Blank Document Detection for Preview Skip in Image Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses cannot display a preview that skips blank documents without re-scanning the documents, as the blank-document-page skip mode needs to be selected in advance for processes like printing, facsimile transmission, and filing.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that determines whether input image data is from a blank document, stores this determination, and excludes it from preview displays, allowing for the display of previews without re-scanning, regardless of the process mode set.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the blank-document-page skip mode is not selected in advance, then the preview displays all scanned documents including blank ones, but the user cannot see the effect of blank document skipping without re-scanning
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs blank document determination during the initial scanning process and stores the results in association with the scanned image data. When preview is requested, the stored determination results are read and used to exclude blank documents from the preview display, eliminating the need for re-scanning while providing accurate preview information.
2Ease of operation
If the blank-document-page skip mode is selected in advance, then the preview accurately reflects the final output, but the user must pre-configure the mode before scanning
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs blank document determination and stores the results without requiring user configuration. The preview function automatically reads the stored determination results and excludes blank documents, making the system self-sufficient in providing accurate previews without user intervention for mode selection.
3Quantity of substance
If all scanned documents are stored for preview, then complete document set is available, but memory is unnecessarily used for blank documents
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and stores only the determination results indicating whether each scanned document is blank or not. During preview, only the image data of non-blank documents is displayed by excluding those marked as blank, thereby reducing memory usage for preview operations while maintaining access to complete document information when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus of the present invention includes: a blank document determination section determining whether or not input image data is image data of a blank document, regardless of a process mode set for setting a process with respect to the input image data; a storage device storing the input image data in association with a determination result made by the blank document determination section; and a control section (i) reading out the input image data from the storage device and (ii) excluding the input image data determined as image data of a blank document by the blank document determination section, from images to be displayed by the image display device, when the image display device carries out a preview display of the input image data. This configuration makes it possible to carry out a preview display in which a blank document (blank page document) is skipped, without reading the document again.