US3839702A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Bayesian online numeric discriminant
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1973-10-25
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Granted: 1974-10-01
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Expires: 1993-10-25
Abstract
Abstract An online numeric discriminator is disclosed which performs the decision making process between strings of characters coming from a dual output optical character recognition system for use in text processing or mail processing applications. The dual output OCR uses separate recognition processes for alphabetic and numeric characters and attempts to recognize each character independently as both an alphabetic and a numeric character. The alphabetic interpretation of the scanned word is outputted as an alphabetic subfield on a first outline line and the numeric interpretation of the scanned word is outputted as a numeric subfield on a second output line from the OCR. The bayesian online numeric discriminator then analyzes the two character streams by calculating a first conditional probability that the OCR perceived the alphabetic subfield given that a numeric subfield was actually scanned and a second conditional probability that the OCR perceived the numeric subfield given that an alphabetic subfield was actually scanned. These first and second conditional probabilities are then compared. If the conditional probability that the OCR read the alphabetic subfield given that the numeric subfield was actually scanned, is larger than the conditional probability that the OCR read the numeric subfield given that the alphabetic subfield was actually scanned, then the numeric subfield is selected by the discriminator as the most probable interpretation of the word scanned by the OCR.
Inventors
- 👤 J Hilliard
- 👤 W Rosenbaum
- 👤 A Chaires
- 👤 J Ciconte
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 05:00
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06V; G06V30/00; G06V30/10; G06V30/26; G06V30/262
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
510 words
A method for discriminating the alphabetic form from the numeric form of a character field scanned by a character recognition machine adapted to scan the characters in a character field, output on a first output line the alphabetic character which most nearly matches each character scanned, as an alphabetic field for all characters scanned in said character field, and output on a second output line a numeric character which most nearly matches each character scanned, as a numeric field, for all characters scanned in said character field, comprising the steps of: storing in a storage means connected to said first and second output lines, a first type of conditional probability that a certain alphabetic character was inferred by the character recognition machine given that a certain numeric character was scanned, for combinations of alphabetic characters with numeric characters; storing in said storage means a seocnd type of conditonal probability that a certain numeric character was inferred by the character recognition machine given that a certain alphabetic character was scanned, for combinations of alphabetic characters with numeric characters; accessing said storage means by a first corresponding character pair in said alphabetic field and said numeric field on said first and second output lines responsively to yield the first type conditional probability that a numeric character on the second output line was misread by the character recognition machine as the corresponding alphabetic character on the first output line; accessing said storage means by said first corresponding character pair in said alphabetic field and numeric field on said first and second output lines to yield the second type conditional probability that the alphabetic character on the first output line was misread by the character recognition machine as the corresponding numeric character on the second output line; repeating said accessing steps for all of said corresponding character pairs in said character field; multipying in a multiplier means having an input connected to said storage means, a first product of all the first type conditional probabilities accessed from said storage means for said character field, said first product being a first total conditional probability that all numeric characters in said numeric field outputted on said second output line were misread by the character recognition machine as the alphabetic characters outputted in said alphabetic field on said first output line; multiplying in said multiplying means, a second product of all the second type conditional probabilities accessed from said storage means, said second product being a second total conditional probability that all the alphabetic characters outputted in said alphabetic field on said first output line were misread by the character recognition machine as the numeric characters outputted in said numeric field on said second output line; comparing in a comparator connected to said multiplier means, the magnitudes of said first and second total conditional probabilities and outputting an indication thAt the scanned character field is alphabetic if said second total conditional probability is greater than said first total conditional probability, or is numeric if said first total conditional probability is greater than said second total conditional probability.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
510 words
A method for discriminating the alphabetic form from the numeric form of a character field scanned by a character recognition machine adapted to scan the characters in a character field, output on a first output line the alphabetic character which most nearly matches each character scanned, as an alphabetic field for all characters scanned in said character field, and output on a second output line a numeric character which most nearly matches each character scanned, as a numeric field, for all characters scanned in said character field, comprising the steps of: storing in a storage means connected to said first and second output lines, a first type of conditional probability that a certain alphabetic character was inferred by the character recognition machine given that a certain numeric character was scanned, for combinations of alphabetic characters with numeric characters; storing in said storage means a seocnd type of conditonal probability that a certain numeric character was inferred by the character recognition machine given that a certain alphabetic character was scanned, for combinations of alphabetic characters with numeric characters; accessing said storage means by a first corresponding character pair in said alphabetic field and said numeric field on said first and second output lines responsively to yield the first type conditional probability that a numeric character on the second output line was misread by the character recognition machine as the corresponding alphabetic character on the first output line; accessing said storage means by said first corresponding character pair in said alphabetic field and numeric field on said first and second output lines to yield the second type conditional probability that the alphabetic character on the first output line was misread by the character recognition machine as the corresponding numeric character on the second output line; repeating said accessing steps for all of said corresponding character pairs in said character field; multipying in a multiplier means having an input connected to said storage means, a first product of all the first type conditional probabilities accessed from said storage means for said character field, said first product being a first total conditional probability that all numeric characters in said numeric field outputted on said second output line were misread by the character recognition machine as the alphabetic characters outputted in said alphabetic field on said first output line; multiplying in said multiplying means, a second product of all the second type conditional probabilities accessed from said storage means, said second product being a second total conditional probability that all the alphabetic characters outputted in said alphabetic field on said first output line were misread by the character recognition machine as the numeric characters outputted in said numeric field on said second output line; comparing in a comparator connected to said multiplier means, the magnitudes of said first and second total conditional probabilities and outputting an indication thAt the scanned character field is alphabetic if said second total conditional probability is greater than said first total conditional probability, or is numeric if said first total conditional probability is greater than said second total conditional probability.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
98 words
The method of claim 1, which further comprises: gating a gating means having data inputs connected to said first and second output lines and a control input connected to the output of said comparator and an output connected to a third output line, to selectively transmit to said third output line the alphabetic field outputted on said first output line, when said comparator indicates said channel character field is alphabetic, and to selectively transmit to said third output line the numeric field outputted on said second output line, when said comparator indicates said scanned character field is numeric.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
495 words
An apparatus for discriminating the alphabetic form from the numeric form of a character field scanned by an character recognition machine, comprising: a character recognition machine adapted to scan the characters in a character field, output on a first output line the alphabetic character which most nearly matches each character scanned, as an alphabetic field for all characters scanned in said character field, and output on a second output line a numeric character which most nearly matches each character scanned, as a numeric field, for all characters scanned in said character field; a storage means connected to said first and second output lines, having stored therein a first type of conditional probability that a certain alphabetic character was inferred by the character recognition machine given that a certain numeric character was scanned, for combinations of alphabetic characters with numeric characters, said storage means being sequentially accessed by corresponding character pairs in said alphabetic field and said numeric field on said first and second output lines to yield the first type conditional probability that a numeric character on the second output line was misread by the character recognition machine as the corresponding alphabetic character on the first output line said storage means having stored therein a second type of conditional probability that a certain numeric character was inferred by the character recognition machine given that a certain alphabetic character was scanned, for combinations of alphabetic characters with numeric characters, said storage means being sequentially accessed by corresponding character pairs in said alphabetic field and numeric field on said first and second output lines to yield the second type conditional probability that the alphabetic character on the first output line was misread by the character recognition machine as the corresponding numeric character on the second output line; a multiplier means having an input connected to said storage means for calculating a first product of all the first type conditional probabilities accessed from said storage means for said character field, said first product being a first total conditional probability that all numeric characters in said numeric field outputted on said second output line were misread by the character recognition machine as the alphabetic characters outputted in said alphabetic field on said first output line, and for calculating a second product of all the second type conditional probabilities accessed from said storage means, said second product being a second total conditional probability that all the alphabetic characters outputted in said alphabetic field on said first output line were misread by the character recognition machine as the numeric characters outputted in said numeric field on said second output line; a comparator connected to said multiplier means for comparing the magnitudes of said first and second total conditional probabilities and outputting an indication that the scanned character field is alphabetic if said second total conditionaL probability is greater than said first total conditional probability, or is numeric if said first total conditional probability is greater than said second total conditional probability.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
