Abstract: Disclosed is a document processing system that can be used to automatically detect and process an invoice for a business entity. The system receives a document and determines the structural information from the document. The structural information includes a template object and its location on the document. The system further retrieves structural information of documents stored in the database and compares the structural information of retrieved documents to the received document based on matching criteria such as a template object name and its location. If a match is found within a predefined threshold range, the data is extracted from the received document and the structural information is extracted from the matching document and the received document is processed by applying the extracted data to the corresponding extracted structural information. The processed document is transmitted for a user review or for processing by an accounting or bookkeeping software application.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present application provide a regional surveillance and alarming system and an alarming method. In the embodiment of the present application, each security region is provided with a control device having stored thereon an association table in which associated objects of a security region where the control device is located when this security region is taken as the first target object are recorded, and the associated objects may be a detection device or other target objects. When a change of the state of the detection device or the target object satisfies the alarm output triggering condition, the control device may issue an alarm. As such, a real-time surveillance and alarming of illegal events may be allowed.

Abstract: Font recognition and similarity determination techniques and systems are described. For example, a computing device receives an image including a font and extracts font features corresponding to the font. The computing device computes font feature distances between the font and fonts from a set of training fonts. The computing device calculates, based on the font feature distances, similarity scores for the font and the training fonts used for calculating features distances. The computing device determines, based on the similarity scores, final similarity scores for the font relative to the training fonts.

Abstract: Enhanced vectorization of raster images is described. An image vectorization module converts a raster image with bitmapped data to a vector image with vector elements based on mathematical formulas. In some embodiments, spatially-localized control of a vectorization operation is provided to a user. First, the user can adjust an intensity of a denoising operation differently at different areas of the raster image. Second, the user can adjust an automated segmentation by causing one segment to be split into two segments along a zone marked with an indicator tool, such as a brush. Third, the user can adjust an automated segmentation by causing two segments to be merged into a combined segment. The computation of the vector elements is based on the adjusted segmentation. In other embodiments, semantic information gleaned from the raster image is incorporated into the vector image to facilitate manipulation, such as joint selection of multiple vector elements.

Abstract: A method for processing fingerprint information includes dividing an input image that corresponds to at least a portion of a user fingerprint into a plurality of first regions; dividing a registered image that had previously been stored into a plurality of second regions; selecting a first matching region from among the plurality of first regions, and selecting a second matching region from among the plurality of second regions, by comparing the plurality of first regions with the plurality of second regions; and matching the registered image with the input image by comparing the first matching region with the second matching region.

Abstract: Provided herein is an integrated circuit including, in some embodiments, a special-purpose host processor, a neuromorphic co-processor, and a communications interface between the host processor and the co-processor configured to transmit information therebetween. The special-purpose host processor is operable as a stand-alone host processor. The neuromorphic co-processor includes an artificial neural network. The co-processor is configured to enhance special-purpose processing of the host processor through the artificial neural network. In such embodiments, the host processor is a keyword identifier processor configured to transmit one or more detected words to the co-processor over the communications interface. The co-processor is configured to transmit recognized words, or other sounds, to the host processor.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for recognizing and responding to vocal commands in a virtual or physical environment. A system may receive voice data from a user and determine an intended command. In a virtual environment, the system may then determine a position and viewpoint orientation of the user to be able to determine one or more digital assets in a field of view of the user. The system may then apply the command to at least a first digital asset of these digital assets. In a physical environment, the system may determine one or more devices in the environment that the command may be applied to and output a unique sensory pattern to each device such that the sensory pattern may be used to distinguish one device from another device. The system may receive one of these output sensory patterns and determine the sensory pattern is unique to a first device of the one or more devices, indicating the first device is the device the user wishes to command.

Abstract: An authentication engine for an information handling system includes an event engine that receives authentication information from a plurality of input devices of the information handling system and classifies the authentication information from each input device into a plurality of events, and provides confidence score metadata based upon the authentication information, a confidence module that generates a confidence score based upon the events, and a threshold table that receives the confidence score and determines an authentication state of the information handling system based upon the confidence score.

Abstract: A system and method for adaptive hierarchical tessellation. For example, one embodiment of a method comprises: a tessellation queue to store portions of a first image frame to be tessellated; motion vector analysis circuitry to group a plurality of sub-tiles within each of a plurality of tiles at multiple levels of granularity, wherein the sub-tiles of a first level comprise pixels and the sub-tiles of each successive level comprise tiles from a previous level, the motion vector analysis circuitry to iteratively analyze motion vectors of each group of sub-tiles at each level of granularity to determine whether the motion vectors are similar in accordance with a defined threshold, the motion vector analysis circuitry to queue tiles having sub-tiles which are determined to be dissimilar to the tessellation queue.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed herein for normalizing heterogeneous information provided in labels processed by Internet of Things (IoT) devices. A label transform assistant service receives a request from an IoT device to translate content associated with a label of an item to a format readable by the device. The content includes attributes describing the item. The request specifies a target language and target encoding. A source language and a source encoding associated with the attributes are determined. Each of the attributes are normalized based on a configuration of the network service. Each of the normalized attributes is translated to the target language and the target encoding.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for generating large data sets for training deep learning networks for 3D measurements extraction from images taken using a mobile device camera. The method includes the steps of receiving at least one 3D model; generating a first type of augmentation data, such as but not limited to skin color, face contour, hair style, virtual clothing, and/or lighting conditions; augmenting the 3D model with the first type of augmentation data; generating at least one image from the augmented 3D model; receiving a second type of augmentation data, such as a plurality of background images representing a variety of backgrounds; augmenting the at least one image with the second type of augmentation data to generate a plurality of augmented images; extracting spatial features from the 3D model; and providing the plurality of augmented images and the spatial features to train a deep learning network for 3D measurement determination.

Abstract: A state machine engine includes a state vector system. The state vector system includes an input buffer configured to receive state vector data from a restore buffer and to provide state vector data to a state machine lattice. The state vector system also includes an output buffer configured to receive state vector data from the state machine lattice and to provide state vector data to a save buffer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for sharing a screen from a mobile device. For example, a method includes receiving, at a second mobile device, an image of a screen captured from a first mobile device and determining whether to trigger an automated action. The method may also include displaying, responsive to not triggering the automated action, annotation data generated for the image with the image on a display of the second mobile device, the annotation data including at least one visual cue corresponding to content in the image relevant to a user of the second mobile device. The method may further include, responsive to triggering the automated action, determining that a mobile application associated with the image is installed on the second mobile device and replaying user input actions received with the image on the second mobile device starting from a reference screen associated with the mobile application.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, devices, and methods for detecting anomalies in multivariate data received from an asset-related data source, such as signal data and/or other data from an asset. According to an example, a platform may receive multivariate data from an asset in an original coordinate space and transform the data in the original coordinate space to a transformed coordinate space having a relatively fewer number of dimensions. Additionally, the platform may standardize the data in the transformed coordinate space and modify the standardized data based on a comparison between the standardized data and a set of threshold values previously defined via training data reflective of normal asset operation. Thereafter, the platform may inversely transform the modified data back to the original coordinate space and perform an analysis to detect anomalies.

Abstract: A projectile detection technique is disclosed. The technique helps improve the self-defense capabilities of strategic platforms such as naval ships against asymmetric threats such as anti-ship missiles (ASMs). These threats can be particularly challenging in a highly cluttered maritime environment, where the threats can be too close for radar to accurately detect. In one example, the projectile detection technique automatically detects ASMs flying above the horizon by using mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR) and visible/near-infrared (VNIR) camera systems, and locating the horizon line and segmenting the imagery into different regions. Projectiles are detected in the near-horizon segment using a Fourier phase-only transform and convolution matched filters to enhance exceedances, then applying multi-frame processing to measure persistence and scintillation (e.g., flicker from missile exhaust) to help filter out background clutter objects.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method of identifying a part of a conveyance system is provided. The method comprising: capturing an image of a part of a conveyance system using a camera; classifying the part of the conveyance system using supervised learning; and displaying a classification of the part of the part on a mobile computing device.

Abstract: An electronic artifact is accessed which includes content of a particular type of media. Text is determined corresponding to the content and natural language processing is performed on the text to identify at least a subset of words in a statement within the text and determine meanings of each word in the subset of words. A context image is generated for the electronic artifact based on the natural language processing, where the context image includes a graph including nodes corresponding to the subset of words and the context image defines relationships between the subset of words.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a device and method for automatic monitoring and autonomic response. The device comprises: a video capture unit, used for capturing and transmitting video in real time; an audio capture unit, used for capturing and transmitting audio in real time; a processing device, used for responding to received video and audio; a processing device, used for responding to the received video and audio, recognizing contents of the video and audio, and issuing instruction; and, a responder, used for receiving the instruction and responding according to the instruction. Compared with the prior art, the present invention allows a camera monitoring system to process automatically and respond autonomically when a certain scenario is monitored, while obviating the need for human intervention.

Abstract: A computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium with computer readable program code. The computer readable program code may be configured to store a plurality of classifiers. The computer readable program code may be configured to store a document with one or more first portions of text associated with a first classifier. The computer readable program code also may be configured to display the document. The computer readable program code may be configured to change a feature of the first portions of text displayed in the document to indicate that the first portions of text are associated with the first classifier.

Abstract: The current document is directed to methods and systems that straighten in the text lines of text-containing digital images. Initial processing of a text-containing image identifies the outline of a text-containing page. Next, aggregations of symbols, including words and word fragments, are identified within the outlined page image. The centroids and inclination angles of the symbol aggregations are determined, allowing each symbol aggregation to be circumscribed by a closest-fitting rectangle oriented in conformance with the inclination angle determined for the circumscribed symbol aggregation. A model is constructed for the text-line curvature within the text image based on the circumscribed symbol aggregations and is refined using additional information extracted from the text image. The model, essentially an inclination-angle map, allows for assigning local displacements to pixels within the page image which are then used to straighten the text lines in the text image.

Abstract: Provided is an information processing apparatus including: a marking extraction circuit that extracts, from a script image including a plurality of markings respectively superimposed on a plurality of character strings, the plurality of markings; a same-character-string identification circuit that identifies the same character string out of the plurality of character strings on which the markings are respectively superimposed; and a symbol determination circuit that allocates the same symbol to the same character string and allocates different symbols to different character strings.

Abstract: According to an example, a method for area occupancy information extraction may include receiving a signal from a sensor, and determining a number of occupants moving within a first area based on the signal. The method may further include determining when an occupant is moving and a direction of motion of the occupant based on the signal, and determining a most likely trajectory based on the direction of motion of the occupant. The method may also include controlling, by a processor, a service in the first area based on the determination of the number of occupants, the determination of when the occupant is moving and the direction of motion of the occupant, and/or the determination of the most likely trajectory.

Abstract: The process of rendering web pages can be significantly improved with a content delivery system that pre-renders web content for a client device. A web page “program” can be pre-executed and the result delivered to a requesting client device, rather than or before sending a traditional set of web page components, such as a markup language document, cascading style sheets, embedded objects. This pre-execution can relieve the client device of the burden of rendering the web page, saving resources and decreasing latency before the web page is ready, and can reduce the number of network requests that the client device must make before being able to display the page. Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and devices for creating and delivering pre-rendered web pages for accelerated browsing.

Abstract: An example method involves obtaining a log of sensor data indicative of an environment during a prior time period, with the log of sensor data including a sequence of image frames, and determining that the log of sensor data relates to a collision involving a physical object in the environment at a particular time within the prior time period. The method also involves, responsive to determining that the log of sensor data relates to the collision, generating a training data set for the collision from the log of sensor data. The training data set for the collision may include multiple image frames of the sequence of image frames that are prior to an image frame in the sequence of image frames that corresponds to the particular time.

Abstract: Systems and methods for presenting an augmented reality within a custom graphic are provided. In example embodiments, one or more hardware processors may receive an image, identify candidate shape features in the image, identify a custom graphic by comparing the candidate shape features with a reference shape feature of the custom graphic, identify an optical barcode based on the identified custom graphic, identify an augmented reality based on the optical barcode, and transmit the augmented reality to the client device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are operable to record a media content event at a media device. An exemplary embodiment grabs a series of subsequently received image frames from the media content event that is being recorded after a monitored real time reaches a closing credits monitor time, wherein the closing credits monitor time is a recording end time less a predefined duration. The embodiment then analyzes each of the image frames to identify an occurrence of text presented in the analyzed image frame, determines that the identified text corresponds to closing credits of the media content event if the at least one attribute of the identified text matches a corresponding predefined closing credits attribute, and initiates an end of the recording of the media content event in response to determining that the identified text corresponds to the closing credits of the media content event.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and computer-readable media are set forth for generating and/or utilizing image shortcuts that cause one or more corresponding computer actions to be performed in response to determining that one or more features are present in image(s) from a camera of a computing device of a user (e.g., present in a real-time image feed from the camera). An image shortcut can be generated in response to user interface input, such as a spoken command. For example, the user interface input can direct the automated assistant to perform one or more actions in response to object(s) having certain feature(s) being present in a field of view of the camera. Subsequently, when the user directs their camera at object(s) having such feature(s), the assistant application can cause the action(s) to be automatically performed. For example, the assistant application can cause data to be presented and/or can control a remote device in accordance with the image shortcut.

Abstract: The current document is directed to methods and systems that straighten curvature in the text lines of text-containing digital images, including text-containing digital images generated from the two pages of an open book. Initial processing of a text-containing image identifies the outline of a text-containing page. Next, contours are generated to represent each text line. The midpoints and inclination angles of the links or vectors that comprise the contour lines are determined. A model is constructed for the perspective-induced curvature within the text image. In one implementation, the model, essentially an inclination-angle map, allows for assigning local displacements to pixels within the page image which are then used to straighten the text lines in the text image. In another implementation, the model is essentially a pixel-displacement map which is used to straighten the text lines in the text image.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, for determining fine-grained image similarity. In one aspect, a method includes training an image embedding function on image triplets by selecting image triplets of first, second and third images; generating, by the image embedding function, a first, second and third representations of the features of the first, second and third images; determining, based on the first representation of features and the second representation of features, a first similarity measure for the first image to the second image; determining, based on the first representation of features and the third representation of features, a second similarity measure for the the first image to the third image; determining, based on the first and second similarity measures, a performance measure of the image embedding function for the image triplet; and adjusting the parameter weights of the image embedding function based on the performance measures for the image triplets.

Abstract: Determination of indentation levels of a bulleted list contained in an input image involves iteratively performing comparison cycles in which the horizontal positions of vertically adjacent pairs of bullets are compared for similarity. If similar in position, the bullets in the pair are aggregated into the same indentation level. Subsequent comparison cycles use bullet positions which were adjusted in a prior comparison cycle to address progressive shifting that may sometimes be present in an input image. Readjustment cycles can be performed to aggregate bullets into the same indentation level, if similar in position, even when the bullets are not vertically adjacent to each other.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing image data representing a document to remove deformations contained in the document are disclosed. A system may include one or more memory devices storing instructions and one or more processors configured to execute the instructions. The instructions may instruct the system to provide, to a machine learning system, a training dataset representing a plurality of documents containing a plurality of training deformations. The instructions may also instruct the system to use the machine learning system to process image data representing a target document containing a target document deformation. The machine learning system may generate restored image data representing the target document with the target document deformation removed. The instructions may further instruct the system to provide the restored image data to at least one of a graphical user interface, an image storage device, or a computer vision system.

Abstract: A method and system are provided. The method includes acquiring a first image by a first user. The method further includes performing, using a processor, a comparative analysis of the first image and at least one other image acquired within a threshold time by at least one other user. The method also includes establishing a real-time communication interface between the first user and the at least one other user in response to the comparative analysis.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a photo processing method and an apparatus for grouping photos into photo albums based on facial recognition results. The method includes: performing face detection on multiple photos, to obtain a face image feature set, each face image feature in the face image feature set corresponding to one of the multiple photos; determining a face-level similarity for each pair of face image features in the face image feature set; determining a photo-level similarity between each pair of photos in the multiple photos in accordance with their associated face-level similarities; generating a photo set for each target photo in the multiple photos, wherein any photo-level similarity between the target photo and another photo in the photo set exceeds a predefined photo-level threshold; and generating a label for each photo set using photographing location and photographing time information associated with the photos in the photo set.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image processing device includes a memory, and one or more hardware processors configured to function as a receiving unit, a specifying unit, and a detecting unit. The receiving unit receives input information input to an image. The specifying unit specifies the position of the input information. The detecting unit detects a character string having a smaller distance to the position than another character string, from the image.

Abstract: An ink file output method is provided, which includes: generating M (M is an integer of 1 or more) pieces of stroke data SD on the basis of event data generated as M input devices move, respectively; generating N (N is an integer of 1 or more and M or less) kinds of logical names LN (metadata) identifying the M number of input devices; generating a metadata block associating the M pieces of stroke data SD with the N kinds of logical names LN; and writing the M pieces of stroke data SD and the metadata block to an ink file.

Abstract: A luggage detection device is configured to detect luggage by generating computed tomography (CT) imaging slices. For each of the CT imaging slices, the luggage detection device is configured to identify at least one region within the CT imaging slice for removal based on at least one predefined rule, to remove pixel data associated with the at least one identified region within the CT imaging slice, to generate a pixel count representing a number of pixels in the modified CT imaging slice that include a value above a threshold pixel value, and to generate an object indicator based on a determination that the generated pixel count is above a threshold pixel count. The luggage detection device is further configured to display at least one of the plurality of CT image slices based on the presence of the corresponding baggage indicator.

Abstract: A method for image processing is provided. The method includes: generating a skeleton graph associated with the table and comprising a plurality of edges; identifying, in the skeleton graph, a corner vertex, a starting vertex adjacent to the corner vertex, and an ending vertex adjacent to the corner vertex; determining a set of route options for the starting vertex that includes a first set of vertices adjacent to the starting vertex; selecting a candidate vertex from the first set of vertices as a first vertex; determining a set of route options for a second vertex comprising a second set of vertices adjacent to the second vertex; determining the second set of vertices comprises the ending vertex; and generating a route for a cell in the table and comprising the corner vertex, the starting vertex, the first vertex, the second vertex, and the ending vertex.

Abstract: A method of visual odometry for a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs is disclosed. The one or more programs include instructions, which when executed by a computing device, causes the computing device to perform the following steps comprising: in response to images in pairs, generating a prediction of static scene optical flow for each pair of the images in a visual odometry model; generating a set of motion parameters for each pair of the images in the visual odometry model; training the visual odometry model by using the prediction of static scene optical flow and the motion parameters; and predicting motion between a pair of consecutive image frames by the trained visual odometry model.

Abstract: To maintain confidentiality by a simile authentication procedure. An image processing device includes an input receiver configured to receive an input of an authentication pattern that is a trajectory of contact coordinates indicating a contact position on an operation unit; and a concatenation image display unit configured to display an image connecting, out of a plurality of predetermined images that are displayed on the operation unit, a part of the predetermined images that includes a first predetermined image and a second predetermined image of the predetermined images that are connected by the trajectory, wherein, prior to a display area of the first predetermined image overlapping the contact coordinates, a display area of the second predetermined image overlaps the contact coordinates.

Abstract: The invention provides a data processing method, comprising: a first terminal performs image acquisition on at least one photographic object entity, and encodes the image and corresponding recognition information to form video data which is sent to a second terminal; the second terminal performs data separation on the video data to obtain a video file and recognition information associated with at least one photographic object in the video file; the second terminal recognizes at least one photographic object in the video file according to the recognition information, and forms a corresponding operation area in the video file; and when the video file is played, the second terminal performs an associated operation function according to a detected operation action on a designated operation area.

Abstract: A state machine engine includes a state vector system. The state vector system includes an input buffer configured to receive state vector data from a restore buffer and to provide state vector data to a state machine lattice. The state vector system also includes an output buffer configured to receive state vector data from the state machine lattice and to provide state vector data to a save buffer.

Abstract: A system is provided for adaptively conformed imaging of work pieces having disparate configurations, which comprises a mount unit for holding at least one work piece, and an imaging unit for capturing images of the work piece held by the mount unit. At least one manipulator unit is coupled to selectively manipulate at least one of the mount and imaging units for relative displacement therebetween. A controller coupled to automatically actuate the manipulator and imaging units executes scene segmentation about the held work piece, which spatially defines at least one zone of operation in peripherally conformed manner about the work piece. The controller also executes an acquisition path mapping for the work piece, wherein a sequence of spatially offset acquisition points are mapped within the zone of operation, with each acquisition point defining a vantage point for the imaging unit to capture an image of the work piece from.

Abstract: A system for controlling exposure of a multi-view camera is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of cameras having different views, a single image-based camera parameter calculator calculating single image-based camera parameters for each of the plurality of cameras; an image intensity ratio calculator calculating an image intensity ratio corresponding to an image intensity difference in an overlapped region between image data obtained from the plurality of cameras; and a multi-image-based camera parameter calculator calculating multi-image-based camera parameters for correcting intensity differences between images of the plurality of cameras on the basis of the single image-based camera parameters and the image intensity ratio.

Abstract: Content creation collection and navigation techniques and systems are described. In one example, a representative image is used by a content sharing service to interact with a collection of images provided as part of a search result. In another example, a user interface image navigation control is configured to support user navigation through images based on one or more metrics. In a further example, a user interface image navigation control is configured to support user navigation through images based on one or more metrics identified for an object selected from the image. In yet another example, collections of images are leveraged as part of content creation. In another example, data obtained from a content sharing service is leveraged to indicate suitability of images of a user for licensing as part of the service.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to color identification. In one example, an image processing method comprises receiving an infrared (IR) image including a plurality of IR pixels, each IR pixel specifying one or more IR parameters of that IR pixel, identifying, in the IR image, IR-skin pixels that image human skin, identifying a skin tone of identified human skin based at least in part on the IR-skin pixels, the skin tone having one or more expected visible light (VL) parameters, receiving a VL image including a plurality of VL pixels, each VL pixel specifying one or more VL parameters of that VL pixel, identifying, in the VL image, VL-skin pixels that image identified human skin, and adjusting the VL image to increase a correspondence between the one or more VL parameters of the VL-skin pixels and the one or more expected VL parameters of the identified skin tone.

Abstract: An electronic device can utilize image information to determine a proper orientation with which to render content. In some embodiments, a camera of a computing device can capture one or more images to attempt to determine a relative location (or direction) of a user by identifying a feature of a user or by using objects in the image to determine a likely direction of a user. Based at least in part on this information, as well as information from position and motion sensors of the device in some embodiments, a device can determine a relative position of a user, and can cause content to be rendered by the device with an orientation that is appropriate for that position, where the orientation can also depend upon the type of content or other such factors. Such an approach can determine proper orientations in situations where conventional sensor-based approaches are not sufficient.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, for determining fine-grained image similarity. In one aspect, a method includes training an image embedding function on image triplets by selecting image triplets of first, second and third images; generating, by the image embedding function, a first, second and third representations of the features of the first, second and third images; determining, based on the first representation of features and the second representation of features, a first similarity measure for the first image to the second image; determining, based on the first representation of features and the third representation of features, a second similarity measure for the first image to the third image; determining, based on the first and second similarity measures, a performance measure of the image embedding function for the image triplet; and adjusting the parameter weights of the image embedding function based on the performance measures for the image triplets.

Abstract: Network techniques are provided, including a method and system for the accurate and complete playback of web operations. According to an embodiment, there is provided a method for playing back a web operation including one or more of the following inputs: a document object model (DOM) node event, a web request, and a web response. The method comprises: in response to the execution of the web operation, identifying an act input from inputs of the web operation, the act input including a DOM node event or a web response; recording feature information associated with the identified act input, the feature information including a temporal sequence feature of the act inputs and a self constraint feature of the act input, and the feature information being used for playing back the web operation.

Abstract: A method for processing an image with a processor, including: identifying, within an image, a candidate arrow including a long path adjacent to a plurality of short paths; determining a direction of the candidate arrow based on the long path; estimating a tip pixel within the plurality of short paths based on the direction of the candidate arrow; determining, for the candidate arrow, a plurality of arrowhead edges in the plurality of short paths based on the tip pixel; and generating, for the candidate arrow, a plurality of refined arrowhead edges based on the plurality of arrowhead edges, the direction, and the tip pixel.

Abstract: System-initiated help is provided for operating an apparatus associated with a vehicle, in which alphanumeric characters and/or symbols can be selected using an operating device and can be assembled to form a character or function group and can be displayed in an input field on a first display device. A detection operation is carried out, on the basis of which it is detected whether the user inputs or must input a space in a next operating step with a predefinable degree of probability. If the detection operation has a positive result, assistance is displayed to the user on the first or second display device and/or is output to the user using the loudspeaker device. The assistance has an item of help information relating to how a space can be input in the apparatus using an operating action.