US5737442A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Processor based method for extracting tables from printed documents
Assignee: BCL Computers Inc
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Filing: 1995-10-20
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Granted: 1998-04-07
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Expires: 2015-10-20
Abstract
Abstract A processor based method for recognizing, capturing and storing tabular data receives digital-computer data representing a document either as a pixel-format document-image, or as formatted text. Within the digital computer, either form of the digital-computer data is processed to locate tabular data present therein. After a table has been located, tabular data is extracted from cells present in either form of the digital-computer data. The extracted tabular data is stored into a database present on the digital computer.
Inventors
- 👤 Hassan Alam
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 23:03
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06V; G06V30/00; G06V30/40; G06V30/41; G06V30/412; G06V30/10; G06V30/14; G06V30/1444
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A processor-based method for recognizing, capturing and storing into a database file unruled tabular data of a document, the document having at least one page, the method comprising the steps of: receiving into a digital computer digital-computer data representing formatted text present in a document; processing within the digital computer the digital-computer data to locate unruled tabular data present in the formatted text; extracting the unruled tabular data from cells present in the digital-computer data by: establishing white-space-interval vectors for all text lines in which unruled tabular data has been located; and forming a white-space-vector intersection by intersecting the white-space-interval vectors for all white-space-interval vectors having more than two white-space intervals; and storing into a database file present on the digital computer the extracted tabular data.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A processor-based method for recognizing, capturing and storing into a database file unruled tabular data of a document, the document having at least one page, the method comprising the steps of: receiving into a digital computer digital-computer data representing formatted text present in a document; processing within the digital computer the digital-computer data to locate unruled tabular data present in the formatted text; extracting the unruled tabular data from cells present in the digital-computer data by: establishing white-space-interval vectors for all text lines in which unruled tabular data has been located; and forming a white-space-vector intersection by intersecting the white-space-interval vectors for all white-space-interval vectors having more than two white-space intervals; and storing into a database file present on the digital computer the extracted tabular data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The processor-based method of claim 1 wherein the digital-computer data is received as a pixel-format document-image.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The processor-based method of claim 2 wherein optical character recognition is performed directly on a received pixel-format document-image to obtain formatted text, and the formatted text obtained by optical character recognition is processed to locate unruled tabular data present therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The processor-based method of claim 2 wherein the pixel-format document-image is processed directly to locate unruled tabular data present therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
The processor-based method of claim 4 wherein processing the pixel-format document-image directly to locate unruled tabular data present therein includes the steps of: evaluating a horizontal projection profile of the pixel-format document-image; determining upper and lower boundaries of a table by analyzing white space disclosed by the horizontal projection profile; evaluating a vertical projection profile of the pixel-format document-image; and determining a horizontal location of the table by analyzing white space disclosed by the vertical projection profile.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The processor-based method of claim 5 wherein optical character recognition is performed to obtain formatted text of the pixel-format document-image for which upper and lower boundaries and a horizontal location have been determined, and the formatted text obtained by optical character recognition is further processed to locate unruled tabular data present therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
The processor-based method of claim 5 wherein unruled tabular data located in a pixel-format document-image is extracted directly from cells present in the pixel-format document-image, and further including the step of: before storing the tabular data into the database file present on the digital computer, performing optical character recognition on pixel-format document-images extracted from the cells to obtain the tabular data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
The processor-based method of claim 7 wherein extracting the unruled tabular data from cells present in the pixel-format document-image includes the steps of: establishing regions in the pixel-format document-image using connected component analysis; evaluating a vertical projection profile of the regions to determine plumb lines between regions; and using the regions and plumb lines, determining cells from which pixel-format document-images are extracted for optical character recognition processing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The processor-based method of claim 1 wherein the digital-computer data representing formatted text is present in a text file which is processed to locate unruled tabular data present therein.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
67 words
The processor-based method of claim 9 wherein processing the formatted text to locate unruled tabular data present therein includes the steps of: scanning the formatted text to identify a line containing a keyword; determining that the line containing the keyword is a first horizontal boundary of a table; determining a horizontal location of the table on the page; and determining a second horizontal boundary of the table.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
The processor-based method of claim 10 wherein processing the formatted text to locate unruled tabular data present therein includes the steps of: locating a small table in the formatted text; determining a horizontal location of the table on the page; and determining upper and lower boundaries for the table.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The processor-based method of claim 9 wherein processing the formatted text to locate unruled tabular data present therein includes the steps of: locating a small table in the formatted text; determining a horizontal location of the table on the page; and determining upper and lower boundaries for the table.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
71 words
The processor-based method of claim 1 wherein extracting unruled tabular data located in formatted text from cells present in the formatted text further includes the step of: forming an augmented white-space-vector intersection by intersecting with the white-space-vector intersection a white-space-interval vector having only two white-space intervals; and if the augmented white-space-vector intersection has no fewer white-space intervals than the white-space-vector intersection, then replacing the white-space-vector intersection with the augmented white-space-vector intersection.
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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) | 2001-04-06 | 2001-10-06 | 2002-04-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-04-06 | 2005-10-06 | 2006-04-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-04-06 | 2009-10-06 | 2010-04-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |