be part of an image set that includes images of a document that the identifying image identifies. Similarly, the query image (24) can be in a field (22) on an access form (20) requesting an access operation. In response to the access form, a machine can automatically create a retrieval request form listing identifying images that are sufficiently similar to the query image to meet a criterion. In response to the marked retrieval request form, the machine can access and retrieve each requested document.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter A.L. Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:09
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/50; G06F16/58; G06F16/583; G06F16/5854
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
A method including: storing in memory an item of data and identifying image data; the identifying image data defining an identifying image for the item of data; the identifying image being a human-produced image; receiving query image data defining a query image that is similar to the identifying image; the query image being a human-produced image; and using the query image data and the identifying image data to access the item of data.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the act of using the query image data and the identifying image data does not include obtaining character codes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the query image includes marks made by a human by hand, and/or includes marks made by a machine under control of a human.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
45 words
A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the query image data is obtained by a machine that includes a user input device; the machine obtaining the query image data in response to signals from the user input device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
93 words
A method as claimed in claim 4, in which the machine also includes, for each of a set of character types, character image data defining an image of a version of the character type made by a human by hand; the signals from the user input device indicating a sequence of characters each of which is an instance of a character type in the set; the query image showing the sequence of characters with each character being a version defined by the character image data of one of the set of character types.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
115 words
A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, being a method of operating a machine that includes: image input circuitry for obtaining data defining images as input; memory for storing data; and a processor connected for receiving data defining image from the image input circuitry and connected for accessing the memory; the method including: storing in the memory the item of data and the identifying image data defining the identifying image for the item of data, operating the processor to receive the query image data trom the image input circuitry, and operating the processor to use the query image data and the identifying image data to access the item of data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
97 words
A method as claimed in claim 6, in which the act of storing an item of data and identifying image data comprises: operating the processor to receive storage request image data from the image input circuitry; the storage request image data defining a first image set that shows the first image and the identifying image; and in response, operating the processor to automatically use the storage request image data to obtain and store first image data defining the first image and identifying image data defining the identifying image, the item of data including the first image data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
208 words
A method as claimed in claim 7, in which the first image set shows a storage request form that includes the identifying image; the storage request image data including form image data defining an image of the storage request form; the form image data including information indicating a request to store the item of data and the identifying image data; the act of operating the processor to automatically use the storage request image data comprising: operating the processor to use the form image data to obtain the identifying image data; and operating the processor to use the form image data to obtain request identifying data indicating a request to store the item of data and the identifying image data, or in which the first image set shows a sheet that includes the identifying image; the storage request image data including sheet image data defining an image of the sheet; the act of operating the processor to automatically use the storage request image data comprising: operating the processor to use the sheet image data to obtain segment image data defining a segment of the image of the sheet that includes the identifying image; and operating the processor to use the segment image data to obtain the identifying image data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
160 words
A method as claimed in claim 6, in which the machine further comprises image output circuitry for providing data defining images as output; the act of operating the processor to use the query image data and the identifying image data further comprising: using the identifying image data to create retrieval request form that includes the identifying image and a check box; providing form output data defining the retrieval request form to the image output circuitry; receiving form input data defining a marked version of the retrieval request form; the marked version including a mark in the check box; and in response to the form input data, accessing the item of data, and/or in which the system further includes a database system for associating data stored in the memory; the act of storing the item ot data and the identifying image data comprising operating the processor to associate the item of data and the identifying image data in the database system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
134 words
A machine including: image input circuitry for obtaining data defining images as input; memory storing data; and a processor connected for receiving data defining images from the image input circuitry; the processor further being connected for accessing data stored in memory; the data stored in the memory including: an item of data; identifying image data defining an identifying image for the item of data; the identifying image being a human-produced image; and instruction data indicating instructions the processor can execute; the processor, in executing the instructions: receiving query image data from the image input circuitry, the query image data defining a query image that is similar to the identifying image; the query image being a human-produced image; and using the query image data and the identifying image data to access the item of data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
227 words
An article of manufacture for use in a machine that includes: image input circuitry for obtaining data defining images as input; memory for storing data; the data stored in the memory including an item of data and identifying image data defining an identifying image for the item of data; the identifying image being a human-produced image; a storage medium access device for accessing a medium that stores data; and a processor connected for receiving data defining images from the image input circuitry; the processor further being connected for accessing data stored in the memory; the processor further being connected for receiving data from the storage medium access device; the article comprising: a storage medium that can be accessed by the storage medium access device when the article is used in the system; and data stored by the storage medium so that the storage medium access device can provide the stored data to the processor when the article is used in the system; the stored data comprising instruction data indicating instructions the processor can execute; the processor, in executing the instructions: receiving query image data from the image input circuitry, the query image data defining a query image that is similar to the identifying image; the query image being a human-produced image; using the query image data and the identifying image data to access the item of data.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
EP0283267A2
Cited
US5010500A
Cited
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