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US5850474A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Apparatus and method for segmenting and classifying image data

Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1996-07-26
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Granted: 1998-12-15
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Expires: 2016-07-26
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Abstract

Abstract A method and apparatus for segmenting image data into windows and for classifying the windows as typical image types includes making two passes through the image data. The method includes a step of making a first pass through the image data to identify windows and to record the beginning points and image types of each of the windows, and a step of making a second pass through the image data to label each of the pixels as a particular image type. The invention also includes a macro-detection method and apparatus for separating a scanline of image data into edges and image runs and for classifying each of the edges and image runs as standard image types. In the macro-detection method, image runs and edges are classified based on micro-detection results and based on image types of adjacent image runs.

Inventors

  • 👤 Zhigang Fan
  • 👤 Kathy Ryall
  • 👤 Jeng-Nan Shiau
  • 👤 Shriram Revankar

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 11:29
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06V; G06V30/00; G06V30/40; G06V30/41; G06V30/413

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 145 words
A computer implemented method of segmenting and classifying image data, the image data comprising a plurality of scanlines of pixel data, comprising the steps of: performing a first pass through the image data to identify at least one window and to determine an image type of the image data within each at least one window, including performing micro-detection to identify intensity edge pixels, performing macro-detection to identify at least one image run in each scanline, identifying at least one window comprising image runs of at least two scanlines, and classifying each at least one window as containing a single image type or as containing mixed image types; recording solely the beginning point and the image type of each at least one window; and performing a second pass through the image data to label each pixel of the image data as being a particular image type.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 145 words
A computer implemented method of segmenting and classifying image data, the image data comprising a plurality of scanlines of pixel data, comprising the steps of: performing a first pass through the image data to identify at least one window and to determine an image type of the image data within each at least one window, including performing micro-detection to identify intensity edge pixels, performing macro-detection to identify at least one image run in each scanline, identifying at least one window comprising image runs of at least two scanlines, and classifying each at least one window as containing a single image type or as containing mixed image types; recording solely the beginning point and the image type of each at least one window; and performing a second pass through the image data to label each pixel of the image data as being a particular image type.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 93 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of performing a second pass through the image data comprises the steps of: performing micro-detection to identify intensity edge pixels; performing macro-detection to identify at least one image run in each scanline; identifying at least one window comprising image runs of at least two scanlines; and determining, based on results of micro-detection and macro-detection steps performed during the second pass, the image type of any portions of the image data that are within a window classified as containing mixed image types during the first pass.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 172 words
An apparatus for segmenting and classifying image data, the image data comprising a plurality of scanlines of pixel data, the apparatus comprising: means for performing a first pass through the image data to identify at least one window and to determine an image type of the image data within each at least one window, including means for performing micro-detection to identify any intensity edge pixels, means for performing macro-detection to identify at least one image run in each scanline, means for identifying at least one window comprising image runs of at least two scanlines, and means for classifying each at least one window as containing a single image type or as containing mixed image types; memory means for recording solely the beginning point and the image type of each at least one window and for recording solely an image type of each pixel of the image data; and means for performing a second pass through the image data to label each pixel of the image data as being a particular image type.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 172 words
An apparatus for segmenting and classifying image data, the image data comprising a plurality of scanlines of pixel data, the apparatus comprising: means for performing a first pass through the image data to identify at least one window and to determine an image type of the image data within each at least one window, including means for performing micro-detection to identify any intensity edge pixels, means for performing macro-detection to identify at least one image run in each scanline, means for identifying at least one window comprising image runs of at least two scanlines, and means for classifying each at least one window as containing a single image type or as containing mixed image types; memory means for recording solely the beginning point and the image type of each at least one window and for recording solely an image type of each pixel of the image data; and means for performing a second pass through the image data to label each pixel of the image data as being a particular image type.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 98 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the means for performing a second pass through the image data comprises: means for performing micro-detection to identify intensity edge pixels; means for performing macro-detection to identify at least one image run in each scanline; means for identifying at least one window comprising image runs of at least two scanlines; and means for determining, based on results of micro-detection and macro-detection steps performed during a second pass, the image type of any portions of the image data that are within a window classified as containing mixed image types during the first pass.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5073953A Cited
US5280367A Cited
US5293430A Cited
US5285504A Cited
US5359673A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2001-12-14 2002-06-15 2002-12-15 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2005-12-14 2006-06-15 2006-12-15 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2009-12-14 2010-06-15 2010-12-15 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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