Automatic image layout method and system

Claim 2

The method of claim 1 wherein optimization is determined under the following constraints: a) rectangles representing each of said images do not overlap, b) a bounding box for said rectangles has a minimum area, and c) the aspect ratio of the bounding box is a fixed value.

Claim 3

The method of claim 2 wherein said bounding box has minimum white space and is then formed for placement of said images represented by said rectangles and the aspect ratio of the print area of the paper is determined whereby said images can be scaled by the appropriate amount to make the bounding box the same size as the printable area of said page.

Claim 4

A microprocessor implemented method for automatically generating the digital equivalent of a photographers contact print sheet onto which a plurality of segmented images will be scaled and distributed such that each of said images on a resulting page representing said contact print sheet is scaled as large as possible and wherein there is a minimum of white space remaining on the rendered page, wherein said images are scaled by the same amount, i.e., the relative size of each segmented image stays the same and an optimum spatial distribution of the images, represented by rectangles, is determined under the following constraints: a) rectangles representing each of said images do not overlap, b) a bounding box for said rectangles has a minimum area, and c) the aspect ratio of the bounding box is a fixed value.

Claim 5

The method of claim 4 wherein said bounding box has minimum white space and is then formed for placement of said images represented by said rectangles and the aspect ratio of the print area of the paper is determined whereby said images can be scaled by the appropriate amount to make the bounding box the same size as the printable area of said page.

Claim 6

A image layout processing device comprising: a microprocessor programmed to execute an image layout template algorithm consisting of rules for producing a layout of a plurality of digital images in a logical structure wherein each image is scaled and positioned to minimize white space by uniformly enlarging images to fit within said logical structure; and a memory for retaining said image layout template algorithm.

Claim 7

The document processing device of claim 6, further comprising: a means for gang scanning a plurality of images into said system; and a means for rendering said layout.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 6 wherein said microprocessor automatically generates templates which define how different images should be arranged on a page through the application of standard optimization techniques having cost functions tuned to the needs of SmartPlaten technology.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 7 wherein a collection of digital images are arranged on a page representing a contact sheet-like templates whereon each image is scaled and positioned to minimize the amount of white space on said page and wherein resulting images are as large as possible, yet fit within a pre-designated area of said page.