Patent US 5,774,584

Image processing method and apparatus are provided. A histogram of image information is obtained. A peak position is detected from the histogram obtained. A small area is decided by using the detected peak position as a reference. A histogram of the decided small area of the image information is obtained. A specific point is determined from the peak position of the histogram of the small area obtained. The size of small area is decided in accordance with a peak width of the histogram of the image information. The image information is inputted by a scanner. A table can be used as image information and the specific point which is decided is an intersection of ruled lines of the table. A cell area of the table is judged from the intersection decided.