Analyzing an image showing a proportioned parts graph

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 in which the constraint on segments includes a circularity criterion; the circularity criterion requiring a part of the input image that is approximately circular; the act of applying the set of criteria to the input image data to obtain segmented feature data comprising: obtaining circular part data indicating a part of the input image that meets the circularity criterion; and using the circular part data to obtain the segmented feature data.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 in which the constraint on segments includes a center criterion requiring a part of the input image that is approximately at a center of the feature that satisfies the constraint on segments; the act of applying the set of criteria to the input image data to obtain segmented feature data further comprising: obtaining center part data indicating a part of the input image that meets the center criterion; and using the center part data to obtain the segmented feature data.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 in which the constraint on segments includes a direction criterion requiring a part of the input image that indicates a direction with respect to a reference point; the act of applying the set of criteria to the input image data to obtain segmented feature data further comprising: obtaining direction part data indicating a part of the input image that meets the direction criterion; and using the direction part data to obtain the segmented feature data.

Claim 6

The method of claim 4 in which the direction criterion further requires a part of the input image that is approximately radial with respect to the reference point.

Claim 7

The method of claim 4 in which the constraint on segments further requires that the part of the input image that meets the direction criterion be nearer to the reference point in the indicated direction than any other part that meets the direction criterion; the act of using the direction part data to obtain the segmented feature data comprising: using the direction part data to determine whether the indicated part is nearer to the reference point in the indicated direction than any other part that meets the direction criterion; and if so, using the direction part data to obtain the segmented feature data.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 in which the constraint on segments includes an angle criterion requiring a part of the input image that indicates an angle; the act of applying the set of criteria to the input image data to obtain segmented feature data comprising: obtaining angle part data indicating a part of the input image that meets the angle criterion; and using the angle part data to obtain the segmented feature data.

Claim 9

The method of claim 7 in which the angle criterion further requires a part of the input image that indicates an angle with respect to a reference point; the constraint on segments further requiring that the part of the input image that meets the angle criterion be nearer to the reference point within the indicated angle than any other part that meets the angle criterion; the act of using the angle part data to obtain the segmented feature data comprising: using the direction part data to determine whether the indicated part is nearer to the reference point within the indicated angle than any other part that meets the angle criterion; and if so, using the angle part data to obtain the segmented feature data.

Claim 10

The method of claim 1 in which the constraint on segments includes a distinct regions criterion requiring at least two parts of the input image that indicate distinct regions within the feature that satisfies the constraint on segments; the act of applying the set of criteria to the input image data to obtain segmented feature data comprising: obtaining region parts data indicating parts of the input image that meet the distinct regions criterion; and if the region parts data indicate at least two parts, using the region parts data to obtain the segmented feature data.

Claim 11

The method of claim 1 in which the constraint on segments includes, for each of a number of specific categories of proportioned parts graphs, a feature candidate criterion and, for all of the specific categories, a segmented feature criterion; the act of applying the set of criteria to the input image data to obtain segmented feature data comprising: obtaining feature candidate data indicating parts of the input image that meet the feature candidate criterion for one of the specific categories of proportioned parts graphs; and using the feature candidate data to obtain the segmented feature data; the segmented feature data indicating parts indicated by the feature candidate data that also meet the segmented feature criterion.

Claim 13

The method of claim 1 in which the proportion data include a list of directions.

Claim 14

The method of claim 1 in which the proportion data include a list of angles.

Claim 15

The method of claim 1 in which the input image is a human-produced image showing a sketch of a proportioned parts graph.

Claim 16

The method of claim 14 further comprising: using the proportion data to obtain output image data defining an output image that includes a proportioned parts graph similar to the sketch.

Claim 19

The method of claim 16 in which the machine further comprises image output circuitry for providing data defining images as output; the input image being a human-produced image showing a sketch of a proportioned parts graph; the method further comprising: using the proportion data to obtain output image data defining an output image that includes a proportioned parts graph similar to the sketch; and providing the output image data to the image output circuitry.

Claim 20

A machine comprising: image input circuitry for obtaining data defining images as input; memory for storing data; and a processor connected for receiving data defining images from the image input circuitry and connected for accessing data stored in the memory; the data stored in the memory comprising instruction data indicating image processing instructions the processor can execute; the processor, in executing the image processing instructions: receiving input image data from the image input circuitry, the input image data defining an input image that shows a proportioned parts graph; the proportioned parts graph being a graphical representation with a feature that defines two or more segments, each segment representing a part that bears a proportion to a whole, each segment having a size that bears approximately the same proportion to the entirety of the feature as the part the segment represents bears to the whole; the feature satisfying a constraint on segments; the constraint including a set of criteria, the set of criteria including one or more criteria; applying the set of criteria to the input image data to obtain segmented feature data; the segmented feature data indicating a feature that satisfies the constraint on segments; and using the segmented feature data to obtain proportion data indicating, for each segment of the feature that satisfies the constraint on segments, a proportion; each segment's proportion indicated by the proportion data being approximately equal to the proportion the segment's size bears to the entirety of the feature that satisfies the constraint on segments.

Claim 21

A machine comprising: image input circuitry for obtaining data defining images as input; memory for storing data; and a processor connected for receiving data defining images from the image input circuitry and connected for accessing data stored in the memory; the data stored in the memory comprising instruction data indicating image processing instructions the processor can execute; the processor, in executing the image processing instructions: receiving input image data from the image input circuitry, the input image data defining an input image that shows a proportioned parts graph; the proportioned parts graph being a graphical representation with a feature that defines two or more segments, each segment representing a part that bears a proportion to a whole, each segment having a size that bears approximately the same proportion to the entirety of the feature as the part the segment represents bears to the whole; the feature satisfying a constraint on segments; the constraint including a set of criteria, the set of criteria including one or more criteria; applying the set of criteria to the input image data to obtain segmented feature data; the segmented feature data indicating a feature that satisfies the constraint on segments; and using the segmented feature data to obtain proportion data indicating, for each segment of the feature that satisfies the constraint on segments, a proportion; each segment's proportion indicated by the proportion data being approximately equal to the proportion the segment's size bears to the entirety of the feature that satisfies the constraint on segments.

Claim 22

The machine of claim 18 in which the input image circuitry is connected for receiving facsimile transmissions.

Claim 23

The machine of claim 18 in which the machine further comprises image output circuitry for providing data defining images as output; the processor further, in executing the image processing instructions: using the proportion data to obtain output image data defining an output image that includes a proportioned parts graph representing the indicated proportions; and providing the output image data to the image output circuitry.

Claim 24

The machine of claim 20 in which the output image circuitry is connected for providing facsimile transmissions.

Claim 25

The machine of claim 18 in which the machine is an image processing server; the image processing server being connected to a network for receiving requests for image processing operations; the network including the image input circuitry; the instruction data further indicating request handling instructions the processor can execute; the processor, in executing the request handling instructions, determining whether to execute the image processing instructions.

Claim 26

The machine of claim 18 in which the machine is a fax server.

Claim 27

The machine of claim 18 in which the machine is a copier.

Claim 28

An article of manufacture for use in a machine that includes: image input circuitry for obtaining data defining images as input; 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 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 input image data from the image input circuitry, the input image data defining an input image that shows a proportioned parts graph; the proportioned parts graph being a graphical representation with a feature that defines two or more segments, each segment representing a part that bears a proportion to a whole, each segment having a size that bears approximately the same proportion to the entirety of the feature as the part the segment represents bears to the whole; the feature satisfying a constraint on segments; the constraint including a set of criteria, the set of criteria including one or more criteria; applying the set of criteria to the input image data to obtain segmented feature data; the segmented feature data indicating a feature that satisfies the constraint on segments; and using the segmented feature data to obtain proportion data indicating, for each segment of the feature that satisfies the constraint on segments, a proportion; each segment's proportion indicated by the proportion data being approximately equal to the proportion the segment's size bears to the entirety of the feature that satisfies the constraint on segments.

Claim 29

An article of manufacture for use in a machine that includes: image input circuitry for obtaining data defining images as input; 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 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 input image data from the image input circuitry, the input image data defining an input image that shows a proportioned parts graph; the proportioned parts graph being a graphical representation with a feature that defines two or more segments, each segment representing a part that bears a proportion to a whole, each segment having a size that bears approximately the same proportion to the entirety of the feature as the part the segment represents bears to the whole; the feature satisfying a constraint on segments; the constraint including a set of criteria, the set of criteria including one or more criteria; applying the set of criteria to the input image data to obtain segmented feature data; the segmented feature data indicating a feature that satisfies the constraint on segments; and using the segmented feature data to obtain proportion data indicating, for each segment of the feature that satisfies the constraint on segments, a proportion; each segment's proportion indicated by the proportion data being approximately equal to the proportion the segment's size bears to the entirety of the feature that satisfies the constraint on segments.

Claim 38

The method of claim 29 in which each segment's size is an angle.

Claim 39

The method of claim 29 in which each segment's size is an area.