Patent Abstract:
A system and method for automatically transposing an image from a circular image space to another image space, for example, horizontal. Examples of applications include a mail piece a roundel on a mail piece. On a mail piece, company name, city and state, or zip code information can be contained in the roundel instead of, for example, in the permit block. The system implements the methods electronically. Control and data information is electronically executed and stored on computer-readable media.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The system and method of the present embodiment relate generally to automatically transposing an image from a circular image space to a horizontal image space. 
     Electronically represented text can be oriented in various ways and, in some cases, parts of the text can be inverted in relation to other parts of the text. One situation in which this can occur is when text is located in a roundel, which is a circle containing text. On a mail piece, a roundel can be located, for example, to the left of a permit block and can contain, for example, text written along an inside edge of the roundel. Additionally, there can be another circle just inside the text. Company name, city and state, or zip code information can be contained in the roundel instead of, for example, in the permit block. Roundels can include, for example, text written in a circle (see  FIG. 3A ), and text oriented so that it is never upside-down to the reader (see  FIG. 3B ). 
     SUMMARY 
     The needs set forth above as well as further and other needs and advantages are addressed by the embodiments set forth below. 
     The present embodiment can automatically transpose a circular image to a horizontal image. The method of the present embodiment can include, but is not limited to including, the steps of choosing a starting pixel on the circumference of a circular image and choosing an end sampling pixel within the circular image. The method can also include the steps of computing the distance between the location of the starting pixel and location of the end sampling pixel, computing an angle based on the location of the starting pixel and the circumference of the circular image, and computing X and Y coordinates based on the center of the circular image, the angle, and the distance. The method can still further include the steps of copying a sample pixel located at the X and Y coordinates to a position in an image, for example, a horizontal or flattened image, that is based on where the sample pixel was sampled in the circular image, moving the sample point towards the end sampling pixel, and repeating the sampling steps until reaching the end sampling pixel. The method can even still further include the steps of moving to the next pixel along the circumference of the circular image and repeating the sampling steps as above until each pixel along the circumference has been visited, and storing the image in an electronic sink. 
     The system of the present embodiment can include, but is not limited to including, a pre-sampling processor for choosing a starting pixel on the circumference of a circular image and choosing an end sampling pixel within the circular image, computing the distance between the location of the starting pixel and location of the end sampling pixel, computing an angle based on the location of the starting pixel and the circumference of the circular image, and computing X and Y coordinates based on the center of the circular image, the angle, and the distance. The system can also include a sampler  23  for copying a sample pixel located at the X and Y coordinates to a position in an image, for example, a horizontal or flattened image, that is based on where the sample pixel was sampled in the circular image, moving the sample point towards the end sampling pixel, repeating the sampling steps until reaching the end sampling pixel, moving to the next pixel along the circumference of the circular image and repeating the sampling steps as above until each pixel along the circumference has been visited. The system can still further include an image creator for accessing the image and storing the image in an electronic sink. 
     For a better understanding of the present embodiments, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and detailed description. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of the system of the present embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram of the detail of a component of the system of the present embodiment; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are examples of text in roundels; 
         FIGS. 4A-4C  are examples of text of various layouts, for example, flipped ( FIG. 4B ); and 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are flowcharts of a method of an embodiment according to the teachings stated herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present embodiments are now described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following configuration description is presented for illustrative purposes only. Any computer configuration and architecture satisfying the speed and interface requirements herein described may be suitable for implementing the system and method of the present embodiments. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , system  100  ( FIG. 1 ) of the present embodiment can include, but is not limited to including, pre-sampling processor  11  ( FIG. 1 ) for choosing starting pixel  21  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) on circumference  13  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) of circular image  12  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ), equating a starting location of starting pixel  21  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) to circumference position  43  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ), equating circumference position  43  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) to next location  17  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ), choosing end sampling pixel  27  ( FIG. 2 ) within circular image  12  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ), computing distance  35  ( FIG. 1 ) between next location  17  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and end sampling pixel  27  ( FIG. 2 ), computing angle  37  ( FIG. 1 ) based on next location  17  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and circumference  13  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ), computing X coordinate  39  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and Y coordinate  41  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) based on the center of circular image  12  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ), angle  37  ( FIG. 1 ), and distance  35  ( FIG. 1 ). System  100  ( FIG. 1 ) can further include sampler  23  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) for copying sample pixel  33  ( FIG. 1 ) located at X coordinate  39  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and Y coordinate  41  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) to a position in target image  29  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) that is based on circumference position  43  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ), X coordinate  39  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ), and Y coordinate  41  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ), modifying next location  17  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ), accessing pre-sampling processor  11  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) until distance  35  ( FIG. 1 ) is substantially zero, modifying circumference position  43  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ), accessing pre-sampling processor  11  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) until the next circumference position  43  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) is adjacent to the starting location. System  100  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) can still further include an image creator  25  ( FIG. 1 ) for accessing target image  29  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and storing target image  29  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) in electronic sink  47  ( FIG. 1 ). Image creator  25  ( FIG. 1 ) can further equate the width of target image  29  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) to circumference  13  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ), and equate the height of target image  29  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) to the radius of circular image  12  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). Circular image  12  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and circumference  13  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and be provided by electronic source  31  ( FIG. 1 ), which can include, but is not limited to including, a scanner, keyboard input, or other means. 
     Referring now primarily to  FIG. 2 , sampler  23  can include, but is not limited to including, sample positioner  53  and pixel copier  51 , and pre-sampling processor  11  can include, but is not limited to including circumference processor  45  and radial processor  49 . Sample positioner  53  can compute angle  37  as
 
Angle 37=(( A *(360 /C ))*(π/180))  (1)
 
A is the location of starting pixel  21  and C is circumference  13  of circular image  12 . Sample positioner  53  can further define X coordinate  39  as
 
 X  Coordinate 39 =CP +(sin(Angle 37)* D )  (2)
 
and define Y coordinate  41  as
 
 Y  Coordinate 41 =CP +(cos(Angle 37)* D )  (3)
 
where CP is the center of circular image  12  and D is distance  35 .
 
     Continuing to refer to  FIG. 2 , optionally, sample positioner  53  can decrement next location  17  to move towards end sampling pixel  27 . Sample positioner  53  can also optionally determine the pixel location of an adjacent pixel that is adjacent to circumference position  43 , can set circumference position  43  to the pixel location, and can inform circumference processor  45  of the new value for circumference position  43 . Sample positioner  53  can even further optionally compute the position in target image  29  as position (XF, YF), where XF, the image X coordinate, is equal to next location  17 , and where YF, the image Y coordinate, is equal to the location at (X coordinate  39 , Y coordinate  41 ). Optionally, end sampling pixel  27  can be the center of circular image  12 . Radial processor  49  can decide how many points to sample in between starting pixel  21  and end sampling pixel  27  for each radial. Next location  17  falls on a pixel location because X coordinate  39  and Y coordinate  41  can be rounded to integer values after being calculated, for example, in floating point. Sampler  23  can sample grey, bilevel, and/or color pixels. Starting pixel  21  can lie outside circular image  12 , and end sampling pixel  27  can lie inside a circle inside circular image  12 , for example, if an inner circle exists, see  FIGS. 3A and 3B . If there is no inner circle in, for example, a mail product, sampler  23  can sample the outer half of the radius (plus some padding on both sides). Sampler  23  can sample points that are one pixel apart on or near circumference  13  and work inwards on an imaginary line towards end sampling pixel  27 . Thus, sometimes sampler  23  can sample the same pixel twice. Pixel copier  51  can store each sample pixel  33  ( FIG. 1 ) in target image  29  at a certain location, thereby forming target image  29 , as sampling proceeds. Target image  29  can contain grey, bilevel, and/or color output, without performing the step of binarization. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4A-4C , target image  29  ( FIG. 4A ) is shown after the conversion of method  150  ( FIGS. 5A-5B ) is complete.  FIGS. 4B-4C  illustrate half-flipped layout  59   FIG. 4B ) and flipped layout  61  ( FIG. 4C ). 
     Referring now primarily to  FIGS. 5A-5B , method  150  for automatically converting circular image  12  ( FIG. 1 ) associated with circumference  13  ( FIG. 1 ) to target image  29  ( FIG. 1 ) can include, but is not limited to including, the steps of (a) choosing starting pixel  21  ( FIG. 1 ) on circumference  13  ( FIG. 1 ) of circular image  12  ( FIG. 1 ); (b) equating starting location of starting pixel  21  ( FIG. 1 ) to circumference position  43  ( FIG. 1 ); (c) equating circumference position  43  ( FIG. 1 ) to next location  17  ( FIG. 1 ); (d) choosing end sampling pixel  27  ( FIG. 2 ) within circular image  12  ( FIG. 1 ); (e) computing distance  35  ( FIG. 1 ) between next location  17  ( FIG. 1 ) and end sampling pixel  27  ( FIG. 2 ); (f) computing angle  37  ( FIG. 1 ) based on next location  17  ( FIG. 1 ) and circumference  13  ( FIG. 1 ); (g) computing X coordinate  39  ( FIG. 1 ) and Y coordinate  41  ( FIG. 1 ) based on the center of