Performing document image management tasks using an iconic image having embedded encoded information

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 for operating a processor-controlled machine to perform a document image management operation wherein the original text image represented by the iconic image is a content-specific text image; and wherein the binary data embedded in the rectangular blocks and produced by the decoding operation indicates data related to the content-specific text image represented by the iconic image; the document image management operation performing an operation using the data related to the content-specific text image.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 wherein the content-specific text image is stored in a memory device; wherein the document image management operation is a retrieval operation; and wherein the data related to the content-specific text image is memory location data indicating a data path to a memory location of the content-specific text image; the document image management operation using the memory location data to access and obtain the content-specific text image from the memory location thereof.

Claim 5

The method of claim 2 wherein the content-specific text image is received as an input text image; wherein the document image management operation is a digital signature verification operation; and wherein the data related to the content-specific text image is digital signature data indicating a digital signature for the content-specific text image; the document image management operation using the input text image and the digital signature data to authenticate the content-specific text image.

Claim 6

The method of claim 2 wherein the content-specific text image is received as an input text image; wherein the document image management operation is a document authentication operation for authenticating an authorized sender of the content-specific text image; and wherein the data related to the content-specific text image is encrypted data encrypted using a private key in possession of the authorized sender; the document image management operation using the input text image, a public key paired with the private key and the encrypted data to decrypt the encrypted data in order to authenticate the authorized sender of the content-specific text image.

Claim 7

The method of claim 2 wherein image definition data defining the content-specific text image is provided by the signal source with the iconic image and is stored by the processor in the memory device; and wherein the data related to the content-specific text image is content data related to the information content of the content-specific text image; the document image management operation using the content data to perform the operation using the content-specific text image.

Claim 8

The method of claim 6 wherein the document image management operation is a character recognition operation; and wherein the content data related to the information content of the content-specific text image indicates data for use in performing the character recognition operation on the content-specific text image.

Claim 9

The method of claim 2 wherein the iconic image is a document surrogate for the content-specific text image; the iconic image being used independently from the original content specific text image to represent the content-specific text image; the data related to the content-specific text image including identification data indicating identifying information about the content-specific text image.

Claim 10

The method of claim 1 for operating a processor-controlled machine to perform a document image management operation wherein the original text image represented by the iconic image is a content-specific text image stored in a memory device; and wherein the binary data embedded in the rectangular blocks and produced by the decoding operation indicates operation parameter data related to the document image management operation; the document image management operation performing an operation using the content-specific text image stored in the memory device; the document image management operation using the operation parameter data in performing the operation.

Claim 11

The method of claim 9 wherein the document image management operation is a distribution operation controlling distribution of the content-specific text image; and wherein the operation parameter data indicates an authorized destination of the content-specific text image.

Claim 12

The method of claim 1 for operating a processor-controlled machine to perform a document image management operation wherein the iconic image represents a non-specific text image indicating a class of document images; and wherein the binary data embedded in the rectangular blocks and produced by the decoding operation indicates operation parameter data related to the document image management operation; the document image management operation performing an operation using a respective one of the document images in the class of document images; the document management operation using the operation parameter data in performing the operation.

Claim 13

An article of manufacture for use in a machine that includes a memory device for storing data; a storage medium access device for accessing a medium that stores data; and a processor connected for accessing the data stored in the memory device and for receiving data from the storage medium access device; the article comprising: a data storage medium that can be accessed by the storage medium access device when the article is used in the machine; and data stored in the data storage medium so that the storage medium access device can provide the stored data to the processor when the article is used in the machine; the stored data comprising instruction data indicating instructions the processor can execute; the processor, in executing the instructions, receiving image definition data defining an input iconic image from the image signal source; the input iconic image having an appearance to a human viewer of a reduced-size version of an original text image; the input iconic image including at least one image region including image definition data defining a plurality of rectangular blocks each having a foreground color and arranged in horizontal lines separated vertically by image regions of a background color such that the rectangular blocks have the appearance of representing text in the original text image; the image definition data defining each rectangular block, referred to as an encoded data block, having a characteristic property that represents a portion of the binary data; the processor, further in executing the instructions, performing a decoding operation using the image definition data defining the plurality of rectangular blocks to produce the binary data encoded therein; the processor, still further in executing the instructions, performing a document image management operation using the binary data produced by the decoding operation.

Claim 14

An article of manufacture for use in a machine that includes a memory device for storing data; a storage medium access device for accessing a medium that stores data; and a processor connected for accessing the data stored in the memory device and for receiving data from the storage medium access device; the article comprising: a data storage medium that can be accessed by the storage medium access device when the article is used in the machine; and data stored in the data storage medium so that the storage medium access device can provide the stored data to the processor when the article is used in the machine; the stored data comprising instruction data indicating instructions the processor can execute; the processor, in executing the instructions, receiving image definition data defining an input iconic image from the image signal source; the input iconic image having an appearance to a human viewer of a reduced-size version of an original text image; the input iconic image including at least one image region including image definition data defining a plurality of rectangular blocks each having a foreground color and arranged in horizontal lines separated vertically by image regions of a background color such that the rectangular blocks have the appearance of representing text in the original text image; the image definition data defining each rectangular block, referred to as an encoded data block, having a characteristic property that represents a portion of the binary data; the processor, further in executing the instructions, performing a decoding operation using the image definition data defining the plurality of rectangular blocks to produce the binary data encoded therein; the processor, still further in executing the instructions, performing a document image management operation using the binary data produced by the decoding operation.