Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2006-0065557, filed on Jul. 12, 2006, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present general inventive concept relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method. More particularly, the present general inventive concept relates to an image processing apparatus which revises a certain region of a scanned image to meet a user&#39;s demand, and an image processing method that performs the same.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     An image processing apparatus, such as a computer system, serves as a host to a scanner and a multi-function device (hereinafter, to be referred to as a “scanning device”), and controls an operation of the scanning device according to a user&#39;s command. More specifically, the image processing apparatus scans a scanning object such as pictures and texts to receive an image (hereinafter, to be called a “scanned image”), and generates a final output image (hereinafter, to be called a “final image”) by performing a predetermined image process on the scanned image.  
         [0006]     When a user desires to generate the final image according to his/her demand, the image processing apparatus performs the image process on the scanned image according to a user&#39;s demand. Typically, the conventional image processing apparatus performs the image process on the overall scanned image.  
         [0007]     The scanning object sometimes has a plurality of images with different characters, like pictures and texts. In this case, a user may want the pictures to be milder while the text to be clearer.  
         [0008]     The conventional image processing apparatus performs the image process on the overall scanned image. Thus, the conventional image processing apparatus cannot process the image corresponding to respective parts thereof according to a user&#39;s demand.  
         [0009]     Even if the image is a single image, a user may want a certain part thereof to be revised. However, the conventional image processing apparatus does not provide such a function.  
         [0010]     The conventional image processing apparatus cannot revise a certain image or a certain region of a scanned image according to a user&#39;s demand, thereby failing to meet such a demand.  
         [0011]     When public offices or banks store and manage scanned images of ID cards, they may pixelate a part of people&#39;s faces or ID numbers of the scanned image. This work may be repeatedly done. In this case, a user should repeat the same scan setting operation for each image, causing inconvenience and inefficiency.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     Accordingly, the present general inventive concept provides an image processing apparatus which revises a certain region of a scanned image and meets a user&#39;s demand, and an image processing method that performs the same.  
         [0013]     The present general inventive concept also provides an image processing apparatus which does not require a user&#39;s command on a same operation while scanning and processing images repeatedly and improves a user&#39;s convenience, and an image processing method that performs the same.  
         [0014]     Additional aspects and utilities of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.  
         [0015]     The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the present general inventive concept are achieved by providing an image processing method, comprising: displaying a scanned image by scanning a scanning object; selecting a plurality of regions of the displayed scanned image; setting an image process to be performed on the selected regions; and generating a final image by performing the set image process on the selected regions.  
         [0016]     The selecting the respective regions may comprise displaying a selection box on the displayed scanned image.  
         [0017]     The position or size of the selection box is adjustable.  
         [0018]     The selection box can be selected and cancelled.  
         [0019]     The image processing method may further comprise: removing the selection box when the selection of the selected regions is cancelled.  
         [0020]     The image processing method may further comprise: restoring the image process performed on the selected regions when the selection of the selected regions is cancelled.  
         [0021]     The generating the final image may comprise: determining coordinate values of the selected regions of the scanned image; determining start indexes and end indexes of the selected regions based on the determined coordinate values; extracting data between the start and end indexes from data of the scanned image; performing the determined image processes to the extracted data; and combining the data performed with the image process and the data of the scanned image.  
         [0022]     The image processing method may further comprise: storing information on at least one of the selected regions and the determined image process.  
         [0023]     The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the present general inventive concept are also achieved by providing an image processing apparatus, comprising: a display part; an image processor which performs a predetermined image process on a scanned image generated by scanning a scanning object; and a controller which displays the generated scanned image on the display part, selects a plurality of regions of the displayed scanned image, determines an image process to be performed on the selected regions and controls the image processor to generate a final image by performing the determined image processes on the selected regions.  
         [0024]     The image processing apparatus may further comprise: a user interface (UI) processor which displays a selection box on the displayed scanned image according to a control of the controller.  
         [0025]     The controller can control the UI processor to adjust a position or a size of the selection box.  
         [0026]     The controller can control the UI processor to select the selection box or to cancel the selection of the selection box.  
         [0027]     The controller can control the UI processor to remove the selection box when the selection of the selected region is cancelled.  
         [0028]     The controller can control the image processor to restore the image process performed on the selected regions when the selection of the selected region is cancelled.  
         [0029]     The controller can determine coordinates values of the selected regions of the scanned image, determine start indexes and end indexes of the selected regions based on the determined coordinate values, extract data between the start and end indexes from data of the scanned image and control the image processor to perform the determined image processes on the extracted data and to combine the data performed with the image process and the data of the scanned image.  
         [0030]     The image processing apparatus may further comprise: a storage part which stores information on at least one of the selected regions and the determined image process.  
         [0031]     The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the present general inventive concept are also achieved by providing an image processing method, comprising: selecting certain regions of a scanned image with a user command; and generating a final image by performing predetermined image processes on the selected regions.  
         [0032]     The image processes performed on the selected regions can be performed according to a user command.  
         [0033]     The generating a final image can be performed by combining the processed images of the selected regions with the original scanned image.  
         [0034]     The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the present general inventive concept are also achieved by providing an image processing apparatus to process a scanned image, comprising: a user input part to receive a user command on a scanning operation; a storage part to store operation data to drive the image processing apparatus and to store result data from the operations of the image processing apparatus; and a controller to transmit a scanning command to a scanning device according to the user command received through the user input part, to control a user interface (UI) processor to display a user interface including the scanned image, selection boxes on the scanned image to select regions of the scanned image to be processed, and items to set a scanning operation to be performed on the selected regions, and to control the image processing apparatus to perform image processes on the selected regions of the scanned image according to the received user command.  
         [0035]     The user command on a scanning operation includes performing predetermined image processes on a scanned image.  
         [0036]     The controller can control the UI processor to adjust a position and/or size of the selection boxes according to a user command received through the user input part.  
         [0037]     The controller can determine coordinate values of the selected regions of the scanned image to perform the image processes, and determines start indexes and end indexes of the selected regions based on the coordinate values. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0038]     These and/or other aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:  
         [0039]      FIG. 1  is a control block diagram of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept;  
         [0040]      FIG. 2  illustrates a user interface (UI) according to the embodiment of the present general inventive concept;  
         [0041]      FIG. 3  illustrates a start index and an end index according to the embodiment of the present general inventive concept; and  
         [0042]      FIG. 4  is a control flowchart of an image processing method according to the embodiment of the present general inventive concept. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0043]     Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present general inventive concept by referring to the figures.  
         [0044]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an image processing apparatus  100  may comprise a computer system which serves as a host to a scanning device  200 . The image processing apparatus  100  controls an operation of the scanning device  200  according to a user command. More specifically, the image processing apparatus  100  can scan a scanable object having pictures and/or text to receive a scanned image, and can generate a final image by performing a predetermined image process on the scanned image.  
         [0045]     Particularly, the image processing apparatus  100  according to the present embodiment can select a certain region of the scanned image according to a user command and can generate a final image by performing the predetermined image process on the selected region. The image processing apparatus  100  determines an image process to be performed on the selected region, according to a user command.  
         [0046]     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the image processing apparatus  100  can comprise a user input part  110 , a storage part  120 , a user interface (UI) processor  130 , a display part  140 , an image processor  150 , a communicator  160  and a controller  170 . The user input part  110  can receive a user command related to a scanning operation and can transmit it to the controller  170 . The user input part  110  may comprise a keyboard, a mouse, etc. The storage part  120  can store operation data to drive the image processing apparatus  100  and result data from operations of the image processing apparatus  100  therein.  
         [0047]     The UI processor  130  can generate a user interface (UI)  10  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) to be displayed on the display part  140  under control of the controller  170 . The UI  10  according to the present embodiment can comprise a scanned image  12  and selection boxes  121   a  and  121   b  displayed on the scanned image  12 , as well as items  11  to set a scanning operation. The positions and sizes of the selection boxes  121   a  and  121   b  are adjusted by a user manipulation through the user input part  110 . The UI  10  may further comprise selection box cancellation icons  122   a  and  122   b  to cancel the selection of regions in the selection boxes  121   a  and  121   b , i.e., to remove the selection boxes  121   a  and  121   b.    
         [0048]     The display part  140  can display the UI  10  generated by the UI processor  130 . The display part  140  may comprise, for example, a cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor or a liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor. The image processor  150  performs the predetermined image process on the scanned image according to the control of the controller  170  and generates the final image. The communicator  140  can communicate with the scanning device  200  according to the control of the controller  170 . The communicator  140  may comprise a network card.  
         [0049]     The controller  170  controls the image processing apparatus  100  in general. The controller  170  transmits a scanning command to the scanning device  200  according to a user command. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the controller  170  controls the UI processor  130  to display the UI  10  when receiving the scanned image from the scanning device  200 .  