495 words
An apparatus for discriminating the alphabetic form from the numeric form of a character field scanned by an character recognition machine, comprising: a character recognition machine adapted to scan the characters in a character field, output on a first output line the alphabetic character which most nearly matches each character scanned, as an alphabetic field for all characters scanned in said character field, and output on a second output line a numeric character which most nearly matches each character scanned, as a numeric field, for all characters scanned in said character field; a storage means connected to said first and second output lines, having stored therein a first type of conditional probability that a certain alphabetic character was inferred by the character recognition machine given that a certain numeric character was scanned, for combinations of alphabetic characters with numeric characters, said storage means being sequentially accessed by corresponding character pairs in said alphabetic field and said numeric field on said first and second output lines to yield the first type conditional probability that a numeric character on the second output line was misread by the character recognition machine as the corresponding alphabetic character on the first output line said storage means having stored therein a second type of conditional probability that a certain numeric character was inferred by the character recognition machine given that a certain alphabetic character was scanned, for combinations of alphabetic characters with numeric characters, said storage means being sequentially accessed by corresponding character pairs in said alphabetic field and numeric field on said first and second output lines to yield the second type conditional probability that the alphabetic character on the first output line was misread by the character recognition machine as the corresponding numeric character on the second output line; a multiplier means having an input connected to said storage means for calculating a first product of all the first type conditional probabilities accessed from said storage means for said character field, said first product being a first total conditional probability that all numeric characters in said numeric field outputted on said second output line were misread by the character recognition machine as the alphabetic characters outputted in said alphabetic field on said first output line, and for calculating a second product of all the second type conditional probabilities accessed from said storage means, said second product being a second total conditional probability that all the alphabetic characters outputted in said alphabetic field on said first output line were misread by the character recognition machine as the numeric characters outputted in said numeric field on said second output line; a comparator connected to said multiplier means for comparing the magnitudes of said first and second total conditional probabilities and outputting an indication that the scanned character field is alphabetic if said second total conditionaL probability is greater than said first total conditional probability, or is numeric if said first total conditional probability is greater than said second total conditional probability.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
97 words
The apparatus of claim 3, which further comprises: a gating means having data inputs connected to said first and second output lines and a control input connected to the output of said comparator and an output connected to a third output line for selectively transmitting to said third output line the alphabetic field outputted on said first output line, when said comparator indicates said channel character field is alphabetic, and for selectively transmitting to said third output line the numeric field outputted on said second output line, when said comparator indicates said scanned character field is numeric.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
566 words
An apparatus for discriminating the alphabetic form from the numeric form of a character field scanned by an optical character recognition machine, comprising: an optical character recognition machine adapted to scan the characters in a character field, output on a first OCR output line the alphabetic character which most nearly matches each character scanned, as an alphabetic field for all characters scanned, and output on a second OCR output line a numeric character which most nearly matches each character scanned, as a numeric field, for all characters scanned; a first storage address register connected to said first OCR output line for sequentially storing each alphabetic character in the alphabetic field outputted on said first OCR output line; a second storage address register connected to said second OCR output line for sequentially storing each numeric character in the numeric field outputted on said second OCR output line; a storage means connected to said first and second storage address registers, having stored therein a first type of conditional probabilities that a certain alphabetic character was inferred by the OCR given that a certain numeric character was scanned, for all combinations of alphabetic characters with numeric characters, said storage means being accessed by the contents of said first and second storage address registers to yield the first type conditional probability that the numeric character stored in the second storage address register was misread by the OCR as the alphabetic character stored in the first storage address register; said storage means having stored therein a second type of conditional probabilities that a certain numeric character was inferred by the OCR given that a certain alphabetic character was scanned, for all combinations of alphabetic characters with numeric characters, said storage means being accessed by the contents of said first and second storage address registers to yield the second type conditional probability that the alphabetic character stored in the first storage address register was misread by the OCR as the numeric character stored in the second storage address register; a storage output register connected to said storage means for storing each first type conditional probability value accessed from said storage means by said first and second storage address registers and for storing each second type conditional probability value accessed from said storage means by said first and second storage address registers; a multiplier means having an input connected to said storage output register for calculating a first product of all the first type conditional probabilities accessed from said storage means, said first product being a first total conditional probability that all numeric characters outputted on said second OCR output line were misread by the OCR as the alphabetic characters outputted on said first OCR output line, and for calculating a second product of all the second type conditional probabilities accessed from said storage means, said second product being a second total conditional probability that all the alphabetic characters ouTputted on said first OCR output line were misread by the OCR as the numeric characters outputted on said second OCR output line; a comparator connected to said multiplier means for comparing the magnitudes of said first and second total conditional probabilities and outputting an indication that the scanned character field is alphabetic if said seocnd total conditional probability is greater than said first total conditional probability, or is numeric if said first total conditional probability is greater than said second total conditional probability.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
566 words
An apparatus for discriminating the alphabetic form from the numeric form of a character field scanned by an optical character recognition machine, comprising: an optical character recognition machine adapted to scan the characters in a character field, output on a first OCR output line the alphabetic character which most nearly matches each character scanned, as an alphabetic field for all characters scanned, and output on a second OCR output line a numeric character which most nearly matches each character scanned, as a numeric field, for all characters scanned; a first storage address register connected to said first OCR output line for sequentially storing each alphabetic character in the alphabetic field outputted on said first OCR output line; a second storage address register connected to said second OCR output line for sequentially storing each numeric character in the numeric field outputted on said second OCR output line; a storage means connected to said first and second storage address registers, having stored therein a first type of conditional probabilities that a certain alphabetic character was inferred by the OCR given that a certain numeric character was scanned, for all combinations of alphabetic characters with numeric characters, said storage means being accessed by the contents of said first and second storage address registers to yield the first type conditional probability that the numeric character stored in the second storage address register was misread by the OCR as the alphabetic character stored in the first storage address register; said storage means having stored therein a second type of conditional probabilities that a certain numeric character was inferred by the OCR given that a certain alphabetic character was scanned, for all combinations of alphabetic characters with numeric characters, said storage means being accessed by the contents of said first and second storage address registers to yield the second type conditional probability that the alphabetic character stored in the first storage address register was misread by the OCR as the numeric character stored in the second storage address register; a storage output register connected to said storage means for storing each first type conditional probability value accessed from said storage means by said first and second storage address registers and for storing each second type conditional probability value accessed from said storage means by said first and second storage address registers; a multiplier means having an input connected to said storage output register for calculating a first product of all the first type conditional probabilities accessed from said storage means, said first product being a first total conditional probability that all numeric characters outputted on said second OCR output line were misread by the OCR as the alphabetic characters outputted on said first OCR output line, and for calculating a second product of all the second type conditional probabilities accessed from said storage means, said second product being a second total conditional probability that all the alphabetic characters ouTputted on said first OCR output line were misread by the OCR as the numeric characters outputted on said second OCR output line; a comparator connected to said multiplier means for comparing the magnitudes of said first and second total conditional probabilities and outputting an indication that the scanned character field is alphabetic if said seocnd total conditional probability is greater than said first total conditional probability, or is numeric if said first total conditional probability is greater than said second total conditional probability.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
100 words
The apparatus of claim 5, which further comprises: a gating means having data inputs connected to said first and second OCR output lines and a control input connected to the output of said comparator and an output connected to a system output line for selectively transmitting to said system output line the alphabetic field outputted on said first OCR output line, when said comparator indicates said scanned character field is alphabetic, and for selectively transmitting to said system output line the numeric field outputted on said second OCR output line, when said comparator indicates said scanned character field is numeric.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3233219A
Cited
US3634822A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-30 | 1978-04-01 | 1978-10-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-30 | 1982-04-01 | 1982-10-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-30 | 1986-04-01 | 1986-10-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |