Reduced image generation

Abstract: A method of making a reduced image of an original x by y pixel image (57), each pixel being defined by three components in a 3-D colour space comprises dividing the original image into blocks, each block corresponding to a pixel in the reduced image; and, for each block, determining if all pixels have the same colour. If they do the corresponding pixel in the reduced image is made that same colour. If they do not, then determine the average value of each of the plurality of components in the blocks adjacent the block. If there is a unique identifiable background colour in the blocks adjacent the block, then locate the position of the colour in said 3-D colour space as a first point, locate the position of the average colour of the block in the 3-D colour space as a second point, and select as the colour of the corresponding pixel in the reduced image a colour at a point in said 3-D colour space which is a distance along a line connecting the first and second points which is in the same direction as and further from the first point than the second point.

Description: In many of today's businesses, various tasks are now automated by computers. For instance, a word processor enables the re-organizing and re-writing of documents without the re-typing known in the past. In addition, various documents may be organized and stored by a computer filing system which allows retrieval by name, by chronological or alphabetical order, or by other user-desired identification. Another example is a mail system on a network of computer terminals which allows messages to be sent to and from users of the network. Also, a phone system may be connected to a mail system which in turn enables phone messages to be stored and later forwarded to users. These and other computer devices enable various daily office tasks to be accomplished more quickly and more efficiently. However, most computer devices require the user to be computer literate and to learn commands to direct the computer to perform the desired tasks. In more recent computer developments, user interaction with the computer, or as generally referenced in the art, the user interface, comprises menus or a series of commands from which to choose. For each decision juncture during the use of a computer device, an appropriate menu is displayed to the user to prompt the user on the available, proper commands at the juncture. The user only needs to choose the command from the menu which will direct (in part or in full) the computer to perform the desired task. Due to the menu providing the proper possible commands, the user does not have to remember or recall commands to the computer. Hence, the menus are considered to make computer devices more "user friendly". Although, the choices on a menu generally are descriptive phrases written in terms which are more common to our everyday language rather than in a coded or technical computer language, the descriptive phrases may not initially have meaning, or at least the proper meaning, to a first-time user or a user who is not computer literate. The user does have to learn the respective meaning of each menu choice. In addition, the input devices through which the user communicates commands or menu selections to the computer pose various complexities. For example, a keyboard requires knowledge of the position of each key in order for a user to use the keyboard proficiently. A mouse, being a relative movement device, requires certain eye-hand co-ordination and is operated by unnatural movements such as single and double clicking at appropriate times which must be remembered by the user. In turn, many office personnel do not make use of computer devices because of the time and complexity in learning to operate these devices. Accordingly, there is a need to make computer devices, and particularly those for office use, more "user friendly" and readily useable especially to first-time and computer illiterate users. To facilitate this a graphically based user interface which simulates an office desk and a user's interaction with the items on the desk has been proposed. Such a system is described in full in WO 89/11695. In this system an image of a desk is displayed on a terminal monitor with a representation of all the documents and accessories typically displayed as icons, which are currently at the user's disposal. In a preferred embodiment of the system, the desk view (i.e. the screen view of the user's system desk) shows a reduced image or "stamp" of one page of each document on the user's system desk or computer work area. EP-A-0,158,902 describes a colour to monochromatic transformation with enhancement of the visual appearance of characters and symbols. Colour information is reduced to monochromatic image information. Each stamp serves as a unique, direct representation, that is an actual image or pictorial likeness, of a certain document on the user's system desk as opposed to an indirect symbolic indication, such as a prefabricated standard icon which is used for all documents of a certain type and which identifies a specific document only by a name or title associated with the icon. As used herein the term "icon" does not mean image, Further, the term "document" means various sheets of information whether a single page or multiple page document is involved, and a "sheet of information" includes a body of data which is not an icon and includes, for example, a screen full of data as may be generated by any normally running program. Preferably, the stamps are formed by an image reduction scheme which reduces a full-screen image of a page of a document to a stamp size image and the present invention provides a method of achieving this. According to the invention as defined in the claims, a method of making a reduced image is provided. A particular embodiment of a method in accordance with this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a schematic view of a data processing system; Figures 2a to 2f are illustrations of a desk view displayed during use of the system of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an illustration of an instruction page for communicating through a facsimile coupled to the system of Figure 1; Figures 4a to 4b are illustrations of a black and white image reduction scheme; and, Figure 4c is an illustration of an image reduction scheme in accordance with this invention. Before describing the present invention in detail a general description will be provided of a data processing system which includes a graphically based user interface in a computer device which simulates a desk, referred to as the user's system desk, and user interaction with items on the desk. In a major screen view of the interface (hereinafter "desk view"), the desk is illustrated with "paper" documents, trays and/or folders for holding documents in user desired order, and various accessories, such as but not limited to, a stapler, means for mailing documents, a trash barrel, and means for providing blank paper. All items on the illustrated desk are moveable and are able to be placed in any position on the desk by movements of a stylus on a writing surface which mimic human motions of grabbing an item, moving an item and pointing to an item to establish selection of the item. The items are indicated in the screen view of the user's system desk by icons or illustrative representations, and movements of the stylus with respect to an item are indicated in the screen view by various cursors. In particular paper documents are illustrated on the user's system desk by reduced images, and items which provide a process or activity are represented on the user's system desk by icons. Some icons have various regions which, with certain treatment, provide different operation or use of the item represented by the icon. For example, the icon for a tray is re-positioned by a touch and move operation of the stylus on any visible portion (i.e. uncovered by other icons and/or reduced images) of the icon, and the icon enables labelling of the tray by a touch and lift operation of the stylus on the designated label area of the icon followed by a