         [0050]     The controller  170  selects at least one region  12   a  and  12   b  of the scanned image  12  displayed on the UI  10 , according to a user command. In the present embodiment, the inside part of the selection boxes  121   a  and  121   b  displayed on the scanned image  12  becomes the user selected regions  12   a  and  12   b . The controller  170  controls the UI processor  130  to adjust the position or size of the selection boxes  121   a  and  121   b  according to a user command through the user input part  110 .  
         [0051]     Also, the controller  170  determines the image process to be performed on the selected regions  12   a  and  12   b , according to a user command. The image process according to the present embodiment can comprise an image process such as sharpness, blur, etc. A user may adjust the image process to be performed on the selected regions  12   a  and  12   b  through an adjustment item  11   b  to process the image. In this case, a user may adjust separate image processes for the respective regions  12   a  and  12   b  of the two selection boxes  121   a  and  121   b.    
         [0052]     The controller  170  can control the image processor  150  to perform the determined image processes on the selected regions  12   a  and  12   b  and to generate the final image. The image process can be performed on the regions  12   a  and  12   b  of the selection boxes  121   a  and  121   b . In a case when the selection of the regions  12   a  and  12   b  is cancelled, the controller  170  may control the image processor  150  to restore the image process performed on the selected regions  12   a  and  12   b.    
         [0053]     The controller  170  determines coordinate values of the selected regions  12   a  and  12   b  of the scanned image  12 , to perform the image process. The coordinate values may be represented two dimensions (x, y). In the present embodiment, coordinate values of corners of the selection boxes  121   a  and  121   b  may be used.  
         [0054]     The controller  170  determines start indexes and end indexes of the selected regions  12   a  and  12   b  based on the determined coordinate values. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the start index(s) and end index(s) according to the present embodiment respectively point to a start portion and an end portion of concerned data (for example a data  123   a  or another data  123   b ) of the scanned image  123  corresponding to the selected regions  12   a  and  12   b.    
         [0055]     The controller  170  extracts the data  123   a  and  123   b  of the start and end indexes from the data  123  of the scanned image  12 . The controller  170  controls the image processor  150  to perform the determined image process on the extracted data  123   a  and  123   b  and to combine the data performed with the image process and the data  122  of the original scanned image  12 . The data  123  of the scanned image  12  may be stored in the storage part  120 .  
         [0056]     The controller  170  may store at least one of information on the selected regions  12   a  and  12   b  and the determined image process, in the storage part  120 . In this case, the controller  170  controls the image processor  150  to generate the final image based on the information stored in the storage part  120 .  
         [0057]     As an exemplary application of the present embodiment, public offices or banks may pixelate a part of a human face or a part of an ID number among the scanned image of an ID card to store and manage the partly pixilated processed image of the ID card. In this case, according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept, a user may select regions corresponding to the part of the face and the ID number and determine the image processes (i.e., pixelating, covering, etc.) of the parts different from each other. The storage part  120  may store information on the regions corresponding to the face part and the ID number part and on the image process or processes performed on the region.  
         [0058]     Thus, the image processing apparatus  100  according to the present embodiment may perform the same image processes on scanned images of other ID cards based on the same information of the stored region and image process. Since a user&#39;s repetitive commands are not required for the same operation of scanning and image processing, user convenience is improved.  
         [0059]     The controller  170  according to the present embodiment may be realized as a computer program. In this case, the controller  170  may comprise a memory such as a read only memory (ROM) (not illustrated) to store the computer program therein, and a central processing unit (CPU) (not illustrated) and a random access memory (RAM) (not illustrated) to execute the computer program.  
         [0060]      FIG. 4  is a control flowchart of an image processing method according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept. Referring to  FIG. 4 , first a predetermined object to be scanned is scanned to display a scanned image (operation S 110 ). At least one region of the displayed scanned image is then selected (operation S 120 ). The region of the scanned image can be selected by a user command.  
         [0061]     The image processes to be performed for the selected regions are determined in operation S 130 . The image process can also be determined by a user command. The selected regions are performed with the determined image process (operation S 140 ). The region performed with the image process is combined with the original scanned image to generate a final image (operation S 150 ).  
         [0062]     As described above, embodiments of the present general inventive concept provide an image processing apparatus which revises (processes) a certain region of a scanned image to meet a user demand, and an image processing method.  
         [0063]     Also, the present general inventive concept provides an image processing apparatus which does not require a user command on a same operation to perform repetitive scanning and image processes, and an image processing method.  
         [0064]     Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.

Technology Category: 5