Image processing method and image processing apparatus

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an image processing method causes a computer to function as an image processing apparatus including an acquisition unit and a control unit. The acquisition unit acquires image data. The control unit performs a control process of detecting a character string of each color included in the image data and associating the character string with the color using the character string of the color.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . An image processing method implemented by an image processing apparatus including a controller that processes image data acquired by the image processing apparatus, the method comprising:
 detecting, by the controller, a first color region for a first color in the image data;   detecting, by the controller, a first character string in the image data, the first character string being of the first color;   determining, by the controller, a first process using a table, the first process associated with the first color; and   performing, by the controller, the first process.   
     
     
         16 . The image processing method of  claim 15 , wherein the first process comprises storing as content, designating a file name, or designating a folder name. 
     
     
         17 . The image processing method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 detecting, by the controller, a second color region for a second color in the image data;   detecting, by the controller, a second character string in the image data, the second character string being of the second color;   determining, by the controller, a second process using the table, the second process associated with the second color; and   performing, by the controller, the second process.   
     
     
         18 . The image processing method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the first process comprises storing as content; and   the second process comprises designating a file name or designating a folder name.   
     
     
         19 . The image processing method of  claim 15 , wherein detecting the first character string in the image data comprises analyzing the first color region. 
     
     
         20 . The image processing method of  claim 15 , wherein detecting the first color region comprises:
 dividing, by the controller, the image data into a plurality of tiles, the tiles including a first tile and a second tile adjacent to the first tile;   determining, by the controller, a first average value of color information in the first tile;   determining, by the controller, a second average value of color information in the second tile;   comparing, by the controller, the first average value to the second average value to determine a difference;   comparing, by the controller, the difference to a range; and   detecting, by the controller, the first color region as including the second tile when the difference is within the range.   
     
     
         21 . The image processing method of  claim 15 , wherein detecting the first color region comprises:
 dividing, by the controller, the image data into a plurality of tiles, the tiles including a first tile and a second tile adjacent to the first tile;   determining, by the controller, a first average value of color information in the first tile;   determining, by the controller, a second average value of color information in the second tile;   determining, by the controller, a sample value associated with the first color;   comparing, by the controller, the first average value to the sample value to determine a first difference;   comparing, by the controller, the second average value to the sample value to determine a second difference;   comparing, by the controller, the first difference to a range;   comparing, by the controller, the second difference to the range; and   detecting, by the controller, the first color region as including the first tile and the second tile when the first difference is within the range and the second difference is within the range.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 creating, by the controller, a file having a file name;   determining, by the controller, that a second color is included in the image data;   detecting, by the controller, a second character string in the image data, the second character string being of the second color; and   setting, by the controller, the file name as the second character string.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 determining, by the controller, that a third color is included in the image data;   detecting, by the controller, a third character string in the image data, the third character string being of the third color;   determining, by the controller, identification information based upon the third character string;   appending, by the controller, the third character string with the identification information to form an appended character string; and   outputting, by the controller, the appended character string.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 determining, by the controller, that a third color is included in the image data;   detecting, by the controller, a third character string in the image data, the third character string being of the third color;   determining, by the controller, an output destination based upon the third character string; and   outputting, by the controller, the third character string to the output destination.   
     
     
         25 . An image processing apparatus configured to acquire image data, comprising:
 a controller configured to:
 detect a first color region for a first color in the image data; 
 detect a first character string in the image data, the first character string being of the first color; 
 determine a first process using a table, the first process associated with the first color; and 
 perform the first process. 
   
     
     
         26 . The image processing apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the first process comprises storing as content, designating a file name, or designating a folder name. 
     
     
         27 . The image processing apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 detect a second color region for a second color in the image data;   detect a second character string in the image data, the second character string being of the second color;   determine a second process using the table, the second process associated with the second color; and   perform the second process.   
     
     
         28 . The image processing apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein:
 the first process comprises storing as content; and   the second process comprises designating a file name or designating a folder name.   
     
     
         29 . The image processing apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the controller is further configured to detect the first character string in the image data by analyzing the first color region. 
     
     
         30 . The image processing apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the controller is configured to detect the first color region by:
 dividing the image data into a plurality of tiles, the tiles including a first tile and a second tile adjacent to the first tile;   determining a first average value of color information in the first tile;   determining a second average value of color information in the second tile;   comparing the first average value to the second average value to determine a difference;   comparing the difference to a range; and   detecting the first color region as including the second tile when the difference is within the range.   
     
     
         31 . The image processing apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the controller is configured to detect the first color region by:
 dividing the image data into a plurality of tiles, the tiles including a first tile and a second tile adjacent to the first tile;   determining a first average value of color information in the first tile;   determining a second average value of color information in the second tile;   determining a sample value associated with the first color;   comparing the first average value to the sample value to determine a first difference;   comparing the second average value to the sample value to determine a second difference;   comparing the first difference to a range;   comparing the second difference to the range; and   detecting the first color region as including the first tile and the second tile when the first difference is within the range and the second difference is within the range.   
     
     
         32 . The image processing apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 create a file having a file name;   determine that a second color is included in the image data;   detect a second character string in the image data based upon the second color; and   set the file name as the second character string.   
     
     
         33 . The image processing apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine that a third color is included in the image data;   detect a third character string in the image data based on the third color;   determine identification information based upon the third character string; and   append the third character string with the identification information to form an appended character string.   
     
     
         34 . The image processing apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine that a third color is included in the image data;   detect a third character string in the image data based on the third color;   determine an output destination based upon the third character string; and   output the third character string to the output destination.