Image processing apparatus, method, and storage medium for determining attributes

An image processing apparatus capable of dividing a document image into block images, each including a predetermined number of pixels, and determining whether an attribute of each of the divided block images corresponds to a predetermined attribute, the image processing apparatus comprising:

• a smoothing unit configured to smooth a block image to generate a smoothed block image;
• a color distribution acquiring unit configured to acquire a color distribution characteristic amount of the smoothed block image;
• an edge acquiring unit configured to acquire an edge characteristic amount of the block image;
• an edge determination unit configured to determine whether an attribute of each block image is the predetermined attribute based on the edge characteristic amount acquired by the edge acquiring unit;
• a color distribution determination unit configured to determine whether the attribute of the block image is the predetermined attribute based on the color distribution characteristic amount acquired by the color distribution acquiring unit;
• and
• a determination unit configured, in a case where the attribute of a block image is determined to be the predetermined attribute by the edge determination unit with high reliability, to determine the attribute of the particular block image to be the predetermined attribute, and in a case where the attribute of the block image is determined to be the predetermined attribute by the edge determination unit with not high reliability, to determine the attribute of the block image as a determination result by the color distribution determination unit.

A method of image processing for dividing a document image into block images, each including a predetermined number of pixels, and determining whether an attribute of each of the divided block images is a character, the method comprising:

• allowing a smoothing unit to smooth a block image to generate a smoothed block image;
• allowing a color distribution acquiring unit to acquire a color distribution characteristic amount of the smoothed block image;
• allowing an edge acquiring unit to acquire an edge characteristic amount of the block image;
• allowing a color distribution determination unit to determine whether the attribute of the block image is a character based on the acquired color distribution characteristic amount;
• allowing an edge determination unit to determine whether the attribute of the block image is a character based on the acquired edge characteristic amount;
• allowing a determination unit, in a case where determination by the color distribution determination unit is as a character with high reliability, to determine the attribute of the block image as a character, and in a case where the determination by the color distribution determination unit is a character with not high reliability, to determine the attribute of the block image based on a determination result by the edge determination unit.

A method of image processing for dividing a document image into block images, each including a predetermined number of pixels, and determining whether an attribute of each of the divided block images is a predetermined attribute, the method comprising:

• allowing a smoothing unit to smooth each block image to generate a smoothed block image;
• allowing a color distribution acquiring unit to acquire a color distribution characteristic amount of the smoothed block image;
• allowing an edge acquiring unit to acquire an edge characteristic amount of the block image;
• allowing an edge determination unit to determine whether the attribute of the block image is the predetermined attribute based on the acquired edge characteristic amount;
• allowing a color distribution determination unit to determine whether the attribute of the block image is the predetermined attribute based on the acquired color distribution characteristic amount;
• and
• allowing a determination unit, in a case where the attribute of the block image is determined to be the predetermined attribute with high reliability by the edge determination unit, to determine the attribute of the block image to be the predetermined attribute, and in the case where the attribute of the block image is determined to be the predetermined attribute with not high reliability by the edge determination unit, to determine the attribute of the block image based on a determination result by the color distribution determination unit.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a computer program allowing one or a plurality of microprocessors to execute image processing for dividing a document image into block images, each including a predetermined number of pixels, and determining whether an attribute of each of the divided block images is a character, the computer program allowing the one or the plurality of microprocessors to function as:

• a smoothing unit configured to smooth a block image to generate a smoothed block image;
• a color distribution acquiring unit configured to acquire a color distribution characteristic amount of the smoothed block image;
• an edge acquiring unit configured to acquire an edge characteristic amount of the block image;
• a color distribution determination unit configured to determine whether an attribute of the block image is a character based on the color distribution characteristic amount acquired by the color distribution acquiring unit;
• an edge determination unit configured to determine whether the attribute of the block image is a character based on the edge characteristic amount acquired by the edge acquiring unit;
• and
• a determination unit configured, in a case where the color distribution determination unit determines with high reliability that the attribute of the block image is a character, to determine the attribute of the block image is a character, and in a case where the color distribution determination unit determines with not high reliability that the attribute of the block image is a character, to determine the attribute of the block image as a determination result by the edge determination unit.