Abstract: A character box extracting unit extracts a line forming a character box. Then, the character box intersection calculating unit calculates the intersection of the character box with a character pattern. An intersection corresponding unit associates intersections with each other based on the directional property of character lines, distance between the character lines, etc. An in-box character extracting unit extracts a virtual image according to the association information between the intersections. A character size evaluating unit obtains from an optional character string an average character size of a character including the virtual image, and extracts a true character pattern by removing a redundant virtual image based on the average character size.

Abstract: In an image extraction system, an extracting part for extracting wide lines, an extracting part for extracting narrow lines and a frame detector detect a frame from a pattern which is extracted by a connected pattern extracting part. An attribute adder adds attributes of a character (graphic and symbol inclusive), frame, and a contact pattern of the character and frame to a partial pattern, and a separating part separates the frame from the contact pattern. An intersection calculator calculates intersections of the character and frame, and the calculated intersections are associated by an intersection associating part. An interpolator obtains a character region within the frame and interpolates this region based on the associated intersections. A connection confirming part confirms a connection of the pattern with respect to the extracted character pattern, and patterns confirmed of their connection are integrated in a connected pattern integrating part to thereby extract the character.