US5867277A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Reduced resolution document storage and retrieval system
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1996-07-18
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Granted: 1999-02-02
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Expires: 2016-07-18
Abstract
Abstract A personal imaging computer system, which is connectable to and operable with a computerized local or wide area network, identifies characters in a document on which the characters are formed. The system scans the document to obtain a gray-scale image of the document, generates a binary image from the gray-scale image by comparing the gray-scale image with the threshold, segments the binary image to locate individual characters within the binary image and to determine the shape of the individual characters, extracts gray-scale image information from the gray-scale image for each such individual character based on the location and shape of the character in the binary image, recognition-processes the extracted gray scale image information to determine the identity of the character, and stores the identity of the character. The character identities are stored in a character file in association with the image so as to facilitate image retrieval with a text-based search over many such character files. Preferably, the image is not stored in its scanned-in resolution, but rather is stored at a reduced resolution so as to reduce memory storage requirements.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger D. Melen
- 👤 Harry T. Garland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:15
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/50; G06F16/58; G06F16/583; G06F16/5846; G06F16/40; G06F16/5854; G06V; G06V30/00; G06V30/10; G06V30/14; G06V30/148; G06V30/155; G06V30/16; G06V30/162
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A document storage and retrieval apparatus comprising: means for obtaining a gray-scale image of a document at a first resolution, the first resolution being suitable for optical-recognition-processing text in the document; optical-recognition-processing means for optically recognizing text in the gray-scale image and for obtaining a computer-readable file of character codes for the text; reducing means for reducing resolution of the gray-scale image to a second resolution which is low relative to the first resolution, the second resolution being suitable for visual perception and reproduction of the gray-scale image; and storing means for storing the reduced resolution gray-scale image in association with the computer-readable text file such that the reduced resolution gray-scale image may be retrieved based on a search of the text file.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
A document storage and retrieval apparatus comprising: means for obtaining a gray-scale image of a document at a first resolution, the first resolution being suitable for optical-recognition-processing text in the document; optical-recognition-processing means for optically recognizing text in the gray-scale image and for obtaining a computer-readable file of character codes for the text; reducing means for reducing resolution of the gray-scale image to a second resolution which is low relative to the first resolution, the second resolution being suitable for visual perception and reproduction of the gray-scale image; and storing means for storing the reduced resolution gray-scale image in association with the computer-readable text file such that the reduced resolution gray-scale image may be retrieved based on a search of the text file.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storing means stores the reduced resolution gray-scale image and the computer-readable text file on a computerized local area network.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising searching means for searching plural computer-readable text files based on a search query, first retrieving means for retrieving computer-readable text files that match the search query, and second retrieving means for retrieving reduced resolution gray-scale images that said storing means stored in association with the retrieved computer-readable text files.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said storing means stores the reduced resolution gray-scale image in compressed form, and further comprising decompressing means for decompressing the retrieved reduced-resolution gray-scale images prior to display or print.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising displaying means for displaying retrieved reduced-resolution gray-scale images.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising printing means for printing retrieved reduced-resolution gray-scale images.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the computer-readable text files and the reduced-resolution gray-scale images are retrieved from a computerized local area network.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reducing means lowers image resolution such that the reduced-resolution gray-scale image preserves color and gray-scale content of the original image.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for obtaining comprises scanning means for scanning the document so as to form a gray-scale image of the document.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for obtaining comprises means for retrieving the gray-scale image of the document from a computer image file.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
155 words
A document storage and retrieval apparatus comprising: a memory for storing a gray-scale image of a document at a first resolution, the first resolution being suitable for optical-recognition-processing text in the document, said memory also for storing instruction sequences by which the gray-scale image is processed; and a processor for executing the stored instruction sequences; wherein the stored instruction sequences include process steps adapted to cause said processor to (a) optical-recognition-process text in the gray-scale image so as to obtain a computer-readable file of character codes for the text, (b) reduce resolution of the gray-scale image to a second resolution which is low relative to the first resolution, the second resolution being suitable for visual perception and reproduction of the gray-scale image, and (c) store the reduced resolution gray-scale image in association with the computer-readable text file such that the reduced resolution gray-scale image may be retrieved based on a search of the text file.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
155 words
A document storage and retrieval apparatus comprising: a memory for storing a gray-scale image of a document at a first resolution, the first resolution being suitable for optical-recognition-processing text in the document, said memory also for storing instruction sequences by which the gray-scale image is processed; and a processor for executing the stored instruction sequences; wherein the stored instruction sequences include process steps adapted to cause said processor to (a) optical-recognition-process text in the gray-scale image so as to obtain a computer-readable file of character codes for the text, (b) reduce resolution of the gray-scale image to a second resolution which is low relative to the first resolution, the second resolution being suitable for visual perception and reproduction of the gray-scale image, and (c) store the reduced resolution gray-scale image in association with the computer-readable text file such that the reduced resolution gray-scale image may be retrieved based on a search of the text file.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the reduced resolution gray-scale image and the computer-readable text file are stored on a computerized local area network.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus method according to claim 11, wherein said stored instruction sequences further includes process steps to (i) search plural computer-readable text files based on a search query, (ii) retrieve computer-readable text files that match the search query, and (iii) retrieve reduced resolution gray-scale images that were stored in association with the retrieved computer-readable text files.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the reduced resolution gray-scale image is stored in compressed form, and wherein said stored instruction sequences further include a process step to decompress the retrieved reduced-resolution gray-scale images prior to display or print.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said stored instruction sequences further include process steps to display retrieved reduced-resolution gray-scale images.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said stored instruction sequences further includes process steps to print retrieved reduced-resolution gray-scale images.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the computer-readable text files and the reduced-resolution gray-scale images are retrieved from a computerized local area network.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein image resolution is lowered such that the reduced-resolution gray-scale image preserves color and gray-scale content of the original image.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a scanner for scanning the document so as to form a gray-scale image of the document.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a disk memory from which a computer image file having the gray-scale image of the document is retrieved.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
112 words
A document storage and retrieval method comprising the steps of: obtaining a gray-scale image of a document at a first resolution, the first resolution being suitable for optical-recognition-processing; optically recognizing text in the gray-scale image so as to obtain a computer-readable file of character codes for the text; reducing resolution of the gray-scale image to a second resolution which is low relative to the first resolution, the second resolution being suitable for visual perception and reproduction of the gray-scale image; and storing the reduced resolution gray-scale image in association with the computer-readable text file such that the reduced resolution gray-scale image may be retrieved based on a search of the text file.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
112 words
A document storage and retrieval method comprising the steps of: obtaining a gray-scale image of a document at a first resolution, the first resolution being suitable for optical-recognition-processing; optically recognizing text in the gray-scale image so as to obtain a computer-readable file of character codes for the text; reducing resolution of the gray-scale image to a second resolution which is low relative to the first resolution, the second resolution being suitable for visual perception and reproduction of the gray-scale image; and storing the reduced resolution gray-scale image in association with the computer-readable text file such that the reduced resolution gray-scale image may be retrieved based on a search of the text file.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 21, wherein in said storing step, the reduced resolution gray-scale image and the computer-readable text file are stored on a computerized local area network.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim 21, further comprising the steps of searching plural computer-readable text files based on a search query, retrieving computer-readable text files that match the search query, and retrieving reduced resolution gray-scale images that said storing step stored in association with the retrieved computer-readable text files.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 23, wherein in said storing step the reduced resolution gray-scale image is stored in compressed form, and further comprising the step of decompressing the retrieved reduced-resolution images prior to display or print.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of displaying retrieved reduced-resolution gray-scale images.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of printing retrieved reduced-resolution gray-scale images.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 23, wherein the computer-readable text files and the reduced-resolution gray-scale images are retrieved from a computerized local area network.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 21, wherein in said reducing step, image resolution is lowered such that the reduced-resolution gray-scale image preserves color and gray-scale content of the original image.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 21, wherein said obtaining step comprises scanning the document so as to form a gray-scale image of the document.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 21, wherein said obtaining step comprises retrieving the gray-scale image of the document from a computer image file.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
138 words
Computer-executable process steps which store and retrieve documents and which are stored on a computer readable-medium, the process steps including: an obtaining step to obtain a gray-scale image of a document at a first resolution, the first resolution being suitable for optical-recognition-processing; an optical-recognition-processing step to optically recognize text in the gray-scale image so as to obtain a computer-readable file of character codes for the text; a reducing step to reduce resolution of the gray-scale image to a second resolution which is low relative to the first resolution, the second resolution being suitable for visual perception and reproduction of the gray-scale image; and a storing step to store the reduced resolution gray-scale image in association with the computer-readable text file such that the reduced resolution gray-scale image may be retrieved based on a search of the text file.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
138 words
Computer-executable process steps which store and retrieve documents and which are stored on a computer readable-medium, the process steps including: an obtaining step to obtain a gray-scale image of a document at a first resolution, the first resolution being suitable for optical-recognition-processing; an optical-recognition-processing step to optically recognize text in the gray-scale image so as to obtain a computer-readable file of character codes for the text; a reducing step to reduce resolution of the gray-scale image to a second resolution which is low relative to the first resolution, the second resolution being suitable for visual perception and reproduction of the gray-scale image; and a storing step to store the reduced resolution gray-scale image in association with the computer-readable text file such that the reduced resolution gray-scale image may be retrieved based on a search of the text file.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
30 words
Computer-executable process steps according to claim 31, wherein in said storing step, the reduced resolution gray-scale image and the computer-readable text file are stored on a computerized local area network.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
63 words
Computer-executable process steps according to claim 31, further comprising a searching step to search plural computer-readable text files based on a search query, a first retrieving step to retrieve computer-readable text files that match the search query, and a second retrieving step to retrieve reduced resolution gray-scale images that were stored by said storing step in association with the retrieved computer-readable text files.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
40 words
Computer-executable process steps according to claim 33, wherein in said storing step the reduced resolution gray-scale image is stored in compressed form, and further comprising a decompressing step to decompress the retrieved reduced-resolution gray-scale images prior to display or print.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
18 words
Computer-executable process steps according to claim 33, further comprising a displaying step to display retrieved reduced-resolution gray-scale images.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
18 words
Computer-executable process steps according to claim 33, further comprising a printing step to print retrieved reduced-resolution gray-scale images.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
25 words
Computer-executable process steps according to claim 33, wherein the computer-readable text files and the reduced-resolution gray-scale images are retrieved from a computerized local area network.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
31 words
Computer-executable process steps according to claim 31, wherein in said reducing step, image resolution is lowered such that the reduced-resolution gray-scale image preserves color and gray-scale content of the original image.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
29 words
Computer-executable process steps according to claim 31, wherein said obtaining step comprises a scanning step to scan the document so as to form a gray-scale image of the document.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
28 words
Computer-executable process steps according to claim 31, wherein said obtaining step comprises a retrieving step to retrieve the gray-scale image of the document from a computer image file.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-02-01 | 2002-08-03 | 2003-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-02-01 | 2006-08-03 | 2007-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-02-01 | 2010-08-03 | 2011-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |