56 results about "Document imaging" patented technology

An apparatus and method for processing a captured image and, more particularly, for processing a captured image comprising a document. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprising a camera to capture documents is described. In another embodiment, a method for processing a captured image that includes a document comprises the steps of distinguishing an imaged document from its background, adjusting the captured image to reduce distortions created from use of a camera and properly orienting the document is described.

A process and system to transform a digital photograph of a text document into a scan-quality image is disclosed. By extracting the document text from the image, and analyzing visual clues from the text, a grid is constructed over the image representing the distortions in the image. Transforming the image to straighten this grid removes distortions introduced by the camera image-capture process. Variations in lighting, the extraction of text line information, and the modeling of curved lines in the image may be corrected.

A method and apparatus for detecting and correcting perspective distortion for document imaging is described. The document template of the present invention contains special markers that define the corners of the document. One of these markers, different from the others, uniquely identifies a particular corner. When an image of a document is captured and it is found to contain perspective distortion, the smallest rectangle that encloses the special markers in the captured image is calculated and geometric transforms are used to map the special markers in the captured image to the corners of the smallest rectangle. To correct for orientation errors during image capture, the captured image is rotated based on the location of the unique marker. The present invention can also provide feedback to the operator as the image is being captured. This feedback guides the operator to properly align the image reader for substantially perspective distortion-free imaging.

A document imaging system detects skew and/or size of a document. In one embodiment, a document imaging system generates scanning signals representing the documents, analyxes the scanning signals to detect one more edges of the document before the entire lenght of the document is scanned, establishes a skew angle between the detected edges and a reference orientation, and modifies the scanning signals to compensate for skew while the document is being scanned. In another embodiment, a document imaging system detects one or more edges of a document, defines a polygon having sides substantially congruent with the detected edges, and establishes the size of the document in response to the polygon.

A system and method for generating passive metadata from user interface selections at an imaging device includes an imaging device and at least one destination having at least one controllable setting. The imaging device preferably includes a document imaging system for capturing an image file, a user interface system for accepting passive data user input pertaining to the image file, a data conversion system for converting the passive data into a metadata file, and a transmission system for transmitting the image file and an associated metadata file through a network to at least one destination. The passive data affects at least one controllable setting of the destination. Passive data may be, for example, routing information, user information, file formatting instructions, and/or billing information. The present invention may also include a method for delivering documents that includes the steps of capturing an image file, accepting user input as passive data using a user interface system, converting the passive data into a metadata file, transmitting the image file and an associated metadata file through a data transmission network to a destination, and effecting at least one controllable setting of the destination according to the passive data in the metadata file.

A method and system for delivery of targeted advertisement via multifunction document imaging devices. Imaging devices used for copying, scanning, faxing and printing documents are used to deliver advertisements, coupons, and other promotional material to users. The imaging device is capable of delivering targeted promotional material based on analysis of the documents content passing through the device. Targeting is based on device history, user history or user demographics. Device history and user history are compiled from the contents of the documents processed respectively at a device and by a user. Demographics are inferred from a demographics model using user identity or document content input to the model. Advertisements may be delivered via paper, the device display, and other means.

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.

A system enables users at different locations (e.g. different geographic locations) to work collaboratively on a document, and to view each other's annotations to the document. Each user can work with a paper document, and make handwritten annotations to the paper document. The system includes a plurality of workstations communicating with a server. Each workstation comprises a document-imaging device, such as a camera, for generating a digital image of the document. Handwritten annotations are identified by image processing, and new annotations made by each user can be tracked in real time. Image bitmaps of the annotations are distributed by the server to each workstation so that each user can view other user's annotations. In one view, the annotations from different users are superimposed in a combined image.

A system is provided in which document imaging equipment is used to acquire a document image from a printed document. The document image may be processed using an optical character recognition application implemented on the document imaging equipment. A user may supply identifier information. The identifier information may be used in constructing an identity-based-encryption (IBE) public key. Identity-based-encryption public parameter information and the IBE public key may be used in encrypting the document image. The IBE-encrypted document image may be stored in storage or sent to a recipient in a message. A user receiving the IBE-encrypted document image may obtain an IBE private key from a key server that is used in decrypting the IBE-encrypted document.

A system, method, and user interface that allows one to easily navigate a document hierarchy. Document groups are represented graphically with an icon that represents the group type. The icons represent preserved physical attributes of the physical original documents. The icons are dynamically generated based on the preserved physical attribute information. The preserved physical attribute information is initially stored within delimited text values that are stored in a filename but may also be extracted from the filename for storage or use in other data structures. When a document group is selected, the contents (subgroups, documents, etc.) are presented to a user.

The present invention comprises a hardware/software combination that is configured to provide for automated capture of metadata associated with paper-based documents. A “reservation” for the metadata and a digital image of the paper-based document is created whenever a digital image of a paper-based document is to be associated with a computer record. The relevant metadata is automatically captured from a computer screen and is then stored in a previously created database record associated with the reservation. Additionally, the metadata can also be associated with a later-captured digital image of the paper-based document by placing a label on the paper-based document. The label contains identifying information for the reservation and this information becomes embedded in the digital image of the paper-based document, which is subsequently created by scanning the paper-based document bearing the label. The subsequently created digital image can then be related to the appropriate metadata by extracting the reservation identification information from the label embedded in the digital image. The overall process provides for automated capturing of metadata and then relating the metadata to a subsequently created digital image of the paper-based document, thereby reducing errors and increasing efficiency by minimizing human interaction in the process.

A document image management system and associated method for integrating the operations of various independent software applications and the reuse of data entries within an enterprise, to increase productivity and promote a flexible method for the visualization of complete and coordinated information contained on a plurality of form pages. To this end, the system and method use an electronic checklist that enables the automated population of data fields in the checklist, and the reuse of the collected data in other applications. The system further includes additional tools that use the knowledge information to enable an efficient use of the knowledge within an enterprise, including the ability to develop a context for, and visualization of such knowledge.

A method and system for automatically training a document imaging classification and extraction system that switches between a manual mode and an automatic mode based on constant monitoring. A specialized sub-system monitors and records a user interaction with the classification system during the initial manual mode and, in parallel, develops and tests a user configuration with respect to an automated processing engine. The system is capable of being shifted to the automatic mode if a desired acceptability threshold is attained and the document can then be processed automatically. Furthermore, a user can interact with the classification system if the automatic mode fails. Information concerning exception handling can be entered into a training database for continual refinement of the classification and extraction system.

A document imaging platform system and methodology for capturing, transmitting, storing, retrieving and displaying documents in a shared-system environment using the Internet or other network is disclosed. Through utilization of thumbnail images along with full images, transmission of multipage documents is facilitated, avoiding system bottlenecks. Document security is hierarchically based with document control being available to system users in addition to system administrators.

An imaging device for document imaging may comprise a housing and an optical system having a lens system and an optical detector. The optical system is responsive to image light reflected by an object and produces image data representative of the image light. The optical system is pivotally mounted to said housing and is biased toward a vertical orientation inside said housing by gravity.

Provided herein are systems and methods for on-site job management used for monitoring and optimizing the efficiencies of a project. The system comprises a job bid management system, an electronic mobile device having at least a processor, a memory and a display coupled to the processor and at least one network connection, an equipment monitoring system, an interactive mobile tool for on-site job optimization coupled to the electronic device, an enterprise resource planning system; a project planning system; an external weather service, a document imaging system and a server machine having at least a processor, a memory and a display coupled to the processor, and an interactive server tool interfaced with all the components described above for on-site job optimization.