US5491760A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for summarizing a document without document image decoding
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1994-05-09
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Granted: 1996-02-13
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Expires: 2014-05-09
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for excerpting and summarizing an undecoded document image, without first converting the document image to optical character codes such as ASCII text, identifies significant words, phrases and graphics in the document image using automatic or interactive morphological image recognition techniques, document summaries or indices are produced based on the identified significant portions of the document image. The disclosed method is particularly adept for improvement of reading machines for the blind.
Inventors
- 👤 M. Margaret Withgott
- 👤 Steven C. Bagley
- 👤 Dan S. Bloomberg
- 👤 Per-Kristian Halvorsen
- 👤 Daniel P. Huttenlocher
- 👤 Todd A. Cass
- 👤 Ronald M. Kaplan
- 👤 Ramana R. Rao
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:22
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06V; G06V30/00; G06V30/10; G06V30/26; G06V30/262
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for electronically processing an electronic document image without first decoding the electronic document image, comprising: segmenting the document image into word image units without decoding the document image; deriving a word shape representation for each of a plurality of said word image units without decoding any characters making up the plurality of word image units, thereby deriving a plurality of said word shape representations; comparing said word shape representations to at least one other word shape representation to identify significant word image units from amongst said plurality of word image units; and creating an abbreviated document image that is smaller than the electronic document image based on said identified significant word image units, said abbreviated document image including a plurality of said identified significant word image units.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for electronically processing an electronic document image without first decoding the electronic document image, comprising: segmenting the document image into word image units without decoding the document image; deriving a word shape representation for each of a plurality of said word image units without decoding any characters making up the plurality of word image units, thereby deriving a plurality of said word shape representations; comparing said word shape representations to at least one other word shape representation to identify significant word image units from amongst said plurality of word image units; and creating an abbreviated document image that is smaller than the electronic document image based on said identified significant word image units, said abbreviated document image including a plurality of said identified significant word image units.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of comparing includes classifying said word image units according to frequency of occurrence based on comparing said word shape representations with each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of comparing includes classifying said word image units according to location within the document image.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of deriving a word shape representation includes utilization of at least one of an image unit shape dimension, font, typeface, number of ascender elements, number of descender elements, pixel density, pixel cross-sectional characteristic, the location of word image units with respect to neighboring word image units, vertical position, horizontal interimage unit spacing, and contour characteristic of said word image units.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said comparing step includes comparing said word shape representations with each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said comparing step includes comparing said word shape representations with at least one predetermined word shape representation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said comparing step includes comparing said word shape representations with at least one user-selected word shape representation.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of excerpting significant information from an undecoded document image without decoding the document image, comprising: segmenting the document image into word image units without decoding the document image; deriving a word shape representation for each of a plurality of said word image units without decoding any characters making up said plurality of word image units, thereby deriving a plurality of said word shape representations; comparing said word shape representations to at least one other word shape representation to identify significant word image units from amongst said word image units; and outputting a plurality of said identified significant word image units for further processing.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of excerpting significant information from an undecoded document image without decoding the document image, comprising: segmenting the document image into word image units without decoding the document image; deriving a word shape representation for each of a plurality of said word image units without decoding any characters making up said plurality of word image units, thereby deriving a plurality of said word shape representations; comparing said word shape representations to at least one other word shape representation to identify significant word image units from amongst said word image units; and outputting a plurality of said identified significant word image units for further processing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said step of outputting a plurality of identified significant image units comprises generating a document index based on said significant identified word image units.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said step of outputting a plurality of identified significant image units comprises producing a speech synthesized output corresponding to said identified significant word image units.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said step of outputting a plurality of identified significant word image units comprises producing said identified significant word image units in printed Braille format.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said step of outputting said a plurality of identified significant word image units comprises generating a document summary from said identified significant word image units.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
134 words
A method for electronically processing an undecoded document image containing word text, comprising: segmenting the document image into word image units without decoding the document image; deriving a word shape representation for each of a plurality of said word image units without decoding any characters making up said plurality of word image units, thereby deriving a plurality of said word shape representations; comparing said word shape representations to at least one other word shape representation to identify significant word image units from amongst said plurality of word image units; forming phrase image units based on a plurality of said identified significant word image units, said phrase image units each incorporating one of said identified significant word image units and adjacent word image units linked in reading order sequence; and outputting said phrase image units.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
134 words
A method for electronically processing an undecoded document image containing word text, comprising: segmenting the document image into word image units without decoding the document image; deriving a word shape representation for each of a plurality of said word image units without decoding any characters making up said plurality of word image units, thereby deriving a plurality of said word shape representations; comparing said word shape representations to at least one other word shape representation to identify significant word image units from amongst said plurality of word image units; forming phrase image units based on a plurality of said identified significant word image units, said phrase image units each incorporating one of said identified significant word image units and adjacent word image units linked in reading order sequence; and outputting said phrase image units.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
117 words
An apparatus for automatically summarizing the information content of an undecoded document image without decoding the document image, comprising: means for segmenting the document image into word image units without decoding the document image; means for deriving a word shape representation for each of a plurality of said word image units without decoding any characters making up said plurality of word image units, thereby deriving a plurality of said word shape representations; means for comparing said word shape representations to at least one other word shade representation to identify significant word image units from amongst said plurality of word image units; and means for creating a supplemental document image based on said identified significant word image units.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
117 words
An apparatus for automatically summarizing the information content of an undecoded document image without decoding the document image, comprising: means for segmenting the document image into word image units without decoding the document image; means for deriving a word shape representation for each of a plurality of said word image units without decoding any characters making up said plurality of word image units, thereby deriving a plurality of said word shape representations; means for comparing said word shape representations to at least one other word shade representation to identify significant word image units from amongst said plurality of word image units; and means for creating a supplemental document image based on said identified significant word image units.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said means for segmenting the document image, said means for deriving a word shape representation, said means for comparing, said means for creating a supplemental document image comprise a programmed digital computer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising scanning means for scanning an original document to produce said document image, said scanning means being incorporated in a document copier machine which produces printed document copies; and means for controlling said document copier machine to produce a printed document copy of said supplemental document image.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising scanning means for scanning an original document to produce said document image, said scanning means being incorporated in a reading machine for the blind having means for communicating data to the user; and means for controlling said reading machine communication means to communicate the contents of said supplemental document image.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said communicating means comprises a printer for producing document copies in Braille format.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said communicating means comprises a speech synthesizer for producing synthesized speech output corresponding to said supplemental document image.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said reading machine includes operator responsive means for accessing the scanned document or a selected portion thereof corresponding to a supplemental document image following communication of the supplemental document image to the user.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-02-12 | 1999-08-14 | 2000-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-02-12 | 2003-08-14 | 2004-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-02-12 | 2007-08-14 | 2008-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |