Method and system for automatically inscribing noisy objects in scanned image data within a minimum area rectangle

A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that are executable by a general-purpose computing device for performing the steps of:

• inputting scanned image data containing the object that is a noisy object having a deformed rectangular shape that is not perfectly rectangular and is deformed such that it is no longer perfectly rectangular and lacks well-defined edges and corners;
• determining a number, N, of points on a perimeter or boundary line of the object as that are desired;
• finding the N perimeter points by generating an orthogonal coordinate system centered at an interior point that is inside the object and sending out a ray outward from the interior point along a direction until reaching the perimeter or boundary line of the object and designating an intersection of the perimeter and ray as one of the N perimeter points and repeating this process N times in N different directions;
• constructing a convex hull from at least some of the N perimeter points located on a boundary of the object, wherein each side of the convex hull is a straight line segment between two of the perimeter points;
• constructing an inscribing rectangle at each of side of the convex hull;
• and
• calculating an area of each inscribing rectangle to find an inscribing rectangle having a minimum area to obtain the minimum area rectangle.