circular image  12  ( FIG. 1 ), angle  37  ( FIG. 1 ), and distance  35  ( FIG. 1 ); (h) copying sample pixel  33  ( FIG. 1 ) located at X coordinate  39  ( FIG. 1 ) and Y coordinate  41  ( FIG. 1 ) to a position in target image  29  ( FIG. 1 ) that is based on circumference position  43  ( FIG. 1 ), X coordinate  39  ( FIG. 1 ) and Y coordinate  41  ( FIG. 1 ); (i) modifying next location  17  ( FIG. 1 ); (j) repeating steps (d)-(i) until distance  35  ( FIG. 1 ) is substantially zero; (k) modifying next circumference position  43  ( FIG. 1 ); (l) repeating steps (c)-(k) until next circumference position  43  ( FIG. 1 ) is adjacent to the starting location; and (m) storing target image  29  ( FIG. 1 ) in electronic sink  47  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     Referring now primarily to  FIG. 1 , method  150  ( FIGS. 5A-5B ) can optionally include the steps of equating the width of target image  29  ( FIG. 1 ) to circumference  13  ( FIG. 1 ) and equating the height of target image  29  ( FIG. 1 ) to the radius of circular image  12  ( FIG. 1 ). Method  150  ( FIG. 5 ) can further optionally include the steps of computing angle  37  ( FIG. 1 ) as Angle  37 =((A*(360/C))*(π/180)) wherein A=the location of starting pixel  21  ( FIG. 1 ) and C=circumference  13  ( FIG. 1 ) of circular image  12  ( FIG. 1 ), defining X coordinate  39  ( FIG. 1 ) as X Coordinate  39  (FIG.  1 )=CP+(sin(Angle  37  (FIG.  1 ))*D), and defining Y coordinate  41  ( FIG. 1 ) according to Y Coordinate  41  (FIG.  1 )=CP+(cos(Angle  37  (FIG.  1 ))*D), wherein CP=the center of circular image  12  ( FIG. 1 ) and D=distance  35  ( FIG. 1 ). In method  150  ( FIG. 5 ) end sampling pixel  27  ( FIG. 2 ) can be equal to the center of circular image  12  ( FIG. 1 ). Also, in method  150  ( FIG. 5 ), the step of modifying distance  35  ( FIG. 1 ) can include the step of decrementing distance  35  ( FIG. 1 ), and the step of modifying circumference position  43  ( FIG. 1 ) can include the steps of determining the pixel location of an adjacent pixel that is adjacent to circumference position  43  ( FIG. 1 ) and setting circumference position  43  ( FIG. 1 ) to the pixel location. Method  150  ( FIG. 5 ) can further optionally include the step of computing the position in target image  29  ( FIG. 1 ) as position (XF, YF), where XF, the image X coordinate,=circumference position  43  ( FIG. 1 ), and where YF, the image Y coordinate,=(X coordinate  39  ( FIG. 1 ), Y coordinate  41  ( FIG. 1 )). 
     The methods of the present embodiments can be, in whole or in part, implemented electronically. Signals representing actions taken by elements of system  100  ( FIG. 1 ) can travel over electronic communications media. Control and data information can be electronically executed and stored on computer-readable media. The system can be implemented to execute on a node  20  in a communications network  19 . Common forms of computer-readable media can include, but are not limited to, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, a hard disk, magnetic tape, or any other magnetic medium, a CDROM or any other optical medium, punched cards, paper tape, or any other physical medium with patterns of holes or ink or characters, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, or any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave, or any other medium from which a computer can read. 
     Although the teachings have been described with respect to various embodiments, it should be realized these teachings are also capable of a wide variety of further and other embodiments.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6