Abstract: Various technologies and techniques are disclosed that improve cursive handwriting recognition. Cursive handwriting input is received from a user. The system performs a hierarchical prototype search as part of a recognition operation. A same space search is performed against a mixed database that has both print and cursive samples. A same space search is also performed against a cursive database that has only cursive samples. The results of these two same space searches are merged into a combined alternate list. The combined alternate list is then used as a constraint for the dynamic time warp searches that are performed against the mixed and cursive databases, respectively. The results of the dynamic time warp searches are also merged into a final combined alternate list, and the combined alternate list is used to make a recognition decision regarding the user's handwritten input.

Abstract: Ink strokes of cursive writing are segmented to make the cursive writing more like print writing, particularly with respect to the number of strokes of a character. A stroke-segmentation module first finds the local extrema points on a stroke of input ink. Then the local extrema points are stepped through, two (or three) at a time. The stroke-segmentation module may compare the three (or four) ink segments that are adjacent to the two (or three) local extrema points to a set of predefined stroke-segmentation patterns to find a closest matching pattern. Strokes are then segmented based on a stroke-segmentation rule that corresponds to the closest matching pattern. Additional stroke segmentation may be performed based on the change of curvature of the segmented ink strokes. Then, a character-recognition module performs character recognition processing by comparing the segmented ink strokes to prototype samples at least some of which have been similarly segmented.

Abstract: A system for separating text and drawings in a digital ink file (e.g., a handwritten digital ink file). A stroke analyzer classifies single strokes that have been input by a user as “text” or “unknown.” The stroke analyzer utilizes a trainable classifier, such as a support vector machine. A grouping component is provided that groups text strokes in an attempt to form text objects (e.g., words, characters, or letters). The grouping component also groups unknown strokes in an attempt to form objects (e.g., shapes, drawings, or even text). A trainable classifier, such as a support vector machine, evaluates the grouped strokes to determine if they are objects.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and a data processing system for scaling handwritten character input for performing handwriting recognition. A stroke parameter is derived from a handwritten character stroke and an input area is calculated in which the handwritten character stroke was supplied. The stroke parameter is scaled according to the input area.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for recognizing handwritten characters drawn on a paper form using a digital pen that records stroke coordinates corresponding to respective pen strokes. In one embodiment, a field on the paper form is assigned a lexical inference level. For example, the field may be assigned a word level, a word prefix level, and/or a word stem level. The assigned lexical inference level is used to recognize one or more stroke coordinates corresponding to pen strokes written in the field. Recognized characters are then used to create or modify an inference lexicon used to perform handwriting recognition for the entire field. In one embodiment, the inference lexicon is used for handwriting recognition in the same field on subsequently processed forms.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for correcting digital pen strokes written on a paper form using a digital pen. In one embodiment, a stroke collection file includes sets of coordinates corresponding to respective pen strokes written on the paper form including a mistake stroke that a user of the pen desires to correct and a removal stroke written through the mistake stroke using the digital pen. In one embodiment, the removal stroke includes a horizontal zigzag pattern having at least one horizontal extend further to the left and further to the right of the mistake stroke. In one embodiment, coordinates corresponding to the mistake stroke and the removal stroke are deleted from the stroke collection file. The stroke collection file may also include coordinates for a third pen stroke intended to replace the mistake stroke. One embodiment includes rendering an image of the paper form and the third pen stroke.

Abstract: An automated symbolic recognition system and method includes pre-stored symbolic models to support a three phase symbolic reshaping scheme during the symbol recognition process that includes: (a) deriving dissimilarity level from alphanumeric ID's net topological variation and the integration of each of its arcpoly structural variation(s) signifying a reasonably accurate confidence level for the goodness of recognition, thus establishing a mechanism that derives dissimilarity level (or cost value) between image and database features including shape, size and topological relationship, (b) determining the reshaping or transformation of an arcpoly to another arcpoly by introducing variations to the original arcpoly to alter its shape and orientation and deriving at each step, the new cost value as a function of variation(s) present and imposed, and (c) determining the equivalent representation of an arcpoly by a succession of smaller and adjoining arcpoly(s) in order, or vice versa.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to the creation of an ink font. Based on characteristics of handwritten characters, the collection of characters may be scaled so as to adjust the size of the font to match predefined size values or relationships.

Abstract: A method of analyzing electronic ink, in which document data for a document containing electronic ink content is received from a software application running on a first processing thread. The first processing thread is employed to provide the document data to an electronic ink analysis process for analyzing on a second processing thread. Control of the first processing thread is then returned to the software application. After the results of the analysis are received, the results are reconciled with the current document data for the document.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring the performance of a character recognition system is disclosed. According to a preferred embodiment, the method comprises utilizing an average confidence score for a plurality of characters for ongoing performance monitoring of the character recognition system, wherein a confidence score indicates a level of confidence that a character is accurately recognized.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, apparatus and computer program product for contrast enhancement of images based on adaptive histogram equalization. In particular it relates to preventing adaptive histogram equalization from causing fading artifacts and object extension artifacts. An adaptive histogram equalization method is provided comprising the steps of dividing an image into regions of pixels, determining structures of local pixel value differences of a predefined strength of the image, building for every region a histogram of the pixel values based on the determined structures of local pixel value differences and mapping pixel values of each region based on the histogram corresponding to the region.

Abstract: A method for recognition of a handwritten pattern comprising one or more curves is presented. The method comprises a step of receiving sample data representing the handwritten pattern. The method further comprises a step of segmenting the handwritten pattern by detecting segmentation points on each curve, and by dividing the handwritten pattern into segments. Further, the method comprises a step of comparing the handwritten pattern to templates wherein the comparing comprises a step of normalizing said segments according to a scheme which is independent of the templates to which the segments are to be compared, and a step of determining matching measures for selecting at least one sequence of templates representing a recognintion candidate of the handwritten pattern.

Abstract: A product comprising at least one authentication writing area is provided. The product is adapted to receive handwritten authentication information from a user and is provided with a position-coding pattern. The pattern codes coordinates for a plurality of points on an imaginary surface. The pattern allows digital recording and reproduction of the handwritten authentication information as well as authenticity checking.

Abstract: An automated symbolic recognition system and method includes an evidence-based technique to significantly reduce the alphanumeric candidate symbol list.

Abstract: An automated symbolic recognition system and method includes the basis for the system's feature set by identifying (a) a set of logical symbols comprising a finite class of arcpolys (lines and arcs and a point) that to the exclusion of the point, each member class has a unique (distinct) orientation, and (b) a set of subclass symbols per logical class of symbol representing a finite subclass of arcpolys (lines and arcs and a point) that to the exclusion of the point, each subclass member has a unique (distinct) extreme points size and/or depth size.

Abstract: A process and system for modeling, learning and synthesizing cursive handwriting in a user's personal handwriting style. The handwriting synthesis system and process described herein addresses the problem of learning the personal handwriting style of a user based on limited handwriting samples and producing novel scripts of the same style. The handwriting synthesis process includes segmenting handwriting samples into individual characters using a two-level writer-independent segmentation process, aligning samples of the same character into a common coordinate frame, and learning and modeling the individual character. Synthesis of handwriting is performed by generating individual letters from the models and concatenating the letters using a conditional sampling algorithm. The result is a smooth and fluid connection between letters that successfully mimics the personal handwriting style of a user.

Abstract: An automated symbolic recognition system and method includes a hierarchical hypothesis-and-verification technique during various stages of the handwriting recognition process, whereby a series of initial assessments are made based on the information availed upon them, and later during processing, they are validated or rejected depending on the degree in which preset milestones were satisfied and are followed by a sequence of alternative hypotheses in the event of failure of the latest hypothesis until they are satisfied.

Abstract: A mobile information device has an operation unit which detects an operation by a user, a detection unit which detects a predetermined state when operated by the user, and a control unit which validates or invalidates the operation of the operation unit, depending on whether the predetermined state is detected or not.

Abstract: A Chinese text entry system and method is provided to allow users to enter a character to a device such as a cellular phone or a PDA by adding a first few strokes required for the character using a joystick or its equivalent. By simply moving the joystick to add one or more strokes which are used to start writing a character, or in some case even before any stroke is added, a user can find a desired character from a displayed selection list. The selection list is context sensitive, varying depending on the last character entered, so that the user can be provided with the most possible candidates of the desired character.

Abstract: An automated symbolic recognition system and method includes a three phase symbolic reshaping scheme during the symbol recognition process that includes: (a) deriving dissimilarity level from alphanumeric ID's net topological variation and the integration of each of its arcpoly structural variation(s) signifying a reasonably accurate confidence level for the goodness of recognition, thus establishing a mechanism that derives dissimilarity level (or cost value) between image and database features including shape, size and topological relationship, (b) determining the reshaping or transformation of an arcpoly to another arcpoly by introducing variations to the original arcpoly to alter its shape and orientation and deriving at each step, the new cost value as a function of variation(s) present and imposed, and (c) determining the equivalent representation of an arcpoly by a succession of smaller and adjoining arcpoly(s) in order, or vice versa.

Abstract: A handwriting information processing apparatus is provided, having: a coordinate input part that detects a handwriting input made by a user and outputs a coordinate value; a processing part that performs predetermined processes based on the above coordinate value output from the coordinate input part; and a display part that displays an output of the processing part. The processing part further includes a coordinate value storing part that stores all of the coordinate values output by the coordinate input part along with stroke information and line information of the handwriting input; and a handwritten character recognition part that recognizes handwritten characters in a batch based on the coordinate values, the stroke information, and the line information stored in the coordinate value storing part.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes generic and user-specific features of handwriting samples to provide adaptive handwriting recognition with a minimum level of user-specific enrollment data. By allowing generic and user-specific classifiers to facilitate in a recognition process, the features of a specific user's handwriting can be exploited to quickly ascertain characteristics of handwriting characters not yet entered by the user. Thus, new characters can be recognized without requiring a user to first enter that character as enrollment or “training” data. In one instance of the present invention, processing of generic features is accomplished by a generic classifier trained on multiple users. In another instance of the present invention, a user-specific classifier is employed to modify a generic classifier's classification as required to provide user-specific handwriting recognition.

Abstract: In computerized recognition having multiple experts, a method and system is described that obtains an optimum value for an expert tuning parameter in a single pass over sample tuning data. Each tuning sample is applied to two experts, resulting in scores from which ranges of parameters that correct incorrect recognition errors without changing correct results for that sample are determined. To determine the range data for a given sample, the experts return scores for each prototype in a database, the scores separated into matching and non-matching scores. The matching and non-matching scores from each expert are compared, providing upper and lower bounds defining ranges. Maxima and minima histograms track upper and lower bound range data, respectively. An analysis of the histograms based on the full set of tuning samples provides the optimum value. For tuning multiple parameters, each parameter may be optimized by this method in isolation, and then iterated.

Abstract: A user can enter handwritten electronic ink into a writing guide on an electronic page of an electronic tablet. An ink processing module can display the handwritten electronic ink as it is rendered on the electronic page by the user. Upon the occurrence of a predefined event, the writing guide module can automatically recognize and convert the electronic ink to text without the user's manual intervention. The writing guide module can replace the electronic ink in the writing guide with the converted text.

Abstract: A character recognizer recognizes a handwritten input character. A sequence of points in two dimensional space representative of a stroke trajectory forming the input character is gathered. An input Directed Acyclic Graph is built with nodes representative of singular points at the beginning, end, and along the trajectory of the input character and with edges between nodes representative of an edge trajectory formed by the sequence of points of the input character between the singular points. Each edge in the input graph is described based on the shape, orientation and pen lift of the edge trajectory that the edge represents. The input graph is evaluated against model graphs, which are also Directed Acyclic Graphs, for all possible characters to find a path through a model graph that produces a best path similarity score with a corresponding path through the input graph. The input character is identified as an answer character represented by the model graph producing the best path similarity score.

