U.S. patent application number 15/001328 was filed with the patent office on 2017-07-20 for detecting sizes of documents scanned using handheld devices.
This patent application is currently assigned to Xerox Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Xerox Corporation. Invention is credited to Vignesh Doss, Sainarayanan Gopalakrishnan, Dhevendra Alagan Palanivel, Sudhagar Subbaian.
Application Number | 20170208185 15/001328 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59296463 |
Filed Date | 2017-07-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170208185 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gopalakrishnan; Sainarayanan ;
et al. |
July 20, 2017 |
DETECTING SIZES OF DOCUMENTS SCANNED USING HANDHELD DEVICES
Abstract
An electronic document image of a document is captured using a
camera of a handheld device. A user interface of the handheld
device displays an instruction to place the handheld device on the
document and to change the magnification of the electronic document
image on the user interface until the electronic document image and
the document are the same size. The handheld device automatically
determines the original size of the document based on the
magnification that made the electronic document image and the
document the same size when the handheld device was on the
document. The handheld device converts the electronic document
image into an original size document image file based on the
original size of the document.
Inventors: |
Gopalakrishnan; Sainarayanan;
(Chennai, IN) ; Doss; Vignesh; (Theni, IN)
; Subbaian; Sudhagar; (Thondamuthur, IN) ;
Palanivel; Dhevendra Alagan; (Chennai, IN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Xerox Corporation |
NORWALK |
CT |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Xerox Corporation
NORWALK
CT
|
Family ID: |
59296463 |
Appl. No.: |
15/001328 |
Filed: |
January 20, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 1/00774 20130101;
H04N 1/00734 20130101; H04N 1/00737 20130101; H04N 1/393 20130101;
H04N 1/00708 20130101; H04N 1/0044 20130101; H04N 1/3935 20130101;
H04N 1/19594 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04N 1/00 20060101
H04N001/00; H04N 1/393 20060101 H04N001/393 |
Claims
1. A handheld apparatus comprising: a processor; a camera
operatively connected to said processor; and a user interface
operatively connected to said processor, said camera capturing an
electronic document image of a physical document through user
operation, said user interface displaying an instruction to place
said handheld apparatus on said physical document and to change the
magnification of said electronic document image on said user
interface while said handheld apparatus is resting on said physical
document until said electronic document image and said physical
document are the same size, said processor determining the original
size of said physical document based on said magnification to make
said electronic document image and said physical document the same
size when said handheld apparatus is on said physical document, and
said processor converting said electronic document image into an
original-size document image file based on said original size of
said physical document.
2. The handheld apparatus according to claim 1, after said camera
capturing said electronic document image, said user interface
displaying said electronic document image and displaying an
instruction to define corners of said physical document in said
electronic document image.
3. The handheld apparatus according to claim 2, after said corners
of said physical document in said electronic document image are
defined, said processor automatically cropping said electronic
document image to include only said physical document.
4. The handheld apparatus according to claim 1, said user interface
displaying less than all of said electronic document image when
said magnification of said electronic document image on said user
interface is changed to make said electronic document image and
said physical document the same size.
5. The handheld apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising
a non-transitory, machine-readable electronic storage operatively
connected to said processor, said processor storing said
original-size document image file in said non-transitory,
machine-readable electronic storage.
6. A handheld apparatus comprising: a processor; a camera
operatively connected to said processor; a user interface
operatively connected to said processor; and a communication device
operatively connected to said processor, said camera capturing an
electronic document image of a physical document through user
operation, said user interface displaying an instruction to place
said handheld apparatus on said physical document and to change the
magnification of said electronic document image on said user
interface while said handheld apparatus is resting on said physical
document until said electronic document image and said physical
document are the same size, said processor determining the original
dots per inch (DPI) size of said physical document based on said
magnification to make said electronic document image and said
physical document the same size when said handheld apparatus is on
said physical document, said processor converting said electronic
document image into an original size document image file based on
said original DPI size of said physical document, said original
size document image file having the same DPI size as said physical
document, said communication device outputting said original size
document image file to a printer to cause said printer to print
said original size document image file to have the same size as
said physical document.
7. The handheld apparatus according to claim 6, after said camera
capturing said electronic document image, said user interface
displaying said electronic document image and displaying an
instruction to define corners of said physical document in said
electronic document image.
8. The handheld apparatus according to claim 7, after said corners
of said physical document in said electronic document image are
defined, said processor automatically cropping said electronic
document image to include only said physical document.
9. The handheld apparatus according to claim 6, said user interface
displaying less than all of said electronic document image when
said magnification of said electronic document image on said user
interface is changed to make said electronic document image and
said physical document the same size.
10. The handheld apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising
a non-transitory, machine-readable electronic storage operatively
connected to said processor, said processor storing said
original-size document image file in said non-transitory,
machine-readable electronic storage.
11. A method comprising: recording an electronic document image of
a physical document captured using a camera of a handheld device;
causing a user interface of said handheld device to display an
instruction to place said handheld device on said physical document
and to change the magnification of said electronic document image
on said user interface while said handheld device is resting on
said physical document until said electronic document image and
said physical document are the same size; automatically determining
the original size of said physical document based on said
magnification to make said electronic document image and said
physical document the same size when said handheld device is on
said physical document, using a processor of said handheld device;
and converting said electronic document image into an original-size
document image file based on said original size of said physical
document, using said processor.
12. The method according to claim 11, said method further
comprising, after said recording said electronic document image,
causing said user interface to display said electronic document
image and to display an instruction to define corners of said
physical document in said electronic document image.
13. The method according to claim 12, said method further
comprising, after said corners of said physical document in said
electronic document image are defined, automatically cropping said
electronic document image to include only said physical document,
using said processor.
14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising causing
said user interface to display less than all of said electronic
document image when said magnification of said electronic document
image on said user interface is changed to make said electronic
document image and said physical document the same size.
15. The method according to claim 11, further comprising storing
said original-size document image file in a non-transitory,
machine-readable electronic storage of said handheld device.
16. A method comprising: recording an electronic document image of
a physical document captured using a camera of a handheld device;
causing a user interface of said handheld device to display an
instruction to place said handheld device on said physical document
and to change the magnification of said electronic document image
on said user interface while said handheld device is resting on
said physical document until said electronic document image and
said physical document are the same size; automatically determining
the original dots per inch (DPI) size of said physical document
based on said magnification to make said electronic document image
and said physical document the same size when said handheld device
is on said physical document, using a processor of said handheld
device; converting said electronic document image into an original
size document image file based on said original DPI size of said
physical document, using said processor, said original size
document image file having the same DPI size as said physical
document; and outputting said original size document image file
from said handheld device to a printer and causing said printer to
print said original size document image file to have the same size
as said physical document.
17. The method according to claim 16, said method further
comprising, after said recording said electronic document image,
causing said user interface to display said electronic document
image and to display an instruction to define corners of said
physical document in said electronic document image.
18. The method according to claim 17, said method further
comprising, after said corners of said physical document in said
electronic document image are defined, automatically cropping said
electronic document image to include only said physical document,
using said processor.
19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising causing
said user interface to display less than all of said electronic
document image when said magnification of said electronic document
image on said user interface is changed to make said electronic
document image and said physical document the same size.
20. The method according to claim 16, further comprising storing
said original-size document image file in a non-transitory,
machine-readable electronic storage of said handheld device.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Systems and methods herein generally relate to using
handheld devices (such as smart phones, small cameras, etc.) to
scan documents, and more particularly to detecting sizes of
documents scanned using such handheld devices.
[0002] Many portable and handheld devices are being manufactured to
include cameras. Such cameras can be utilized for a number of
purposes, including taking pictures and obtaining video. In
addition, handheld and portable devices that include cameras can
also be used as scanners when they take a picture of a document.
This allows documents to be scanned by the handheld devices, so
that the documents can be retained and/or potentially printed
later, etc. In addition, the information within the documents can
be recognized and analyzed using computerized processing such as
optical character recognition (OCR) and data analysis programs.
SUMMARY
[0003] Exemplary methods herein record an electronic document image
of a document captured using a camera of a handheld device. After
recording the electronic document image, such methods cause the
user interface to display the electronic document image and to
display an instruction to define corners of the document in the
electronic document image. After the corners of the document in the
electronic document image are defined, these methods automatically
crop the electronic document image to include only the document,
using the processor.
[0004] Further, such methods cause the user interface of the
handheld device to display an instruction to place the handheld
device on the document and to change the magnification of the
electronic document image on the user interface until the
electronic document image and the document are the same size (note
that this may cause the user interface to display less than all of
the electronic document image).
[0005] These methods also automatically determine the original size
(e.g., original dots per inch (DPI) size) of the document based on
the magnification that made the electronic document image and the
document the same size, when the handheld device was on the
document (e.g., using a processor of the handheld device). Such
methods convert the electronic document image into an original size
document image file based on the original (e.g., DPI) size of the
document, using the processor.
[0006] The original size document image file has the same (e.g.,
DPI) size as the document, and these methods can store the
original-size document image file in a non-transitory,
machine-readable electronic storage of the handheld device. Such
methods can output the original size document image file from the
handheld device to a printer to cause the printer to print the
original size document image file to have the same size as the
document.
[0007] Exemplary handheld apparatuses herein include, among other
components, a processor, a camera operatively (meaning directly or
indirectly) connected to the processor, a user interface
operatively connected to the processor, a communication device
operatively connected to the processor, etc. The camera captures an
electronic document image of a document through user operation.
[0008] After the camera captures the electronic document image, the
user interface can display the electronic document image and
display an instruction to define corners of the document in the
electronic document image. After the corners of the document in the
electronic document image are defined, the processor can
automatically crop the electronic document image to include only
the document.
[0009] The user interface displays an instruction to place the
handheld apparatus on the document and to change the magnification
of the electronic document image on the user interface until the
electronic document image and the document are the same size. Note
that the user interface may display only a portion (less than all)
of the electronic document image when the magnification of the
electronic document image on the user interface is changed to make
the electronic document image and the document the same size.
[0010] The processor determines the original size (e.g., dots per
inch (DPI) size) of the document based on the magnification that
made the electronic document image and the document the same size
when the handheld apparatus was on the document. The processor
converts the electronic document image into an original size
document image file based on the original (e.g., DPI) size of the
document.
[0011] Thus, the original size document image file has the same
(e.g., DPI) size as the document. The processor can store the
original-size document image file in a non-transitory,
machine-readable electronic storage of the handheld device.
Further, the communication device can output the original size
document image file to a printer to cause the printer to print the
original size document image file to have the same size as the
document.
[0012] These and other features are described in, or are apparent
from, the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Various exemplary systems, devices, and methods are
described in detail below, with reference to the attached drawing
Figures, in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of various methods herein;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating devices and
methods herein;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating devices and
methods herein;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating devices and
methods herein;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating devices and
methods herein;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating devices and
methods herein;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating devices and
methods herein;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating devices and
methods herein;
[0022] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating devices and
methods herein;
[0023] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating output produced
by devices and methods herein;
[0024] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating output produced
by devices and methods herein;
[0025] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating systems herein;
and
[0026] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating computerized
devices herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] As mentioned above, many portable and handheld devices are
being manufactured to include cameras, and such cameras can be
utilized for a number of purposes, including scanning documents for
storage for later processing.
[0028] Therefore, the devices and methods herein allow a user to
scan and print the document, such as receipts, to their original
size using a handheld device. If a user wants to scan
document/receipts (non-standard size) through a handheld device and
print the same closest to its actual size (100%), some methods can
be very indirect. However, for standard size originals, the scanned
images can be printed on the same size paper, after the devices and
methods herein automatically determine the size of the scanned
document.
[0029] Since the pixel dimension of a handheld device's camera is
fixed based on image size selected by user or by the camera
capability, the content dimension varies with distance between the
handheld device and the original document. The resolution in terms
of DPI is not stored in the scanned image header. This limitation
restricts the handheld device from being used as 1:1 copy scanner
(when used along with the printing device). However, the systems
and methods described herein, allow the handheld device to estimate
the DPI to be stored in the image header, so when the image is
printed, the scale of the original document is provided.
[0030] The following is discussed in greater detail below, but
generally a document that is to be scanned is captured via the
camera on the handheld device 150, as shown in FIG. 2. After
cropping the scanned image to it boundaries (see FIGS. 3 and 4,
discussed below) an image zoom option is provided to the user on
the interface of the handheld device, as shown in item 164 in FIG.
7, discussed in detail below.
[0031] Having the handheld device 150 and actual document 140 at
same distance of the user's vision (as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9,
discussed below) the user will zoom onto a portion of the content
in the scanned image until the image 144 matches the size of the
portion of the content in the actual document 140. Once the sizes
are matched, the user selects an option to store to the appropriate
dots-per-inch (DPI) measure. In this processing, based on the ratio
of the image displayed on the size of the screen, the actual size
of the document is estimated; and, based on the actual dimension
and the pixel dimension of the image, the DPI of the image is
estimated and stored.
[0032] In one example, in FIG. 9 [X1, Y1] are shown as the physical
dimension of the phone display in inches or millimeters. After
zoom/resizing the number of pixels packed inside the visual region
is taken and the calculated values of the DPI parameter are
processed using X DPI=(Number of Pixel displayed within X1)/X1 and
Y DPI=Number of Pixel displayed within Y1)/Y1. Thus, the system and
methods determine the DPI for a captured image in both horizontal
and vertical directions for printing the image to actual size.
[0033] In greater detail, FIG. 1 is flowchart illustrating
exemplary methods in greater detail, and such methods can be
implemented through an application running on a user's handheld
device, for example. In item 100, these methods record an
electronic document image of a document captured using a camera of
a handheld device. This is also shown in FIG. 2, for example, where
a user utilizes a handheld device 150 (such as a personal digital
assistant (PDA), smart phone, camera, etc.) to take a picture of a
physical document 140. As shown in FIG. 2, the user interface 152
of the handheld device 150 shows the picture that was taken. A
portion of this picture includes an electronic document image 142
of the physical document 140. Note that, because these devices and
methods resize and reorient the electronic image to match the size
of the physical document 140, it is useful to have the user include
the entire document page of the physical document 140 when
capturing the electronic document image in item 100.
[0034] Referring again to FIG. 1, after recording the electronic
document image in item 100, such methods cause (through the
application running on the handheld device 150) the user interface
to display the electronic document image and to display an
instruction to the user to define the corners of the physical
document in the electronic document image, as shown in item 102. As
noted above, FIG. 2 illustrates the user interface 152 of the
handheld device 150 displaying the electronic document image 142.
FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary message 160 that can be displayed
on the user interface 152 of the handheld device, and such a
message 160 instructs the user to mark the corners of the documents
so that they can be cropped and rotated. Therefore, upon receipt of
the message 160, shown in FIG. 3, the user can provide a number of
different inputs to the user interface 152 of the handheld device
150 displaying the electronic document image 142 shown in FIG. 2,
to define the corners of the electronic document image, including
(but not limited to) touching the corners of the document image,
drawing a box around the document image, adjusting X-axis and
Y-axis lines to enclose a box around the document image, etc.
[0035] Referring again to FIG. 1, after the corners of the physical
document in the electronic document image are defined in item 102,
these methods can automatically crop and rotate the electronic
document image to include only the physical document, using the
processor, as shown in item 104. This cropping process produces the
electronic document image 144 shown in FIG. 4.
[0036] Further, in item 106, such methods cause (through the
application) the user interface of the handheld device to display
an instruction to place the handheld device on the physical
document. FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary message 162 displayed on
the user interface 152 of the handheld device 150, where the
message 162 instructs the user to place the handheld device on the
physical document. FIG. 6 illustrates the handheld device 150
placed on top of the physical document 140. In the example shown in
FIG. 6, the physical document 140 is in direct physical contact
with the handheld device 150; however, the two do not need to be in
direct physical contact, so long as the user interface 152 of the
handheld device 150 is within very close proximity to the physical
document 140 (e.g., less than 30 mm separation, less than 1 inch
separation, or any other separation distance that allows the size
of the electronic document image 142 to be matched with this size
of the physical document 140 etc.).
