US6240205B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for segmenting and classifying image data
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1998-06-18
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Granted: 2001-05-29
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Expires: 2018-06-18
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 18:54
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06V; G06V30/00; G06V30/40; G06V30/41; G06V30/413
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A macro-detection method for segmenting and classifying a scanline of image data contained in an image page, the scanline of image data comprising a plurality of pixels, the method comprising the steps of: evaluating each pixel of the scanline of image data, and segmenting the scanline into at least one image run and at least one edge pixel, each image run being bordered by (i) an edge pixel at each end of the image run or (ii) an edge pixel at one end of the image run and a page edge of the image page at another end of the image run; determining at least one image type of each at least one image run; and performing cleanup procedures to determine an image type of each at least one edge pixel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
A macro-detection method for segmenting and classifying a scanline of image data contained in an image page, the scanline of image data comprising a plurality of pixels, the method comprising the steps of: evaluating each pixel of the scanline of image data, and segmenting the scanline into at least one image run and at least one edge pixel, each image run being bordered by (i) an edge pixel at each end of the image run or (ii) an edge pixel at one end of the image run and a page edge of the image page at another end of the image run; determining at least one image type of each at least one image run; and performing cleanup procedures to determine an image type of each at least one edge pixel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The macro-detection method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining a confidence factor for the determined at least one image type of each at least one image run.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
The macro-detection method of claim 2 , wherein the step of determining at least one image type of each at least one image run comprises determining at least one image type of each at least one image run based on micro-detection results for the at least one image run and based on an image type and a confidence factor of an adjacent image run of an adjacent scanline.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The macro-detection method of claim 2 , wherein the step of performing cleanup procedures further comprises re-determining at least one image type of an image run having a low confidence factor based on micro-detection results for the image run and based on an image type of a neighboring image run.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The macro-detection method of claim 1 , wherein the step of performing cleanup procedures comprises determining an image type of a vertical edge based on micro-detection results for the vertical edge and based on an image type of at least one neighboring image run of the scanline.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The macro-detection method of claim 1 , wherein the step of performing cleanup procedures comprises determining an image type of a horizontal edge based on micro-detection results for the horizontal edge and based on an image type of a neighboring segment of an adjacent scanline.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
145 words
An apparatus that performs a macro-detection operation to segment and classify a scanline of image data contained in an image page, the scanline of image data comprising a plurality of pixels, the method comprising: a segmenting block that evaluates each pixel of the scanline of image data and segments the scanline into at least one image run and at least one edge pixel, each image run being bordered by (i) an edge pixel at each end of the image run or (ii) an edge pixel at one end of the image run and a g edge of the image page at another end of the image run; a classifying block that determines at least one image type of each at least one image run; and a cleanup procedures block that performs cleanup procedures to determine an image type of each at least one edge pixel.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
145 words
An apparatus that performs a macro-detection operation to segment and classify a scanline of image data contained in an image page, the scanline of image data comprising a plurality of pixels, the method comprising: a segmenting block that evaluates each pixel of the scanline of image data and segments the scanline into at least one image run and at least one edge pixel, each image run being bordered by (i) an edge pixel at each end of the image run or (ii) an edge pixel at one end of the image run and a g edge of the image page at another end of the image run; a classifying block that determines at least one image type of each at least one image run; and a cleanup procedures block that performs cleanup procedures to determine an image type of each at least one edge pixel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising a confidence factor block that determines a confidence factor for the determined at least one image type of each at least one image run.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the classifying block determines at least one image type of each at least one image run based on micro-detection results for the at least one image run and based on an image type and a confidence factor of an adjacent image run of an adjacent scanline.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the cleanup procedures block redetermiines at least one image type of an image run having a low confidence factor based on micro-detection results for the image run and based on an image type of at least one neighboring image run of the scanline.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the cleanup procedures block determines an image type of a vertical edge based on micro-detection results for the vertical edge and based on an image type of a neighboring left or right image run.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the cleanup procedures block determines an image type of a horizontal edge based on micro-detection results for the horizontal edge and based on an image type of a neighboring segment of an adjacent scanline.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for segmenting and classifying a scanline of image data, the scanline of image data comprising a plurality of pixels, the method comprising: evaluating each pixel of the scanline of image data to determine if any edge pixels are present in the scanline; segmenting the scanline into N+1 image runs when a number of edge pixels determined to be present is N; determining at least one image type of each image run based on micro-detection results; and performing cleanup procedures to determine an image type of each of the edge pixels determined to be present.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for segmenting and classifying a scanline of image data, the scanline of image data comprising a plurality of pixels, the method comprising: evaluating each pixel of the scanline of image data to determine if any edge pixels are present in the scanline; segmenting the scanline into N+1 image runs when a number of edge pixels determined to be present is N; determining at least one image type of each image run based on micro-detection results; and performing cleanup procedures to determine an image type of each of the edge pixels determined to be present.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of evaluating includes determining whether a pixel has an intensity different from an adjacent pixel by at least a predetermined amount.
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) | 2004-05-28 | 2004-11-27 | 2005-05-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-05-28 | 2008-11-27 | 2009-05-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-05-28 | 2012-11-27 | 2013-05-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |