Color pixel counting for tiered billing in output jobs

A system for processing image data comprising at least one page using an image processing apparatus, the system comprising:

• an input device for receiving a document containing image data, the image data comprising a plurality of pixels;
• and
• at least one processor comprising an input and an output associated with the image processing apparatus for processing the pixels of the image data,
• wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
• determine a billable count of color pixels in received image data by:
• determining a first count of color pixels in the image data in device independent space by applying a neutral page determination algorithm to the received image data, the determined first count comprising counting at least a number of true color pixels and fuzzy color pixels in the received image data;
• converting the plurality of pixels of the image data into device dependent space;
• determining a second count of color pixels for marking in the device dependent image data;
• transforming the determined first and second counts of color pixels, and determining a minimum of the two transformed pixel counts,
• wherein the determining of the billable count of color pixels further comprises the processor being configured to:
• compare the number of true color pixels from the applied neutral page determination algorithm to a predetermined threshold, and,
• if the comparison is greater, the transforming comprising applying a first transformation using the number of true color pixels therein, and using this first transformation result in the minimum calculation, and determining the minimum using the first transformation result,
• else, the transforming comprising applying a second transformation without using of the number of true color pixels, and using this second transformation result in the minimum calculation, and determining the minimum using the second transformation result.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored computer executable instructions, wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed by a computer, direct a computer to perform a method for processing image data, the method comprising:

• receiving image data of a document comprising a plurality of pixels;
• determining a billable count of color pixels in the received image data by:
• determining a first count of color pixels in the image data in device independent space by applying a neutral page determination algorithm to the received image data, the determined first count comprising counting at least a number of true color pixels and fuzzy color pixels in the received image data;
• converting the plurality of pixels of the image data into device dependent space;
• determining a second count of color pixels for marking in the device dependent image data;
• transforming the determined first and second counts of color pixels, and
• determining a minimum of the two transformed pixel counts,
• wherein the determining of the billable count of color pixels further comprises:
• comparing the number of true color pixels from the applied neutral page determination algorithm to a predetermined threshold, and,
• if the comparison is greater, the transforming comprising applying a first transformation using the number of true color pixels therein, and using this first transformation result in the minimum calculation, and determining the minimum using the first transformation result,
• else, the transforming comprising applying a second transformation without using of the number of true color pixels, and using this second transformation result in the minimum calculation, and determining the minimum using the second transformation result.