Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9245357-B2
Application number	US-201213567519-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 6, 2012
Priority date	Aug 8, 2011
Publication date	Jan 26, 2016
Grant date	Jan 26, 2016

Abstract

An image processing apparatus includes a character recognition unit configured to perform character recognition of a character region where characters exist in an image to generate character code, a detection unit configured to detect a region of the image where a feature change in the image is small, and a placement unit configured to place data obtained from the character code in the detected region.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:
one or more processors; and
memory,
wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
perform character recognition of a character region where characters exist in a digital image to generate character code;
extract a placement region where the characters are placed from the digital image;
detect a region of the digital image where a feature change in the digital image is small;
determine an expansion direction in which the placement region is to be expanded, based on a position of the detected region on a periphery of the placement region; and
expand the placement region in the determined expansion direction, and place data obtained from the character code in the expanded placement region.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a sign obtained from the character code is placed in a blank region in the placement region in priority to the detected region.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the expansion direction is determined based on a distribution of detected regions.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein whether a feature change of the digital image is small is determined in order from a region surrounding the placement region.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a sign obtained from the character code is placed in the detected region.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to convert the generated character code; and
wherein a pattern corresponding to the converted character code is placed in the detected region.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the generated character code is converted into a new character code such that an area for placing a pattern corresponding to the generated character code before conversion is different from an area for placing a pattern corresponding to the character code after conversion.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the generated character code is converted into a new character code based on a translation of the generated character code to another language.

9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein, if the generated character code is code of kanji character, the code of kanji character is converted into code of hiragana character.

10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the generated character code is converted into character code of a plain term with an equal meaning.

11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the generated character code is converted into a sign having a same meaning.

12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, if a character size of the characters subjected to the character recognition is smaller than a predetermined lower limit character size, a pattern corresponding to the character code with a character size greater than or equal to the lower limit character size is placed.

13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a region of the digital image where a color change in the digital image is small is detected.

14. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a region of the digital image where an edge component in the digital image is small is detected.

15. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the digital image and the data obtained from the character code are combined.

16. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the region of the digital image where the feature change in the digital image is small is detected by limiting a range of detection to the periphery of the placement region.

17. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the expansion direction in which the placement region is to be expanded is determined based on a distribution of the detected region on the periphery of the placement region.

18. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a sign of a type obtained based on an obtained characteristic color and a color of the placement region is placed.

19. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a sign of a size based on an obtained characteristic color and a color of the placement region is placed.

20. An image processing method comprising:
performing, at a computing device, character recognition of a character region where characters exist in a digital image to generate character code;
extracting a placement region where the characters are placed from the digital image;
detecting a region of the digital image where a feature change in the digital image is small;
determining an expansion direction in which the placement region is to be expanded, based on a position of the detected region on a periphery of the placement region; and
expanding the placement region in the determined expansion direction, and placing data obtained from the character code in the expanded placement region.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program comprising:
performing character recognition of a character region where characters exist in a digital image to generate character code;
extracting a placement region where the characters are placed from the digital image;
detecting a region of the digital image where a feature change in the digital image is small;
determining an expansion direction in which the placement region is to be expanded, based on position of the detected region on a periphery of the placement region; and
expanding the placement region in the determined direction, and placing data obtained from the character code in the expanded placement region.

22. An image processing apparatus comprising:
one or more processors; and
memory,
wherein the one or more processors are configured to: perform character recognition of a character region where characters exist in a digital image to generate character code;
extract a placement region where the characters are placed from the digital image;
determine an expansion direction in which the placement region is to be expanded, based on strength of luminance gradient on a periphery of the placement region; and
expand the placement region in the determined expansion direction, and place data obtained from the character code in the expanded placement region.

23. An image processing method comprising:
performing, at a computing device, character recognition of a character region where characters exist in a digital image to generate character code;
extracting a placement region where the characters are placed from the digital image;
determining an expansion direction in which the placement region is to be expanded, based on strength of luminance gradient on a periphery of the placement region; and p 1 expanding the placement region in the determined expansion direction, and place data obtained from the character code in the expanded placement region.

24. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed perform a process, the process comprising:
performing character recognition of a character region where characters exist in a digital image to generate character code;
extract a placement region where the characters are placed from the digital image;
determine an expansion direction in which

Assignees

• Yamazaki Taeko
• Kobayashi Yuji
• Fukuoka Shigeo
• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Yamazaki Taeko
• Kobayashi Yuji
• Fukuoka Shigeo

Classifications

• G06T11/00 Primary

  Two-dimensional [2D] image generation · CPC title

• G06K9/00791

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06K9/00818

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06V20/582

  of traffic signs · CPC title

• G06V20/56

  exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle · CPC title