Method of editing static digital combined images comprising images of multiple objects

A method of editing a combined image comprising a plurality of object images, the method comprising:

• displaying an outline rectangle which forms outlines of an object image within the combined image;
• when a predetermined first operation is performed on an object image selected from among the object images located within the outline rectangle, segmenting the selected object image and another object image located within the outline rectangle;
• when a predetermined second operation is performed on an object image selected from among the object images located within the outline rectangle, combining the selected object image with another object image located within an outline rectangle other than the outline rectangle;
• renewing displaying of the outline rectangle according the segmenting or combining;
• and
• determining coordinates of vertexes of an outline rectangle which forms outlines of the object image in the combined image,
• wherein the displaying displays an outline rectangle which forms outlines of the object image within the combined image according to the determined coordinates of vertexes, and
• wherein the determining coordinates of vertexes of an outline rectangle comprises:
• scaling the combined image with a predetermined resolution;
• converting the scaled combined image into a binary image;
• detecting foreground and background areas in the binary image;
• classifying the area according to a predetermined category;
• combining the foreground areas into groups based on the classification result;
• and
• calculating coordinates of vertexes of the outline rectangle on each group combined.

A user terminal comprising:

• a display unit which displays a GUI (Graphic User Interface) for editing a combined image which includes a plurality of object images;
• a user interface unit which receives an input of a user manipulation on the GUI;
• and
• a control unit which, when a predetermined first operation is performed on an object image selected from among object images located within an outline rectangle by performing a drag operation on the selected object from an internal portion of the outline rectangle to an outside of the outline rectangle, segments the selected object and another object image located within the outline rectangle, and when a predetermined second operation is performed on an object image within the outline rectangle selected from among object images by performing the drag operation on the selected object image into another outline rectangle other than the outline rectangle, combines the selected object image with another object image located within the another outline rectangle, and renews displaying of the outline rectangle according to the segmenting or combining;
• wherein the outline rectangle is an identifier which forms outlines of the object image within the combined image, and
• wherein coordinates of vertexes of the outline rectangle are determined by scaling the combined image with a predetermined resolution prior to converting the scaled combined image into a binary image, and calculating the coordinates of the vertexes using groups determined based on classifying areas of the binary image according to a predetermined category.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a scanning unit which generates a combined image which includes a plurality of object images corresponding to a read manuscript;
• a display unit which displays a GUI (Graphic User Interface) for editing the generated combined image;
• a user interface unit which receives an input of a user manipulation on the GUI;
• a control unit which, when a predetermined first operation is performed on an object image selected from among object images located within an outline rectangle by performing a drag operation on the selected object from an internal portion of the outline rectangle to an outside of the outline rectangle, segments the selected object and another object image located within the outline rectangle, and when a predetermined second operation is performed on an object image within the outline rectangle selected from among object images by performing the drag operation on the selected object image into another outline rectangle other than the outline rectangle, combines the selected object image with another object image located within the another outline rectangle, and renews displaying of the outline rectangle according to the segmenting or combining;
• wherein the outline rectangle is an identifier which forms outlines of the object image within the combined image, and
• wherein coordinates of vertexes of the outline rectangle are determined by scaling the combined image with a predetermined resolution prior to converting the scaled combined image into a binary image, and calculating the coordinates of the vertexes using groups determined based on classifying areas of the binary image according to a predetermined category.

A non-transient computer readable recording medium which stores a program code to perform an editing method in an apparatus for editing a combined image comprising a plurality of object images, the editing method comprising:

• determining coordinates of vertexes of an outline rectangle which forms outlines of an object image within the combined image, and displaying the outline rectangle according to the determined coordinates of vertexes;
• when a predetermined first operation is performed on an object image selected from among object images located within the outline rectangle by performing a drag operation on the selected object from an internal portion of the outline rectangle to an outside of the outline rectangle, segmenting the selected object image and another object image located within the outline rectangle;
• when a predetermined second operation is performed on an object image within the outline rectangle selected from among object images by performing the drag operation on the selected object image into another outline rectangle other than the outline rectangle, combining the selected object image with another object image located within the another outline rectangle;
• and
• renewing displaying of the outline rectangle according the segmenting or combining,
• wherein the determining the coordinates of the vertexes includes scaling the combined image with a predetermined resolution prior to converting the scaled combined image into a binary image, and calculating the coordinates of the vertexes using groups determined based on classifying areas of the binary image according to a predetermined category.

A method of editing a combined image comprising a plurality of object images, the method comprising:

• determining coordinates of vertexes of an outline rectangle which forms outlines of an object image within the combined image, and displaying the outline rectangle according to the determined coordinates of vertexes;
• segmenting a selected object image from other object images located within the outline rectangle when a predetermined first operation is performed on the selected object image by performing a drag operation on the selected object from an internal portion to an outside of the outline rectangle;
• combining a selected object image within the outline rectangle with another object image located within another outline rectangle other than the outline rectangle when a predetermined second operation is performed on the selected object image by performing the drag operation on the selected object image into the another outline rectangle;
• and
• updating the displaying to display the outline rectangle including the performed segmenting or combining operation,
• wherein the determining the coordinates of the vertexes includes scaling the combined image with a predetermined resolution prior to converting the scaled combined image into a binary image, and calculating the coordinates of the vertexes using groups determined based on classifying areas of the binary image according to a predetermined category.

A method of editing a combined image comprising a plurality of object images, the method comprising:

• displaying an outline rectangle to be manipulated;
• segmenting a selected object image from other object images within a displayed outline rectangle when a segmenting request is received by performing a drag operation on the selected object from an internal portion of the outline rectangle to an outside of the outline rectangle;
• combining a selected object image within a displayed outline rectangle with another object image within another outline rectangle when a combining request is received by performing the drag operation on the selected object image into the another outline rectangle;
• and
• updating the displaying of the outline rectangle to illustrate the segmenting or combining result,
• wherein coordinates of vertexes of the outline rectangle are determined by scaling the combined image with a predetermined resolution prior to converting the scaled combined image into a binary image, and calculating the coordinates of the vertexes using groups determined based on classifying areas of the binary image according to a predetermined category.

A non-transient computer readable recording medium which stores a program code to perform an editing method, the method comprising:

• determining coordinates of vertexes of an outline rectangle which forms outlines of an object image within the combined image, and displaying an outline rectangle according to the determined coordinates of vertexes;
• segmenting a selected object image from other object images located within the outline rectangle when a predetermined first operation is performed on the selected object image by performing a drag operation on the selected object from an internal portion of the outline rectangle to an outside of the outline rectangle;
• combining a selected object image within the outline rectangle with another object image located within another outline rectangle other than the outline rectangle when a predetermined second operation is performed on the selected object image by performing the drag operation on the selected object image into the another outline rectangle;
• and
• updating the displaying to display the outline rectangle including the performed segmenting or combining operation,
• wherein the determining the coordinates of the vertexes includes scaling the combined image with a predetermined resolution prior to converting the scaled combined image into a binary image, and calculating the coordinates of the vertexes using groups determined based on classifying areas of the binary image according to a predetermined category.

A non-transient computer readable recording medium which stores a program code to perform an editing method, the method comprising:

• displaying an outline rectangle to be manipulated;
• segmenting a selected object image from other object images within a displayed outline rectangle when a segmenting request is received by performing a drag operation on the selected object from an internal portion of the outline rectangle to an outside of the outline rectangle;
• combining a selected object image within a displayed outline rectangle with another object image within another outline rectangle when a combining request is received by performing the drag operation on the selected object image into the another outline rectangle;
• and
• updating the displaying of the outline rectangle to illustrate the segmenting or combining result,
• wherein coordinates of vertexes of the outline rectangle are determined by scaling the combined image with a predetermined resolution prior to converting the scaled combined image into a binary image, and calculating the coordinates of the vertexes using groups determined based on classifying areas of the binary image according to a predetermined category.