Method and apparatus for imaging, image processing and data compression

A method for recording an image from a document, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) scanning the document, said scanning including creating a first digital image corresponding to said image on said document;
• (b) searching a codebook comprising a plurality of stored digital images for one of said digital images which is present in at least a portion or portions of said first digital image;
• and
• (c) on a determination that none of said stored digital images are present in said first digital image, creating a partial digital image representing said at least a portion or portions of the first digital image;
• and
• (d) inserting said at least a portion or portions of said partial digital image into said codebook.

A method for recording an image from a document, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) scanning the document, said scanning including creating a first digital image corresponding to said image on said document;
• (b) searching a codebook comprising a plurality of stored digital images for at least one of said stored digital images which are present in said first digital image;
• (c) locating said at least one of said plurality of stored digital images in said codebook which are present in said first digital image;
• (d) selecting one of said at least one of said plurality of stored digital images;
• (e) producing an electronic index code identifying said one of said at least one of said plurality of stored digital images as being present in said first digital image;
• (f) generating a second digital image comprising the portion or portions of said first digital image that are not present in said one of said at least one of said plurality of stored digital images;
• and
• (g) preserving said second digital image, said electronic index code, and said codebook in a form such that said first digital image can be reproduced from a combination of said second digital image and said one of said at least one of said plurality of stored digital images.

An apparatus for recording an image from a document, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) an input device for receiving said image from said document as an input and creating as an output a first digital image corresponding to the image;
• (b) a database storage device storing a codebook comprising a plurality of stored digital images;
• (c) at least one processor having a predetermined program, said processor performing the steps of
• (i) comparing said first digital image with said stored digital images of said codebook;
• (ii) identifying one of said stored digital images which constitutes a part of said first digital image;
• (iii) producing an electronic index code indexed for said codebook, said electronic index code identifying said stored digital image as constituting part of said first digital image;
• (iv) removing said stored digital image from said first digital image, said removing including producing a second digital image constituting the portion of said first digital image which is different from said stored digital image;
• and
• (d) a memory receiving and preserving an input of said second digital image and said electronic index code.

A method for recording an image from a document, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) scanning the document, said scanning including creating a first digital image corresponding to said image on said document;
• (b) searching a codebook comprising a plurality of stored digital images for one of said digital images which is present in said first digital image;
• (c) producing an electronic index code identifying said one of said stored digital images as being present in said first digital image;
• (d) generating a second digital image comprising the portion or portions of said first digital image that are not present in said stored digital image;
• (e) deriving an indication from said second digital image whether said document is authentic;
• and
• (f) in the absence of said indication, generating a notification that said document is not authentic.

A method for recording an image from a document, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) scanning the document, said scanning including creating a first digital image corresponding to said image on said document;
• (b) searching a codebook comprising a plurality of stored digital images for one of said digital images which is present in said first digital image;
• (c) creating a second digital image from said first digital image;
• (d) storing said second digital image in said codebook;
• (e) producing an electronic index code identifying said one of said stored digital images as being present in said first digital image;
• (f) generating a second digital image comprising the portion or portions of said first digital image that are not present in said one of said stored digital images;
• and
• (g) preserving said second digital images said electronic index code, and said codebook in a form such that said first digital image can be regenerated therefrom.

A method for storing a document image of a document, said method comprising:

• optically processing said document and generating a first electronic record corresponding to said document image;
• generating second and third electronic records from said first electronic record,
• said second electronic record identifying at least one of a plurality of image records stored in an electronic codebook of image records, said identified image record matching a portion of said first electronic record,
• said third electronic record representing a portion of said first electronic record which is not present in said identified image record,
• said second and third electronic records and said codebook being in a form such that said first electronic record can be recreated therefrom.