Townsend and Townsend and Crew LLP
Image database browsing and query using texture analysis
 Method and apparatus for querying a document image database based on texture, i.e., analytically discernable patterns in the document images of the database. According to the invention, a document image database could be browsed for documents with a particular texture in a variety of ways. For example, a user could input an example document image with a similar appearance to the desired document. Alternatively, the user could employ a simple interface to define a synthetic document based on selection of a few categories. The synthetic document would then serve as an example for search. Or the user may employ a graphical interface to more precisely define an example for search. Thus, the user's knowledge of the general appearance of the desired document or documents provides the basis for the search. 
Ricoh Company Limited Ricoh Corporation
Y G G
Y10S G06F G06V
additional inventional inventional
John Peter Jonathan
Cullen Hart Hull