Transmission of subsets of layout objects at different resolutions

A program storage device readable by a server workstation, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the server workstation to perform method steps for transmitting an image stored in a memory at the server workstation to a client workstation, said method steps comprising:

• receiving a bitmap representation of a hardcopy document in the memory to define the document image;
• receiving a user input that identifies a selected first attribute of a layout object;
• segmenting the document image into a set of layout objects;
• each layout object in the set of layout objects being one of a plurality of layout object types;
• each of the plurality of layout object types identifying a structural element of the document image;
• computing a set of attributes for each layout object in the set of layout objects;
• the attributes computed for each layout object having values that quantify properties of a structural element and identify spatial relationships with other segmented layout objects in the document image;
• dividing the set of layout objects into a first subset and a second subset of layout objects;
• said dividing step including layout objects with the selected first attribute in the first subset of layout objects;
• the second subset of layout objects including those layout objects in the set of layout objects not in the first subset of layout objects;
• and
• transmitting from the server workstation to the client workstation the first subset of layout objects at a first resolution and the second subset of layout objects at a second resolution.

A document management system for transmitting an image from a server workstation to a client workstation, comprising:

• a memory for storing the document images and image processing instructions at the server workstation;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory for executing the image processing instructions at the server workstation;
• the processor in executing the image processing instructions:
• receiving a bitmap representation of a hardcopy document in the memory to define the document image;
• segmenting the document image into a set of layout objects;
• each layout object in the set of layout objects being one of a plurality of layout object types;
• each of the plurality of layout object types identifying a structural element of the document image;
• computing a set of attributes for each layout object in the set of layout objects;
• the attributes computed for each layout object having values that quantify properties of a structural element and identify spatial relationships with other segmented layout objects in the document image;
• receiving a user input that identifies a selected first attribute of a layout object;
• dividing the set of layout objects into a first subset and a second subset of layout objects;
• said dividing instruction including layout objects with the selected first attribute in the first subset of layout objects;
• the second subset of layout objects including those layout objects in the set of layout objects not in the first subset of layout objects;
• and
• transmitting from the server workstation to the client workstation the first subset of layout objects at a first resolution and the second subset of layout objects at a second resolution.

A method for transmitting a bitmap representation of a hardcopy document stored in a memory at a server workstation to a client workstation, comprising the steps of:

• receiving the bitmap representation of the hardcopy document in the memory to define a document image;
• segmenting the document image into a set of layout objects;
• each layout object in the set of layout objects being one of a plurality of layout object types;
• each of the plurality of layout object types identifying a structural element of the document image;
• computing a set of attributes for each layout object in the set of layout objects;
• the attributes computed for each layout object having values that quantify properties of a structural element and identify spatial relationships with other segmented layout objects in the document image;
• receiving a user input that identifies a feature of a document image;
• executing a routine for identifying the feature of the document image;
• the routine having a sequence of selection operations that consumes the set of layout objects and uses the computed attributes to produce a first subset of layout objects;
• said executing step identifying the first subset of layout objects as the feature of the document image;
• dividing the set of layout objects into a first subset and a second subset of layout objects, said dividing step including layout objects with the feature in the first subset of layout objects;
• the second subset of layout objects including those layout objects in the set of layout objects not in the first subset of layout objects;
• and
• transmitting from the server workstation to the client workstation the first subset of layout objects at a first resolution and the second subset of layout objects at a second resolution.