Patent US6134565A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6134565A
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Apparatus and method for extracting operator selected articles from a plurality of articles within an image of a document
Assignee: Canon Production Printing Netherlands BV
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Filing: 1996-06-28
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Granted: 2000-10-17
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Expires: 2016-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A device for identifying at least one article within an image of a document, the document including plural articles, with each article including one or more objects. The device performs a first step in which the image is analyzed as to its layout to distinguish text blocks, titles, photographs and graphic elements. In a second step, the device assembles objects into groups by successive application of rules concerning their type and their mutual positioning. The image is displayed on a screen and an operator can select an article, can have the objects automatically re-arranged by the device in a form specified by him, and can have the article printed separately from the other articles in the document.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederik Johan Hommersom
- 👤 Karen Janine Hanse
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:22
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T11/00; G06T11/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A method, for selecting at least one of a plurality of articles within an image of a document, comprising: receiving an image of a document; automatically segmenting said image into elementary objects; automatically grouping said elementary objects into non-read-sequenced articles; presenting said image having said non-read-sequenced articles to said operator; receiving a selection of at least one of said non-read-sequenced articles by said operator; and automatically determining a read sequence of the at least one selected non-read-sequenced article to produce at least one read-sequenced article.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
85 words
A method, for selecting at least one of a plurality of articles within an image of a document, comprising: receiving an image of a document; automatically segmenting said image into elementary objects; automatically grouping said elementary objects into non-read-sequenced articles; presenting said image having said non-read-sequenced articles to said operator; receiving a selection of at least one of said non-read-sequenced articles by said operator; and automatically determining a read sequence of the at least one selected non-read-sequenced article to produce at least one read-sequenced article.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein each of said elementary objects is analyzed at least in terms of a positional relationship relative to another one of said elementary objects.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 2, wherein every possible combination of two of said elementary objects is analyzed at least in terms of a positional relationship therebetween.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of automatically grouping includes: initially categorizing each elementary object as one of said non-read-sequenced articles via said analyzing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 1, further including: enabling said operator to select an entire non-read-sequenced article using a point-and-select device to point to a portion of any one of the elementary objects included therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 1, further including: exporting, to an output device, at least one article corresponding to said selection, separately from the rest of the image.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein elementary objects in a non-read-sequenced article have initial placements relative to one another; the method further comprising: automatically rearranging the initial placements of elementary objects in a read-sequenced article while preserving the read sequence.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 7, wherein the step of automatically rearranging responds to an operator's specification for the rearrangement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 7, wherein the step of rearranging: stacks elementary objects vertically.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 7, wherein the step of rearranging: divides an elementary object into parts; and places the parts at different positions, respectively.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein: an elementary object corresponds to one of a text block, a title, a photograph, and a graphic element.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
107 words
An apparatus, for selecting at least one of a plurality of articles within an image of a document, comprising: a receiving unit to receive an image of a document; a segmentation unit to automatically segment said image into elementary objects; a grouping unit to automatically group said elementary objects into non-read-sequenced articles; an interface unit to present said image having said non-read-sequenced articles to an operator and to receive a selection of at least one of said non-read-sequenced articles by said operator; and a sequencing unit to automatically determine a read sequence of the at least one selected non-read-sequenced article to produce at least one read-sequenced article.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
107 words
An apparatus, for selecting at least one of a plurality of articles within an image of a document, comprising: a receiving unit to receive an image of a document; a segmentation unit to automatically segment said image into elementary objects; a grouping unit to automatically group said elementary objects into non-read-sequenced articles; an interface unit to present said image having said non-read-sequenced articles to an operator and to receive a selection of at least one of said non-read-sequenced articles by said operator; and a sequencing unit to automatically determine a read sequence of the at least one selected non-read-sequenced article to produce at least one read-sequenced article.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said segmentation unit is operable to analyze each of said elementary objects in terms of a positional relationship relative to another one of said elementary objects.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said segmentation unit is operable to analyze every possible combination of two of said elementary objects in terms of a positional relationship therebetween.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said grouping unit is operable to initially categorize each elementary object as one of said non-read-sequenced articles via said analyzing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said interface unit is operable to enable said operator to select an entire non-read-sequenced article using a point-and-select device to point to a portion of any one of the elementary objects included therein.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus according to claim 12, further including: an export unit to export, to an output device, at least one article corresponding to said selection, separately from the rest of the image.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein elementary objects in a non-read-sequenced article have initial placements relative to one another; the apparatus further comprising: a rearrangement unit to automatically rearrange the initial placements of elementary objects in a read-sequenced article while preserving the read sequence.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the rearrangement unit responds to an operator's specification for the rearrangement.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the rearrangement unit: stacks elementary objects vertically.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the rearrangement unit: divides an elementary object into parts; and places the parts at different positions, respectively.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein: an elementary object corresponds to one of a text block, a title, a photograph, and a graphic element.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
118 words
A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium, for selecting at least one of a plurality of articles within an image of a document, comprising: a receiving code segment to receive an image of a document; a segmentation code segment to automatically segment said image into elementary objects; a grouping code segment to automatically group said elementary objects into non-read-sequenced articles; an interface code segment to present said image having said non-read-sequenced articles to an operator and to receive a selection of at least one of said non-read-sequenced articles by said operator; and a sequencing code segment to automatically determine a read sequence of the at least one selected non-read-sequenced article to produce at least one read-sequenced article.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
118 words
A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium, for selecting at least one of a plurality of articles within an image of a document, comprising: a receiving code segment to receive an image of a document; a segmentation code segment to automatically segment said image into elementary objects; a grouping code segment to automatically group said elementary objects into non-read-sequenced articles; an interface code segment to present said image having said non-read-sequenced articles to an operator and to receive a selection of at least one of said non-read-sequenced articles by said operator; and a sequencing code segment to automatically determine a read sequence of the at least one selected non-read-sequenced article to produce at least one read-sequenced article.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer-readable-medium-embodied program of claim 23, wherein said interface code segment is operable to present said at least one read-sequenced article separately from said image.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
The computer-readable-medium-embodied program according to claim 23, further including: an export code segment to export, to an output device, at least one article corresponding to said selection, separately from the rest of the image.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
The computer-readable-medium-embodied program of claim 23, wherein said segmentation code segment is operable to analyze each of said elementary objects at least in terms of a positional relationship relative to another one of said elementary objects.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer-readable-medium-embodied program of claim 26, wherein said segmentation code segment is operable to analyze every possible combination of two of said elementary objects at least in terms of a positional relationship therebetween.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer-readable-medium-embodied program according to claim 23, wherein said grouping code segment is operable to initially categorize each elementary object as one of said non-read-sequenced articles via said analyzing.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
42 words
The computer-readable-medium-embodied program according to claim 23, wherein said interface code segment is operable to enable said operator to select an entire non-read-sequenced article using a point-and-select device to point to a portion of any one of the elementary objects included therein.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
48 words
The computer-readable-medium-embodied program according to claim 23, wherein elementary objects in a non-read-sequenced article have initial placements relative to one another; the computer-readable-medium-embodied program further comprising: a rearrangement code segment to automatically rearrange the initial placements of elementary objects in a read-sequenced article while preserving the read sequence.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer-readable-medium-embodied program according to claim 30, wherein the rearrangement code segment responds to an operator's specification for the rearrangement.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer-readable-medium-embodied program according to claim 30, wherein the rearrangement code segment: stacks elementary objects vertically.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer-readable-medium-embodied program according to claim 30, wherein the rearrangement code segment: divides an elementary object into parts; and places the parts at different positions, respectively.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer-readable-medium-embodied program according to claim 23, wherein: an elementary object corresponds to one of a text block, a title, a photograph, and a graphic element.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4907285A
Cited
US5185813A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-10-17 | 2004-04-17 | 2004-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-10-17 | 2008-04-17 | 2008-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-10-17 | 2012-04-17 | 2012-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |