Document Color Mode Switching for Threshold-Uncertain Scans
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic color selection (ACS) systems in document-reading devices are prone to errors when determining whether a document is colored or colorless, leading to unnecessary color printing and increased costs due to incorrect determinations near threshold values.
Innovation Solution
A document-reading system that includes a first determination unit for primary color assessment and a second determination unit that allows user input to confirm the document's color mode when the primary determination is uncertain, using a chroma-related measure within a predetermined range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a numerical measure based on color is compared with a threshold to determine whether a document is colored or colorless, then the determination process is simple and fast, but errors occur when the numerical measure is close to the threshold
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the determination approach based on the numerical measure value. When the value is close to the threshold (within a predetermined range), the system switches from automatic determination to a mode that requests user input, thereby adapting the determination process to the uncertainty level and improving reliability without sacrificing overall efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces feedback by comparing the numerical measure with both a threshold and a predetermined range. When the measure falls within this range, the system seeks additional feedback through user input to confirm the determination, reducing errors in borderline cases while maintaining fast processing for clear cases.
2Productivity
If automatic determination is performed without user input, then processing efficiency is high, but incorrect determinations lead to unnecessary color printing and increased costs
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects the determination mode based on the numerical measure. For values within the predetermined range close to the threshold, it switches to a mode that requests user input, preventing costly incorrect automatic determinations while maintaining efficient automatic processing for confident cases.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter from fully automatic determination to a hybrid mode involving user input when the numerical measure indicates uncertainty. This parameter change prevents unnecessary color printing costs by ensuring more accurate determination in borderline cases.
3Reliability
If user input is requested for all documents, then determination accuracy improves, but processing time and user burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies user input requirement selectively rather than universally. User input is requested only for documents whose numerical measure falls within the predetermined range close to the threshold, while documents with clear color characteristics are processed automatically. This local application of quality control improves accuracy where needed without increasing overall processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying user confirmation to all documents (excessive action), the system applies it only partially to documents with uncertain color characteristics. This partial action approach achieves sufficient determination accuracy while minimizing the time loss and user burden associated with manual confirmation.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a document-reading system including: a reading unit configured to read a document and generate read image data; a first determination unit configured to determine whether a numerical measure that is based on a color of a pixel of the read image data is within a predetermined range; and a second determination unit configured to determine whether the document is to be processed as a colored document or a colorless document. The second determination unit is configured to, based on a user input, perform determination in a first or second mode. In the first mode, an inquiry to a user is made as to whether to process the document as a colored document or a colorless document when the first determination unit has determined that the numerical measure is within the range. In the second mode, no inquiry is made.