Document processing system

Claim 1

L-59- said predetermined criteria, said character data whose Sphysical size is smaller than said predetermined criteria being referred to hereinafter as small character data; and 4g) e luating said machine-readable topographical, features of said small character data to determine whether or not said small character ,dta is indicative of a said ,clue character of a first type. 11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said step inclue steps of: examining the center of said small 4racter data to determine whetheror not a hole exists thereat; and identifying said small charac- ter data as an asterisk with hole when a hole exists at step i2. A method according to claim 11, wherein said step includes the cteps ,of: utilizing an examining window which includes rows and columns of said character data to search for corners of said examining window which Scorners are formed by binary data of a first type, and. examining predetermined portions of rows and columns of said character data adjacent to said examining window in search for binary data of said first type whose presence indicates that a said hole exists, 13. A method according to claim 10, wherein said character data whose physical size is greater than said predetermined criteria, as determed by said S comparing step, is referred to hereinafter as large character data, and in which said step further inclhdes the steps of: determining the height and Swidth of said large character data; comparing the S"height and width of said large character data; and S (n)o evaluating said machin6ereadable topographical features of said large character data whose associated w width-to-height ratio is' less than one to determine whether or ifot said last-named large character data is indicative of a clue character of a .second type. 9' i x S 14. A method according to claim 13, wherein said clue character of said second type is a dollar sign and in which said character data is formed by a matrix of columns and rows of binary data, said evaluating step (n) including the steps of: using the number of binary transitions in soid columns as being indicative of a dollar sign of a slanted variety; and using the number of closed rows of binary data of a first type which e4st in said character data in association with the height of said character data as being indicative of a dollar sign of a straight variety. A method according to claim 14, wherein said character data has first and second column boundaries and first and second row boundaries, and in which said evaluat- ing step further includes the steps of: using the number of binary digits of a first type in said first and second row boundaries as being indicative of a dollar sign of a slanted variety; using the first binary digit of said first type which is encountered when proceeding from said first column boundary tovards said second column boundary for each successive said row of binary data when proceeding from said first row boundary towards said second row boundary to develop a curve which said curve is used as being indicative of a dollar sign of a slanted vaiety. 16. A method according to claim 15, wherein said 4IOI step further comprises the steps of: using the B N first binary digit of said first type which is encountered N B when proceeding from said second column boundary towards o t~f, 4 said first column oundary for each successive said row of 24~l binary data when pr eeding from said second row boundary q~ towards said first row boundary to develop a second curve, which said second curve is used as-being indicative of a dollar sign of a slatned variety; and evaluating said first-named curve and sai()second curve according to pro- determined criteria to determine whether or not said C: wv _CI start.S' L-v t-LLe oDead of curve Stated another way, 'it iauc-1be the column closest~ to~JMAX which ii?cludes a black pi>,el like 534 wqhich 'is iLncluded in the. IROw w,.hich includes the black 6 1- character data is, indicative of a dollar sign of a slanted variety. 17..A method of processing documentG, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accOnlpany- r77 DTDth~is 121th day of December, 84 NCR CANADA LTD CANADA LTEE -NCR Attonoy:Wi~iI\N~S A, (C 0 (Cr, '0 of situations designated as A, anDnwhc b In R' each situat ion represents a 3).3 window frame with the center rpixel in each -,ituation being a white pixel-. k c slanted ntially company- 4' A 1.1 IIII1.8 MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART NATIONALSUREAUOf STANLARDS196i-A 0< p I 7 14 p -'N N> I 36-628/84, p FG.I I, 71' .0 01 ~U U 0 *0*S~ U UU U 4 .b 7 4 ii (I,