Abstract: A logical structure analyzing apparatus includes an extracting unit that extracts word candidates from a form, a first generating unit that classifies each of the word candidates into a group of heading candidates or a group of data candidates to generate, based on positions of the word candidates on the form, first candidate sets each including one heading candidate and one data candidate identifiable by the heading candidate, and a second generating unit that combines the first candidate sets to generate second candidate sets that each include plural heading candidates that differ and one data candidate. The apparatus also includes a removing unit that, based on positions of the heading candidates and the data word candidate in each second candidate set, removes from among the second candidate sets, a determined set including a data item and headings identifying the data item, and an output unit that outputs the determined set.

Abstract: An image recognition apparatus recognizes the correspondence between character strings and logical elements composing a logical structure in an image in which the character strings are described as the logical elements to recognize each logical element.

Abstract: An image recognition method is conducted by recognizing logical elements based on a logical structure model set to correspond to the logical structure of an image of individual character strings, collecting information processed with the logical structure model of images of a logical structure, acquiring a recognition result when recognizing an image of a logical structure by processing information collected with a post-update logical structure model, and outputting warning information about the post-update logical structure model to an output unit when a result of the comparison is a non-match.

Abstract: A character recognition apparatus includes a hash table registering unit and a recognition processing unit. The hash table registering unit creates a hash table indicating a characteristic of each of partial character images as an area of each character. The recognition processing unit divides an input image into partial input images, and calculates a characteristic of each partial input image. The recognition processing unit searches the hash table for a partial character image having a characteristic similar to that of each partial input image. The recognition processing unit compares a positional relationship of the partial input images with that of the partial character images to determine whether they match, and recognizes a character in each area of the input image.

Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method of character recognition out of an image having a frame and a plurality of characters in an area, comprises the steps of: dividing the area into a plurality of partial areas having a plurality of partial images, respectively; providing a template image having a reference frame image; calculating differences between the partial images and the reference frame image of the template image, respectively; calculating misalignment of the image from the template image based on the average of the differences of the partial images and the reference frame image; and recognizing the characters out of the image upon correction of the misalignment.

Abstract: A projection set of geodesic lines which are parallel with each other on a curved surface of a paper face is extracted from an image in which a paper face has been imaged by an image-pickup device, using the paper face contents as a clue; and also a projection set of ruling lines which form a ruled surface corresponding to the curved surface of the paper face is extracted from the projection set of geodesic lines. Then, the curved surface of the paper face is estimated from the projection set of the geodesic lines and ruling lines, and distortion of the image is corrected based on this curved surface of the paper face. If this is done, correspondence with various types of diverse distortions becomes possible, and distortion correction can be performed even when only one part of the paper face appears in the image.

Abstract: A form processing program which is capable of automatically extracting keywords. When the image of a scanned form is entered, a layout recognizer extracts a readout region of the form image, a character recognizer recognizes characters within the readout region. A form logical definition database stores form logical definitions defining strings as keywords according to logical structures which are common to forms of same type. A possible string extractor extracts as possible strings combinations of recognized characters each of which satisfies defined relationships of a string. A linking unit links the possible strings according to positional relationships, and determines a combination of possible strings as keywords.

Abstract: A rather expanded binary image and a rather blurry binary image are generated from a multiple-valued image. A ruled line candidate area is extracted from the rather expanded binary image, and the extracted ruled line candidate area is verified using the rather blurry binary image.

Abstract: This invention provides a correcting device and a correcting method for perspective transformation of document images.

Abstract: An image distortion correcting apparatus is provided with an image input section to input an image of a flat rectangular paper surface imaged by an imaging section, as an input image, an imaging position estimating section to estimate a relative imaging position of the imaging section with respect to the paper surface from four vertexes of the rectangular paper surface within the input image, a rectangular paper surface estimating section to estimate four vertexes of the rectangular paper surface within a three-dimensional space based on the imaging position, and an image correcting section to correct a perspective transformation distortion in the paper surface within the input image based on the imaging position and the four vertexes within the three-dimensional space, so as to output an output image.

Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method of detecting boundary line information contained in image information comprising a plurality of pixels in either one of first and second states, comprising: detecting a first group of pixels in the first state disposed continuously in said image information to determine first line information and detecting a second group of pixels in the first state disposed adjacently with each other and surrounded by pixels in the second state to determine edge information based on the contour of the second group of pixels; and determining the boundary line information on the basis of the information of the relation of relative position of the line information and the edge information and the size of the first and second group of pixels.

Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, an apparatus for analyzing and determining correlation of information contained in a given form containing blocks, at least one of the blocks containing data indicative of a header, the rest of the blocks containing data in association with header information, comprising: a memory for storing templates having nodes, character data associated with said nodes respectively, and relative position information between said nodes; and a processor for analyzing and determining correlation of the information according to a process comprising: obtaining data contained in said blocks in the given form, determining relative position of said blocks to produce relative position information, analyzing the data obtained from the blocks and the relative position information of the blocks in comparison with the character data and the relative position information of said nodes of said templates, and determining correlation of the data contained in said blocks.

Abstract: When an operator starts a pattern separation extraction tool, an input screen is displayed on the display device. The operator can choose and designate any one of document image data within the storage device through the input screen. The document image that is chosen by the operator is displayed on the display device. The operator can choose and designate a color sample by a drag operation on the document image that is displayed on the display device. If the operator inputs the designation to finish the designation of a color sample through the input device after designating some color samples, the pattern separating extraction device generates and outputs the image data that consists of one print pattern for each of the print patterns included in the document image chosen by the operator.

Abstract: A set of straight lines that associate a top parallel geodesic projection positioned at an upper end with a bottom parallel geodesic projection positioned at a lower end, among sets of parallel geodesic projections, is extracted as a set of ruled-line candidate projections as a search target of a set of ruled line projections. A deviation of neighborhood, which is a distance between a cross ratio vector of the ruled-line candidate projection and a cross ratio vector of a neighboring line obtained by shifting the ruled-line candidate projection by a predetermined interval, is calculated for each ruled-line candidate projection. A set of straight lines having the smallest sum total of deviations of neighborhood, in the set of straight lines, which do not intersect with each other, among the sets of ruled-line projection candidates is extracted as a set of ruled line projections by continuous dynamic programming.

Abstract: A three-dimensional curved-surface model can be estimated by using both two-dimensional outlines obtained from a piece of image photographed from the top and a restriction that the paper is rectangular. Then, only the three-dimensional distortion in the image can be corrected based on the obtained three-dimensional curved-surface model.

Abstract: Upon receiving, for example, document data including a character string from outside, a character recognition device detects a line from a line-touching character-string image in which at least one character (such as number, alphabet letter, kana character, and Chinese character) touches (or overlaps) a line in the document data, tentatively removes the line, and estimates a character region. The character recognition device extracts a line-touching character image from the line-touching character-string image (original image) based on the estimated character region. The character recognition device creates a line-added reference character image by adding a quasi-line to a reference character image stored in advance.

Abstract: A ruled line extracting apparatus, a ruled line extracting program and a ruled line extracting method re-extract a ruled line by changing the predetermined requirements to be met by ruled line s when a ruled line candidate extracted according to the requirements shows a low reliability.

Abstract: A form processing apparatus extracts layout information and character information from a form document. A candidate extracting unit extracts word candidates from the character information. A frequency digitizing unit calculates emission probability of a word candidate from each element. A relation digitizing unit calculates transition probability that relationship between word candidates is established. An evaluating unit calculates an evaluation value indicative of a probability of appearance of word candidates in respective logical elements. A determining unit determines the element and a word candidate thereof as the element and a character string thereof in the form document, based on the evaluation value.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a memo image managing apparatus, system and method which are adapted to manage and retrieve a large amount of memo images. The memo image managing apparatus that is connectable to a portable terminal capable of performing a memo image exchange and a memo image display comprises: a managing server adapted to manage memo images and a character information recognizing server adapted to recognize character information of the memo image. The managing server is comprised of a memo image accumulating section adapted to accumulate memo images and a memo image retrieving section adapted to retrieve a predetermined memo image from the accumulated memo images in response to a request. The character information recognizing server is comprised of a character information recognizing section adapted to recognize character information from the memo image.

Abstract: A document information input apparatus detects a position and an attribute of an area of a real document to be input designated by a user with high accuracy. Based on the detected position and attribute, the document information input apparatus recognizes an image of the area as text information by performing recognition processes suitable for the detected attribute such as character recognition, table recognition and a figure process. Then, the document information input apparatus pastes the resulting information to a pertinent position of an electronic document on a display. As a result, it is possible to input information such as a character sequence, a table and a figure from a real document to an electronic document at high speed and with high accuracy.