Separation of Scanned Media using a strip based methodology

Abstract

The use of Multi-Function Printers (MFPs) in the office and home-office setting continues to trend upwards despite the advent and use of mobile technology in that space. One such novel use case, is scanning multiple distinct objects that are either related or different from each other in terms of content. The proposed algorithm seeks to achieve separation of distinct objects placed on a flat-bed scanner and save each object as a different file. Further processing and identification can then be performed on each item for enhanced use. However, due to the memory limitations on some MFPs a strip based processing technique is utilized in this case, wherein only a portion of the acquired scan is processed each time. The technique utilizes edge detection, thresholding, morphology and a connect component analysis scheme along with label propagation from one strip to another to achieve the goal of media separation. The results obtained are promising for the speed and memory constraints imposed.