International Business Machines Corporation

Rodney Gene Moon

Gerald C Rector

Ravinder Prakash

Clair Frederick Rohe

Madhura Sathe

Ravi Prakash

Geoffrey A Emerson

Andrew H Sutton

Philip Ridgway

Raymond F Stokes

Robert William Kruppa

Michael A Duncan

John R Hillery

Christine A Fellows

Bina M Hallman

A system and method for comparing digital images, such as checks images used by banks, includes receiving and processing the images to be compared, including scaling the images to a common resolution, as well as filtering them to remove spot noise, background pels, and other non-information carrying elements. One or more regions of each image are selected for comparison. The selected regions are compared to one another by subtracting the pels of one image from the other's pels. A determination is made of whether the two or more images are duplicates of one another, or depict a substantially identical subject, based on the results of the subtractions. Furthermore, the amount of filtering and scaling may be adjusted to enhance the effects of the system to take advantage of common characteristics that may be known or detected in a particular set of images to be compared.

Duplicate check image resolution

Performing a comparison between two images which are scaled to a common resolution

A system and method for applying an endorsement to an electronic image of a bank check. A system is described that includes: an imaging system for generating an endorsement image representing an action taken relative to processing the bank check; a halftone system for converting the endorsement image into a digitally halftoned endorsement image; and a positioning system for placing the digitally halftoned endorsement image onto the electronic image of the bank check.

Electronic endorsement of check images

A gray scale image cleaning algorithm for improved check code line OCR. An image processing system for processing a gray scale image is provided that includes: a system for generating a first thresholded black white image from the gray scale image; a system for generating a second thresholded black white image from the gray scale image, wherein the second thresholded black white image is generated with a higher threshold value than the first thresholded black white image; and a system for logically combining the first and second thresholded black white images to generate a composite image.

Gray scale image cleaning system and method

A document processing system and method for using image quality to sort documents. The document processing system comprises: a document sorting system that designates a destination pocket for each document based on data gathered from each document; a document imaging system that captures an image of each document; and an image quality analysis system that analyzes each image and causes any document having an unacceptable image to be redirected to an unacceptable destination pocket.

System and method of sorting document images based on image quality

A system and method for adaptive and predictive analysis of sensor readings to track documents in a document processing system. The system comprises: a plurality of sensors for sensing a document, wherein each sensor includes an associated filtering system for filtering sensor readings, and a performance tracking system for collecting performance data; and a control system that and adjusts filtering characteristics of the filtering system based on the collected performance data. In addition, a correlation system is provided for using data from at least one upstream sensor to interpret an ambiguous downstream sensor signal.

Adaptive and predictive document tracking system

A system for determining the image resolution of a check image using MICR characters. The disclosed system includes an extracting system for extracting a magnetic ink code recognition (MICR) code line from the document image, wherein the extracting system provides coordinate values for each of a plurality of MICR characters in the MICR code line; a calculating system for calculating a set of resolution values based on the coordinate values of the MICR characters; and a statistical analysis system that calculates a representative resolution value from the set of resolution values.

System for determining image resolution using MICR characters

A system and method for determining the image resolution of a check image using MICR characters. The disclosed system includes an extracting system for extracting a magnetic ink code recognition (MICR) code line from the document image, wherein the extracting system provides coordinate values for each of a plurality of MICR characters in the MICR code line; a calculating system for calculating a set of resolution values based on the coordinate values of the MICR characters; and a statistical analysis system that calculates a representative resolution value from the set of resolution values.

System and method for determining image resolution using MICR characters

A character recognition system and method. The system comprises an (OCR) optical character reader system for collecting character data by electro-optically scanning printed characters; a conversion system for converting the character data to a Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) format; and a recognition engine for interpreting the converted character data using a MICR algorithm.

MICR-based optical character recognition system and method

A system which provides a continuous indication of the operating integrity, of an entire image capture and processing system without the need for interfering with document throughput or the need for special paper test documents to be inserted into the scanning path. The system monitors performance from document presentation and scanner output, through image processing. It schedules maintenance of the system on an actual as needed basis. It continuously collects and monitors the imaging characteristics from work documents being processed and calculates a projected date at which maintenance will be required in order to retain system operating integrity. Minimum and maximum video values are collected from the output of each picture element sensor for each document. A running indication of system integrity is stored in a white trend array and a black trend array. These arrays are adjusted after an interval of time or one or more documents have been processed. The change in value of a trend array element depends upon whether the change indicated by the processing of the previous document indicates a deterioration of performance or a return to acceptable performance by the image capture system. After a further interval, the arrays are shifted in parallel to develop a maximum trend and a minimum trend for each picture element.

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Charlotte, NC, United States of America

Rodney Gene Moon