Unisys Corporation

Robert D Klein

George E Reasoner, Jr

David C Williams

Debora Y Grosse

Michael J Higgins-Luthman

Robert C Kidd

Robert D'Aoust

Craig F Lapan

Joseph M Capo

Karen A Wilds

Robert Chihsung Yen

Ravi K Nigam

Charles Martin Zalinski

Kevin F Jennings

Deborah Y Grosse

Antonette M Roppo

Audrey A Brennan

A document processing system comprising an image capture subsystem for capturing selected image metrics and at least one image rendition from a plurality of documents and for determining if at least one of the selected image metrics for any of the at least one image rendition does not successfully compare against preselected image quality metric threshold values. An image quality flag is generated for any of the at least one image rendition if it does not successfully compare, and a record entry for each imaged document having at least one flagged image rendition is created in an image quality flag file. An image index file for individually accessing the image renditions is modified to include a reference to the corresponding image quality flag file record entry The document processing system may optionally compare selected document metrics against preselected document metrics in a similar manner. Image defects in the plurality of documents can be identified by examining the record entries in the image quality flag file.

Document processing system with improved image quality assurance

An image quality assurance method for identifying image defects in a plurality of previously-imaged documents, where each previously-imaged document includes at least one image rendition stored in at least one image rendition file according to type of image rendition. The image renditions are analyzed to provide selected image metrics, the latter of which are compared against preselected image quality metric threshold values. An image quality flag is generated for any image rendition if at least one of the selected image metrics for that image rendition does not successfully compare against the preselected image quality metric threshold values. A record entry is created in an image quality flag file for those documents having at least one flagged image rendition, the record entry including information about the selected image metrics of the at least one flagged image rendition for that imaged document. Image defects in a plurality of imaged documents can be identified by examining the record entries in the image quality flag file.

Image quality assurance system and methodologies in a post-image capture document processing environment

An image quality assurance method for identifying image defects in a plurality of imaged documents, where each imaged document includes at least one image rendition. The image renditions are analyzed to provide selected image metrics, the latter of which are compared against preselected image quality metric threshold values. An image quality flag is generated for any image rendition if at least one of the selected image metrics for that image rendition does not successfully compare against the preselected image quality metric threshold values. A record entry is created in an image quality flag file for those documents having at least one flagged image rendition, the record entry including information about the selected image metrics of the at least one flagged image rendition for that imaged document. Image defects in a plurality of imaged documents can be identified by examining the record entries in the image quality flag file.

Image quality assurance systems and methodologies for improving the identification of and access speed to image quality suspects in documents

A discrete transform image data compression system in which frequency transform coefficients are modified in accordance with a matrix of quantizer values employs a predefined plurality of quantization matrices to adaptively select, on a document-by-document basis, an approximate memory packet size for each document's compressed image data storage by selecting one of the plurality of quantization matrices in accordance with the packet size estimate obtained for each document image. Additionally, the system employs generation of contrast reduction and gray level stretch remapping curves as a function of global image data characteristics, such as a gray level histogram of the document image data. The remapping curves are utilized to preprocess the image data for more effective data compression.

Document image compression system and method

A pipelined image processor generates an image of the information contained on first and second portions of a document. The pipelined image processor includes a first pipe for processing information contained on the first portion of the document, and second pipe for processing information contained on the second portion of the document. The pipes receive the output from two camera assemblies which are used for generating an electrical signal in response to information contained on the document, an image digitizer for generating digitized information from the electrical signal by the means for generating an electrical signal. In addition, both pipes also include a resequencer for generating resequenced information from the digitized information, as well as an image processor for generating processed information from the resequenced information. Finally, the first and second pipes include a transposer/compressor assembly for generating transposed and compressed information from the processed information, and a compressed data buffer for storing the transposed and compressed information.

Parallel pipelined image processor

A method of generating a remapping function for use in converting near-photographic document image pixel gray level data lying in a first range of gray level values to higher contrast, background-suppressed pixel gray level data lying in a second more limited gray level range. Global document information, such as a histogram of all the document's original pixels, is used to generate at least one threshold gray level value and to determine the shape of the remapping function on either side of the threshold. Preferably, the remapping function is implemented by a look-up table addressed in accordance with the original pixel data.

Method for adaptively thresholding grayscale image data

An application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) provides sufficient information about the size of the image, as well as pixel data, to permit a scaling processor to change the size of the image for further processing.

Method and apparatus for scaling image data

A digital image preprocessing method for eliminating background patterns and scenes from digitized gray level document image data. The method accepts multi-gray level image data as input and produces a gray level output image containing a 'white' background. Document image backgrounds are eliminated (or suppressed) by computing a separate (and typically different) threshold value for each gray level pixel of the original document image. Input image pixels whose gray level is greater (brighter) than the threshold value are assumed to be background picture data and are modified to be 'white' pixels in the output image. The pixel threshold value is determined dynamically pixel-to-pixel based on gray level pixel data observed within the input image. Additionally, the pixel threshold can be automatically controlled to insure retention of written and/or printed information present in the input image. Threshold control is accomplished by specifying a print contrast signal (PCS) parameter to the image preprocessing method. Documents which might use this preprocessing technique include, but are not limited to, bank checks, remittance documents, charge card slips, deposit slips and similar type financial documents.

Method for background suppression in an image data processing system

An image data processor including various subprocessors arranged in a pipeline for carrying out functions such as pixel normalization, background suppression, spot and void removal, image scaling, and size detection.

Image data processor

A method and apparatus featuring the compression and decompression of the video image data on a single application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which utilizes typical Huffman coding techniques, but which defines a run count generally as a plurality of zeros between each pair of ones and which further uses a prediction window having substantially no directional biasing errors associated therewith. Additionally, the compression/decompression apparatus of this invention utilizes a reordering technique whereby all of the 'high confidence' predictions are placed in one end of the buffer and all the 'low confidence' predictions are placed in another end of the same buffer. This reordering, together with the unbiased window configuration and associated run length count definition, allows for high efficiency lossless compression and decompression of associated image data.

Method and apparatus for lossless compression and decompression of image

Apparatus for processing digitized images which contain useful image formation data and background features a background supression scheme used to convert each pixel value to preselected values in a smaller range in order to facilitate data processing such as compression and scaling. Provision is made for generating an adaptive or dynamic threshold value, as well as a much more stable background reference threshold value.

Method and apparatus for effecting background suppression of image data

An application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) allows for the transposition, compression, and decompression of acquired image video data. The transposition process associated with this ASIC provides for the reordering of received vertically scanned segments of acquired image data into horizontal rows and provides for the deleting of overscan and underscan pixel data associated with each of the vertically scanned segments of acquired data. This transposed data is then compressed. Alternatively, the application specific integrated circuit of this invention provides for the decompression of previously compressed data.

Apparatus for image data transposition and compression/decompression

Apparatus for filtering digital image data which is initially presented in the form of an array of multi-bit pixels having plural scale values. Threshold means are provided for converting the scale value pixels to an array of binary pixels in which each pixel is associated with either background or image formation data. Patterns of neighboring pixels are examined and used to transform a center pixel in the window as a function of the detected pattern in a manner to remove isolated spots or voids from the image data.

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Farmington Hills, MI, United States of America

Robert D Klein