Document Color Optimization for Monochrome Fax Distinguishability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fax technologies struggle to effectively transmit documents with colors or shades of gray, as they are often converted to 1-bit black and white, leading to indistinguishable elements and readability issues, especially when background and text colors have similar brightness.
Innovation Solution
The method involves optimizing documents by replacing color elements with solid monochrome colors, dithered surfaces, or monochrome patterns, and outlining certain elements to enhance distinguishability before converting them to a fax-compliant format.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If color elements are converted to 1-bit black and white, then fax compatibility is improved, but element distinguishability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by processing the document before fax conversion. Color optimization algorithms are applied to enhance contrast and distinguishability of color elements prior to the 1-bit conversion, ensuring that elements that would otherwise be indistinguishable become visually separable in the final monochrome output
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes parameters of color elements by adjusting brightness, contrast, and saturation values before conversion. By modifying these parameters, the system creates visual differentiation between elements that will be converted to the same monochrome value, preserving distinguishability while maintaining fax compatibility
2Device complexity
If colors with similar brightness are converted to monochrome, then transmission simplicity is improved, but readability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by treating different regions of the document differently. Color optimization is applied selectively to elements that would result in indistinguishable monochrome values, while other elements maintain their original appearance. This localized processing ensures readability is improved only where needed without complicating the overall transmission process
3Loss of information
If dithering is applied to simulate colors, then color representation is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by using dithering only when necessary - specifically for color elements that need to maintain visual distinction in monochrome conversion. The system determines which elements require dithering based on their color properties and only applies the complex dithering algorithm to those specific elements, rather than processing the entire document
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatus, software, and systems of the present invention allow for optimization of color and shades of gray documents prior to their conversion to a monochrome format. If color/gray elements are identified in the document, the distance between them and their intensity is determined. If there are elements with the same or similar intensity in close proximity to each other, colors of some of the elements may be replaced with solid monochrome colors, and/or dithered surfaces, and/or monochrome patterns. Further, the elements may be outlined. These improvements make elements in the document more distinguishable after its conversion to a monochrome format. The described color optimization and outlining may have wide applicability in the Internet Fax technology.