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: Flexible and efficient systems and methods for organizing, analyzing, and processing digital ink incrementally analyze input data (e.g., representing ink strokes) as the user continues to add to, edit, or modify the data. In this manner, processing is performed promptly as the ink is entered, and the processing system and method can effectively keep up with the user. This prevents long processing delays, because the systems and methods need not first process a large volume of ink data present after the user has entered has completely filled a page with ink.

Abstract: Multiple selectable dictionaries are used by a handwriting recognition system to provide accurate and prompt recognition processing. Sets of the multiple dictionaries are selectable by the user or automatically by the recognition program in response to the user handwriting in predetermined fields on a user interface.

Abstract: A method for producing an electronic signature in a font format from a manual signature, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a raster image of the manual signature; (b) cleaning the raster image to remove noise, such that the raster image is a cleaned image; (c) locating a plurality of edges of the cleaned image; (d) producing an outline of the cleaned image from the plurality of edges; (e) analyzing the outline to determine a plurality of guidelines for the cleaned image; and (f) hinting the cleaned image from the plurality of guidelines to produce the electronic signature in the font format.

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: A messaging device has a message reception component configured to receive a printable message from a message originator, and a printer that prints the received message and that also prints an origin identifier of the message originator on the print medium. After the message is printed, a user marks it up for reply to the message originator. The messaging device has an optical scanner and optical recognition logic that detects the origin identifier and that instructs the messaging device to send the annotated message back to the message originator. In addition, the optical recognition logic recognizes instructions written on handwritten cover sheets. By preparing such a cover sheet with handwritten instructions, a user can instruct the message device regarding various transmission parameters such as recipients and recipients' telephone or facsimile numbers.

Abstract: A fax machine works as a fax machine, and is capable of sending and receiving image data by email. In addition to a fax type scanner and fax type printer, the device includes an alphanumeric keyboard, a processor and a memory. The device is configured as a customer for an internet service provider, with its own email address, i.e., a user name and password. The device includes an internet type modem that is set up for calling either another fax machine or a customer number of the provider. The user enters in the keyboard either the telephone number of the other fax machine, or the email address of the addressee. The processor determines which one is entered by examining the entry for the “169” character of an email address. If it is a regular fax transmission, the other fax machine is dialed, and the document is scanned and transmitted.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reordering unconstrained handwriting data using both spatial and temporal interrelationships prior to recognition, and for spatially organizing and formatting machine recognized transcription results. The present invention allows a machine recognizer to generate and present a full and accurate transcription of unconstrained handwriting in its correct spatial context such that the transcription output can appear to “mirror” the corresponding handwriting.

Abstract: A method of recognizing characters of a document including ruled lines. After separating the characters from the ruled lines, a bounding box and a corresponding character pattern are extracted for each character (hereinafter, “the character”). Contour information and ground (white pel area) information are extracted as fundamental features from the character pattern. Various statistical features are extracted based on the fundamental features. Various structural features are extracted based on the fundamental features and the character pattern. On the basis of the extracted statistical features, some candidates for the character and corresponding degrees of similarity are found to provide at least such one of the candidates as has largest degree(s) of similarity and degree(s) of similarity associated with the provided candidate(s).

Abstract: A system for spacing, storing and recognizing electronic representations of handwriting and printing comprises a central processing unit that couples with a display device, an input device, and a memory. The memory includes means for spacing ink stroke representations, means for recognizing outline elements, means for performing deferred recognition, means for highlighting drawing areas and means for storing and displaying ink stroke representations. These means operate together to provide a pen-based or graphics oriented computer system with improved performance and added functionality for manipulating the space between ink stroke representations.

Abstract: Images of handwritten cursive records are extracted, and an automated search on the images of the cursive records is performed based on an ASCII query for a record. A cursive equivalent of the ASCII query is matched to the images of the cursive records, and a similarity value is generated to indicate the extent of match between features of the cursive equivalent of the ASCII query and features of each cursive record. The records are sorted based upon their similarity value determined in the matching process. This provides a candidate list of cursive record images to be manually examined by a user for the purpose of making a final determination as to whether any of the cursive records on the candidate list satisfy the query.

Abstract: A handwritten character recognition apparatus performs a recognition process for a handwritten input pattern to input character codes. The handwritten character recognition apparatus recognizes a handwritten input pattern as one pictorial symbol formed of a plurality of characters. The plurality of characters are similar in shape to the handwritten input pattern.

Abstract: Stroke information from pen-down to pen-up being one unit is grouped automatically so that editing thereafter can be performed efficiently. Grouping of stroke information is determined in accordance with a predetermined rule of grouping each time stroke information is input or with timing indicated by a user. Strokes input within a predetermined time interval and stroke information input at a position within a predetermined distance interval are assumed to be the same group, and in the editing thereafter, a collective pointing and processing on a plurality of grouped strokes becomes possible.

Abstract: A handwriting recognition system and method whereby various character sequences (which are typically “slurred” together when handwritten) are each modelled as a single character (“compound character model”) so as to provide increased decoding accuracy for slurred handwritten character sequences. In one aspect of the present invention, a method for generating a handwriting recognition system having compound character models comprises the steps of: providing an initial handwriting recognition system having individual character models; collecting and labelling a set of handwriting data; aligning the labelled set of handwriting data; generating compound character data using the aligned handwriting data; and retraining the initial recognition system with the compound character data to generate a new recognition system having compound character models.

Abstract: A recognition process for handwritten characters, including generating sub-segments representing at least one character stroke, the sub-segments each having a boundary enclosing the at least one stroke of the sub-segment, merging the sub-segments when the distance between centroids of the sub-segments are less than a predetermined threshold, and generating segments representing possible characters from the sub-segments.

Abstract: A method for composition and transmission of an electronic mail message including: printing a document to facilitate composition and transmission of the electronic mail message; composing the electronic mail message on the document utilizing a sensing device adapted to read coded data in the document; transmitting interaction data from the sensing device to a computer system, the interaction data representing interaction of the sensing device with the coded data to allow the message to be electronically captured in the computer system; and transmitting the message to at least one recipient address.

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 biometric machine method for instantaneous assessment of the fine motor control of a human individual through analysis of that individual's handwriting dynamics in which the dynamic data concerning forces, accelerations, and the like, of a scriber, is collected during the process of cursive writing. The criteria of stability, smoothness and synchronization of the writer's motion are returned by the system as quantifying measures of the neurological function. The method processes behavioral random signals with application of the correlation function analysis to the handwriting dynamic signals. In one embodiment, the system includes an instrumented pen connected to a computer, power supply, and analog-to-digital converter, and with the handwriting samples provided on any writing surface. In a second embodiment, the system comprises an instrumental digital tablet having an active area and non-instrumented scriber with the handwriting samples provided on the active area of the grid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for reading address fields on mail items when the address field cannot be automatically read. Herein, when an address field cannot be read, a signature of the surface of the mail piece where the address field is believed to be is made. The signature is derived from a scanning the surface and forming a grid pattern of the larger typographical fields. A database is queried to determine if a match exists between the signature and another signature. If a match is found, the information is imported into the automatic reading process, the information assisting in the reading of the address field. If no match is found, the scanned image is manually encoded and this information is used.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method for automatically segmenting and recognizing Chinese character strings continuously written by a user in a handwritten Chinese character processing system, comprising the steps of: creating a geometry model and a language mode; finding out all of potential segmentation schemes in the Chinese character strings continuously written by a user based on the associated timing information and said geometry model; recognizing the groups of strokes as defined by each of potential segmentation schemes and computing the probability characterizing the exactness of recognition results; correcting the probability characterizing the exactness of recognition results by said language model; and, selecting the recognition result and the corresponding segmentation scheme having the maximum probability value.

Abstract: Images of handwritten cursive records are extracted, and an automated search on the images of the cursive records is performed based on an ASCII query for a record. A cursive equivalent of the ASCII query is matched to the images of the cursive records, and a similarity value is generated to indicate the extent of match between features of the cursive equivalent of the ASCII query and features of each cursive record. The records are sorted based upon their similarity value determined in the matching process. This provides a candidate list of cursive record images to be manually examined by a user for the purpose of making a final determination as to whether any of the cursive records on the candidate list satisfy the query.

Abstract: The invention is of an “elastic matching” method for comparing one signature against another, comprising the operations of creating a mapping between corresponding points in two signatures to be compared measured at different times after the commencement of writing the signatures which maximizes the correlation between the local spatial neighborhood of the measured points and simultaneously minimizes the curvature of the elastic spatial distortion from the mapping, providing quantitative measures of both the degree of the spatial correlations and the degree of the non-uniform spatial distortions in the mapping, thereby providing measures of the similarity between the signatures.

Abstract: A handwritten word is transcribed into a list of possibly correct transcriptions of the handwritten word. The list contains a number of text words, and this list is compared with previously stored set of lists of text words. Based on a metric, one or more nearest neighbor lists are selected from the set. A decision is made, according to a number of combination rules, as to which text word in the nearest neighbor lists or the recently transcribed list is the best transcription of the handwritten word. This best transcription is selected as the appropriate text word transcription of the handwritten word. The selected word is compared to a true transcription of the selected word. Machine learning techniques are used when the selected and true transcriptions differ. The machine learning techniques create or update rules that are used to determine which text word of the nearest neighbor lists or the recently transcribed list is the correct transcription of the handwritten word.

Abstract: The system of the present invention includes a form design component, a form description repository, and a forms processing component Each form used with the system has a layout including a form identifier field with a common location space for each given form of the plurality of different types of forms.

Abstract: Handwritten ink is scanned to identify potential diacriticals. A list of diacriticals (19) is generated by traversing the ink. Potential diacritical-containing characters are processed by scoring them with and without a diacritical to generate a first and second score. The first score is compared to the second score to in order to make a decision as to which variant of the potential diacritical-containing character produced a highest score. The highest score is used as a score for a theory and the decision is recorded. A data structure (50) is added to the theory. Each data unit in the data structure (50) corresponds to an entry in the list of diacriticals (19). As a new theory is created by propagation, contents of the data structure (50) are copied into the new theory. Thus, the data structure (50) is used to ensure that all handwritten ink is used and is used only once.

Abstract: A method for electronic analysis of handwriting samples. A digital bit-map of handwriting samples created, using a digital camera or electronic scanner. The bit-map is then marked at selected points using a cursor to obtain measurements, such as the slant angles of strokes and height measurements of major areas in the writing. The measurements are tabulated and may be used to authenticate the handwriting sample. Also, the tabulated results may be compared with predetermined standard profiles for determining certain characteristics relating to the person who produced the handwriting sample. The invention also provides a method for determining the pressure and angle of the writing instrument, by creating a three-dimensional representation of portions of the writing sample for measurement and analysis.

Abstract: Techniques consistent with this invention process handwritten or hand-drawn input and speech input. Method steps include recognizing received handwritten or hand-drawn input, recognizing received speech input, and creating or modifying an electronic document according to the speech or handwritten or hand-drawn input. An apparatus includes structure for recognizing handwritten or hand-drawn input, structure for recognizing speech input, and structure for activating modes for processing the handwritten or hand-drawn input and the speech input responsive to commands in the handwritten or hand-drawn input and the speech input.

Abstract: Described are methods for entering and editing data strings that are inputted into cellular telephones having a screen. In one method, all basic Hangul consonants and some of the compound Hangul consonants are included in a candidate consonant list and all basic Hangul vowels and some of the compound vowels are included in a candidate vowel list. The candidate consonant and vowel lists are alternatively displayed on a component display region (906) located on the screen. To form a Korean character, a user can select consonant(s) and vowel from the candidate consonant and vowel lists. To form a compound Hangul component that is not included in either the candidate consonant list or the candidate vowel list, the user selects a basic Hangul component as a first part of the compound Hangul component from either the candidate consonant list or the candidate vowel list.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus detects the sampling rate of a coordinate input device, and standardizes the writing data which is input from the coordinate input device based on the detected sampling rate. The standardized writing data is further used for signature verification or for handwritten character recognition. The information processing apparatus provides precise signature verification or handwritten character recognition even if signatures or handwritten characters for handwritten character recognition are input using digitizers having different processing rates.

Abstract: A handwriting recognition system and method whereby various character sequences (which are typically “slurred” together when handwritten) are each modelled as a single character (“compound character model” ) so as to provide increased decoding accuracy for slurred handwritten character sequences. In one aspect of the present invention, a method for generating a handwriting recognition system having compound character models comprises the steps of: providing an initial handwriting recognition system having individual character models; collecting and labelling a set of handwriting data; aligning the labelled set of handwriting data; generating compound character data using the aligned handwriting data; and retraining the initial recognition system with the compound character data to generate a new recognition system having compound character models.

Abstract: To obtain a query for use in information retrieval, a document is scanned. The resulting text image data define an image of a segment of text in a first language. Automatic recognition is then performed on at least part of the text image data to obtain text code data including a series of element codes. Each element code indicates an element that occurs in the first language, and the series of element codes defines a set of expressions that also occur in the first language. Automatic translation is then performed on a version of the text code data to obtain translation data indicating a set of counterpart expressions in a second language. The counterpart expressions are used to automatically obtain query data defining the query. The query can then be provided to an information retrieval engine.

Abstract: A medical treatment support system has operations A to G on a display screen to easily handle respective data on a sheet. Operation A facilitates the browsing of a large amount of data. Operations B and C allow the user to easily copy and move data. Operation D is a scale function to facilitate measurement. Using operation E, the operator can easily divide an area into segments only by drawing a horizontal line. Operation F is used to change a display angle of image data displayed on the screen. Operation G allows the user to browse respective data classified for each sheet label. The new functions of the single-unit input/output pen-tablet device can be intuitively operated by a user not versed in the functions. This consequently mitigates the load of complex input operation which interrupts thinking of the user and which hinders diagnosis mitigated in medical treatment.

Abstract: A method and system for recognizing user input information including cursive handwriting and spoken words. A time-delayed neural network having an improved architecture is trained at the word level with an improved method, which, along with preprocessing improvements, results in a recognizer with greater recognition accuracy. Preprocessing is performed on the input data and, for example, may include resampling the data with sample points based on the second derivative to focus the recognizer on areas of the input data where the slope change per time is greatest. The input data is segmented, featurized and fed to the time-delayed neural network which outputs a matrix of character scores per segment. The neural network architecture outputs a separate score for the start and the continuation of a character.

Abstract: A method of creating registration signature data for a computerized signature collation scheme. A plurality of signature data sets are averaged in order to calculate a candidate set of registration signature data. The candidate set of registration signature data is collated with each signature data set. When no unacceptable discrepancy is found as a result of collation between the candidate set of registration signature data and the signature data sets, the candidate set of registration signature data is treated as registration signature data.

Abstract: An operator uses a data input unit 1 to enter handwriting stroke data on a per-page basis. The entered strokes are stored by a memory unit 3. The operator sets key strokes, from among the stored stroke data, by means of a key-stroke setting unit 2. If key strokes are to be retrieved, a desired search stroke is entered from a search-stroke input unit 4. Retrieval means 5 compares the search stroke with each of the key strokes. If a key stroke that matches the search stroke is found, the page containing this key stroke is displayed as search results.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optical character recognition particularly suitable for cursive and scripted text in one or more of several languages follows the tracings of the script and encodes them as a sequence of directional vectors. It reads a preprocessed word or sub-word of interconnected characters as a unit and the characters are accepted in a specific language only if all characters in a unit have been recognized by testing against a first set of language-specific rules without leaving a remainder of any vectors in the unit. If there are vectors remaining unused, it moves a character marker to utilize more or fewer vectors for the current sub-word in order to obtain recognition. If the vectors do not form a character in a first language, the invention consults a second set of language-specific rules and follows similar steps to obtain recognition of one or more characters against the second set of language-specific rules.

Abstract: A user of a portable terminal writes sentences to be transmitted as an e-mail, a mail address, and information indicating that service a host device is requested to provide is “mail transmission” on paper as a memo. By using an image input unit installed in the portable terminal, the paper or the like is imaged. The portable terminal transmits the image data thus taken in to the host device. The host device analyzes received image data by using an image recognition unit. Upon recognizing by characters that the service requested by the portable terminal is “mail transmission”, the host device starts a mail transmitting/receiving unit. The mail transmitting/receiving unit transmits the content of the written memo included in the image data to a terminal specified by the mail address included in the image data.

Abstract: A Unistrokes symbollogy in which strokes of like profile (i.e., strokes that are distinguished from each other by their rotational orientation) are rotationally offset from each other by at least 90° is provided. This provides a sufficient tolerance for disambiguating these strokes when they are written into hand-held pen computers and the like by users having widely divergent hand writing styles.

Abstract: For a plurality of handwritten characters extracted from an input image, a character category for each character is first determined by a character recognition process. Second, according to a clustering process, similarity levels of character-forms among extracted characters are determined, and based on the determination result, the character category determination result from the first character recognition process is modified.

Abstract: A handwritten pattern and stroke recognition system recognizes an input pattern by comparing it to reference patterns. The input and reference patterns comprise at least one stroke, where a stroke is defined as the series of sample points from pen-down to pen-up. The system of the present invention compares the input and reference patterns stroke by stroke and thus, compares input strokes to reference strokes. The system includes a tangent and stable point extractor, a reference database and a stable-point-based classifier. The extracter determines tangents to at least some of the sample points of the input stroke and determines, which of the sample points between a beginning and end of the input stroke are stable points. The reference database stores tangents of sample points of the reference strokes and stable points of the reference strokes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reordering unconstrained handwriting data using both spatial and temporal interrelationships prior to recognition, and for spatially organizing and formatting machine recognized transcription results. The present invention allows a machine recognizer to generate and present a full and accurate transcription of unconstrained handwriting in its correct spatial context such that the transcription output can appear to “mirror” the corresponding handwriting.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture employing lexicon reduction using key characters and a neural network, for recognizing a line of cursive text. Unambiguous parts of a cursive image, referred to as “key characters,” are identified. If the level of confidence that a segment of a line of cursive text is a particular character is higher than a threshold, and is also sufficiently higher than the level of confidence of neighboring segments, then the character is designated as a key character candidate. Key character candidates are then screened using geometric information. The key character candidates that pass the screening are designated key characters. Two-stages of lexicon reduction are employed. The first stage of lexicon reduction uses a neural network to estimate a lower bound and an upper bound of the number of characters in a line of cursive text. Lexicon entries having a total number of characters outside of the bounds are eliminated.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing improved data classification and, in particular, an apparatus and method for improved handwriting data recognition which enables handwriting recognition devices to robustly handle and recover from the problems associated with the omission of characters from collected handwriting samples. In one aspect, a data classification apparatus comprises: means for inputting a plurality of data, the plurality of data including one of data to be recognized, generic data and user-specific data; means for augmenting the user-specific data with the generic data to generate augmented user-specific data; means for training the data classification apparatus with the augmented user-specific data to generate training data; and means for recognizing the data to be recognized in accordance with the training data.

Abstract: A character recognition apparatus, in which a type of each of accounts, a type of each of marks, and characteristic data indicating a string of characters recognized when any of the marks is written in each account are previously registered for each group of the types of accounts in correlation to each other in an account-type database; a mark is estimated according to a result of verification between the account-type database and a result of ordinary character recognition according to a character recognizing program; and a type of account having the estimated mark is determined as a selected account name according to a result of recognizing characters in accounts other than the account having the mark.

Abstract: A method of 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 in order to either reject a template symbol or decide that the template symbol is included in the union of characters. Preprocessing the union of characters involves representing the union of characters as one or more curves, and parameterizing said curve or curves, and regarding various classes of transformation forming one or more shapes for the curve or curves. The comparing operation involves forming one or more geometric proximity measures, and determining for every shape the values of said geometric proximity measures between said shape and correspondingly determined shapes for the template symbols. Finally, applying a decision rule involves selecting one or more template symbols in consideration of the values.

Abstract: A digital signature method including a public information generating step of generating public information specific to each user in accordance with a public parameter common to each user and secret information specific to each user, a signature generating step of generating a signature of digital information by converting the digital information by using the secret information and the public parameter, and a signature discrimination step of verifying whether a relation between the digital information and the signature is correct, by using the public parameter and the public information, has, a user information generating step of generating new secret information specific to the user, a new parameter, and new public information by using the public information, a confirmation step of confirming whether or not the new secret information, new parameter, and new public information generated by the user information generating step satisfy a predetermined relation, and an enciphering step of enciphering digital info

Abstract: A computer implemented method for generating an image of handwritten text having improved appearance, includes the steps of: providing a handwritten sample of the text; generating a digital image of the handwritten sample; processing the digital image of the handwritten sample to generate a digital image of text having improved appearance; and displaying the digital image having improved appearance. According to one approach, the digital image of a handwritten sample is combined with a digital image of the sample written in a normative handwriting font. According to an alternative approach, the digital images of several samples of the same text are combined to produce the improved image.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture employing lexicon reduction using key characters and a neural network, for recognizing a line of cursive text. Unambiguous parts of a cursive image, referred to as “key characters,” are identified. If the level of confidence that a segment of a line of cursive text is a particular character is higher than a threshold, and is also sufficiently higher than the level of confidence of neighboring segments, then the character is designated as a key character candidate. Key character candidates are then screened using geometric information. The key character candidates that pass the screening are designated key characters. Two-stages of lexicon reduction are employed. The first stage of lexicon reduction uses a neural network to estimate a lower bound and an upper bound of the number of characters in a line of cursive text. Lexicon entries having a total number of characters outside of the bounds are eliminated.

Abstract: A method of training a writer dependent handwriting recognition system with handwriting samples of a specific writer comprises the steps of: capturing the handwriting samples of the specific writer; segmenting the handwriting samples of the specific writer; initializing handwriting models associated with the specific writer from the segmented handwriting samples; and refining the initialized handwriting models associated with the specific writer to generate writer dependent handwriting models for use by the writer dependent handwriting recognition system. Preferably, the method also comprises the step of repeating the refining step until the writer dependent handwriting models yield recognition results substantially satisfying a predetermined accuracy threshold.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacturing employing lexicon reduction using key characters and a neural network, for recognizing a line of cursive text. Unambiguous parts of a cursive image, referred to as “key characters,” are identified. If the level of confidence that a segment of a line of cursive text is a particular character is higher than a threshold, and is also sufficiently higher than the level of confidence of neighboring segments, then the character is designated as a key character candidate. Key character candidates are then screened using geometric information. The key character candidates that pass the screening are designated key characters. Two-stages of lexicon reduction are employed. The first stage of lexicon reduction uses a neural network to estimate a lower bound and an upper bound of the number of characters in a line of cursive text. Lexicon entries having a total number of characters outside of the bounds are eliminated.