Abstract: The present invention relates to interfacing with electronic ink. Ink is stored in a data structure that permits later retrieval by applications. The ink includes stroke information and may include property information. Through various programming interfaces, one may interact with the ink through methods and setting or retrieving properties. Other objects and collections may be used as well in conjunction with the ink objects.

Abstract: According to a method for recording of electronic handwriting, a handwriting movement is digitized into a sequence of points along a writing curve that corresponds to the handwriting movement. The sequence of points is resampled by eliminating those points that are judged not to be necessary for being able to reconstruct the writing curve later with the required visual quality. A resampled representation of the writing curve is created from the points remaining—that is not eliminated—after the resampling. The resampling is carried out on successive and partially overlapping partial sequences of the points, the resampled representation of the writing curve being extended successively after resampling of a respective partial sequence.

Abstract: The present invention relates to interfacing with electronic ink. Ink is stored in a data structure that permits later retrieval by applications. The ink includes stroke information and may include property information. Through various programming interfaces, one may interact with the ink through methods and setting or retrieving properties. Other objects and collections may be used as well in conjunction with the ink objects.

Abstract: In a computing device, a method and system for searching for matching ink words or phrases, by comparing a given search term of at least one word (and possibly alternates) with the words in a document, including recognized ink words and any possible alternates for those recognized words as returned by a recognizer. Various matching tests are possible because of the use of alternates, which also may have corresponding probability rankings that may influence the search. Searching may occur in actively edited ink documents, or the recognition results may be saved as saved search file data that can be searched independent of recognition.

Abstract: An apparatus and a processor-implemented method are provided for determining a cusp within a stroke of electronic ink. Curvature at each of a plurality of points on the stroke is estimated. Based on the estimated curvature at each of the plurality of points, a neighborhood of the points where the cusp resides is identified. One of the points in the neighborhood of the points is determined to correspond to the cusp.

Abstract: A method of enabling user interaction with computer software running in a computer system via an interface surface and a sensing device. The interface surface contains information relating to the computer software and coded data indicative of a signature field relating to the computer software. When the sensing device is placed in an operative position relative to the interface surface, it senses indicating data indicative of the signature field. The sensing device also generates movement data indicative of the sensing device's movement. The indicating data and the movement data are received from the sensing device, and the signature field is identified. Once the signature has been identified, the computer software is operated in reliance on the movement data, and in accordance with instructions associated with the signature field.

Abstract: Character recognition includes detecting a union of characters, preprocessing the union of characters, comparing the preprocessed union of characters with one or more template symbols, and applying a decision rule to either reject a template symbol or decide that the template symbol is included in the union of characters. Such preprocessing involves representing the union of characters as one or more curves, and parameterizing the curve(s); and, regarding various classes of transformation, forming one or more shapes for the curve(s). The comparing operation involves forming one or more geometric proximity measures, and determining for every shape the values of those measures between the shape and correspondingly determined shapes for the template symbols. Applying a decision rule involves selecting one or more template symbols in consideration of the values.

Abstract: A key word is first and automatically extracted from a character string group to be recognized, and entered. Then, a character is recognized by segmenting an individual character from a character string image to be recognized, and a character string corresponding to the extracted/entered key word id extracted. Then, a word area delimited by a key word is extracted from the character string image, and a word is recognized. Furthermore, a word recognition result is verified, and a final character string recognition result is output.

Abstract: A method of enabling user interaction with computer software running in a computer system via an interface surface and a sensing device. The interface surface contains information relating to the computer software and coded data indicative of a signature field relating to the computer software. When the sensing device is placed in an operative position relative to the interface surface, it senses indicating data indicative of the signature field. The sensing device also generates movement data indicative of the sensing device's movement. The indicating data and the movement data are received from the sensing device, and the signature field is identified. Once the signature has been identified, the computer software is operated in reliance on the movement data, and in accordance with instructions associated with the signature field.

Abstract: A character recognition device to recognize characters in a text image read by an image scanner having a first recognition device to recognize the characters in the text image using a first character recognition method and a second recognition device to recognize the characters in the text image using a second character recognition method different from the first character recognition method. An extraction device extracts locations of recognized characters in the text image wherein the recognition results of the first recognition device do not coincide with the recognition results of the second recognition device. An output device outputs character recognition results designating the non-coinciding locations extracted by the extraction device.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an address recognition apparatus for recognizing a written address. The apparatus includes an input device that receives a scanned image of the written address and transforms the image into digital data, a character recognizing section that recognizes a word string in the digital data on a unit character basis, a word extracting section that extracts characters recognized by the character recognizing section on a unit word basis, and an address word string dictionary that previously stores a plurality of first word strings. The apparatus further includes and an address word string recognizing section that collates a second word string, determines words of the second word string respectively corresponding to the words of the first word string, evaluates each of the first word strings, and recognizes one of the first word strings as the address word string.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for presentation of a graphical representation of a handwritten message on a graphical screen. Position data and time data are recorded, indicating positions and points of time for the handwritten message. An image area in the graphical representation of the handwritten message is identified based on said position data and said time data, the size of the image area being a subportion of the graphical representation of the handwritten message. Finally, display data is provided to a screen, which display data comprises a graphical representation of the subportion of the handwritten message in the identified image area.

Abstract: A pen-based computing system supports organizing, editing, and rendering handwritten digital ink. A given page of text may include several word flows, but the flows may be prevented from overlapping one another, and each word and stroke may be assigned to only one flow on the page. Various functions are available to open up additional space in a flow, to reflow the words in a flow, and to normalize the spacing between words in a flow.

Abstract: A system and method for indexing and searching textual archives using semantic units such as syllables and morphemes. In one aspect, a system for indexing a textual archive comprises an AHR (automatic handwriting recognition) system and/or OCR (optical character recognition) system for transcribing (decoding) textual input data (handwritten or typed text) into a string of semantic units (e.g., syllables or morphemes) using a statistical language model and vocabulary based on semantic units (such as syllables or morphemes). The string of semantic units that result from a decoding process are stored in a semantic unit database and indexed with pointers to the corresponding textual data in the textual archive. In another aspect, a system for searching a textual archive is provided, wherein a word (or words) to be searched is rendered into a string of semantic units (e.g., syllables or morphemes) depending on the application.

Abstract: A Chinese text entry system and method is provided to allow users to enter a character to a device such as a cellular phone or a PDA by adding a first few strokes required for the character using a joystick or its equivalent. By simply moving the joystick to add one or more strokes which are used to start writing a character, or in some case even before any stroke is added, a user can find a desired character from a displayed selection list. The selection list is context sensitive, varying depending on the last character entered, so that the user can be provided with the most possible candidates of the desired character.

Abstract: Displaying a writing guide for a free-form document editor by detecting electronic ink, classifying the detected ink as corresponding to handwriting or a drawing, and displaying a handwriting guide or a drawing guide in response to classifying the detected ink as handwriting or a drawing, respectively. The writing guides can provide feedback regarding the classification of the detected ink and can be resized as additional ink is detected. The handwriting guide can comprise a writing area, writing guide portion, bullet guide, indent marker, character notches, gesture guide, or sacrificial guide to create meaningful structure within an outline object of an electronic document.

Abstract: Electronic ink layout analysis systems and methods provide flexibility and efficiency in organizing, analyzing, and processing digital ink. These layout analysis systems and methods allow users substantial freedom in entering electronic ink into a pen-based computer system. Using these systems and methods, a user's input digital ink is not constrained by requirements that a user write in a specific screen orientation, that a user write in one specific orientation on all portions of a page, or that a user write using a specific minimum or maximum sized stroke. Rather, the systems and methods freely allow the user to write anywhere on a given page, in any orientation or size, while still enabling effective and efficient handwriting recognition and other processing of the input digital ink.

Abstract: An entered signature is compared with registered signature data to calculate an evaluation value, and when the evaluation value for the entered signature is within the allowable range for successful authentication, it is determined whether aging has occurred. When aging is determined to have occurred, a warning message is displayed to urge re-registration of the signature. According to such a configuration, it is possible, when a change in signature is caused by aging, to avoid circumstances in which authentication becomes suddenly impossible.

Abstract: A handwriting recognition apparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment the apparatus comprises an input device having a handwriting input area and configured to input a plurality of strokes constructing a plurality of characters written successively on the handwriting input area, and a recognition device configured to recognize the characters based on the strokes input by the input device, shapes of the strokes constructing two characters which are written successively and positional relations between or among the strokes constructing the two characters, whenever one stroke is input by the input device.

Abstract: An electronic ink object is preprocessed for improving handwriting recognition results. An electronic ink object, possibly having multiple lines of non-horizontal ink, is preprocessed by segmenting or separating the electronic ink object into one or more lines, computing a writing angle of each line, and rotating each line so that it is horizontal.

Abstract: A portable terminal capable of invoking programs by a sign command and a program invoking method therefore. In the portable terminal, a storage stores programs and symbols linked to the programs. A display displays the operation state of a program when the program is invoked. A user interface senses an external contact and informs a controller that detects a figure represented by a signal sensed at the user interface according to a path in which the external contact is made and, in the presence of a symbol matching the figure, invokes a program corresponding to the symbol from the storage.

Abstract: A device for recording hand-written information in the form of characters, symbols, graphs, drawings, calligraphy and similar hand-written information defined by a hand movement, comprises recording means (3) which are adapted to be moved by a hand which carries out the hand movement and to record a plurality of images with partially overlapping contents while the recording means are being moved. The device further comprises image-processing means (4) which are adapted to determine the relative position of the images with the aid of the partially overlapping contents for providing a description in digital format of how the unit has been moved and, in this way, a digital representation of the hand-written representation. A method of recording hand-written information is also disclosed.

Abstract: System and method for display of ink representing a sequence of one or more handwirtten and hand printed (“hand entered”) alphanumeric characters on a portion of a touch screen that receives and displays hand entered characters. When a character (or word) is hand entered using a stylus with a single stroke, ink for the corresponding character is optionally displayed for a first time interval before conversion and re-display of the character as standard text. When a multi-stroke character (or word), such as “t” or “x” or “4”, is hand entered, a time interval for display of the hand entered version is extended so that the user can supply the additional strokes needed to complete the character, before the character is converted and re-displayed as standard text. Hand printed characters and cursive characters are processed in a similar manner. Overwriting an earlier-entered character with a later (unrelated) character causes the earlier-entered character to be promptly removed from the screen.

Abstract: An improved method and mechanism for recognizing chirographs (handwritten characters) input into a computer system. A primary recognizer is provided for converting chirographs to code points, and secondary recognizers such as binary CART trees are developed and trained to differentiate chirographs which produce certain code points at the primary recognizer. Each such secondary recognizer is associated with each selected code point. When a chirograph is received, the chirograph is provided to the primary recognizer whereby a code point corresponding thereto is received. If the code point corresponds to one of the secondary recognizers, the chirograph is passed to the secondary recognizer, and a code point is returned from the secondary recognizer. If not, the code point provided by the primary recognizer is returned.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing apparatus that efficiently identifies input characters and the like by an intensity image analysis based on range information. The image processing apparatus performs distance measurement by performing three-dimensional measurement by pattern projection to characters written to a manuscript, whiteboard, and the like, gets an intensity image used as a so-called actual image and an image for distance measurement in parallel, and identifies input characters by an intensity image analysis based on range information. The image processing apparatus picks up characters, patterns, and the like written onto paper or the like with a pen, performs geometric transformation for picked-up images, and performs natural input character analysis and reading processing. Furthermore, by comparing images picked up in a time-series, noise elimination and manuscript position modifications become possible.