EP0549329A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for converting bitmap image documents to editable coded data using a standard notation to record document recognition ambiguities
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1992-12-22
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-12-22
Abstract
Abstract Documents represented as bitmap images (S100)are transformed into coded textual data (S120) and coded graphics data (S160) by graphics and textual recognizers, which use a standard notation for recording the results of the document recognition processes, including any ambiguities, in a document description language. Recognized portions of the document, represented as editable coded data, such as for example ASCII, are placed in elements, defined in the document description language, with all contents of an element sharing some common characteristic. Elements can include, for example: character-string-elements (S140), questionable-character-elements (S150), questionable-word-elements, verified-word-elements, alternative-word-elements, segment- elements, and arc-elements. Each element includes editable coded data, which also includes uncertainty information (S155) identifying any coded data which was not transformed with a predetermined level of confidence.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Marie R. De La Beaujardiere
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:47
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06V; G06V30/00; G06V30/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of transforming a document represented as a bitmap image into an editable coded data stream using a document description language to record information regarding uncertainties in the document transformation process, comprising: performing a first transformation operation on at least a portion of said bitmap image using a first recognition apparatus, to transform at least said portion of said bitmap image into one or more elements, selectively identified using said document description language, each element including an element type identifier indicating a type of coded information regarding the recognized bitmap image contained in said element, and, when said first recognizer determines that the recognized bitmap image contained in an element has not been recognized with at least a predetermined level of confidence, each element also including uncertainty information determined by said first recognizer regarding said recognized bitmap image contained in said element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said uncertainty information includes a degree of uncertainty with which said first recognizer transformed said bitmap image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said portion of said subimage contains a graphics bitmap image, said first recognizer is a graphics recognizer, said type identifier identifies as graphics-elements portions of said graphics bitmap image transformed by said graphics recognizer, and said uncertainty information includes possible offsets for parameters used to describe said graphics structures.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said uncertainty information includes alternative transformations of the recognized bitmap image contained in each element, and a degree of certainty for each alternative transformation, said alternative transformations and degrees of certainty being determined by said first recognizer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said uncertainty information includes alternative transformations of the recognized bitmap image contained in each element, said alternative transformations being determined by said first recognizer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
94 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said portion of said subimage contains a text bitmap image, said first recognizer is a character recognizer, and said type identifier identifies portions of said text bitmap image transformed by said character recognizer as character-string-elements or questionable-character-elements, each character-string-element containing a string of consecutive characters recognized by said character recognizer with at least said predetermined level of confidence, each questionable-character-element containing said uncertainty information determined by said character recognizer for a character which was not recognized with at least said predetermined level of confidence by said character recognizer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
90 words
The method of claim 6, further comprising: for each questionable-character-element, using a word recognizer to transform said questionable-character-element and adjacent confidently recognized characters in a same word as said questionable-character-element into one or more verified-word-elements by substituting alternate characters for said questionable-character-element when one or more words created by said substituting are recognized by said word recognizer; when more than one verified-word-element is transformed for each questionable-character-element, said more than one verified-word-elements being placed in an alternate-word-element; said questionable-character-element remaining when no verified words are recognized by said word recognizer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising: for each alternative-word-element, using a semantics analyzer to transform verified words of the verified-word-elements contained in each alternate word element into a character-string-element corresponding to one of the verified words contained in said alternative-word-element when said semantics analyzer determines that said one of said verified words is a correct word, said alternative-word-element remaining when none of said verified words is determined to be a correct word by said semantics analyzer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 6, wherein for each questionable-character-element, said uncertainty information pertaining to a character not recognized with at least said predetermined level of confidence includes a most likely uncertain character, and/or alternative possible uncertain characters, identified by said character recognizer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 11, wherein for each questionabie-character-element, said uncertainty information pertaining to a character not recognized with at least said predetermined level of confidence also includes a degree of confidence determined by said character recognizer for said most likely and/or alternative possible uncertain characters.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 1, including: segmenting said bitmap image into one or more graphics bitmap subimages and one or more text bitmap subimages, each of said one or more text bitmap subimages being analyzed as text portions; and each of said one or more graphics subimages being analyzed using a graphics structure analyzer to transform said one or more graphics subimages into one or more graphics-elements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
164 words
An automatic document recognition apparatus for transforming documents represented as bitmap image data into an editable coded data stream using a document description language to record information regarding uncertainties in the document transformation process, said apparatus comprising: a first recognizer having: a) first transformation means for performing a first transformation operation on said bitmap image representation of said document to transform said document into one or more elements containing coded data; and b) first identification means using said document.description language for identifying said one or more elements transformed by said first transformation means, each element including an element type identifier indicating a type of coded data regarding the recognized bitmap image contained in said element, and, when said first transformation means determines that the coded data contained in the element has not been transformed with a predetermined level of confidence, said identification means also including in said element uncertainty information determined by said first transformation means regarding said coded data contained in said element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said uncertainty information includes a confidence level with which said first transformation means determined said coded data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said uncertainty information includes coded data alternatives determined by said first transformation means for a portion of said bitmap image.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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