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Virtual Image Processing for NSi AutoStore

Image-optimizing component for the powerful document capture system by Notable Solutions, Inc. (NSi) marked the starting point in partnership between ATAPY and NSi

NSi’s AutoStore application is a leading product for document and content capture, processing and distribution. Adopted by many top manufacturers of on-ramp devices such as MFPs and digital copiers, AutoStore’s framework is becoming the standard of server based document capture for devices by HP, RICOH, Kyocera, Xerox, Canon and other internationally renowned companies.

As NSi’s software development partner, ATAPY has taken part in the implementation of image treatment tool within the NSi’s AutoStore product named Virtual Image Processing (VIP). In terms of AutoStore, VIP is integrated process component placed between the capture and route sources in capture workflow. Such workflows are created visually in AutoStore Process Designer (an administrative tool) with a simple drag-and-drop technique. VIP provides for optimizing document image quality for sub-sequent recognition via several configurable filters and their combinations. The number of filters is growing with every new version of the AutoStore application.

All original image modifications are reflected ‘on the fly’ in the preview window of the component configuration interface. Once the desired image quality is achieved, the filter combination profile can be saved and used in other AutoStore workflows containing VIP. This eliminates the need to configure filters every time a new capture-process-route sequence is designed. This is extremely valuable for companies with large workflows of template-based documents.

VIP implements a large number of different image filters, the most basic are the following:

• Color Extraction Filter — keeps the selected color, while all other colors are dropped. Users can also select a color to replace the dropped ones in the resulting image;
• Deskew Filter — corrects the skewed angle of the image;
• Despeckle Filter — eliminates small speckles on the image;
• Color Dropping Filter — drops the selected color and replaces it with a substitute color;
• Thresholding Filter — converts an image to black-and-white. All pixels with the brightness level less than the specified level, become white, while others become black;
• Adaptive Thresholding Filter — allows improved recognition results for source images with irregular background using a sophisticated binarization algorithm.

About NSi:

Notable Solutions, Inc. was founded in 1995 to provide complete technology solutions in the fields of Software Development, System Engineering, Technology Training and Business Consulting. Since that time NSi has evolved toward software and hardware design, development, network integration, and support of document management systems. NSi prides itself on a commitment to quality and a reputation for excellence. It is now a leading provider of content capture software with products in use by Canon, HP, Kodak, Kyocera, Ricoh, Sharp, Xerox and others.