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US5659770A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Text/image processing apparatus determining synthesis format

Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1994-09-22
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Granted: 1997-08-19
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Expires: 2014-09-22
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Abstract

Abstract A text/image processing apparatus obtains image information by extracting resolution, tone, and hue to an extent that editing information such as image layout information associated with a document image can be sufficiently generated, the image information is read from a scanner, and high-quality, low-cost synthesis of image information and text information can be performed in real time on the basis of determined editing information. This apparatus includes a PDL (page description language) decoder in an interface, so that a host can perform high-quality image synthesis regardless of attributes of a printer, and the scanner can perform trimming such as magnification and movement, thereby easily performing synthesis of the text and the image.

Inventors

  • 👤 Masanori Yamada

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 13:53
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/387; H04N1/3871

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim 168 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: reading means for reading an original image to generate image information, said reading means generating first image information and second image information with respect to an identical original image; output means for outputting the first image information to an external apparatus having a display means so that said external apparatus may edit the original image by using the first image information; receiving means for receiving text information and editing information including magnification processing information from said external apparatus; and synthesizing means for synthesizing a text image specified by the text information and an original image represented by the second image information obtained from a result of having been magnification processed by said reading means on the basis of the editing information so as to obtain an image synthesized with the text image and the original image without receiving image information corresponding to the original image from said external apparatus, wherein the first image information is degraded with respect to the second image information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 168 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: reading means for reading an original image to generate image information, said reading means generating first image information and second image information with respect to an identical original image; output means for outputting the first image information to an external apparatus having a display means so that said external apparatus may edit the original image by using the first image information; receiving means for receiving text information and editing information including magnification processing information from said external apparatus; and synthesizing means for synthesizing a text image specified by the text information and an original image represented by the second image information obtained from a result of having been magnification processed by said reading means on the basis of the editing information so as to obtain an image synthesized with the text image and the original image without receiving image information corresponding to the original image from said external apparatus, wherein the first image information is degraded with respect to the second image information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 35 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first image information includes one of image information in reduced resolution representation, reduced color component image information, image information in reduced tonality representation, and intensity image information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 43 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, including means for detecting a capacity of a storing means for storing the first image information of said external apparatus, and means for determining a format of the first image information in accordance with the detected capacity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 35 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, including means for analyzing a page description language, wherein said receiving means receives the text information as a program described by the page description language from said external apparatus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 43 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said text image and said original image are color images, and said synthesizing means synthesizes said text image and said original image in accordance with one of an additive color system and a subtractive color system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 46 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, after said reading means executes a read operation of the original image to generate the first image information, said reading means executes the read operation of the original image in synchronism with a synthesis operation by said synthesizing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 140 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: storing means for storing first image information obtained by reading an original image from an external apparatus; display means for displaying the first image information; input means for entering text information and editing information which includes editing information to edit the original image using said display means with an operation by an operator; and output means for outputting the text information and the editing information entered by said input means to said external apparatus so that said external apparatus may synthesize the original image represented by second image information obtained by re-reading after outputting the editing information and effecting magnification processing of the original image and the text image specified by the text information on the basis of the editing information, wherein the first image information is degraded with respect to the second image information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 140 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: storing means for storing first image information obtained by reading an original image from an external apparatus; display means for displaying the first image information; input means for entering text information and editing information which includes editing information to edit the original image using said display means with an operation by an operator; and output means for outputting the text information and the editing information entered by said input means to said external apparatus so that said external apparatus may synthesize the original image represented by second image information obtained by re-reading after outputting the editing information and effecting magnification processing of the original image and the text image specified by the text information on the basis of the editing information, wherein the first image information is degraded with respect to the second image information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 35 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first image information includes one of image information in reduced resolution representation, reduced color component image information, image information in reduced tonality representation, and intensity image information.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 31 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising storing means for storing the first image information, and notifying means for notifying said external apparatus of a capacity of said storing means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 23 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said output means outputs the text information as a program described by a page description language.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 152 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: generating first image information obtained by reading an original image; outputting the first image information to an external apparatus having display means so that said external apparatus may edit the original image by using the first image information; receiving text information and editing information including magnification processing information from said external apparatus; generating second image information obtained by reading said original image; and synthesizing a text image specified by the text information and an original image represented by the second image information on the basis of the editing information obtained from a result of having been magnification processed in said reading step without receiving image information corresponding to the original image from said external apparatus so as to obtain an image synthesized with the text image and the original image, wherein the first image information is degraded with respect to the second image information.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 152 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: generating first image information obtained by reading an original image; outputting the first image information to an external apparatus having display means so that said external apparatus may edit the original image by using the first image information; receiving text information and editing information including magnification processing information from said external apparatus; generating second image information obtained by reading said original image; and synthesizing a text image specified by the text information and an original image represented by the second image information on the basis of the editing information obtained from a result of having been magnification processed in said reading step without receiving image information corresponding to the original image from said external apparatus so as to obtain an image synthesized with the text image and the original image, wherein the first image information is degraded with respect to the second image information.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 35 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein the first image information includes one of image information in reduced resolution representation, reduced color component image information, image information in reduced tonality representation, and intensity image information.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 43 words
A method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of detecting a capacity of a storing means for storing the first image information of said external apparatus, and determining a format of the first image information in accordance with the detected capacity.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 40 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein said receiving step includes a step of receiving the text information as a program described by a page description language from said external apparatus, and a step of analyzing the page description language.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 44 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein said text image and original image are color images, and said text image and said original image are synthesized in accordance with one of an additive color system and a subtractive color system in the synthesizing step.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 131 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: storing first image information obtained by reading an original image from an external apparatus; displaying the first image information; inputting text information and editing information which includes editing information to edit the original image using said displaying step with an operation by an operator; and outputting the text information and the editing information entered in said inputting step to said external apparatus so that said external apparatus may synthesize the original image represented by second image information obtained by re-reading after outputting the editing information and effecting magnification processing of the original image and a text image specified by the text information on the basis of the editing information, wherein the first image information is degraded with respect to the second image information.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 131 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: storing first image information obtained by reading an original image from an external apparatus; displaying the first image information; inputting text information and editing information which includes editing information to edit the original image using said displaying step with an operation by an operator; and outputting the text information and the editing information entered in said inputting step to said external apparatus so that said external apparatus may synthesize the original image represented by second image information obtained by re-reading after outputting the editing information and effecting magnification processing of the original image and a text image specified by the text information on the basis of the editing information, wherein the first image information is degraded with respect to the second image information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 35 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein the first image information includes one of image information in reduced resolution representation, reduced color component image information, image information in reduced tonality representation, and intensity image information.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 31 words
A method according to claim 16, further comprising the steps of storing the first image information in storing means, and notifying said external apparatus of a capacity of said storing means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 25 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein the text information is output as a program described by a page description language in the outputting step.

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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) 2000-08-18 2001-02-17 2001-08-19 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2004-08-18 2005-02-17 2005-08-19 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2008-08-18 2009-02-17 2009-08-19 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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