Image processing method and apparatus

Claim 2

A character recognition method for reading an image-bearing original and recognizing characters written in the image-bearing original, said method comprising the steps of: reading and inputting the image-bearing original; displaying the image-bearing original read in said reading and inputting step on a first window on a picture surface; assigning an area to be subjected to character recognition from the image-bearing original displayed in said displaying step; calculating the number of characters contained in said area assigned in said assigning step while individually segmenting the characters contained in said area; determining the size of the picture frame of a second window on which a result of character recognition is to be displayed according to the number of characters calculated in said calculating step, and opening said second window on the picture surface; individually recognizing the characters contained in said area; and displaying a result of the recognition in said recognizing step on said second window.

Claim 3

A character recognition method according to Claim 2, wherein said assigning step further comprises the steps of: assiging a plurality of rectangles within said first window; and forming a polygon by synthesizing the plurality of rectangles to make the polygon to be said area.

Claim 4

A character recognition method according to Claim 2, wherein said assiging step comprises a step of drawing a plurality of line segments within said first window, forming a polygon by the plurality of line segments, and making the polygon to be said area.

Claim 5

A character recognition apparatus, comprising: input means for inputting image information; display means for displaying the image information input by said input means; assignment means for assigning a desired area in the image information input by said input means; calculation means for calculating the number of characters contained in the area assigned by said assignment means; and picture-frame-size determination means for determining the size of a picture frame for displaying a result of character recognition of the image information according to the number of characters calculated by said calculation means.

Claim 6

A character recognition apparatus for reading an image-bearing original and recognizing characters written in the image-bearing original, said apparatus comprising: input means for reading the image-bearing original; first display means for displaying the image-bearing original read by said input means on a first window on a picture surface; assignment means for assigning an area to be subjected to character recognition from the image-bearing original displayed by said first displaying means; calculation means for calculating the number of characters contained in said area assigned by said assignment means while individually segmenting the characters contained in said area; window opening means for determining the size of the picture frame of a second window on which a result of character recognition is to be displayed according to the number of characters calculated by said calculation means, and opening said second window on the picture surface; and recognition means for individually recognizing the characters contained in said area; and second display means for displaying a result of the recognition by said recognition means on said second window.

Claim 7

A character recognition apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein said assignment further comprises: assignment means for assigning a plurality of rectangles within said first window; and polygon synthesis means for forming a polygon by synthesizing the plurality of rectangles to make the polygon to be said area.

Claim 8

A character recognition apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein said assignment means comprises area forming means for drawing a plurality of line segments within said first window, forming a polygon by the plurality of line segments, and making the polygon to be said area.

Claim 9

A character recognition apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein said input means comprises: a scanner for projeting light onto the image-bearing original, receiving light reflected by the original, and converting the reflected light into into an analog electrical signal; and binary-coding means for outputting a binary signal by converting the analog electrical signal into a digital signal.

Claim 10

An image processing method comprising the steps of: forming character information from image information; storing the image information from which the character information has been formed so as to correspond to the character information; displaying the image information or the character information; assigning information relating to a desired character in the character information displayed in said displaying step; and performing control so as to display the image information stored in said storing step so as to correspond to the character information assigned in said assigning step with adding identifying information thereto.

Claim 11

An image processing method according to Claim 10, wherein said storing step stores the positions of output dots of the image information.

Claim 12

An image processing method according to Claim 10, wherein the character information is obtained by recognizing the image information.

Claim 13

An image processing apparatus, comprising: formation means for forming character information from image information; storage means for storing the image information from which the character information has been formed so as to correspond to the character information; display means for displaying the image information or the character information; assignment means for assigning information relating to a desired character in the character information displayed by said display means; and control means for performing control so as to display the image information stored in said storage means so as to correspond to the assigned information by said assignment means with adding identifying information thereto.

Claim 14

An image processing apparatus according to Claim 13, wherein said storage means stores the positions of output dots of the image information.

Claim 15

An image processing apparatus according to Claim 13, wherein the character information is obtained by recognizing the image information.

Claim 16

An image processing method, comprising the steps of: inputting image information; storing document information corresponding to the image information; displaying the image information and the document information; assigning the size of display of the image information; specifying a desired part in the document information; and performing control so as to display the image information corresponding to the specified part of the document information in the assigned size.

Claim 17

An image processing method according to Claim 16, wherein the document information is obtained by recognizing the image information.

Claim 18

An image processing apparatus, comprising: input means for inputting image information; storage means for storing document information corresponding to the image information; display means for displaying the image information and the document information; assignment means for assigning the size of display of the image information; specifying means for specifying a desired part in the document information; and control means for performing control so as to display the image information corresponding to the specified part of the document information in the assigned size.

Claim 19

An image processing apparatus according to Claim 18, wherein the document information is obtained by recognizing the image information.

Claim 20

Character recognition apparatus operable to perform character recognition on a portion of an original and output the result in a window of an output device, characterised by means for varying the size of the window.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 20 in which said means varies the size of the window in response to a detected size of the said portion of the original.

Claim 22

Character recognition apparatus operable to perform character recognition on a portion of an original and display both a part of the original and a part of the display result, whether by simultaneous display or at different times, characterised by means responsive to an indication from an operator of a region of one of the original and the result for inclusion in the respective display by ensuring that the corresponding part of the other of the original and the result is included in its respective display.

Claim 23

Character recognition apparatus operable to perform character recognition on a portion of an original and display the result of the recognition and/or an image of the original, characterised by means to vary the magnification of the display.

Claim 24

Character recognition apparatus operable to perform character recognition on a portion of an original designated by an operator, comprising means to receive operator inputs and determine the designated portion in response thereto, characterised in that said means is capable of determining designated portions having an overall shape other than a complete rectangle.