Image Processing System and Imaging Object Used For Same

Abstract

An imaging technology having high reproducibility of a document and making image correction possible, without being influenced by a way of placing the document or a position of a camera, and irrespective of paper color and despite of damage of a corner portion. By printing positioning symbols on document paper in advance when the document is photographed by a digital camera or a portable phone with a camera, such as a smart phone, and by processing the image based on these positioning symbols, image processing having high reproducibility of the document and making image correction (keystone correction) possible can be implemented irrespective of paper color and despite damage to a corner portion.

1 . An image processing system, comprising:
 an imaging object having positioning symbols which are disposed in at least two predetermined locations, and are created as symbol codes constituted by multi-valued graphics;   imaging unit which images the imaging object;   image acquisition unit which detects the positioning symbols from original image data imaged by the imaging unit, recognizing a predetermined area calculated based on the positioning symbols as a first range, and extracting only image data existing in the first range to acquire this image data as extracted image data; and   image data storage unit which stores the extracted image data acquired by the image acquisition unit.   
     
     
         2 . The image processing system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the imaging object has an orientation symbol at a predetermined location of the first range for recognizing a direction of the first range, and a second range which is disposed within the first range or disposed as a separate area from the first range,   the image acquisition unit or the image storage unit stores character information for collation in advance, and   the image acquisition unit recognizes the direction of the first range based on the orientation symbol, detects the second range based on the recognized direction information, collates an image drawn in the second range with the character information, and stores the characters as information related to the image data read from the first range if it is recognized that this image is formed of characters.   
     
     
         3 . The image processing system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the imaging unit reads the imaging object and transfers the captured image to the image acquisition unit if the positioning symbols are detected at a plurality of locations in the read image.   
     
     
         4 . The image processing system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first range on the imaging object has a rectangular shape, and the positioning symbols are disposed in four vertexes of the rectangle, respectively, and the image acquisition unit reads a reference distance between the positioning symbols which is stored in advance, collates whether the distance between the positioning symbols in the captured image matches with the reference distance between the positioning symbols which is stored in advance, and corrects the captured image such that the distance between the positioning symbols in the captured image matches with the reference distance between the positioning symbols if the collated result is a mismatch.   
     
     
         5 . The image processing system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the surface of the imaging object is subjected to printing processing so that, when the imaging object is electronically copied, a prohibition symbol emerges at a predetermined location having a shape different from those at other locations, and   when recognizing the prohibition symbol in a captured image, the imaging unit which has imaged the imaging object does not execute the processing to transfer this captured image to the image acquisition unit.   
     
     
         6 . An image processing system, comprising:
 a transparent sheet on which positioning symbols created as symbol codes constituted by multi-valued graphics are disposed in at least two predetermined locations, and which is placed on paper serving as an imaging object;   imaging unit which images the imaging object;   image acquisition unit which detects the positioning symbols from original image data on the surface of the paper imaged by the imaging unit via the transparent sheet, recognizing a predetermined area calculated based on the positioning symbols as a first range, and extracting only image data existing in the first range to acquire this image data as extracted image data; and   image data storage unit which stores the extracted image data acquired by the image acquisition unit.   
     
     
         7 . An image processing system, comprising:
 two or more seal pieces which are pasted onto paper serving as an imaging object, and each of which is formed of a positioning symbol created as a symbol code constituted by a multi-valued graphic;   imaging unit which images the imaging object;   imaging acquisition unit which detects the positioning symbols of the seal pieces from original image data on the surface of the paper imaged by the imaging unit, recognizing a predetermined area calculated based on the positioning symbols as a first range, and extracting only image data existing in the first range to acquire this image data as extracted image data; and   image data storage unit which stores the extracted image data acquired by the image acquisition unit.   
     
     
         8 . An image processing method used for an image processing system, which, using imaging unit, images the surface of an imaging object having positioning symbols disposed in at least two predetermined locations and created as symbol codes constituted by multi-valued graphics, processes original image data thereof by image acquisition unit and registers the processed data in image data storage unit, the image processing method comprising the steps of:
 the imaging unit imaging the imaging object so that at least the positioning symbols in the at least two predetermined locations are included;   the image acquisition unit detecting the positioning symbols from the imaged original image data, and recognizing a predetermined area calculated based on the positioning symbols as a first range;   extracting only image data existing in the first range to acquire this image data as extracted image data; and   storing the extracted image data in the image data storage unit.   
     
     
         9 . An image processing program executable by an image processing system, which, using imaging unit, images the surface of an imaging object having positioning symbols disposed in at least two predetermined locations and created as symbol codes constituted by multi-valued graphics, processes original image data thereof by the image acquisition unit, and registers the processed data in image data storage unit, the image processing program comprising the steps of:
 the imaging unit imaging the imaging object so that at least the positioning symbols in the at least two predetermined locations are included;
 the image acquisition unit detecting the positioning symbols from the imaged original image data, and recognizing a predetermined area calculated based on the positioning symbols as a first range; 
 extracting only image data existing in the first range to acquire this image data as extracted image data; and 
 storing the extracted image data in the image data storage unit. 
   
     
     
         10 . An image processing system established via a network, comprising:
 an imaging object having positioning symbols disposed in at least two predetermined locations and created as symbol codes constituted by multi-valued graphics;   imaging unit which images the imaging object;   transmission unit which transmits original image data imaged by the imaging unit via a network;   image acquisition unit which, in an image processing server which receives the original image data via the network, detects the positioning symbols from the original image data imaged by the imaging unit, recognizing a predetermined area calculated based on the positioning symbols as a first range, extracting only image data existing in the first range to acquire this image data as extracted image data; and   image data storage unit which stores the extracted image data acquired by the image acquisition unit.