Abstract: A barcode recognition apparatus includes an image interface, an image analysis unit, an image conversion unit, and a bar recognition unit. The image interface acquires an image including a barcode captured by a camera. The image analysis unit analyzes a characteristic of an input image acquired from the camera, and decides an image conversion method for the conversion from the input image into an image for recognition processing on the basis of the analysis result. The image conversion unit converts the input image into an image for recognition processing by the image conversion method decided by the image analysis unit. The bar recognition unit performs barcode recognition processing for the image for recognition processing obtained by the image conversion unit.

Abstract: An addressee recognizing apparatus recognizes the addressee of matter to be delivered. A database stores a description format including at least a described position, the number of character lines, and the length of each character line in a sender area on the matter to be delivered. When a scanner obtains an image, a plurality of addressee candidate areas are obtained from the image. The apparatus determines whether the description format for each of the extracted candidates matches the description format for the sender area stored in the database. If the description format for the candidate is determined to match the description format for the sender area, the candidate is prohibited from being recognized as the addressee area.

Abstract: A bar code reader performs a double-printing detecting process to determine whether or not a plurality of bar codes are overprinted based on an image containing a bar code read by a scanner. The bar code reader determines that the recognition result of the bar code is ineffective information when it is detected by the overprinting detecting process that a plurality of bar codes are overprinted and outputs the recognition result of the bar code to a control portion when it is not detected by the overprinting detecting process that a plurality of bar codes are overprinted.

Abstract: A search processing section searches information stored in an address database, using a first character series, e.g., a postal code input through an input device as a search key, for a second character series corresponding to an address. A character recognition processing section performs character recognition with respect to a predetermined area in the image, using a character dictionary, and generates candidates for a character series including a name or designation, a postal code, an address, etc. A character image selection processing section selects a character series corresponding to the searched second character series from the generated candidates. A character image storage section stores correlation between each of the characters constituting the selected character series and a character image thereof.

Abstract: An addressee recognizing apparatus recognizes the addressee of matter to be delivered. A database stores a description format including at least a described position, the number of character lines, and the length of each character line in a sender area on the matter to be delivered. When a scanner obtains an image, a plurality of addressee candidate areas are obtained from the image. The apparatus determines whether the description format for each of the extracted candidates matches the description format for the sender area stored in the database. If the description format for the candidate is determined to match the description format for the sender area, the candidate is prohibited from being recognized as the addressee area.

Abstract: Character recognition apparatus includes field storage means provided for storing field data indicating specified fields on entry sheets, image scanner provided for reading images appearing on the top side and back-transfer images on the entry sheets, back-transfer image processing means provided for processing back-transfer images in the specified fields read by the image scanner in reference to the field storage means and character recognition means provided for executing character recognitions for the images processed by the back-transfer image processing means.

Abstract: Recognition character candidates and their similarities for each character obtained by a character recognition section from an input character string are stored in a first recognition result memory, and recognition character candidates obtained by rotating the corresponding characters through 180 degrees and their similarities are stored in a second recognition result memory. Address pointers for accessing the first and second recognition result memories are stored in an address pointer memory. The first recognition result memory is accessed in accordance with the address pointers read out from the address pointer memory in an ascending order, and the second recognition result memory is accessed in accordance with the address pointers read out from the address pointer memory in a descending order.

Abstract: An image processing method which includes a step for obtaining projections formed on coordinate axes having a predetermined inclination with respect to the coordinate axes of the horizontal and vertical directions. The projections are obtained run by run from image data coded in run length representation. The method also includes a step for adding the respective run-by-run projections through the entire image so as to obtain the projections of image data on the inclined coordinate axes. This method enables the image data to be processed without decoding. Further, the method allows a significant reduction in the amount of processing and also allows high-speed processing.