Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for extracting messages from a person using the body features presented by a user. The present invention captures a set of images and extracts a first set of body features, along with a set of contexts, and a set of meanings. From the first set of body features, the set of contexts, and the set of meanings, the present invention generates a set of words corresponding to the message that the person is attempting to convey. The present invention can also use the body features of the person in addition to the voice of the person to further improve the accuracy of extracting the person's message.

Abstract: A device for identifying mail items includes a memory for storing mail item information of a mail item and characteristic image features of the mail item. A control unit assigns the mail item information to image features that are recorded again. In order that the mail items can still be identified reliably even after a cancellation in print or a forwarding sticker has been applied, the control unit carries out the assignment with the aid of an identification code associated with the mail item.

Abstract: A system and method for automated address directory updating. A method includes receiving a parcel having a destination address and determining address information from the destination address. The address information includes a digitized address and an address image. The method includes determining if a previous address entry proposal exists in a database, and if not, then storing the address information in a new address entry proposal and initializing a counter. If so, then incrementing the counter for the previous address entry proposal. The method includes, when the counter has reached a threshold, adding the address information and an address image to the first addressing database, updating a wide-area address management system to include the address information, and propagating the address information to a plurality of local addressing databases. Only one address image corresponding to a destination database is stored as an address entry proposal.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a postal indicium detection method includes detecting whether or not one of a first face and a second face of a sheet corresponds to a picture card specific face, detecting a postal indicium candidate from the second face based on a first detection result indicating that the first face corresponds to the picture card specific face, and detecting the postal indicium candidate from the first face based on a second detection result indicating that the second face corresponds to the picture card specific face.

Abstract: Various embodiments of present invention provide systems, methods, and computer-program products containing executable code for processing a package for shipping with a common carrier. Various embodiments include a wireless computing device that may be one of several types of devices such as smartphones, mobile telephones, mobile computers, portable digital assistants, laptop computers, gaming devices, electronic tablets, or other types of similar devices. In particular embodiments, executable code is installed on the wireless computing device that, when executed, causes the device to perform certain functionality. For instance, in particular embodiments, the wireless computing device records an image of a shipping form being placed on a package, verifies the image is suitable for analysis and transmission, and extracts a tracking number from the image.

Abstract: A method of compensating for distortion in text recognition is provided, which includes extracting a text region from an image; estimating the form of an upper end of the extracted text region; estimating the form of a lower end of the extracted text region; estimating the form of left and right sides of the extracted text region; estimating a diagram constituted in the form of the estimated upper end, lower end, left and right sides, and including a minimum area of the text region; and transforming the text region constituting the estimated diagram into a rectangular diagram using an affine transform.

Abstract: The present application relates to a mail processing system and related method containing dynamic speed control which uses real time and historical system parameters to dynamically control the cycle speed of an inserting or wrapping system to optimize system efficiency, and maximize throughput and performance. A document processing system with dynamic speed control analyzes system parameters. When the operational conditions are favorable the system will increase cycle speed of one or more of the mail processing components of the system in increments until an optimal speed is reached. Likewise, if conditions are unfavorable the system will decrease cycle speed of one or more of the mail processing components of the system in increments until an optimal speed is reached.

Abstract: A method of accessing digital images of mailpieces from a workstation of a sender, includes franking the mailpieces on a franking machine of the sender; acquiring a digital image of each of the franked mailpieces at an office for receiving the mailpieces; extracting, from the digital images, a first identifier of the sender and a second identifier of a dealer of the franking machine; feeding a first database with the digital images and with the identifiers; making portions of the first database available to each of the servers of the dealers, the portions being determined as a function of the second identifier; feeding a second database with the determined portion; making portions of the second database available to a workstation of each of the senders, the portions being determined as a function of the first identifier; and accessing the digital image of each of the franked mailpieces on the workstation.

Abstract: Image acquisition apparatus (1) for acquiring images of mailpieces (P), the apparatus comprising a housing (3) inside which the following are placed: a first camera (4) co-operating with a first lighting system (8) emitting light radiation at a certain wavelength suitable for exciting a fluorescent mark to acquire an image of the surface of a mailpiece through a first window (5); a second camera (6) co-operating with a second lighting system (9) emitting light radiation in the visible light domain to acquire an image of the surface of a mailpiece through a second window (7); and means (10) for preventing light interference, which means are concave in shape and are disposed between the first window and the second window, the second lighting system (9) being disposed in the cavity of said means (10) for preventing light interference.

Abstract: A method of pattern and image recognition and identification includes building a data store of known patterns or images having known attributes and comparing those patterns to unknown patterns. The data store and comparison processing may be distributed across processors. A digital pattern recognition engine on each of the processors has the ability to compare a known pattern from the data store and an unknown pattern and compare the two patterns to determine whether the patterns constitute a match based on match criteria. If the comparison indicates a match, the match may be communicated to the data store and added as a known pattern with detected attributes to the data store. If the comparison does not indicate a match, the pattern may be flagged, transmitted to manual recognition, or further processed using character thresholding or cutting or slicing the pattern.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable medium for parcel address recognition. A method includes receiving an address input and producing candidate address results corresponding to the address input. The method includes receiving operational scheme knowledge describing the mode of operation of a parcel processing system, and receiving at least one operational rule corresponding to the operational scheme knowledge. The method includes applying the at least one operational rule to the candidate address results and producing and storing a finalized result according to the operational rule and the candidate address results.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention describe an electronic method for processing stranded payments and lockbox payments at the same designated payment location. The method includes receiving a stranded payment at a non-designated payment location, and electronically scanning the stranded payment at the non-designated payment location. The scanned information is transmitted, in a secure manner, to a designated payment location remote from the non-designated payment location. The stranded payment and a lockbox payment are cleared, in the same electronic workflow, the transmitted information is used in the clearing process. Embodiments of the invention also include updating, for each stranded and lockbox payment, the accounts receivable system of the customer receiving the stranded or lockbox payment, and transmitting a response indicating the final status of the clearing of the stranded payment to the non-designated payment location.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for capturing and processing images of remittance coupons using a mobile device and obtaining data from the captured image which is used to set up or carry out payment of a bill that corresponds to the remittance coupon. Optimization and enhancement of image capture and image processing are provided on the mobile device to improve the initial quality of the captured image and provide a user with real time feedback. The image is then sent from the mobile device to a remote server, where additional image processing is performed to improve the quality of the image and then extract data from the image that is relevant to paying the bill. The extracted data may be verified through comparisons with databases which store information on billers, bill formats and other relevant content that will appear on the bill.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are disclosed for providing content associated with an information item on a distribution item using a computing device. In one aspect a method includes identifying an image of an information item on a distribution item. The method further includes processing, in a processor the image, to generate a data item determined by the information item. The method further includes decoding the data item to determine a set of attributes of the distribution item. The method further includes retrieving content associated with the distribution item using at least one of the attributes in the set of attributes. The method further includes delivering content associated with the distribution item.

Abstract: A method, AND apparatus are described to accurately measure the delivery performance of a postal service using without external agents in the measurement process. The invention describes a system that measures the postal logistic automatically, and continuously. The basis for measurement are tag mail pieces that circulate continuously through the postal system.

Abstract: A paper document processing apparatus includes: a document image acceptance unit that accepts an image acquired; a document image recording unit that records a document image in a storage; an attribute information acquisition unit that acquires attribute information based on the document image; an acquisition result evaluation unit that evaluates whether an acquisition result of the acquired attribute information is affirmative or negative; a medium output unit that outputs information indicating a scan status of the paper document that is formed on a medium while specifying the document image for which the acquisition result of attribute information is evaluated negative; a medium acceptance unit that accepts the information formed on the medium; and an attribute information reacquisition unit that reacquires the attribute information of the document image by specifying the document image in accordance with the accepted information.

Abstract: Systems and method of identifying shipping anomalies are provided. One anomaly detection module is configured to access data related to items in a delivery environment and determine the occurrence of anomalies based on the accessed data. The detected anomalies are evaluated with other accessed data to identify source, destination or routing errors and to correct same.

Abstract: Markers are laid out to express a predetermined code string by a plurality of continuous markers. The markers which form a marker string include at least two types of markers having different features which can be identified by image processing. Markers detected in the captured image are converted into numerical information, and are collated based on the numerical information and the predetermined code string. Using information associated with the markers, the coordinate information of each collated marker is calculated. The position and orientation of an image capturing device are calculated using the coordinate information. With a simple arrangement, the position and orientation of an image capturing device can be calculated.

Abstract: An image processing device is provided which generates an easily reusable electronic document from an input image in which different page sizes are mixed. The image processing device generates a plurality of pieces of display information from a plurality of document images, and, depending on the size and the direction of each of the images, converts the pieces of display information into electronic documents. That is, the plurality of pieces of display information are divided into a plurality of groups, depending on the size and the direction of each of the images, and the display information included in each of the groups is converted into a separate electronic document. Further, sequence information based on the input order of the plurality of document images is stored on an electronic document.

Abstract: A method for locating an object in an image is provided for an object that exhibits, in at least one direction, foreground pixel runs and background pixel runs consistent with at least characteristic of the object. In one embodiment, the method includes the acts of defining a plurality of regions in the image, associating a metric with each of the regions, finding pixel runs in the image, and identifying at least one pixel run in one of the plurality of regions where the at least one pixel run is consistent with the at least one characteristic of the object. According to one embodiment, the method includes the acts of adjusting the metric associated with the region where the at least one pixel run is identified and identifying, from among the plurality of regions, a region where the object is located based on a metric determined for a plurality of regions. In various embodiments, the object includes a repetitive pattern such as those found in barcodes and character strings.

Abstract: Described is a technology that provides an integrated platform for users to use different kinds of digital ink (e.g., handwritten characters, sketched shapes, handwritten formulas) when interacting with computer programs. The platform interprets the user's digital ink input and outputs one or more associated items into an application program. The output items can be customized for different application programs. In one aspect, the platform includes an ink panel having different operating modes for receiving digital ink, and a recognition service that recognizes different types of digital ink. The recognition service may include a unified recognizer that recognizes different types of digital ink, e.g., characters and shapes. Another recognizer may be included such as an equation recognizer. If the recognition result is text while in a non-text mode, the text may be used in a keyword search to locate items; otherwise, the recognition result may be used without keyword searching.

Abstract: A method for processing a document, including performing one or more processing steps with the document, such as printing, franking, assembling mail pieces, or opening received mail pieces. The method further includes defining a first possible location of a marking on a document; and searching a first part of a document for the marking, the first part corresponding to the first possible location. When the marking is not found in the first part a further possible location of a marking on a document is defined and a further part of the document for the marking is searched. The further part corresponds to the further possible location. The location of the marking with respect to the document is stored in the memory in case the marking is found in the first part or the further part. Information about the document is derived from the found marking. The derived information is presented at an output, for further processing of the information.

Abstract: A method of processing uniform mailpieces referred to as a “run” of mailpieces, during which method OCR is performed for recognizing certain information in a zone of interest of an image of each mailpiece, and during which method the following steps are performed: a) initializing a matrix accumulator associated with said run and including unitary accumulation elements that correspond to the pixels of the image; b) consolidating said matrix accumulator by incrementing certain unitary accumulation elements by deriving an indication of the spatial position of a block of pixels in which said certain information has been recognized unambiguously, or by using construction and local graphical correlation of blocks of image pixels to derive an optical flow map indicating local graphical movements; and c) defining, in the OCR processing, said zone of interest on the basis of the unitary accumulation elements of the consolidated matrix accumulator that present extreme accumulation values.

Abstract: A method and configuration to estimate the dimensions of a cuboid. The configuration includes two image acquisition units offset from each other with at least one of the units positioned at a defined acquisition height above a background surface. Image processing techniques are used to extract a perimeter of a top surface of the cuboid, placed on the background surface, from pairs of acquired images. A height estimation technique is used to calculate an absolute height of the cuboid. The absolute height of the cuboid is used, along with the extracted perimeter of the top surface of the cuboid, to calculate an absolute length and an absolute width of the cuboid. The height, length, and width may be used to calculate an estimated volume of the cuboid.

Abstract: A system and method for mail processing. A method includes receiving an image of a mail piece, and identifying multiple regions of interest of the image. The method includes determining a classification key for the image based on a plurality of relationships between the multiple regions of interest and identifying a most-changing region of interest of the multiple regions of interest. The method includes processing the mail piece using the identified most-changing region of interest as the recipient address block.

Abstract: An address label rework station according to the invention includes a conveyor which can simultaneously transport a series of spaced parcels along a conveyor path in a substantially horizontal stream. The station includes a camera, A work space, a microphone is usable by an operator in the work space, a targeting device directing a human operator in the work space. Station also includes a sensor system, a labeler and a printer to print shipping information. The station also includes a computer configured to receive and recognize image and voice data, generate a label with a recognized shipping address, and control the conveyer to apply a new label to the parcel by the labeler at the position selected using the targeting device.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for processing documents, such as mail contained in envelopes. The operator drops the documents toward a conveyor that serially convey the documents to an imaging device that acquires image data relating to the image of each document. A conveyor conveys the documents from the imaging device to one or more output bins.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing mail is provided. Mail is placed into an input bin having a conveyor that conveys the mail towards a feeder. The feeder serially feeds the envelopes by engaging the lead envelope in the stack of mail and displacing the lead envelope transverse the stack of mail. The mail is then cut on a side edge and the top edge to cut open each envelope. A transport conveys the cut envelopes to an extractor. The extractor opens the edge-severed mail and presents the contents of the envelopes to an operator who manually extracts the contents. The operator drops the extracted contents onto a conveyor that conveys the contents to an imaging station. The contents are automatically separated and imaged to obtain image data for the contents. The contents are then sorted into a plurality of output bins.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and system to track and process the received postal items in their personal mailbox. The present invention resides inside the personal mailbox of a user. When mail item arrives in the mailbox, controller initiates the tiny robot arm to pick up the item and moves it to scanner and initiates the scanner to scan the item. Controller then collects associated entities of the received mail item using OCR and sends a notification to the user. An associated entity includes sender name and address and other information on the face of the mail item. If there is no sender address in the mail item then controller realizes that the received mail item is junk/unwanted and sends it to shredder using robot arm for trash.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods consistent with the present invention provide for identifying and processing mail using an identification code on a mailpiece as a redundant source of identification information in a mail sorting system. In one embodiment, this information is stored in a temporary database and used for the identification and processing of mail in a Remote Bar Code System (RBCS). In this embodiment, the identification code enables the automation of mail sorting and other processing tasks, reducing costs and delays in mail delivery services. In another embodiment, the identification and processing of mail occurs in an Identification Code Sorting (ICS) system. In this embodiment, a long-term database allows for mail sorting and other processing tasks on a national or global level.

Abstract: Mail processing methods and systems. A method includes receiving a mailpiece at a local system and scanning the mailpiece by the local system to produce an image. The method can include receiving payment information from the customer by the local system for mailing the mailpiece. The method includes applying an identification code to the mailpiece by the local system, and after the mailpiece is delivered to a central processing facility, processing the mailpiece, using the image, by a central server system at the central processing facility. Related apparatuses and systems are discussed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of detecting double-feed of email items (10,12) that allows difficult mail types to be processed correctly, wherein simultaneous views are taking of both the sides and bottom of mail items and these views are processed to determine whether or not double feed has occurred. This can be achieved using either two cameras or a single camera (16,2) with additional optics.

Abstract: A word recognition method of performing recognition processing with respect to each word candidate obtained by reading characters in character information written in a reading material is provided. This word recognition method includes a matching processing step of collating each word candidate with a plurality of words in a word dictionary and calculating, every word, a matching score indicative of a degree that each word candidate matches with a word, a character quality score calculating step of calculating a character quality score indicative of a degree that a character candidate constituting each word candidate matches with an arbitrary character, and a correcting step of correcting a matching score obtained at the matching processing step based on a character quality score acquired at the character quality score calculating step.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for preventing data loss associated with an image. In use, an image is identified, and it is determined whether the image includes predetermined data. In addition, an action is performed based on the determination, for preventing data loss.

Abstract: An image processing device of the present invention is an image processing device that reads an address of a piece of mail, comprising: a storage section that correlatively stores image data of the piece of mail containing an address region in which the address of said piece of mail is present and region data that represent a position of said address region of the piece of mail; an obtaining section that obtains image data of said piece of mail; a search section that searches said storage section for image data that match the image data obtained by said obtaining section with respect to regions other than said address region; an extraction section that extracts a region represented by region data correlated with image data retrieved by said search section as an address region of said piece of mail from the image data obtained by said obtaining section; and a read section that reads an address from the address region extracted by said extraction section.

Abstract: To improve the recognition accuracy even when a plurality of words including a matched portion are selected as candidates for recognition. A word recognition apparatus according to the present invention includes input means for inputting a word image representing a plurality of characters; word candidate selection means for recognizing the word image input by the input means and selecting a first word candidate and a second word candidate based on a plurality of words registered in a word dictionary; and verification means for comparing the first word candidate and the second word candidate character by character and verifying a likelihood of the first word candidate based on an evaluation value obtained when the word image is recognized by characters determined as unmatched.

Abstract: A method of processing uniform mailpieces referred to as a “run” of mailpieces, during which method OCR is performed for recognizing certain information in a zone of interest of an image of each mailpiece, and during which method the following steps are performed: a) initializing a matrix accumulator associated with said run and including unitary accumulation elements that correspond to the pixels of the image; b) consolidating said matrix accumulator by incrementing certain unitary accumulation elements by deriving an indication of the spatial position of a block of pixels in which said certain information has been recognized unambiguously, or by using construction and local graphical correlation of blocks of image pixels to derive an optical flow map indicating local graphical movements; and c) defining, in the OCR processing, said zone of interest on the basis of the unitary accumulation elements of the consolidated matrix accumulator that present extreme accumulation values.

Abstract: Methods and systems for evaluating an imager that produces bi-chrome images from a scanner or a digital imaging device, the bi-chrome images having pixels of a first and second color. In one embodiment, a method includes generating an image with a hand-held imaging device, the image having pixels of a first color and a second color, analyzing the image to determine information about particles of the first and second color contained in the image, each particle comprising contiguous pixels of the same color, the particle information comprising information on first and second color particle size and count, and determining if the image is unacceptable based on predetermined objective criteria and the particle information.

Abstract: It is determined whether fixed data used for a plurality of pages is merged with variable data different from the fixed data on a page-by-page basis or on a record-by-record basis. If it is determined that the fixed data is merged with the variable data on the page-by-page basis, the fixed data is merged with the variable data and print data composing printed pages into which at least one insertion page is inserted for every predetermined number of pages is generated.

Abstract: Systems and method of identifying shipping anomalies are provided. One anomaly detection module is configured to access data related to items in a delivery environment and determine the occurrence of anomalies based on the accessed data. The detected anomalies are evaluated with other accessed data to identify source, destination or routing errors and to correct same.

Abstract: The present application relates to a mail processing system and related method containing dynamic speed control which uses real time and historical system parameters to dynamically control the cycle speed of an inserting or wrapping system to optimize system efficiency, and maximize throughput and performance. A document processing system with dynamic speed control analyzes system parameters. When the operational conditions are favorable the system will increase cycle speed of one or more of the mail processing components of the system in increments until an optimal speed is reached. Likewise, if conditions are unfavorable the system will decrease cycle speed of one or more of the mail processing components of the system in increments until an optimal speed is reached.

Abstract: An image writing device is provided and includes: a case including an accommodating part that accommodates a plurality of display media stacked, a entrance and exit port which is communicated with the accommodating part and through which the display media enter and exit the case, and a window through which an image on a display surface of a display medium can be externally browsed, the image being written in the display medium by applying external stimulation; a conveying part that conveys the display medium into and out of the case through the entrance and exit port; and a writing part arranged near the entrance and exit port of the case, the writing part applying the external stimulation to the display medium to write the image in the display medium when the display medium is conveyed into or out of the case by way of the conveying part.

Abstract: A parcel dimension measurement system includes image sensors oriented to image a parcel, an imaging subsystem configured to stitch together outputs of the image sensors to produce at least one two-dimensional image comprised of a plurality of pixels, and a general dimension subsystem including general parcel dimension information. A fine dimensioning subsystem is configured to determine dimension measurements of the parcel using the at least one two-dimensional image and the general parcel dimension information.

Abstract: The invention relates to an article-processing device comprising a conveyor (2) for moving articles (1) in series and on edge, a camera (3) for taking a digital image (4) of each article (1), a data processor unit for performing processing on the pixels of the digital image (4), and means for inspecting/monitoring the quality of the digital images (4), said article-processing device being characterized in that: said conveyor has a back wall (9) of a dark color; said camera (3) takes a digital image (4) within which the article (1) lies against a background (7) corresponding to said back wall (9); and said inspection/monitoring means scan rows of pixels in order to extract, for each scanned row, a pixel having a light intensity extremum, and detect contrast indicative of degradation of the quality of the digital images (4). The invention also relates to a sorting machine including such a device, and to an inspection/monitoring method.

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 system, method, and computer readable medium for mail analysis. A method includes receiving in a data processing system an image of a first mailpiece and associated machine-recognized data. The method includes comparing the machine-recognized data with a target list to determine a match with a target individual. The method includes performing a writer identification process on the image of the first mailpiece when a match is determined between the machine-recognized data and the target individual. The writer identification process produces writer identification data associated with the first mailpiece. The method includes storing the image of the first mailpiece and associated machine-recognized data and writer identification data.

Abstract: In a method of processing mailpieces, signatures are derived from images of the mailpieces and serve as identifiers for the mailpieces in the sorting process. The signatures are grouped together into signature categories or graphical classes on the basis of a certain criterion of graphical similitude so as to compute a mean signature value for each graphical class. For each graphical class in question, activity of the mean signature value is analyzed for detecting significant activity of an information block in the digital images. The results of this activity detection are used for searching for a match, in a second sorting pass, between a current signature and signatures recorded in the first sorting pass.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sorting, scanning and routing imaged documents are described. In one configuration, incoming mixed white mail is sorted and coded, then extracted and scanned using the code to separate items. The separate imaged documents are then routed using the code. In another configuration, the documents are automatically extracted from the envelopes. In yet another configuration, the intended recipient is sent an identifier used to reference the code and retrieve the imaged document.

Abstract: A feeder control system and method are disclosed. The system includes a feeder information detector, and a feeder information leverager to provide integrity verification, system control and/or reporting. The method includes the steps of detecting feeder information, and leveraging the feeder information to provide integrity verification, system control and/or reporting.

Abstract: A method of processing digital images, in which method a digital image is taken of a mailpiece, which image includes certain information, and certain OCR processing is applied to said image for the purpose of recognizing said information using OCR, the method is characterized in that it further includes a step of applying other OCR processing to said image for the purpose of recognizing said information, and a step of overlaying in said image results of said other OCR processing in a form recognizable by said certain OCR processing. This method makes it possible to obtain reinforced processing capacities by enriching the capacities of the first processing with the capacities of the other processing without calling into question the logical and physical interfaces of the first processing.