[0037] Additionally, in item 108, such methods cause (through the
application) the user interface of the handheld device to display
an instruction to change the magnification of the electronic
document image on the user interface until the electronic document
image and the physical document are the same size or appear to be
the same size to the user (note that this may cause the user
interface to display less than all of the electronic document
image). FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary message 164 displayed on
the user interface 152 of the handheld device 150, where the
message 164 instructs the user to change the magnification until
the image and the document appear to be the same size.
[0038] FIG. 8 again illustrates the handheld device 150 placed on
the physical document 140 and the arrows in the center of the user
interface 152 show the action of the user increasing the
magnification (zooming in) on a portion of the electronic document
image 144 (note that this causes the user interface 152 to display
less than all of the electronic document image 144).
[0039] As can be seen in FIG. 8, the size of the printed letters
within the electronic document image 144 are (or appear to the user
to be) the same as the size of the printed letters within the
physical document 140 after the magnification is adjusted by the
user. While printed letters are used in this example, graphic
items, artwork, pictures, can similarly be size matched by the user
adjusting the magnification of the electronic document image 144 on
the user interface 152. In this way, the user adjusts the
magnification until the size of the characters within the
electronic document image 144 match (or appear to the user to
match) the size of the characters on the physical document 140 (all
while the handheld device 150 is resting on the physical document
140, and is therefore in very close proximity to the physical
document 140).
[0040] As shown in item 110, these methods also automatically
determine the original size (e.g., original dots per inch (DPI)
size) of the physical document based on the magnification that made
the electronic document image and the physical document the same
size when the handheld device was on the physical document (e.g.,
using a processor of the handheld device).
[0041] Thus, because the user has adjusted the magnification of the
electronic document image 144 to the point where the size of the
characters or other items within the electronic document image 144
match the size of the characters on the physical document 140 as
shown in FIG. 8, this allows the devices and methods herein to know
how large the electronic document image 144 is relative to the
physical document 140. This is shown graphically in FIG. 9 where
X-coordinates and Y-coordinates determine the portion of the
electronic document image 144 that is displayed on the user
interface 152. This magnification is used to calculate the size of
the physical document 140 by applying the magnitude of
magnification to the known physical size of the user interface
152.
[0042] In other words, the devices and methods herein have
previously determined the size of the user interface 152 (in terms
of pixel count, physical area size (mm.sup.2, in.sup.2, etc.),
etc.) based on empirical measurements or manufacturer
specifications, which allows the methods and devices herein to
calculate the size of the physical document 140 by applying a
magnification factor (or ratio) to the physical size of the user
interface 152. In one example, if the viewing portion of a user
interface is 2 cm.times.4 cm, and only one-fourth of the document
remained in the viewing portion of the user interface after the
user increased magnification to cause the electronic document image
to appear to match the size of the characters on the physical
document (resulting in a magnification factor of 4.times., a ratio
of 4:1, etc.) the devices and methods herein automatically
calculate that the original size of the physical document is four
times the size of the user interface (e.g., 8 cm.times.16 cm). This
allows the devices and methods herein to automatically resize the
electronic document image to four times the size of the user face
(e.g., 8 cm.times.16 cm) and thereby calculate the DPI of the
electronic document image and store the same with the electronic
document image.
[0043] In item 112, such methods convert the electronic document
image into an original size document image file based on the
original (e.g., DPI or physical measurement) size of the physical
document, using the processor. Thus, these processes can store the
resolution in terms of DPI in the scanned image header, for
example. Therefore, the processing in item 112 creates a file
(potentially with DPI in the scanned image header) that would be
similar to a file produced by scanning the physical document 140
using a conventional scanner that has a full width array (FWA)
scanner, such as a platen-based or flatbed scanner. Thus, after the
processing in item 112, the file can have physical dimensions
(height and width) and/or can have DPI measurements.
[0044] The original size document image file has the same (e.g.,
DPI) size as the physical document, and as shown in item 114 these
methods can store the original-size document image file in a
non-transitory, machine-readable electronic storage of the handheld
device. Therefore, based on the ratio of the electronic image
displayed to the size of the screen, the actual size of the
document is calculated; and, based on the actual dimension and the
pixel dimension of the image, the DPI of the image is estimated and
stored.
[0045] Also, as shown in item 116, such methods can output the
original size document image file from the handheld device to a
printer to cause the printer to print the original size document
image file to have the same size as the physical document. Such
output from printing is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 as printed items
170 and 172. Note that printed item 170 is printed on the same size
paper as the physical document 140, while printed item 172 is
printed on a larger sheet with the original size document image
file utilizing less than the full printing area of the sheet shown
as printed item 172.
[0046] The various sets of instructions that are executed by a
computerized processor to perform the methods described herein can
be any form of computerized application, such as an application
program interface (API), a platform API workflow program, a
specialty application, etc., all of which are referred to herein
simply as "application" for shorthand.
[0047] As shown in FIG. 12, exemplary systems and methods herein
include various computerized devices 200, 204 located at various
different physical locations 206. The computerized devices 200, 204
can include print servers, printing devices, personal computers,
handheld devices, etc., and are in communication (operatively
connected to one another) by way of a local or wide area (wired or
wireless) network 202. Thus, the processing described above can be
done locally at the portable device, at a remote computerized
device, or shared between such connected devices.
[0048] FIG. 13 illustrates a computerized device 200, which can be
used with systems and methods herein and can comprise, for example,
a handheld device, etc. The computerized device 200 includes a
controller/tangible processor 226 and a communications port
(input/output) 214 operatively connected to the tangible processor
226 and to the computerized network external to the computerized
device 200. Also, the computerized device 200 can include at least
one accessory functional component, such as a user interface or
graphical user interface (GUI) assembly 212. The user may receive
messages, instructions, and menu options from, and enter
instructions through, the graphical user interface or control panel
212.
[0049] The input/output device 214 is used for communications to
and from the computerized device 200 and comprises a wired device
or wireless device (of any form, whether currently known or
developed in the future). The tangible processor 226 controls the
various actions of the computerized device. A non-transitory,
tangible, machine-readable computer storage medium device 210
(which can be optical, magnetic, capacitor based, etc., and is
different from a transitory signal) is readable by the tangible
processor 226 and stores instructions that the tangible processor
226 executes to allow the computerized device to perform its
various functions, such as those described herein. Thus, as shown
in FIG. 13, a body housing has one or more functional components
that operate on power supplied from an alternating current (AC)
source 220 by the power supply 218. The power supply 218 can
comprise a common power conversion unit, power storage element
(e.g., a battery, etc), etc.
[0050] Thus, FIG. 13 illustrates that the computerized device 200,
can be a special-use device such as a smartphone, tablet, or other
special-purpose portable computerized element that is easily
carried by a user. Such devices are special-purpose devices
distinguished from general-purpose computers because such devices
include specialized hardware, such as: specialized processors 226
(e.g., containing specialized filters, buffers, application
specific integrated circuits (ASICs), ports, etc.) that are
specialized for high G-force usage, for high electromagnetic field
interference, for phone communications, for use with cellular
networks, etc.; specialized graphic user interfaces 212 (that are
specialized for reduced power consumption, reduced size, antiglare,
etc.); antenna 228 (that are specialized for phone communications,
for use with cellular networks, etc.); specialized converters; GPS
equipment 224; cameras and optical devices 222 (that are
specialized for obtaining images with camera components, have
specialized batteries, have specialized protective cases for use in
harsh environments, etc.); gyroscopes 230; accelerometers 232;
proximity sensors 234; touch sensors 236; light sensors 238,
etc.
[0051] As would be understood by one ordinarily skilled in the art,
the processes described herein cannot be performed by a human alone
(or one operating with a pen and a pad of paper) and instead such
processes can only be performed by a machine having a camera, a
user interface allowing the user to interact with and manipulate an
electronic image, etc. Specifically, processes such as capturing
electronic images, changing the magnification of such images,
calculating the size of a physical document based upon the amount
of magnification produced by the user interaction with the user
interface, etc., requires the utilization of different specialized
machines and cannot be performed by humans.
[0052] The hardware described herein plays a significant part in
permitting the foregoing method to be performed, rather than
function solely as a mechanism for permitting a solution to be
achieved more quickly, (i.e., through the utilization of a computer
for performing calculations). Further, such machine-only processes
are not mere "post-solution activity" because, for example, the
camera mechanism captures the image, the user interface allows the
user to alter the magnification, and all such processes are
integral to the process as described herein and are not activities
of that merely occur before or after (or incidentally with) the
processing described herein. In other words, various machines are
integral with the methods herein because the methods cannot be
performed without the machines (and cannot be performed by humans
alone).
[0053] While some exemplary structures are illustrated in the
attached drawings, those ordinarily skilled in the art would
understand that the drawings are simplified schematic illustrations
and that the claims presented below encompass many more features
that are not illustrated (or potentially many less) but that are
commonly utilized with such devices and systems. Therefore,
Applicants do not intend for the claims presented below to be
limited by the attached drawings, but instead the attached drawings
are merely provided to illustrate a few ways in which the claimed
features can be implemented.
[0054] Many computerized devices are discussed above. Computerized
devices that include chip-based central processing units (CPU's),
input/output devices (including graphic user interfaces (GUI),
memories, comparators, tangible processors, etc.) are well-known
and readily available devices produced by manufacturers such as
Dell Computers, Round Rock Tex., USA and Apple Computer Co.,
Cupertino Calif., USA. Such computerized devices commonly include
input/output devices, power supplies, tangible processors,
electronic storage memories, wiring, etc., the details of which are
omitted herefrom to allow the reader to focus on the salient
aspects of the systems and methods described herein. Similarly,
printers, copiers, scanners and other similar peripheral equipment
are available from Xerox Corporation, Norwalk, Conn., USA and the
details of such devices are not discussed herein for purposes of
brevity and reader focus.
[0055] The terms printer or printing device as used herein
encompasses any apparatus, such as a digital copier, bookmaking
machine, facsimile machine, multi-function machine, etc., which
performs a print outputting function for any purpose. The details
of printers, printing engines, etc., are well-known and are not
described in detail herein to keep this disclosure focused on the
salient features presented. The systems and methods herein can
encompass systems and methods that print in color, monochrome, or
handle color or monochrome image data. All foregoing systems and
methods are specifically applicable to electrostatographic and/or
xerographic machines and/or processes.
[0056] Thus, an image input device is any device capable of
obtaining color pixel values from a color image. The set of image
input devices is intended to encompass a wide variety of devices
such as, for example, digital document devices, computer systems,
memory and storage devices, networked platforms such as servers and
client devices which can obtain pixel values from a source device,
and image capture devices. The set of image capture devices
includes scanners, cameras, photography equipment, facsimile
machines, photo reproduction equipment, digital printing presses,
xerographic devices, and the like. A scanner is one image capture
device that optically scans images, print media, and the like, and
converts the scanned image into a digitized format. Common scanning
devices include variations of the flatbed scanner, generally known
in the arts, wherein specialized image receptors move beneath a
platen and scan the media placed on the platen. Modern digital
scanners typically incorporate a charge-coupled device (CCD) or a
contact image sensor (CIS) as the image sensing receptor(s). The
scanning device produces a signal of the scanned image data. Such a
digital signal contains information about pixels such as color
value, intensity, and their location within the scanned image.
[0057] In addition, terms such as "right", "left", "vertical",
"horizontal", "top", "bottom", "upper", "lower", "under", "below",
"underlying", "over", "overlying", "parallel", "perpendicular",
etc., used herein are understood to be relative locations as they
are oriented and illustrated in the drawings (unless otherwise
indicated). Terms such as "touching", "on", "in direct contact",
"abutting", "directly adjacent to", etc., mean that at least one
element physically contacts another element (without other elements
separating the described elements). Further, the terms automated or
automatically mean that once a process is started (by a machine or
a user), one or more machines perform the process without further
input from any user. In the drawings herein, the same
identification numeral identifies the same or similar item.
[0058] It will be appreciated that the above-disclosed and other
features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably
combined into many other different systems or applications. Various
presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications,
variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by
those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed
by the following claims. Unless specifically defined in a specific
claim itself, steps or components of the systems and methods herein
cannot be implied or imported from any above example as limitations
to any particular order, number, position, size, shape, angle,
color, or material.
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