Patent ID: 8023770

Claim:
A method for determining the orientation of an image, said method comprising: a) determining a best match value, wherein said best match value comprises a match measure and an associated best-match orientation; b) comparing a first connected-component object from an image to each numeral template in a first plurality of numeral templates, wherein said first plurality of numeral templates corresponds to a first orientation; c) comparing said first connected-component object to each numeral template in a second plurality of numeral templates, wherein said second plurality of numeral templates corresponds to a second orientation; d) updating said best match value based on said comparing a first connected-component object from an image to each numeral template in a first plurality of numeral templates and said comparing said first connected-component object to each numeral template in a second plurality of numeral templates; e) incrementing a first match counter, wherein said first match counter is associated with said first orientation, when said best-match orientation is said first orientation; f) incrementing a second match counter, wherein said second match counter is associated with said second orientation, when said best-match orientation is said second orientation; and g) selecting an image orientation for said image based on said first match counter and said second match counter.