EP0843276A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
HTML generator
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1997-06-24
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2017-06-24
Abstract
Abstract Automatic generation of HTML files based on bitmap image data, which faithfully preserves layout information of an original document from which the bitmap data was obtained. Generally, multi-column document layouts result in automatic generation of HTML files that use HTML "table tags" to display each of the different columns. More particularly, a bitmap image is obtained such as by scanning or retrieval of a pre-existing image, and the bitmap image is segmented into blocks. The location of each block is determined, each block is analyzed in preparation for insertion of appropriate data into an HTML file, and layout analysis is performed to identify layout relationships between the blocks based on the relative locations of the blocks in the bitmap image. Based on the layout relationships, a block type is determined for each block, column span and row span data for each block is determined, blocks are re-ordered if needed, and an HTML file is generated in which blocks are tagged as data elements in a row of an HTML "table tag" based on block type and based on column and row span information for the block.
Inventors
- 👤 Ching-Yu Tyan
- 👤 Hung Khei Huang
- 👤 Toru Niki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:01
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/958; G06V; G06V30/00; G06V30/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 67
Claim 1
Independent Claim
49 words
A method for generating an HTML file
based on a bitmap image, comprising: obtaining two horizontally adjacent image
blocks in separate vertical columns of the bitmap
image; and generating an HTML file in which the blocks
are tagged as data elements in a row of an HTML
tagged table.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to Claim 1, wherein
an HTML code is assigned to each block in accordance
with a position of the block relative to other
elements within the bitmap image.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for generating an HTML file
based on a bitmap image, comprising: a segmenting step of segmenting the bitmap
image to obtain image blocks; a determining step of determining where in
the bitmap image each of the blocks is located; an identifying step of identifying
positional relationships between the blocks based on
their relative locations; and a generating step of generating an HTML
file in which the blocks are tagged as being data
elements in an HTML tagged table, the tags being
determined in accordance with the identified
positional relationships.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to Claim 3, wherein
the identifying step includes forming vertical and
horizontal groupings of the blocks.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein
the identifying step includes forming a hierarchical
structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to Claim 5, wherein
the step of forming the hierarchical structure
includes forming horizontal and vertical groupings
of elements, the elements consisting of previously
formed groupings and ungrouped blocks.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to Claim 6, wherein
horizontal and vertical groupings are formed by
testing two elements at a time, a new grouping being
formed when a rectangle can be formed which encloses
the two tested elements and no other elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to Claim 7, wherein
the step of forming vertical and horizontal
groupings includes alternating between forming all
possible vertical groupings and forming all possible
horizontal groupings.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to Claim 7, wherein
two identified elements are tested for vertical
grouping only if the two identified elements are not
horizontally adjacent to each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to Claim 7, wherein
two identified elements are tested for horizontal
grouping only if the two identified elements are not
vertically adjacent to each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to Claim 6, wherein
the identifying step includes ordering the blocks
based on a sequence in which the vertical and
horizontal groupings are formed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to Claim 3, wherein
the identifying step includes a step of ordering the
blocks based on the identified positional
relationships.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for generating an HTML file
based on bitmap image data, comprising the steps of: segmenting the bitmap image into blocks; analyzing layout relationships between the
blocks based on the relative locations of the blocks
in the bitmap image; a block-type determination step of
determining block type of each block based on the
layout relationships obtained in said analyzing
step; a span determination step of determining
column span and row span information for each block
that spans more than one column and/or row; and generating an HTML file based on the block
type obtained in said block-type determination step
and based on the column span and row span
information obtained in said span determination
step.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to Claim 13,
wherein said analyzing step includes iterative steps
of combining blocks into vertical and horizontal
groupings.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to Claim 13,
wherein said block-type determination step includes
the step of assigning to each block a type selected
from the group consisting of: a single block, a
combined block, a joint block, and a multiple block.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to Claim 15,
wherein said step of assigning is based on proximity
of each block to adjacent blocks and also based on
layout information obtained is said analyzing step.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to Claim 13,
wherein analyzing step groups blocks into vertical
and horizontal groupings, and wherein said span
determination step includes the step of determining
column span and row span by counting the number of
blocks within vertical groupings and the number of
blocks within horizontal groupings.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of generating layout data
from block data comprised by horizontally and
vertically arranged blocks, the method comprising: a vertical determination step of
determining whether a combination of vertically-arranged
blocks overlaps onto any other of the
horizontally and vertically arranged blocks; a vertical combination step of combining
the combination of vertically-arranged blocks in a
case where said vertical determination step
determines that there is no overlap; a horizontal determination step of
determining whether a combination of horizontally-arranged
blocks overlaps onto any other of the
horizontally and vertically arranged blocks; a horizontal combination step of combining
the combination of horizontally-arranged blocks in a
case where said horizontal determination step
determines that no overlap exists; and a generation step of generating layout data
based on the combinations made in said vertical
combination step and said horizontal combination
step.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to Claim 18,
wherein said vertical determination step is
performed for all permissible combinations of
vertically-arranged blocks before any determinations
are made in said horizontal determination step.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to Claim 19,
wherein said block data includes coordinate data for
each block, and wherein permissibility of
combination is determined based on a comparison of
coordinate data for respective blocks.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to Claim 19,
further comprising the step of repeating said
vertical determination step after all permissible
combinations of horizontally-arranged blocks are
tested in said horizontal determination step.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to Claim 21,
wherein said block data includes coordinate data for
each block, and wherein permissibility of
combination is determined based on a comparison of
coordinate data for respective blocks.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
81 words
An apparatus for generating an HTML
file based on a bitmap image, comprising: obtaining means which obtains two
horizontally adjacent image blocks in separate
vertical columns of the bitmap image; a memory which stores process steps that
are executable by a processor; and a processor which executes the process
steps stored in the memory to generate an HTML file
in which the blocks obtained by the obtaining means
are tagged as data elements in a row of an HTML
tagged table.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to Claim 23,
wherein the processor assigns an HTML code to each
block in accordance with a position of the block
relative to other elements within the bitmap image.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus for generating an HTML
file based on a bitmap image, comprising: obtaining means for obtaining the bitmap
image; a memory which stores process steps that
are executable by a processor; and a processor which executes the process
steps stored in the memory (1) to segment the bitmap
image to obtain image blocks, (2) to determine where
in the bitmap image each of the blocks is located,
(3) to identify positional relationships between the
blocks based on their relative locations, and (4) to
generate an HTML file in which the blocks are tagged
as being data elements in an HTML tagged table, the
tags being determined in accordance with the
identified positional relationships.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to Claim 25,
wherein when the processor identifies positional
relationships between the blocks, the processor
forms vertical and horizontal groupings of the
blocks.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 25,
wherein when the processor identifies positional
relationships between the blocks, the processor
forms a hierarchical structure.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to Claim 27,
wherein the processor forms the hierarchical
structure by forming horizontal and vertical
groupings of elements, the elements consisting of
previously formed groupings and ungrouped blocks.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 28,
wherein the processor forms the horizontal and
vertical groupings by testing two elements at a
time, a new grouping being formed when a rectangle
can be formed which encloses the two tested elements
and no other elements.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 29,
wherein the processor forms the vertical and
horizontal groupings by alternating between forming
all possible vertical groupings and forming all
possible horizontal groupings.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to Claim 28,
wherein the processor tests two identified elements
for vertical grouping only if the two identified
elements are not horizontally adjacent to each
other.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to Claim 28,
wherein the processor tests two identified elements
for horizontal grouping only if the two identified
elements are not vertically adjacent to each other.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to Claim 27,
wherein the processor identifies the positional
relationships between the blocks by ordering the
blocks based on a sequence in which the vertical and
horizontal groupings are formed.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to Claim 25,
wherein the processor identifies the positional
relationships between the blocks by ordering the
blocks based on the identified positional
relationships.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
142 words
An apparatus for generating an HTML
file based on bitmap image data, comprising: obtaining means for obtaining the bitmap
image data; a memory for storing the bitmap image data
and process steps executable by a processor; and a processor which executes the process
steps stored in the memory (1) to segment the bitmap
image into blocks, (2) to analyze layout
relationships between the blocks based on the
relative locations of the blocks in the bitmap
image, (3) to determine a block type of each block
based on the layout relationships obtained by the
processor, (4) to determine column span and row span
information for each block that spans more than one
column and/or row, and (5) to generate an HTML file
based on the block type determined by the processor
and the column span and row span information
determined by the processor.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to Claim 35,
wherein the processor analyzes layout relationships
between the blocks by combining the blocks into
vertical and horizontal groupings.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus according to Claim 35,
wherein the processor determines a block type of
each block by assigning to each block a type
selected from the group consisting of: a single
block, a combined block, a joint block, and a
multiple block.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to Claim 37,
wherein the processor assigns a block type to each
block based on proximity of each block to adjacent
blocks and also based on layout information obtained
by the processor.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus according to Claim 35,
wherein the layout relationship analysis step
executed by the processor includes grouping the
blocks into vertical and horizontal groupings, and
wherein the processor determines column span and row
span information for each block by counting the
number of blocks within vertical groupings and the
number of blocks within horizontal groupings.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
153 words
An apparatus for generating layout
data from block data comprised by horizontally and
vertically arranged blocks, the apparatus
comprising: an obtaining means for obtaining the block
data; a memory for storing process steps
executable by a processor; and a processor which executes the process
steps stored in the processor (1) to determine
whether a combination of vertically-arranged blocks
overlaps onto any other of the horizontally and
vertically arranged blocks, (2) to combine the
combination of vertically-arranged blocks in a case
where said vertical determination step determines
that there is no overlap, (3) to determine whether a
combination of horizontally-arranged blocks overlaps
onto any other of the horizontally and vertically
arranged blocks, (4) to combine the combination of
horizontally-arranged blocks in a case where said
horizontal determination step determines that no
overlap exists, and (5) to generate layout data
based on the combinations made in said vertical
combination step and said horizontal combination
step.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus according to Claim 40,
wherein the processor determine whether a
combination of vertically-arranged blocks overlaps
onto any other of the horizontally and vertically
arranged blocks for all permissible combinations of
vertically-arranged blocks before any determinations
are made by the processor regarding overlapping of
horizontally-arranged blocks.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to Claim 41,
wherein said block data includes coordinate data for
each block, and wherein permissibility of
combination is determined based on a comparison of
coordinate data for respective blocks.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to Claim 41,
wherein the processor determines whether a
combination of vertically-arranged blocks overlaps
onto any other of the horizontally and vertically
arranged blocks after all permissible combinations
of horizontally-arranged blocks are tested.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to Claim 43,
wherein said block data includes coordinate data for
each block, and wherein permissibility of
combination is determined based on a comparison of
coordinate data for respective blocks.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
71 words
Computer-executable process steps
stored on a computer-readable medium, the computer
executable process steps to generate an HTML file
based on a bitmap image, the process steps
comprising: an obtaining step to obtain two
horizontally adjacent image blocks in separate
vertical columns of the bitmap image; and a generating step to generate an HTML file
in which the blocks are tagged as data elements in a
row of an HTML tagged table.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
32 words
Computer-executable process steps
according to Claim 45, wherein an HTML code is
assigned to each block in accordance with a position
of the block relative to other elements within the
bitmap image.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
106 words
Computer-executable process steps
stored on a computer-readable medium, the computer
executable process steps to generate an HTML file
based on a bitmap image, the computer-executable
process steps comprising: a segmenting step to segment the bitmap
image to obtain image blocks; a determining step to determine where in
the bitmap image each of the blocks is located; an identifying step to identify positional
relationships between the blocks based on their
relative locations; and a generating step to generate an HTML file
in which the blocks are tagged as being data
elements in an HTML tagged table, the tags being
determined in accordance with the identified
positional relationships.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
20 words
Computer-executable process steps
according to Claim 47, wherein the identifying step
includes forming vertical and horizontal groupings
of the blocks.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
16 words
Computer-executable process steps
according to claim 37, wherein the identifying step
includes forming a hierarchical structure.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
33 words
Computer-executable process steps
according to Claim 49, wherein the step of forming
the hierarchical structure includes forming
horizontal and vertical groupings of elements, the
elements consisting of previously formed groupings
and ungrouped blocks.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
42 words
Computer-executable process steps
according to Claim 50, wherein horizontal and
vertical groupings are formed by testing two
elements at a time, a new grouping being formed when
a rectangle can be formed which encloses the two
tested elements and no other elements.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
30 words
Computer-executable process steps
according to Claim 51, wherein the step of forming
vertical and horizontal groupings includes
alternating between forming all possible vertical
groupings and forming all possible horizontal
groupings.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
29 words
Computer-executable process steps
according to Claim 51, wherein two identified
elements are tested for vertical grouping only if
the two identified elements are not horizontally
adjacent to each other.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
29 words
Computer-executable process steps
according to Claim 51, wherein two identified
elements are tested for horizontal grouping only if
the two identified elements are not vertically
adjacent to each other.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
28 words
Computer-executable process steps
according to Claim 50, wherein the identifying step
includes ordering the blocks based on a sequence in
which the vertical and horizontal groupings are
formed.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
24 words
Computer-executable process steps
according to Claim 47, wherein the identifying step
includes a step to order the blocks based on the
identified positional relationships.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
141 words
Computer-executable process steps
stored on a computer-readable medium, the computer
executable process steps to generate an HTML file
based on bitmap image data, the computer-executable
process steps comprising: a segmenting step to segment the bitmap
image into blocks; an analyzing step to analyze layout
relationships between the blocks based on the
relative locations of the blocks in the bitmap
image; a block-type determination step to
determine a block type of each block based on the
layout relationships obtained in said analyzing
step; a span determination step to determine
column span and row span information for each block
that spans more than one column and/or row; and a generating step to generate an HTML file
based on the block type obtained in said block-type
determination step and based on the column span and
row span information obtained in said span
determination step.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
22 words
Computer-executable process steps
according to Claim 57, wherein said analyzing step
includes iterative steps to combine blocks into
vertical and horizontal groupings.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
41 words
Computer-executable process steps
according to Claim 57, wherein said block-type
determination step includes a step to assign to each
block a type selected from the group consisting of:
a single block, a combined block, a joint block, and
a multiple block.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
33 words
Computer-executable process steps
according to Claim 59, wherein said step of
assigning is based on proximity of each block to
adjacent blocks and also based on layout information
obtained is said analyzing step.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
50 words
Computer-executable process steps
according to Claim 57, wherein analyzing step groups
blocks into vertical and horizontal groupings, and
wherein said span determination step includes a step
to determine column span and row span by counting
the number of blocks within vertical groupings and
the number of blocks within horizontal groupings.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
150 words
Computer-executable process steps
stored on a computer-readable medium, the computer
executable process steps to generate layout data
from block data comprised by horizontally and
vertically arranged blocks, the computer-executable
process steps comprising: a vertical determination step to determine
whether a combination of vertically-arranged blocks
overlaps onto any other of the horizontally and
vertically arranged blocks; a vertical combination step to combine the
combination of vertically-arranged blocks in a case
where said vertical determination step determines
that there is no overlap; a horizontal determination step to
determine whether a combination of horizontally-arranged
blocks overlaps onto any other of the
horizontally and vertically arranged blocks; a horizontal combination step to combine
the combination of horizontally-arranged blocks in a
case where said horizontal determination step
determines that no overlap exists; and a generation step to generate layout data
based on the combinations made in said vertical
combination step and said horizontal combination
step.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
31 words
Computer-executable process steps
according to Claim 62, wherein said vertical
determination step is performed for all permissible
combinations of vertically-arranged blocks before
any determinations are made in said horizontal
determination step.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
34 words
Computer-executable process steps
according to Claim 63, wherein said block data
includes coordinate data for each block, and wherein
permissibility of combination is determined based on
a comparison of coordinate data for respective
blocks.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
32 words
Computer-executable process steps
according to Claim 63, further comprising a
repeating step to repeat said vertical determination
step after all permissible combinations of
horizontally-arranged blocks are tested in said
horizontal determination step.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
34 words
Computer-executable process steps
according to Claim 65, wherein said block data
includes coordinate data for each block, and wherein
permissibility of combination is determined based on
a comparison of coordinate data for respective
blocks.
Claim 67
Independent Claim
14 words
A method and apparatus having the features of any
combination of the preceding claims.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
EP0660256A2
Cited
EP0758775A2
Cited
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