writing/erasing use of the stylus thereon. Hence, different parts of the icon provide different effects with respect to operation of the stylus therewith. In Figure 1 the data processing system 20 includes a computer terminal 10 with a keyboard 12 and a display unit 18, a two-ended electronic stylus 14 and an electronic tablet 16, all of which are connected to and driven by a digital processor 22. Digital processor 22 may be of the multi-task type but a single task type is assumed in the description of the preferred embodiment. Preferably an audio assembly having an input and output port, such as a telephone set 24, is also connected to the terminal 10 for combining audio information with visual information input through the stylus 14 and keyboard 12. In addition, a facsimile and/or network transmitter and receiver 51 is coupled to terminal 10 for providing further communication means. As used herein, "facsimile" refers to the method of transmitting images or printed matter by electronic means under the standards set forth by the International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee. It is understood that display unit 18 provides a video display but is not limited to a raster type CRT and may be of an LCD or gas plasma type display unit or of other display technology. The stylus 14 is used on an upper planar surface of the tablet 16 to perform certain tasks such as re-positioning displayed items, or selecting a displayed item for further processing. The actions of the stylus 14 on the surface of the tablet 16 are displayed on the display unit 18 and the positions on the tablet have a one to one correspondence with the view 26 displayed on the display unit 18. Thus, as the user applies the stylus 14 to the tablet surface, an image representation of what the user is doing with the stylus is provided in the view 26 of display unit 18. In the alternative, the tablet and display unit 18 may be a single unit such that the stylus 14 is operated directly on the screen of the display unit 18. The electronic stylus 14 and tablet 16 may be generally of the type described in U.S. Patents 4,644,102; 4,582,955 and 4,577,057 all to Blesser et al. In such systems, the tablet includes a grid of conductive elements and the stylus contains an electric coil. The coil in the stylus is inductively coupled to the grid in the tablet by energizing either the coil or the grid with an AC voltage signal. The voltage signal induced in the other component is then measured and used to determine the position of the stylus relative to the grid. The unique features of the electronic stylus 14 and tablet 16 of the present invention are presented in detail in related EP-A-0,374,241 and are only summarized here. The two-ended stylus 14 operates from either end, the writing tip end 30 or the eraser end 28. When either the writing tip end 30 or the eraser end 28 is in close proximity (about 2cm or less) to the surface of the table 16, that end is sensed and indicated in the view 26 of display unit 18 by a representative cursor. Two factors are used in sensing the proximity of either ends 28, 30 of the stylus 14 to the surface of tablet 16. The factors include a height position along an axis perpendicular to the tablet surface (i.e. z-axis) as detected by the circuits of the tablet 16 and a pressure indication sensed by a pressure transducer in the stylus 14. Preferably tablet 16 comprises an x- and y-axis sampling circuit, where x and y are orthogonal axes in the plane of the tablet surface, and a separate z-axis sampling circuit. The x- and y-axis and z-axis sampling circuits operate on a pre-determined schedule and generate signals which are converted into respective digital values. The digital values are used in a relationship known in the art to provide an indication of position of the stylus 14 relative to the tablet 16 along the x, y and z axes. In addition, the writing tip end 30 and the eraser end 28 of the stylus 14 are alternately driven by a tablet processor. When one end is moved into and sensed in proximity of the tablet surface, then just that end is driven. The driven stylus end responds to four different manners of operation to provide different effects. A "touch and lift" operation is used for selecting an item exhibited on display unit 18. Preferably once the writing tip end 30 or the eraser end 28 makes contact with the tablet surface, the "touch" part of the operation is defined but the user must lift the stylus end 28, 30 from the tablet surface within the succeeding second or so to define the "lift" portion of the operation. If the user delays in lifting stylus end 28, 30, then the "touch and list" operation is not invoked and no effect results. A "touch and move" operation enables the user to move a displayed item anywhere in the view 26 of display unit 18. The operation is invoked upon the user placing the writing tip end 30 or the eraser end 28 on the tablet surface and moving the stylus end 28, 30 while maintaining it in contact with the tablet surface for more than a preset number of pixels, for example 4 pixels. The third and fourth manners of operation depend on the stylus end being driven. In the case of the writing tip end 30 of the stylus 14, use of the end 30 in a writing manner inserts markings on a chosen displayed document. In the case of the eraser end 28 being driven, erasing with the eraser end 28 deletes certain writing tip end markings or portions thereof. In particular, the eraser end 28 when driven alone allows operation in a manner which removes markings or parts thereof that have been made by the writing tip end 30 within the same session of writing/ erasing on a chosen displayed item. Further, the eraser end 28 removes markings in a wider band than the band in which the writing tip end 30 writes. Whether movement of the stylus causes writing/erasure or movement of an item, depends on whether a writing surface is displayed and whether the cursor is at the edge or center of the writing surface. Optionally the stylus 14 may be of other designs, for example single working ended. In that case, erasure may be provided through keyboard operations or the like. Cursor indications of the above described operations of the stylus 14 on the tablet 16 are provided by known methods. In the preferred embodiment a cursor replicating a sharpened pencil tip is displayed when a writing surface is displayed and the writing tip end 30 of the stylus 14 is thus used for writing, and an eraser top cursor is displayed when the eraser end 28 of the stylus 14 is used for erasing. As generally shown in Figure 2a, a cursor 69 replicating a hand with the index finger positioned in a pointing fashion is displayed when a writing surface is not displayed and either end of the stylus 14 is used in the "touch and lift" method for selecting a displayed item. The cursor 69 moves in correspondence with movement of stylus 14 during operation in the "touch and lift" manner. A close fisted hand cursor 301 is displayed when either end of the stylus 14 is used to grab and move a displayed item in the "touch and move" method of use shown in Figure 2b. Specifically, the cursor 301 may be used to grab a document stamp, tray or accessory on the desk, or may be used to grab the edge of a displayed writing surface to move the surface. Other cursors may be used to provide an illustrative indication of the manners in which the stylus 14, is being used. As illustrated in Figures 2a to 2e, the desk view 32 is central to the various tasks and applications of the system 20 and serves as the visual portion of the interface between the user and digital processor 22. In a preferred embodiment, the desk view 32 provides a user's system desk 36 which represents the computer work area of the user and appears as the background of the desk view 32. On the system desk 36, the desk view 31 provides miniaturized images or stamps 34 of various documents which have been created and/or annotated by the annotation capabilities of system 20, some documents of which originated from a screen capture of the view displayed during interruption of a program. Although the stamp representations of the documents are specifically similar to icons, the stamps 34 are more functional and informative than icons. In particular, various direct treatment and direct manipulation of stamps 34 in desk view 32 are accomplished by applying the different stylus operations to the stamps. For instance, the full-screen image of a document may be viewed on screen 26 from the desk view 32 by selection of the corresponding stamp 34. Selection of a stamp 34 during the desk view 32 is accomplished by the touching and lifting of one end of stylus 14 on the tablet position which corresponds to a position within bounds of the corresponding stamp 34 in the desk view 32. Upon completion of the touch and lift operation of the stylus 14, a full screen view of the document is displayed on display unit 18. Thereafter the document may be annotated in full screen view by the stylus 14 operated in its writing and erasing manners, by the keyboard 12 and by audio input through the audio assembly 24. Also the stamps 34 of a user's documents may be directly moved around on the system desk 36 by the user operating the writing tip end 30 or eraser end 28 of stylus 14 in the "touch and move" manner with respect to any region within bounds of the stamps 34 shown in Figure 2b. That is, to re-position stamp 34, the user points with and places an end 28, 30 of the stylus 14 on a position on the tablet surface which corresponds to a position on or enclosed within border 35 of the desired document stamp 34 as displayed in the desk view 32, drags the stylus end 28, 30 across the surface of the tablet 16 to the desired position on the tablet 16 which corresponds to the desired ending position in the desk view 32, and removes the stylus end 28, 30 from the tablet surface. During the dragging of the stylus end 28, 30 across the tablet surface, the display unit 18 shows the stamp 34 of the desired document being moved from its initial position, through various intermediate positions, to the desired position on the system desk 36 in correspondence with the dragging of the stylus end 28, 30 across the surface of the tablet 16. When the user lifts the end 28, 30 of the stylus 14 off the surface of the tablet 16, the user stops operation of the stylus in the "touch and move" manner and thus ends the ability to move the document stamp 34 on the system desk 36. Preferably, the cursor 301 depicting a close fisted hand is illuminated adjacent one side of the document stamp 34 by which the stamp appears to be moved as shown in Figure 2b. The close fisted hand cursor 301 and adjacent document stamp 34 move in the same pattern along the desk view as the writing tip end 30 or eraser end 28 moves along the tablet surface. By multiple use of "touch and move" operation described above, document stamps 34 may also be stacked in certain desired groups established by the user. Within a stacked group of stamps 34, a stamp 34 may be automatically brought to the top of the stack by a touching of a stylus end on the tablet position which corresponds to a visible portion (i.e. not hidden within the stack) of the stamp 34. Selection of the stamp 34 on the top of the stack, by the previously described touch and lift method of use of the stylus 14, provides a full screen view of the document represented by the stamp 34. In stacking the stamps 34, if the outer edges of the borders 35 of any two partially stacked stamps are within a pre-defined distance apart from each other then processor 22 automatically aligns the two stamps to form an aligned stack 71 shown in Figure 2b. Any other stamps 34 placed on stack 71 within the pre-defined border edge limits are also automatically aligned with the rest of the stamps in stack 71. Other aligned stacks 71 may be similarly formed. An aligned stack 71 behaves somewhat like a single stamp. Specifically, movement of the whole stack 71 is accomplished by the touch and move operation of the stylus 14 on side regions 73 of the aligned stack, and selection of the top stamp 75 of the stack provides a full screen view of the associated document. The stamp 75 on top of the aligned stack 71 is the only stamp in the stack which may be selected and/or removed from the aligned stack 71 by the operations of the stylus. The graphical representation of the automatic aligning of stamps 34 is referred to as "snapping to" because the stamps within the pre-defined side region limits of each other appear to co-operate with each other in a manner which quickly positions one exactly on top of the other. As the stack 71 grows, incremental offsets between stamps of the stack are provided to provide a 3-D illustration of the stack. In addition to the various stamps 34 of documents, the desk view 32 provides indications of various depositories for documents, and various accessories which represent operations of processor 22 that the user can elect to perform from the user's system desk 36 as described later. One depository is preferably labelled the "In Box" 63 and serves as a tray for receiving all new documents created by the user and any mail sent to the user by electronic mail as shown in Figure 2c. The In Box is globally known and is interfaced to the pre-established electronic mail system, and thus accessible for mail purposes throughout a network of terminals to which system 20 belongs. Common addressing techniques are used. The user-owner of the system desk 36 may establish other trays on the system desk 36 in two types. Both types of trays, active and passive, hold stamps 34 selected by the user and provide means for organizing items, especially stamps 34, on the system desk 36 as shown in Figure 2c. An active tray 40 may be accessed throughout the network of terminals which communicate with the local terminal 10 of the user-owner. Hence, active trays 40 may hold items provided to the local user by other users. Each active tray 40 is labelled with a user specified name which is recognizable to other users throughout the network. Processor 22 accordingly provides a globally accessible address which corresponds to the named tray. For each active tray 40, the user-owner of the active tray specifies to the processor 22 the other users which are authorized to access the active tray. In addition, the user-owner specifies desired automatic processes and particular rights of each chosen user of an active tray 40. The automatic processes enable the selected users to alphabetize, chronologically order or otherwise manipulate the contents of a respective active tray. The user-owner specifiable rights enable the selected users to access respective active trays in various manners. In particular, "put rights" are specified to the processor 22 to enable a selected user to add items to a certain active tray 40. "Take rights" are specified to enable a selected user to retrieve items from a certain active tray 40. "Inquiry rights" are specified to enable a selected user to ask and obtain information about the contents of a certain active tray 40. "Rights to copy" are specified to enable a selected user to obtain a copy of the current contents of a certain active tray 40. One or a combination of the foregoing automatic processes and/or rights may be specified for each user per active tray 40. Typical data structures and control means are employed by the processor 22 to determine which users have what automatic processes and/or rights to each active tray 40. Upon establishment of an active tray 40, the users enabled to access the tray and the automatic processes and/or rights of each selected user, and the name of the active tray 40 is automatically (i.e. by processor means) listed in each selected user's electronic phone book listing. Preferably the name of the active tray 40 and the specified automatic processes and/or rights to the tray for the specified user is listed under the name of the user-owner of the active tray 40. Several names of active trays, each with several chosen rights, may thus appear in the specified user's phone book listing under other users' names. In contrast to the active trays, a passive tray 42 may be accessed only by the user of the local terminal 10. A user establishes a passive tray 42 by providing a local name, that is one which is not known throughout any network of terminals. As shown in Figure 2c, all icons of the trays (In-Box 63, active trays 40, passive trays 42) generally appear to be rectangular in shape with a central region 48 for receiving document stamps or other items. Another portion 44 of the rectangular shape provides a writing surface or labelling area for a desired name to be inserted. In the case of passive trays 42 the user is able to directly write with the stylus 14 or to type with keyboard 12 in the labelling area 44 a desired name for the tray. Preferably, a touch and lift use of the stylus 14 on a position on tablet 16 corresponding to a position on the labelling portion 44 initiates a window process for labelling the tray 42. The window is preferably the size of the label portion 44. Within the initiated window, a pencil tip or eraser cursor is displayed and a subsequent scribing motion of the writing tip end 30 on the tablet position corresponding to the labelling portion 44 of the tray generates the user chosen name of the tray on that portion of the tray in the user's handwriting. Similarly, by positioning a typing cursor 46, with the touch and move method of use of the stylus 14, on the labelling portion 44 and thereafter typing the tray's name via keyboard 12 products a typewritten version of the tray's name on the labelling portion 44. Further, a combination of typing through keyboard 12 and writing with stylus 14 to produce the tray's name on the labelling portion 44 of the tray may be used. Stylus markings or portions thereof may be erased by rubbing eraser end 28 of stylus 14 on the tablet position corresponding to the desired stylus markings or portions thereof in desk view 32. A menu-pick from a menu associated with the window enables termination of the window process initiated to label the tray and returns the user to the desk view 32 with the tray labelled as desired. In addition, for each tray icon 63, 40, 42, any portion of the tray which is not covered by any stamp or item being held by the tray, is used to re-position the tray on the user's system desk 36 by the touch and move operation of the stylus 14, in the same manner that a stamp 34 is re-positioned. It is understood that if the tray is holding a stamp or other items, the contents move with the re-positioning of the tray as expected with an everyday tray holding papers on a office desk. Such re-positioning of the tray 40, 42, 63 with the stylus 14 is distinguished from the scribing on the tray with stylus 14 due to the regional part of the tray icon on which the user acts with the stylus 14. Further, when a user manually retrieves a stamp 34 from a tray using the touch and move operation of the stylus 14 on the stamp 34, the user must operate on or within the stamp border 35 to move the stamp 34 out of the tray (Figure 2c). Processor 22 recognizes such retrieval of a stamp 34 from a tray to be different than the re-positioning of the tray holding the stamp 34 by the stylus operating on the stamp 34 versus a visible portion (i.e. uncovered) of the tray. Other stamp holding elements may be used in lieu of or in combination with the trays 40, 42. For example, folders 45 may be used to similarly hold stamps in a user desired order as illustrated in Figure 2d. A touching and lifting of the stylus 14 on a labelling portion of a folder 45 initiates a window process for labelling which is similar to that described above for trays 42. A touch and lift of the stylus 14 on a remaining portion of the folder 45 selects the folder such that the folder opens and displays the stamps contained therein. The stamps 34 may be moved from a front side up position on the right side of the open folder to a front side down position on the left side of the folder by the touch and move operation of the stylus 14 on the stamps 34 in the folder 45. Such operation of the stamps 34 in the folder allows the user to scan through the stamps while maintaining the order of the stamps. This feature mimics the familiar actions used with actual papers which are to be kept in a desired order within a folder or the like. With the touch and move operation of the stylus, other stamps may be added to a desired side of the folder 45 automatically assuming a respective front side up or front side down position to further ensure maintenance of the desired order. Stamps 34 when removed from the folder 45 assume a front side up position to enable individual display in the desk view 32. The folder 45 is closed by a touch and lift of the stylus on a visible portion of the inside of the folder. The folder, opened or closed, is re-positioned in the desk view 32 by the touch and move operation of the stylus 14 on the remaining (i.e. not labelling) portion of the folder 45. Other depository areas in desk view 32 are designated by icons labelled with names of other users in communication with the terminal 10 of the user. These named depository icons 50 serve as outgoing mail drops for the user to send documents to a particular user as illustrated in Figure 2c. To send documents to other users who do not have an associated named depository on the user's system desk 36, the pre-existing electronic mail system of a network of terminals is used. An icon representing a mailbox 52 provides the user with the services of the electronic mail system. To mail a document to a user through a named depository icon 50 or to request the services of the electronic mail system, the user uses the "touch and move" method of use of the writing tip end 30 or eraser end 28 of stylus 14 on the position on the tablet 16 which corresponds to a position on the stamp 34 of the document desired to be mailed. The user moves the stamp 34 of the desired document and places the stamp on top of the named depository icon 50 or on top of the mailbox icon 52 in the desk view 32. When the user lifts the stylus end 28, 30, the processor 22 performs the electronic mailing accordingly using known electronic mail methods. In the preferred embodiment, the leaving of a stamp 34 on the mailbox icon 52 activates a send-mail routine which provides a graphical interface in the form of an address book 83 shown in Figure 2e. The address book 83 serves as a workstation directory of all users of the system 20 of Figure 1 or of a network of such systems. When the send-mail routine is activated, processor 22 exhibits an illustration of a common address book 83 with lettered tabs 85 arranged in alphabetical order along one side of the address book 83. To select a recipient of the document represented by the stamp 34 used to activate the send-mail routine, the user opens the address book 83 to the name of the desired recipient. This is accomplished by the user touching and lifting an end of stylus 14 on the tablet position which corresponds to the screen position of the lettered tab 85 that indicates the first letter of the last name of the desired recipient. Upon such action, the selected tab 85 is illuminated in reverse video form to indicate to the user that the letter indicated on tab 85 has been selected. The names of potential recipients/users of the system 20 whose last name begin with the chosen letter of the alphabet are displayed along with their phone number and names of any of their trays to which the user has access. The user selects a recipient's name, from the displayed page in the opened address book 83, by the touch and lift use of one end of stylus 14. To aid in eye-hand co-ordination during selection with the stylus 14, the area displayed around a listed name is illuminated in reverse video form when the stylus end is positioned near the tablet position which corresponds to the listed name. Once a listed name is chosen, an asterisk appears beside the listed name. In the same manner, the user may choose other recipients to simultaneously receive the document of the subject stamp by changing pages and choosing desired names on various pages in address book 83. A recipient may be unselected in the same manner as he was selected. Further, an option 81 to quit/send no mail is available at all times to allow the user to cancel the mailing process. After all desired recipients have been chosen, a final touch and lift use of the stylus 14 to select a send mail option 79 enables the mailing process to be executed. In the preferred embodiment, it is valuable to be able to mail a document comprising text, graphics, images, written annotations and voice data between different workstations or terminals 10. At each workstation 10, system 20 employs a router routine for packing and transferring files associated with a stamp of a document from the terminal 10 to a network server or pertinent device drivers. The router routine packages, in a pre-defined format which is acceptable by the network server or device drivers, the necessary files which include an index file, image data file, graphics file, text file, and written annotations and voice data files. The index file holds the addresses of the desired recipients. The router routine transfers the formatted package to the network server along with the addresses of the chosen recipients. The pre-existing electronic mail program, in communication with the network server, recognizes the transferred package and recipient addresses, and subsequently delivers the files of the document to appropriate trays (i.e. In Box 63 or named active tray 40) on the system desks of the chosen recipients. The address of a chosen recipient may be a network memory address, a facsimile number, a PC Local Area Network number, a PBX identification number, and/or a standard data modem address. In the case of a facsimile address, the router routine converts text files and annotations from vector to raster image form during packaging due to the image-only handling requirement of facsimile machines. In the same manner, system 20 at each workstation 10 employs the router routine for receiving and unpacking mail sent to the local user. In particular, the router routine prompts the user of the incoming mail and the line over which the mail is being sent to system 20. The router routine then provides necessary handshaking and timing protocol between the systems 20 network server or device driver servicing the sending party over a PC LAN or network line. When the sending party is communicating over a facsimile line no such handshaking is possible, hence image data is sent without delay to facsimile machine 51 coupled to system 20. Upon receipt of the incoming package, the router routine obtains from the received package the necessary files associated with the subject document, and subsequently places the files in local memory. The stamp representing the received mail is displayed in the In Box 63 in the desk view 32 of the receiving user to indicate to the user that new information is available from his system desk 36. To further provide the user with a graphical indication of the processor 22 sending mail and/or receiving mail, an image of a mailbag may be exhibited during execution of the router routine for each document mailed or received. The mailbag is illustrated with the insertion or removal of pieces of paper, each representing a different file associated with a document, to provide an indication of the number of files of each document. In order to implement communication through facsimile from the system 20, a facsimile modem card is coupled to the processor (e.g., a personal computer) which the supports workstation terminal 10 (Figure 1) or a stand alone facsimile machine 51 is interfaced with the workstation digital processor 22. With either configuration installed at a first and second, or more, workstations 10, the first and second workstations 10 are able to communicate with each other via facsimile. The data able to be communicated in this case is not just image data. Instead voice data, text data, image data and all written annotations of a document are able to be sent back and forth between the two workstations 10 through the respective facsimile machines. This is accomplished by the network server or device driver communicating with the modem of the facsimile machine and thus bypassing the original manufactured facsimile protocol which requires that only machine recognizable images be sent and/or received. In addition, communication by a user from a remote facsimile to his workstation 10 is made possible by the foregoing configuration. Communication is initiated by a specially designed instruction page illustrated in Figure 3. The user completes the instruction page by supplying the number of the remote facsimile which he is using and the desired commands such as "send messages in In Box". Once completed, the instruction page is sent through the remote facsimile to the facsimile coupled to the user's workstation 10. The router routine at the user's workstation 10 is programmed to recognize the special instruction page, and thereafter packages the specified commands from the instruction page into proper form for processing by processor 22. In turn, processor 22 searches the specified desk item or system desk 36 and obtains the requested documents or manipulates the specified documents as requested. In the case of a command to retrieve certain documents, the router routine packages the data obtained from processor 22 with the remote facsimile number which was previously provided by the user on the instruction page and transmits the data to the remote facsimile. The user at the remote facsimile subsequently receives the documents he requested on the instruction page. It is understood that various and numerous commands may be similarly communicated to the user's workstation 10 from the remote facsimile. Examples of the variety of commands and thus extensive control over the user's system desk 36 are instructions for re-arranging the items in the desk view 32, instructions for retrieving documents of stamps in the desk view 32, instructions for providing a current image of the desk view 32 to aid the user in deciding further instruction, and combinations thereof. Also the current image of the desk view 32 provided to the remote user from the workstation 10, may be return transmitted (i.e. from the remote user to the workstation 10) with further instructions from the user. Also provided in desk view 32 as illustrated in Figure 2c is "printer" icon 72. Using the touch and move operation of the stylus 14 on a stamp 34, the user moves the stamp 34 of the desired document and positions the stamp 34 on the printer icon 72. After the user moves the stamp 34 onto printer icon 72, and lifts the stylus end 28, 30 from the tablet surface, the processor 22 performs a routine to provide printing of the document represented by stamp 34 at a connected printer. In a preferred embodiment, an illustration of push button controls 78 commonly employed by typical photo copy machines is displayed to prompt the user to enter the number of copies desired to be generated as shown in Figure 2f. To select a desired number, the user uses the "touch and lift" method of use of one end of the stylus 14 on the tablet position corresponding to the illustrated button 82 which designates the desired number of copies. A cursor 80 illustrating a hand with an extended index finger mimics the "touch and lift" motion of the stylus 14 and gives the illusion of the user depressing the desired button 82 as he normally would on a photo copy machine. After entering the number of desired copies, the user completes the request for document printing by touching and lifting the stylus end on corresponding start button 77. Upon completion of a request for document printing, the document is printed in paper form on a local printer connected to processor 22, and the corresponding stamp 34 is automatically returned to its position on system desk 36 prior to the request for printing. Re-positioning of the printer icon 72 in desk view 32 is accomplished by operating the stylus in the touch and move manner on any part of icon 72 similar to repositioning depository icons 50, 52 and/or stamps 34 in the desk view 32. The copy machine icon 87 also illustrated in Figure 2c operates in a manner similar to the operation of the printer icon 72 but provides a duplicate of a desired document through its corresponding stamp 34. Using the touch and move method of use of the stylus 14, the desired stamp 34 is moved onto printer icon 72. Upon the user lifting the stylus 14, the processor 22 provides the generation of a duplicate of the stamp positioned on the copy machine icon 87 and returns the stamp 34 to its position on system desk 36 prior to the request for copying it. The generated duplicate stamp is first displayed in the In Box 63 or underneath copier 87, or at another suitable position in the desk view 32. Re-positioning of the copier icon 87 is the same as re-positioning the printer icon 72. The trash barrel icon 74 provides means for disposing of documents as shown in Figure 2c. Re-positioning of trash barrel icon 74 is by a touching and moving use of the stylus on a base portion 86 of the icon which is preferably highlighted when pointed to by the cursor corresponding to the working end of the stylus 14. Disposing of a document is performed by placing a corresponding stamp 34 on the illustrated trash barrel 74 using the touch and move operation of the stylus on the desired stamp 34. Upon the user leaving the stamp 34 on the trash barrel icon 74, the processor stores the stamp accordingly. A subsequent positioning of the stylus end over the lid 84 of the trash barrel icon 74 causes the lid 84 to be highlighted to indicate to the user that a stamp has been disposed in the trash barrel. Removal of a disposed item is by the user touching a stylus end 28, 30 on a tablet position corresponding to the lid 84 of trash and moving the stylus end 28, 30 in contact with the tablet surface to a position which corresponds to an area outside of trash barrel 74. The last item to have been placed in the trash barrel 74 is the first item to be retrieved by the foregoing method. Other ordering of items for retrieval may be used depending on the data structure employed to implement the trash barrel 74 which is, in general, a disk storage area. According to the foregoing, processor 22 must distinguish treatment through the lid 84 from that to the base 86 of trash barrel 74. Other icons in desk view 32 provide processor operations to provide a new piece of paper (e.g to create a new document) 76, to scan into system 20 a desired image 89 and to return to a working program 38 as shown in Figure 2c. Selection of these operations is by the user touching and lifting one end 28, 30 of the stylus 14 on the position on the tablet 16 corresponding to the screen position of the respective icons 76, 89, 38. Further details of the processor operations for providing a new piece of paper and for returning to a working program are provided in the prior referenced EP-A-0,374,241. The processor operation for scanning an image preferably operates a scanner coupled to processor 22 in workstation 10. The image being scanned may be displayed on display unit 18 during the scanning. Upon completion of the scanning a menu pick or other means allows the user to return to the desk view 32 with a stamp of the scanned image delivered to the In Box 63. As shown in Figure 2c, the desk view 32 also displays an icon 55 for providing information particular to the document corresponding to a desired stamp 34. The icon 55 is moved to the desired stamp with the touch and move operation of the stylus 14. Upon releasing the icon 55 on the stamp 34, the processor 22 generates text stating who has annotated the document, when and the basic contents of the annotations, and thus the history of the compiling of the document. The icon 55 thereafter is automatically returned to its position before it was moved to the desired stamp. Icon 55 may be re-positioned in the desk view 32 like the above mentioned icons and stamps 34. Two further accessories provided by the desk view 32 are a stapler 88 and a staple remover 90. Like the other accessories, icons of stapler 88 and staple remover 90 are re-positionable by the touch and move operation of the stylus 14 and are operational by a positioning of the icon relative to a desired stamp. Both accessories operate in a similar manner and require their icons being moved to subject stamps 34 rather than the stamps 34 being moved to their icons for operation. Preferably, the user places an end of the stylus 14 on the tablet position which corresponds to the sides of the stapler icon 88 (or staple remover icon 90) and moves the stapler icon 88 (or staple remover icon 90) with the touch and move operation of stylus 14 to the previously stacked stamps 34 which represent the documents desired to be stapled (unstapled). In the case of stapling, the stamps are previously positioned by the user in an aligned stack in the order desired for stapling. In the case of unstapling, the stack of stamps holds stamps 34 in an order fixed by a prior stapling. Once the stapler icon 88 (staple remover icon 90) is positioned over the desired stack of stamps 34 to be stapled (unstapled), the user lifts the stylus end 28, 30 from the tablet surface. Upon the lifting of the stylus end the processor 22 staples (unstaples) the stamps 34 and corresponding documents. The stapler icon 88 (staple remover icon 90) is automatically returned to its position in the desk view prior to moving it to the desired stack of stamps. Once stapled together, stamps 34 act as expected. That is, the stapled stamps move together and are able to be stacked with single stamps 34, stacked stamps 34 and/or stapled stamps. Newly unstapled stamps 34 return to their form prior to stapling. They may be single stamps or previously stapled stamps which may be further unstapled. Hence, the stamps behave in a manner which simulates the behaviour of paper documents in everyday usage and the user interface of desk view 32 provides computer automation of everyday usage without complicated commands or complex user-to-computer protocol. The foregoing has described specific accessories or processor operations provided in the desk view 32. In general, the accessories are of three classes of moveable icons: desk tools (e.g. stapler), applications activated with a document (e.g. mail, trash barrel), and applications activated without a document, (e.g. note pad, all done). However, other types of accessories such as facsimile transfer of documents may be included and similarly implemented. Further, upon initiation of the system 20, the various icons corresponding to the different accessories may be pre-arranged along one or more sides of the system desk 36. Alternatively a default initial desk view 32 may contain the In Box 63 and a catalogue type interface with which the user places an order, that is selects, desired accessories. The icons of selected accessories appear in the In Box and are subsequently removed from the In Box and arranged on the system desk 36 by the user operating the stylus 14 in the touch and move mode. In any case after initially obtaining accessory icons on the system desk 36, the icons may be subsequently re-arranged by the user by the touch and move operation of the stylus 14. Also as described above, stamps 34 and trays alike may be re-arranged by the user as he likes. Further, the desk view 32 maintains the new arrangement of items until the user re-arranges the items again. Such freedom in re-positioning items on the system desk 36, with the confidence that the items will stay in one arrangement until moved by the user, further enhances the simulation of a user's interaction with a common everyday desk. Stamp Generation Each stamp 34 is actually a reduced image of a page of the corresponding document which the stamp represents. In a preferred embodiment, the original image (1024 pixels by 1024 pixels for example) of a document page is reduced by a factor of 8 to form a 128 pixel by 128 pixel stamp image. Reduction by a factor of other amounts would be suitable. Most importantly, the reduced image provides a sufficient portrayal of the corresponding document to be readily recognizable by the user upon a first glance with solid dark or light areas appearing solid and with thin lines and other details exaggerated so that they in fact appear in the reduced image. Such visual identification simulates the same in everyday interaction with a common desk. In the case of black and white images, that is images formed of binary pixels which are either "on" (white) or "off" (black), the image could be reduced by simply creating a black (off) or white (on) pixel of the reduced image dependent on whether the number of black pixels in the corresponding block of pixels of the larger image exceeds some pre-defined threshold. However, more information can be retained to make stamps more recognizable by utilizing some form of contrast enhancement in the reduction process. In such a case of black and white, binary pixel original images, the image reduction scheme employed by the present invention to form black and white stamps 34 is illustrated in Figures 4a and 4b. The original image 65 is partitioned into blocks 54, 56,...70,...n, each of 8 original pixels by 8 original pixels (i.e. 64 original pixels per block). Each block 54, 56,...70,...n corresponds to one pixel 54'...n' of the stamp image 34. For simplicity in illustration, the same reference numeral is used to label the 8 x 8 block of original pixels and the corresponding pixel of stamp 34 but the reference numeral is primed to indicate a stamp image pixel. It is understood that each block corresponds to a different stamp pixel and that each block of original pixels has a black count (i.e. the number of pixels whose state is black or "off") and a white count (i.e. the number of pixels whose state is white or "on") which together total 64. The relative counts (black count or white count) of the block of original pixels with respect to the average counts of adjacent blocks determines the state (i.e. black or white) of the corresponding stamp image pixel. Stamp image pixels which form the border of the stamp are all of the same state, preferably black. In a specific example, the state of stamp pixel 62' is determined by the black or white count of corresponding block 62 relative to the average black or white count of adjacent blocks 54, 56, 58, 60, 64, 66, 68 and 70. The black or white count of corresponding block 62 is the number of black or white pixels, respectively, and the sum of the black and white counts is 64, the number of original pixels which compose block 62. Similarly, the average counts of the adjacent blocks 54, 56, 58, 60, 64, 66, 68 and 70 are determined by the average number of black pixels and the average number of white pixels in the blocks. Say for example, 11 of the 64 original pixels in block 62 are black and 71 of the original pixels throughout adjacent blocks 54, 56, 58, 60, 64, 66, 68 and 70 are black. Block 62 is then determined to have a black count which is greater than the average black count of the adjacent blocks which would need a total of 88 black original pixels (i.e. an average black count of 11 in each of the eight adjacent blocks) to match the black count of block 62. Corresponding stamp pixel 62' is thus assigned a state of black. In the same way, if the white count of block 62 were greater than the average white count of the adjacent blocks then corresponding stamp pixel 62 ' would be assigned a state of white. If the black or white count of block 62 matches the respective average black or white count of the adjacent blocks, then the state of corresponding stamp pixel 62' is black if the black count of block 62 exceeds a pre-defined threshold, for example 32. The state of each non-border stamp pixel is similarly determined from the black and white counts of a corresponding block of original pixels and blocks adjacent thereto. Alternatively, the rule may be that the black or white count of a block of original pixels (e.g. block 62) must be greater than the respective average black or white count of the adjacent blocks (e.g. blocks 54, 56, 58, 60, 64, 66, 68 and 70) by a pre-determined amount in order for the corresponding stamp pixel (e.g. pixel 62' ) to be black or white respectively. Where the relative count of the original pixel block (block 62) is not sufficiently greater than the average count of the adjacent blocks to follow that rule, the corresponding stamp pixel (pixel 62' ) is black if the black count of the respective original pixel block (block 62) equals or exceeds the white count of that block (block 62). As previously mentioned, the foregoing image reduction scheme is particularly suited for original images 65 which are black and white as opposed to multi-coloured. In the case of a multi-coloured, including a grey scale, original image, the following image reduction scheme is employed by the present invention. Although the following discussion specifically illustrates reduction of an RGB (red, green, blue) image, it is understood that a grey scale image may be likewise reduced where the byte value of a pixel indicates an intensity of brightness. In a coloured image, the colouring of each pixel is formed of a red component, a green component and/or a blue component in contrast to the binary state of black or white in the case of black and white images. Each possible or available pixel colouring, in system 20, formed by various combinations and amounts of red, green and blue is preferably represented numerically by a byte value typically in the range of 0 to 255 where an 8-bit byte is used to hold the byte value. Each of the 256 byte values and hence each pixel colour available in system 20 is listed in a colour lookup table which, for a given byte value, identifies the amount of red, green and blue in the colour corresponding to the byte value. In addition, each snub-volume of a regularized partitioning of colour space, such as a 3-D colour space having orthogonal axes representing intensity of red, green and blue, is mapped to one of the 256 byte values and hence one of the available pixel colours in system 20. Thus, from a desired set of red, green and blue values, an automated procedure can quickly determine the byte value whose lookup table colour most closely matches the desired RGB combination. The multi-colour image reduction scheme of the present invention employs the colour lookup table and regularized mapping between colour space and byte values to determine from an original multi-colour image 57 the byte value and thus colouring of each stamp pixel in a stamp of the image 57 as illustrated by the following example shown in Figure 4c. Like the previously described image reduction scheme, the original image 57 is divided into uniform blocks of 8x8 pixels which each correspond to one stamp pixel in the stamp of the original image 57. If all the original image pixels of a block have the same byte values and thus are the same colour, the block is said to have a solid colour, and the stamp pixel which corresponds to the block is assigned the same byte value and hence the same colour. The blocks in Figure 4c numbered with a zero, two or five illustrate such a solid coloured block where each numeral designates a different colour and similar numbered blocks are the same solid colour. If a block comprises pixels of different byte values and thus different colours, such as block 61 in Figure 4c, then it must be determined whether there exists a unique identifiable background colour in the adjacent blocks. If no adjacent blocks have solid colours, or two or more adjacent blocks have solid colours different from each other (e.g. the blocks with colours 0,2 and 5), then it is determined that no unique identifiable background colour exists in this area of image 57. In this case, for each pixel in block 61, the byte value/colour of the pixel is located in the colour lookup table which in turn provides the amount of red, green and/or blue in the colouring of that pixel. From the provided amounts of red, green and blue, a sum amount of each component ( r, g, b) is obtained for the block 61. The sum amounts ( r, g, b), scaled or averaged as necessary, determine a position in the regularized partitioning of colour space which in turn identifies the most appropriate of the 256 available colours to represent block 61 in the stamp image. That byte value/ colour is assigned to the stamp pixel corresponding to block 61. If a block comprises pixels of different byte values/colours, such as block 93, and if those adjacent blocks which have solid colours (i.e. same byte values for each pixel therein) are of the same solid colour as each other, namely colour zero, then a unique identifiable background colour exists in this neighbourhood of the adjacent blocks. To preserve the foreground details provided by the pixels of block 93 in contrast to the thus detected background, the 3-D colour space of orthogonal axes representing intensity of red, green and blue is used to determine the byte value/colour of the stamp pixel which corresponds to block 93. The sum amounts of red, green and blue of all pixels in block 93 is obtained through the lookup table in the same manner as described for block 61 above. From the sum amounts are determined average red, green and blue amounts which define a first point in the 3-D colour space. The byte value of the detected background colour, colour zero, is located in the lookup table which provides associated red, green, blue amounts that define a second point in the 3-D colour space. A point in the 3-D colour space which is even further away from the second point than is the first point, and thus exaggerates or emphasizes the difference between the detected background colour and the colour comprised of the average red, green and blue amounts of block 93, is selected to define the colour of the stamp pixel corresponding to block 93. The selected point is mapped to a byte value according to the regularized partitioning of colour space, and that byte value is assigned to the corresponding stamp pixel. The remaining blocks are processed similarly to provide a stamp image with pixels coloured to form a diagonal line among pixels coloured 0, 2, and 5 corresponding to blocks of the same colours in the original image. The foregoing image reduction schemes ensure feature retention, that is, the preservation of some degree of detail of the original image in the stamp image. It may not be possible to preserve by prior known schemes fairly fine details such as a narrow or short offset colour line of the original image due to the limited number of pixels in the stamp image. However by the herein described schemes, the narrow line or subtle details of the original image produce a relative effect in the stamp image such that the stamp image as a whole is a more detailed or information preserving reduction of the original image. The above description of the stamp image resulting from the reduction of the original image shown in Figure 4c is an example of the degree of detail maintained from the image reduction schemes of the present invention. To accomplish the foregoing image reduction schemes for multi-coloured or black and white images, the necessary original image pixel information may be obtained from a full page representation stored in memory. The determination of sum colour of a block and hence adjacent blocks is thus accomplished in a line by line manner as the screen view 26 is refreshed. Stamp pixel colours are computed once the necessary block information is obtained. As the stamp pixel colours are computed, they are stored in an adequately sized RAM. Thereafter, that RAM provides the display of the stamp image 34 throughout operation of the processing system 20.

Claims: A method of making a reduced image of an original two-dimensional pixel image, each pixel being defined by three components each having a value which together define a corresponding point at a position in a 3-D colour space, said 3-D colour space comprising a plurality of points each of which defines a unique colour, the method comprising; dividing the original image into blocks, each block of the original image having a plurality of pixels, each block corresponding to a pixel in the reduced image; for each block, determining if all pixels are equal to a first colour in the block and, if so, making the corresponding pixel in the reduced image equal to the first colour; if all pixels are not equal to the first colour in the block, determining if a unique identifiable background colour is present in a plurality of blocks adjacent to said block; if a unique identifiable background colour is present, identifying a first point in said colour space relating to an average value of the components of the pixels in the block; identifying a second point in said colour space related to said background colour, said second point differing from said first point by a distance; and, selecting as the colour of the corresponding pixel in the reduced image, a colour having a position in the 3-D colour space which differs from the second point by an amount greater than the distance between the first and second points. A method of making a reduced image according to claim 1, in which the colour selected provides greater colour contrast to the background colour than the colour contrast between the colour at the first point and the background colour. A method of making a reduced image according to claim 1 or 2 in which the step of determining if there is a unique identifiable background colour comprises the steps of determining whether the surrounding blocks are single colour blocks, and whether the colours of all surrounding blocks are the same, and if so designating this single colour as the unique identifiable background colour, and if none of the surrounding blocks are single colour blocks, or have different colours, determining that no unique identifiable background colour is present. A method of making a reduced image according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the step of determining if there is a unique identifiable background colour comprises the steps of determining if any of the surrounding blocks are single colour blocks, and if so setting the unique identifiable background colour to this single colour. A method for making a reduced image according to any of the preceding claims, in which each pixel is represented with a byte value, the byte value having associated therewith the three components, and storing the components in a lookup table addressable by the byte values, in which the step of determining if all pixels are equal to a first colour comprises determining if all pixels are equal to a first byte value. A method of making a reduced image according to any of the preceding claims in which the step of converting the selected colour for each pixel of the reduced image includes giving a plurality of byte values. A method of making a reduced image according to any of the preceding claims wherein the surrounding blocks include all contiguous blocks. A method of making a reduced image according to any of the preceding claims, in which if a unique identifiable background colour is not present, determining an average of each of the three components of the block, and selecting as the colour of the corresponding pixel of the reduced image, a colour having a position in the 3-D colour space corresponding to the average of the three components. A method of making a reduced image according to any of the preceding claims in which the step of determining the average comprises determining the components of each of the pixels in the block, summing the corresponding components, and scaling the components. A method of making a reduced image according to claim 9 including the additional step of dividing the summed components by a number equal to the number of pixels in the block. A method of making a reduced image according to any of the preceding claims, in which the determination if all pixels are equal to a first colour in a block is by selecting one pixel within a block and comparing all other pixels to the selected one pixel to determine if the other pixels are equal. A method of making a reduced image according to any of the preceding claims in which the components comprise various intensities of red, green and blue.

Inventors: BOYD MARY JANE, BROWN BRUCE ERIC, HARUI ALEX J, KNOWLTON KENNETH C, LEVINE STEPHEN R, SCHIRPKE MICHAEL W, BOYD,MARY JANE, BROWN,BRUCE ERIC, HARUI,ALEX J., KNOWLTON, KENNETH C., LEVINE, STEPHEN R., SCHIRPKE, MICHAEL W.
Applicants: KODAK LTD, KODAK LIMITED
Application year: 1989
Main classification: G06T3
IPC codes: G06Q10, G06F3