Patent Application
20080068674
Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the invention, which is limited only by the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the claimed invention.
In one embodiment, a flatbed scanner 20 is coupled to a personal computer 18 and to the communications network 22 via personal computer 18. In this embodiment, the flatbed scanner 20 doesn't have a minimum size limitation for scanning. The scanning speed is limited by the manual operation of a user placing and replacing very small, hard copy images on the scanning surface of the flatbed scanner 20.
Scan sheet 50 can be stored on personal computer 18 as a template and printed on a local printer such as an ink jet printer. Preferably, the raw paper stock for printing the sheet is a uniform color such as green, but optionally the uniform color can be printed as a background. Similarly, such a template for the sheet can be stored at retailer 15 on controlling computer 12 or at the online service provider 26 on server 24.
The printing of the scan sheet 50 also includes printing box 52, which can be a selection box that is selected to indicate copyrighted material. Also the printing of scan sheet 50 includes printing box 54, in addition to the bar code 56 for providing information identifying an individual user account. The information identifying an individual user account can be downloaded from online service provider 26 and merged with the template for printing. Alternatively, the information identifying an individual user account can be printed on a label 59 and adhered to the scan sheet 50 prior to a scanning session. The individual user account can be associated with the online service provider 26, a storage network (not shown) or a remote drive on a peer-to-peer network (not shown). The individual user account typically requires a username in combination with a secure password to authenticate with the online service provider 26 or the network storage facility.
If the scan sheet 50 is printed remotely from the user associated with the identified individual user account, it can be delivered to the user prior to a session where scan sheet 50 is used for affixing hard copy images to be scanned. Delivery can include, but not be limited to, postal mail, shipping services, or hand delivery.
Often a human readable watermark is present on either the image bearing side or the non-image bearing side of a hard copy image. If there is no human readable watermark available on any surface of the hard copy image, box 52c is marked by the operator. It is possible that the image area has an embedded watermark that can be automatically identified during the scanning process. The embedded watermark can be identified using a technique found in commercially available software, such as Adobe PhotoShop from Adobe Inc. This will be discussed in the following paragraphs.
Scanned image data is created by scanning a sheet with affixed hard copy images 16 (step 66). The process of scanning a physical medium to convert it to digital data for further image processing is well understood by those skilled in the art. Individual hardcopy images 16 are identified or sensed within the scanned image data using automatic frame detection algorithms 68. In the one embodiment, scan sheet 50 is formed from paper stock of a uniform non-white color such as green to facilitate the image processing that determines the location of individual images. However, the embodiment is not limited to green paper stock, and any suitable color can be used. However, while a uniform white paper stock will work, it is more difficult to detect the edges of bounding rectangles that also have white borders.
For each identified image within the scanned image data, individual image files are created in a default image file format such as, but not limited to, a JPEG format. Such preferences can be changed by the user as required 69. Information identifying an individual user account, copyright information including the copyright owner, and other information, such as information gathered using face recognition software, can be stored as metadata in association with each individual image file. After individual images files have been created, they can be stored. In one embodiment, information identifying an individual user account is provided on scan sheet 50 in the form of printed bar code 56, or label 59 that includes printed bar code 56 and/or other information. If this information is determined to be present in the scanned image data 70, then the individual image files are transferred 72 to the location specified by the information encoded by bar code 56 and optionally also stored on any portable media such as CD media 76. If identification information is not present or is not able to be successfully interpreted, the individual image files are stored on any media that the user chooses 74 and the process is complete 78. If no copyrighted images are found during the scanned image data processing, the process completes 78.
When the user intends to scan multiple small, hard copy images that include copyrighted images, the scanned image data must be checked for information for identifying each individual image file as a copyrighted image file prior to storing the image files in any specific location or medium 72, 74.
Each image file determined to be a copyrighted image file is automatically tagged 82 as a high resolution, restricted image file and a low resolution copy of each high resolution, restricted image file is formed 84. These low-resolution copies of associated high-resolution, restricted image files are subsequently transferred 86 to the location encoded in the information identifying an individual user account found in bar code 56. It is useful to transfer the high-resolution, restricted image files to a location controlled by the online service provider 26 for restricting access to these images until payment has been provided by the user 88. To complete the process 94, the user can store copyrighted image files on a portable media of choice 90. However, only the low-resolution copies are stored 92 on the portable media of choice.
The automated scanning of hard copy images can also be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, executed by one or more computers or other devices. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Typically the functionality of the program modules may be combined or distributed in desired in various embodiments.
Also, processing devices attached to a communications network typically includes at least some form of computer readable media. Computer readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by these devices. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by processing devices.
Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer readable media.
Additionally, the embodiments described herein are implemented as logical operations performed by programmable processing devices. The logical operations of these various embodiments of the present invention are implemented (1) as a sequence of computer implemented steps or program modules running on a computing system and/or (2) as interconnected machine modules or hardware logic within the computing system. The implementation is a matter of choice dependent on the performance requirements of the computing system implementing the invention. Accordingly, the logical operations making up the embodiments of the invention described herein can be variously referred to as operations, steps, or modules.
The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the invention. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that can be made to the present invention without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention, which is set forth in the following claims.
