Abstract: An illustrative demonstration apparatus for use in storing information in a memory is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a reusable panel for temporary display of user-drawn marks, a digitizer for generating digital information corresponding to the user-drawn marks, and an indexer for associating the digital information with a header. The header is based at least in part on a selected portion of the user-drawn marks selected by the user. The apparatus may also feature a redisplay capability permitting redisplay of the user-drawn marks on the reusable panel based on the digital information.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying and separating handwritten text from machine printed text in a document having a combination of handwritten text and machine printed text. In one embodiment, the present invention is installed as an intelligent printing control interface in a conventional computer and allows any document generated by any application to be selectively processed to remove any handwritten text prior to printing of the document, under the control of the user. In an alternative embodiment, the present invention is installed as an intelligent printing control interface in a conventional digital copy machine, which allows any document being copied to be selectively processed to remove any handwritten text prior to printing of the document, under the control of the user. The present invention employs a handwriting separation method which uses Hidden Markov Models to identify regions as either handwritten text or machine printed text.

Abstract: A scanned document image, including add-on information such as handwritten annotations in addition to printed text lines, is processed by a handwriting detection method. First, at least one projection histogram is generated from the scanned document image. A regular pattern that correlates to the printed text lines is determined from the projection histogram. Second, connected component analysis is applied to the scanned document image to generate at least one merged text line. Each merged text line relates to at least one of the handwritten annotation and the printed text line. By comparing the merged text lines to the regular pattern of the projection histograms, the printed text lines are discriminated from the handwritten annotations.