US6144461A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for generating rendering tags to facilitate the printing of antialiased images
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1998-03-23
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Granted: 2000-11-07
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Expires: 2018-03-23
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is a method for antialiased tagging (AAT) applied coincident with an antialiasing operation. First, tagging methods for identifying antialiased pixels are described, the methods being employed separately or in concert with one another and focusing on pixels having a plurality of neighboring pixels that are near the extremes of the range of pixel levels (e.g. saturation and background). After tagging antialiased pixels, a preferred rendering method is optionally determined and is optionally included with the antialiased tagging information. Once tagged, said tag including the preferred rendering method, the pixel data and tag are then passed to a rendering processor and placed into a form suitable for binary printing.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter A. Crean
- 👤 Robert P. Loce
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:45
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06T; G06T5/00; G06T5/20; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0002; G06K2215/004; G06K2215/0054; G06K2215/0057
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
In a system for processing document images including both text/line art regions, and pictorial regions, a method for antialiasing segments of the image, including the steps of: receiving the document image; applying an anti-aliasing filter to text/line art regions within the image, to modify the image in a manner that suppresses aliasing effects; coincidentally identifying those pixels modified by the antialiasing filter; and providing a digital tag including at least a single bit of information for the identified pixels, said digital tag being detectable in a subsequent processing operation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
In a system for processing document images including both text/line art regions, and pictorial regions, a method for antialiasing segments of the image, including the steps of: receiving the document image; applying an anti-aliasing filter to text/line art regions within the image, to modify the image in a manner that suppresses aliasing effects; coincidentally identifying those pixels modified by the antialiasing filter; and providing a digital tag including at least a single bit of information for the identified pixels, said digital tag being detectable in a subsequent processing operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1, further including the step of suggesting, as a function of pixels neighboring the identified pixels, a rendering technique so as to appropriately render the identified pixels, wherein the digital tag includes at least one additional bit of information representing a suggested rendering technique.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 2, further including the step of applying an appropriate rendering technique for each antialiased pixel as a function of the tag.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
108 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying an antialiasing filter to text/line art regions within the image includes rendering the image as a high-resolution image, at a resolution greater than an output resolution, and where the step of coincidently identifying those pixels modified by the antialiasing filter, comprises the steps of: superimposing an output resolution structure on the high-resolution image to identify those high-resolution pixels associated with a particular output resolution pixel; determining whether the high-resolution pixels associated with a particular output pixel are all near an extreme of the range of possible pixel levels; and if so, identifying the pixel as an antialiased pixel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the extreme of the range of possible pixel levels is that portion of the range within about 15 percent of an extreme point.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the extreme point is a maximum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the extreme point is a minimum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of coincidently identifying those pixels modified by the antialiasing filter, comprises the steps of tagging an output pixel as antialiased as a function of the fractional area coverage of the pixel before being processed for rendering.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
102 words
In a printing system, having a digital front end for processing document images including both text/line art regions, and pictorial regions, a method for antialiasing segments of the image, including the steps of: receiving the document image for printing on a medium; applying an antialiasing filter to text/line art regions within the image, to modify the image in a manner that suppresses aliasing effects present therein; coincidentally identifying those pixels modified by the antialiasing filter; and providing a digital tag including at least a single bit of information for the identified pixels, said digital tag being detectable in a subsequent processing operation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
102 words
In a printing system, having a digital front end for processing document images including both text/line art regions, and pictorial regions, a method for antialiasing segments of the image, including the steps of: receiving the document image for printing on a medium; applying an antialiasing filter to text/line art regions within the image, to modify the image in a manner that suppresses aliasing effects present therein; coincidentally identifying those pixels modified by the antialiasing filter; and providing a digital tag including at least a single bit of information for the identified pixels, said digital tag being detectable in a subsequent processing operation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 9, further including the step of suggesting, as a function of pixels neighboring the identified pixels, a rendering technique so as to appropriately render the identified pixels, wherein the digital tag includes at least one additional bit of information representing a suggested rendering technique.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 10, further including the step of applying an appropriate rendering technique for each antialiased pixel as a function of the tag.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
108 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the step of applying an antialiasing filter to text/line art regions within the image includes rendering the image as a high-resolution image, at a resolution greater than an output resolution, and where the step of coincidently identifying those pixels modified by the antialiasing filter, comprises the steps of: superimposing an output resolution structure on the high-resolution image to identify those high-resolution pixels associated with a particular output resolution pixel; determining whether the high-resolution pixels associated with a particular output pixel are all near an extreme of the range of possible pixel levels; and if so, identifying the pixel as an antialiased pixel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the extreme of the range of possible pixel levels is that portion of the range within about 15 percent of an extreme point.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the extreme point is a maximum.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the extreme point is a minimum.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the step of coincidently identifying those pixels modified by the antialiasing filter, comprises the steps of tagging an output pixel as antialiased as a function of the fractional area coverage of the pixel before being processed for rendering.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
84 words
A system for processing digital document images including both text/line art regions, and pictorial regions, including: an image source for supplying the digital document image; an anti-aliasing filter to the text/line art regions within the digital document image and modify the image in a manner that suppresses aliasing effects; an antialiased pixel tagger for coincidently identifying those pixels modified by the antialiasing filter, said antialiased pixel tagger outputting an indication for the identified pixels, wherein said indication is detectable in a subsequent processing operation.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
84 words
A system for processing digital document images including both text/line art regions, and pictorial regions, including: an image source for supplying the digital document image; an anti-aliasing filter to the text/line art regions within the digital document image and modify the image in a manner that suppresses aliasing effects; an antialiased pixel tagger for coincidently identifying those pixels modified by the antialiasing filter, said antialiased pixel tagger outputting an indication for the identified pixels, wherein said indication is detectable in a subsequent processing operation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 17, further including a rendering processor, responsive to the indication, for processing the pixel and the indication to produce a rendered image suitable for output.
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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) | 2003-11-07 | 2004-05-08 | 2004-11-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-11-07 | 2008-05-08 | 2008-11-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-11-07 | 2012-05-08 | 2012-11-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |