On-line Recognition Of Handwritten Characters Patents (Class 382/187)
  • Publication number: 20110194771
    Abstract: Described is a technology by which online recognition of handwritten input data is combined with offline recognition and processing to obtain a combined recognition result. In general, the combination improves overall recognition accuracy. In one aspect, online and offline recognition is separately performed to obtain online and offline character-level recognition scores for candidates (hypotheses). A statistical analysis-based combination algorithm, an AdaBoost algorithm, and/or a neural network-based combination may determine a combination function to combine the scores to produce a result set of one or more results. Online and offline radical-level recognition may be performed. For example, a HMM recognizer may generate online radical scores used to build a radical graph, which is then rescored using the offline radical recognition scores. Paths in the rescored graph are then searched to provide the combined recognition result, e.g., corresponding to the path with the highest score.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Xinjian Chen, Dongmei Zhang, Yu Zou, Ming Chang, Shi Han, Jian Wang
  • Patent number: 7991231
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus and method for capturing an image including characters or graphics, determines whether or not the characters or graphics included in the captured image are prepared by handwriting based on a magnitude of a density gradient in a direction crossing an edge for characters or graphics included in the image, and applies processing to the image in accordance with the result of the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Kimura, Makio Gotoh
  • Patent number: 7983478
    Abstract: An exemplary method for handwritten character generation includes receiving one or more characters and, for the one or more received characters, generating handwritten characters using Hidden Markov Models trained for generating handwritten characters. In such a method the trained Hidden Markov Models can be adapted using a technique such as a maximum a posterior technique, a maximum likelihood linear regression technique or an Eigen-space technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Peng Liu, Yi-Jian Wu, Lei Ma, Frank Kao-PingK Soong
  • Patent number: 7979795
    Abstract: A practical and natural way of inputting syllables of scripts into a computer. In one example embodiment, This is achieved by selecting a base character from a set of characters using a digitizing tablet [1216]. The selected base character is then modified by drawing one or more natural handwritten modifying gestures to form a current desired syllable. An associated data of the formed current desired syllable is then inputted into a gesture-keypad-engine [1230] via the digitizing tablet [1216] upon completion of the drawing of the one or more natural handwritten modifying gestures. The gesture-keypad-engine [1230] then produces a current candidate syllable as a function of the inputted associated data of the formed current desired syllable. The produced current candidate syllable is then displayed on a display device [540].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Shekhar Ramachandra Borgaonkar, Ajay Bhaskarabhatla, Prashanth Anant
  • Patent number: 7974472
    Abstract: An exemplary method for online character recognition of East Asian characters includes acquiring time sequential, online ink data for a handwritten East Asian character, conditioning the ink data to produce conditioned ink data where the conditioned ink data includes information as to writing sequence of the handwritten East Asian character and extracting features from the conditioned ink data where the features include a tangent feature, a curvature feature, a local length feature, a connection point feature and an imaginary stroke feature. Such a method may determine neighborhoods for ink data and extract features for each neighborhood. An exemplary Hidden Markov Model based character recognition system may use various exemplary methods for training and character recognition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Yu Zou, Ming Chang, Shi Han, Dongmei Zhang, Jian Wang
  • Patent number: 7970812
    Abstract: A system and method for redistributing space in ink-to-text conversions is described. In stylus-based computing systems, users often desire to convert ink from ink into text. Sometimes the conversion is made such that an interaction region is made too small for effective recognition correction or interaction. A system and procedure is described that adjusts the spacing of text to allow easier interaction with the recognition results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Adrian J. Garside, Alice Dai, Takanobu Murayama, Tracy D. Schultz
  • Patent number: 7970210
    Abstract: An information system for capturing, processing, and transmitting recorded information via writing devices is described. The system comprises computing devices, an application stored on a stand-alone computer or on an application server, and client devices, which execute the application as well as collect and store data. The computing device for capturing the data is preferably a digital pen. A data collector includes specifically designed forms or a graphic user interface (GUI) that enables the collection of vital information. A data storage module stores vital information processed by the application. The computing device and the client device are usable online or offline a network. The client device is selected from the group consisting of a computer, printer, scanner, or other digital devices and is usable online or offline a network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: IS2BE
    Inventor: Arthur K. James
  • Patent number: 7961943
    Abstract: Methods and systems for incorporating handwritten information into a text or graphics document as text data, image data or command cues received through a positional input digitizing recognizer, such as a digitizer pad. In a data entry mode, a unit of data is inserted and accepted for placement at a designated location. In a recognition mode, the data is recognized as legible text with optional embedded edit or other commands, or it is recognized as graphics and accepted into an associated image frame. Information interpreted as commands can be executed as editing commands to control addition, deletion or movement of text within the document, as well as font or type size change or color change and the like. The invention may take advantage of features native to the particular application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Inventor: Eliahu I. Zeevi
  • Patent number: 7958132
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing data transform a first data structure (e.g., a hierarchical data structure) into a second data structure (e.g., using a parsing system), wherein the second data structure includes a first set of leaf nodes under a first ancestor node (additional sets of leaf nodes and/or ancestor nodes also may be defined in the second data structure). One or more potential candidate nodes for the ancestor nodes may be identified based, at least in part, on the ancestor nodes from the first data structure associated with the leaf nodes grouped under the new ancestor nodes. In at least some examples, the leaf nodes grouped under a new ancestor node will “vote” for their original ancestor node, and the node receiving the most “votes,” in at least some instances, will be reused as the corresponding ancestor node in the second data structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Herry Sutanto, Jamie Wakeam, Jerome Turner, Richard Duncan, Sashi Raghupathy, Timothy H. Kannapel, Zoltan Szilagyi
  • Patent number: 7953279
    Abstract: Described is a technology by which online recognition of handwritten input data is combined with offline recognition and processing to obtain a combined recognition result. In general, the combination improves overall recognition accuracy. In one aspect, online and offline recognition is separately performed to obtain online and offline character-level recognition scores for candidates (hypotheses). A statistical analysis-based combination algorithm, an AdaBoost algorithm, and/or a neural network-based combination may determine a combination function to combine the scores to produce a result set of one or more results. Online and offline radical-level recognition may be performed. For example, a HMM recognizer may generate online radical scores used to build a radical graph, which is then rescored using the offline radical recognition scores. Paths in the rescored graph are then searched to provide the combined recognition result, e.g., corresponding to the path with the highest score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Xinjian Chen, Dongmei Zhang, Yu Zou, Ming Chang, Shi Han, Jian Wang
  • Publication number: 20110122247
    Abstract: A method of operating a surveillance system having a display unit configured to display a surveillance image includes acquiring the surveillance image from at least one acquisition device. The method also includes setting surveillance event that includes setting a desired surveillance object indicating an attribute of the surveillance event. Further, the method includes displaying the selected surveillance object with the acquired surveillance image on the display unit to indicate the set surveillance event and analyzing the acquired surveillance image to determine whether the set surveillance event has occurred. In addition, the method includes performing an indicating operation in the surveillance system in response to the occurrence of the set surveillance event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sung Jin KIM, Hyoung Hwa YOON, Jae Shin YU
  • Patent number: 7949187
    Abstract: A character string recognition method for recognizing a character string may include a first step in which a first projection data of image data are calculated in a direction of the character string and a second step in which a position of the character string is detected on the basis of the first projection data. In the first step, the image data are divided into a plurality of segments in the direction of the character string and projection in the segment is calculated. The method may further include a third step in which a second projection data in the segment are calculated on the basis of the position of the character string and a fourth step in which a position where the second projection data exceeds a threshold value is detected as a boundary position of a character, and the threshold value may be changed according to pixel number between both ends of the character string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: NIDEC Sankyo Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20110103597
    Abstract: A medical voice data system includes a hand-held recording device, an electronic information carrier (EIC), and a host station. The hand-held device records medical information from a user that is examining a person in an extreme environment such as battlefield or disaster area. EICs are stored within a housing interior and can be dispensed therefrom by the user. Recording electronics within the housing interior are operably connected to at least one of the EICs. A microphone is operably connected to the recording electronics to record on a EIC medical information about the injured person. The EIC is configured to be attached to and travel with the person as they are evacuated so that the recorded medical information is immediately available to medical personnel at a care center via the host station. The medical voice data system may also employ a wireless EIC. A host station is used to receive and process the recorded information and convert it to text-based medical record.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventor: Audrius Berzanskis
  • Publication number: 20110096983
    Abstract: Methods, devices and systems are described for transcribing text from artifacts to electronic files. A computer system is provided, wherein the computer system comprises a computer-readable storage device. An image of the artifact is received wherein text is present on the artifact. A first portion of the text is analyzed. Characters representing the first portion of the text are identified at a first confidence level equal to or greater than a threshold confidence level. The characters representing the first portion of the text are stored. A second portion of the text appearing on the artifact is analyzed. A plurality of candidates to represent the second portion of the text are identified at a second confidence level below the threshold confidence level. Finally, the plurality of candidates to a user for selection are presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.
    Inventor: Lee Samuel Jensen
  • Patent number: 7933037
    Abstract: A system for sending an e-mail message. The system comprises comprising a printed form having a plurality of location-indicating tags printed thereon. Each tag contains coded data identifying a location of the tag on the form and an identity of the form. The system further comprises an optically imaging pen for writing a message on the form. The pen comprises a marking nib for writing a handwritten message on the form, an image sensor for imaging the tags when writing the message on the form, and a processor for computing positions of the nib using the coded data contained in the imaged tags, an inferred multiple degree-of-freedom perspective transform of the imaged tags and a known geometry of pen optics. A computer system receives indicating data generated by the processor and initiates sending of the e-mail message to a designated recipient address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Paul Lapstun, Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20110091110
    Abstract: A method of classifying a character string formed from a known number of hand-written characters is disclosed. The method starts by determining character probabilities for each hand-written character in the character string. Each character probability represents a likelihood of the respective hand-written character being a respective one of a plurality of predetermined characters. Each predetermined character has a respective character type. Character templates having the known number of characters are next identified. Each character template has a respective predetermined probability and represents a respective combination of character types. Character sequence probabilities corresponding to each of the character templates having the known number of characters are next determined. The character sequence probabilities are a function of the predetermined probability of the respective character template and the character probabilities of the hand-written character in the character string.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventor: Jonathon Leigh Napper
  • Patent number: 7929769
    Abstract: Computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions distinguish the script type of at least one portion of a writing input. At least one sub-word of a writing line of a handwritten document is identified and is processed to determine the associated writing style that includes a cursive writing style and a hand-printed writing style. The writing line is consequently associated with a script type. The script type of a writing line is determined from the script types of the sub-words in the writing line. When the number of sub-words having a first script type is greater than the number of sub-words having a second script type, the script type of the writing line is categorized as the first script type. In addition, a script analyzer determines a writing style of at least one sub-word and selects one of a plurality of neural networks to categorize the script type of a writing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Xianfang Wang, Zhouchen Lin, Jian Wang
  • Patent number: 7929768
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Qi Zhang, Michael T. Black
  • Patent number: 7929767
    Abstract: A mechanism for recognizing and inputting handwritten mathematical expressions into a computer by providing part of a multi-path framework is described. The part of the multi-path framework includes a subordinate sub-expression analysis component. A method for analyzing a handwritten mathematical expression for a subordinate sub-expression includes identifying sub-expressions based on dominant symbols and determining a character for potential dominant symbols based upon sub-expression information. A determination may be made whether an expression structure candidate is valid and valid expression structure candidates may be stored in a parse tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Mingqing Xu, Yu Zou, Lei Huang, Jian-Lai Zhou, Xiaohui Hou, Zhouchen Lin, Dongmei Zhang, Jian Wang
  • Patent number: 7929770
    Abstract: A handwriting processing apparatus and method effective for search of, e.g., a document file including handwriting is provided. When a handwriting characters are input to a coordinate input unit as a search key, a corresponding character in a dictionary is recognized for each of the handwritten characters, a search unit searches for a text code stored in a document file storage unit based on a text code of the corresponding character if the corresponding character is recognized and the search unit searches for handwriting trail data stored in a handwriting trail storage unit based on a handwriting trail of the handwriting character if the corresponding character is not recognized, thereby finding a desired document file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsunekazu Arai
  • Patent number: 7925092
    Abstract: A hand-writing input device comprises: an input surface, a guidance device provided on the input surface along a predetermined track to guide a finger or pen along the track; a plurality of switch elements provided at particular positions on the track. When a particular character is inputted, the triggered switch element outputs the corresponding signal, and the combinations of the signals outputted by the switch elements correspond to the inputted characters. Since hand-writing input is performed by guiding a finger or pen along a predetermined track, only few switch elements are needed, thereby simplifying hand-writing recognition, reducing software requirements and increasing recognition accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ziyan Wang, Xuming Zhang
  • Patent number: 7925062
    Abstract: Signature data of a handwritten signature input to a signature authentication device is analyzed to determine whether to register the signature based on the characteristics of the stroke shape of the signature. If the signature registration is denied, a response message for making the signature registerable is displayed according to the way in which the signature is written. At least one of cumulative angle changes in the locus of the signature, fluctuation in the speed at which the signature was written, fluctuation in the size of the characters included in the signature, and fluctuation in the center positions of the characters included in the signature is used as the determination criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsunekazu Arai
  • Patent number: 7925987
    Abstract: A control and its associated programming interface for allowing entry of electronic ink, editing and other manipulation of the ink, and/or recognition of the ink. Ink may be stored in a data structure such as an ink object that permits later retrieval by applications. As is the case with text that may be bolded, underlined, italicized, and the like, the describe control and its programming interface may permit ink information to be manipulated as easily as text, while providing the richness of handwritten ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Gounares, Steve Dodge, Tobiasz A. Zielinski, Arin J. Goldberg, Kyril Feldman, Todd A. Torset, Robert L. Chambers, Richard K. Sailor
  • Patent number: 7921361
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method, apparatus, computer-readable medium and system is provided for facilitating user text generation and entry. In some illustrative embodiments, user input received from a digital keyboard and search list is used to retrieve completion candidates likely intended by the user or containing at least a portion of the user's intended text. Completion candidates may be selected using a pointing device (for example, a touch-sensitive screen) with a pointing operation that includes a gesture. A completion candidate may be used to search for more relevant completion candidates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: 602531 British Columbia Ltd.
    Inventors: Harold David Gunn, John Chapman
  • Patent number: 7916344
    Abstract: An image detecting method is provided that permits the specific image information to be present within image data of a document and is capable of detecting the specific image information within a relatively short period of time and accurately, with little effect of interference with the image data of the document and without regard to an angle at which the document is placed. The specific pattern image comprises a plurality of dot images Sa and Sb arranged in a straight line, and by positioning one of the plurality of dot images Sa and Sb at the center O of a plurality of concentric circles of different diameters and detecting that other dot images are on the plurality of concentric circles R1 to R4 and are on a straight line L running through the center O of the concentric circles, the pattern image is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Nakai, Koichi Sumida, Yohichi Shimazawa
  • Patent number: 7916979
    Abstract: A user interface can display electronic ink in one section of a display device and corresponding recognized or converted text in another section of the display device that was generated from a electronic ink recognition system. Each page of electronic ink and each corresponding page of converted or recognized text are linked to one another. In other words, each page of electronic ink can be displayed only with its corresponding page of converted or recognized text until a command or message is received that editing of the converted or recognized text has been completed. Once the command or message is received that editing of the converted or recognized text has been completed, then the link between an electronic ink page and its corresponding converted text page is broken. This means that the converted text page can now be saved independently of its corresponding electronic ink page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Alex J. Simmons
  • Patent number: 7916907
    Abstract: Biometric data are obtained through a biometric input device (120) and subsequently pixelated via a pixelator (130). The pixelator (130) creates an image of the biometric data. Via a processing unit (110), a relationship between pixels of a transformed version of the image is asserted. Thus, the biometric data is rotated to a consistent inclination based on the relationship between pixels regardless of an orientation in which the biometric data were captured in the original image. Once the image has been transformed, features of the biometric data may be extracted and either stored in a data storage unit (140) or compared with previously stored feature values for validation of the biometric data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Inventors: Rodney Beatson, Mark A. Kelty
  • Patent number: 7907779
    Abstract: A game apparatus displays a game screen of 9×9 grid, for example, of a Sudoku puzzle on one LCD and an empty cell (cell to be answered) is large-displayed on the other LCD. A touch panel is provided on the LCD to allow a player to handwrite a numeral to fill in the cell with a stick, etc. on the touch panel. When a handwritten region is larger at a certain degree or more with respect to the cell, it is considered that an answer numeral is input, and the answer numeral is large-displayed. If the handwritten region is not so large as to the cell, it is considered that a note numeral is input, and the note numeral is displayed in a smaller region in the cell. However, if the notes numeral is settled as an answer numeral, a game determination is performed according to the answer numeral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Kawamoto, Jun Ito
  • Patent number: 7903879
    Abstract: A system for modifying a classification scheme for classifying hand-written characters. A memory stores the classification scheme, which includes a number of allographs, each allograph representing a respective style of a respective letter. A processor received data representing a hand-written character, and then selects an allograph representing the character. One or more of the allographs are then modified in accordance with the selection, to thereby reflect the fact that the allograph corresponds to a style of letter used by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Jonathon Leigh Napper
  • Patent number: 7904572
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus which can be readily used by an authenticated user without laborsome setting even if the user uses the image processing apparatus for the first time through an authentication server. A user is authenticated with an authentication server connected to an image processing apparatus via a network. User unique setting information for the authenticated user is set, and the user unique setting information for each user is stored in user information storing areas. Initial setting information of initial setting of the image processing apparatus is stored in an initial setting information storing area. When the authenticated user uses the image processing apparatus for the first time, duplicate copy of the initial setting information stored in the initial setting information storing area is stored as the user unique setting information in the user information storing areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Denshi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeru Tadokoro, Satomi Yotsuyanagi
  • Publication number: 20110052066
    Abstract: A method for classifying a handwritten input character is disclosed. Character models are used. Each character model is associated with an output character and defines a model specific segmentation scheme for that output character and an associated segment model. The model specific segmentation scheme defines a minimum length corresponding to a number of points in a stroke of the output character and a minimum length threshold. Using each of the character models, the input character is decomposed into segments and the segments are evaluated against the segment model of the respective character model to produce a score indicative of the conformity of the segments with the segment model. The character model that produced the highest score is selected and the input character is classified as the output character associated with the character model that produces the highest score.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventor: Jonathon Leigh Napper
  • Patent number: 7899251
    Abstract: Various technologies and techniques are disclosed that improve handwriting recognition operations. A balancing factor is calculated that can be used in recognition mode to compare out-of-dictionary recognition scores with in-dictionary recognition scores. Correct ink samples of words are provided, with some in-dictionary and some out-of-dictionary words. One or more tuning sets are generated from the samples, the tuning set(s) having a percentage of out-of-dictionary words based upon what is expected for a typical user. A handwriting recognizer is run against the tuning set(s) to determine statistics. The statistics are based upon the recognized answer for each word compared to the correct answer. The statistics are used to calculate the balancing factor. During recognition mode, a user inputs handwriting to be recognized. The balancing factor is used to compare and combine an in-dictionary alternate list with an out-of-dictionary alternate list to reach a recognition decision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Petr Slavik
  • Patent number: 7894671
    Abstract: A system for estimating the orientation of digital ink is provided which has an optically imaging pen and a processor. The processor measures the azimuth of the pen at a sampling rate during writing by the pen on a surface printed with tags and estimates the orientation of the digital ink using the measured azimuth of the pen at the sampled points. Each tag encodes data on an identity of the surface associated with a digital description of the surface and on the respective location of that tag on the surface. The digital ink is generated by associating the digital description with the data encoded by the tags optically imaged by the pen during the writing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Jonathon Leigh Napper, Paul Lapstun
  • Patent number: 7894672
    Abstract: A method of estimating the orientation of digital ink is provided. The includes measuring, at a sampling rate during writing by an optically imaging pen on a surface printed with tags, the azimuth of the pen, and estimating, at the computer system, the orientation of the segment of digital ink using the measured azimuth of the pen at the sampled points. Each tag encodes data on an identity of the surface associated with a digital description of the surface and on the respective location of that tag on the surface. The digital description is stored by a computer system networked with the pen and the digital ink is generated by associating the digital description with the data encoded by the tags optically imaged by the pen during the writing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Jonathon Leigh Napper, Paul Lapstun
  • Patent number: 7894641
    Abstract: An ink manager running at a computer system receives ink information entered at a pen-based input/display device and accumulates the ink information into ink strokes. The ink manager communicates with a handwriting recognition engine and includes an ink phrase termination engine that is configured to detect the occurrence of one or more ink phrase termination events by examining the ink information. Upon the occurrence of an ink phrase termination event, the ink manager notifies the handwriting recognition engine and organizes the preceding ink strokes into an ink phrase data structure. The ink manager may also pass the ink phrase to an application executing on the computer system that is associated with the ink information, and it, in response, may return a reference pointer and a recognition context to the ink manager. The reference pointer and recognition context are then appended to the ink phrase data structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Larry S. Yaeger, Richard W. Fabrick, II, Giulia M. Pagallo
  • Publication number: 20110038543
    Abstract: A language-neutral method for searching online handwritten notes is provided. The different algorithms contained in this method enable querying online multilingual handwritten documents with substrings of words rather than just whole words. More particularly, two approaches are presented—one based on partial Fréchet distance calculations and the other based on a pair hidden Markov models. The partial Fréchet distance is adapted from the traditional Fréchet distance concept to match a subcurve or prefix of a query word. The pair hidden Markov model used in the present application is adapted from pair hidden Markov models used in bioinformatics as generative models of local and global alignment of biological sequences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE
    Inventors: Chiranjib Bhattacharyya, Sriraghavendra Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 7889927
    Abstract: The present invention provides a Chinese character search method. According to the method, the user first inputs the notation of the known character. When the input notation is received, some corresponding Chinese characters are shown in the display. Then, the user chooses the correct character for which he is searching. Next, symbols are added to this character to represent the unknown Chinese character in the word. Then, those words containing this character are searched and are shown in a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Inventor: Roger Dunn
  • Patent number: 7885464
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Akinori Kawamura, Yojiro Tonouchi
  • Publication number: 20110026828
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for processing forms based on an image is presented. A form is captured in an image, and a number of field values within the form in the image are detected. The number of field values is stored in the image metadata In another illustrative embodiment, an access request for a form is detected. A determination is made as to whether the form corresponds to a stored image in a number of stored images. If the form corresponds to a stored image, metadata associated with the stored image is retrieved. The metadata includes a number of field values and associated textual data corresponding to the form. The form is populated with the number of field values and the associated textual data from the metadata associated with the stored image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Swaminathan Balasubramanian, Andrew R. Jones, Brian M. O'Connell, Keith R. Walker
  • Patent number: 7881534
    Abstract: Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for using user corrections to help improve handwriting recognition operations. The system tracks user corrections to recognition results. The system receives handwritten input from the user and performs a recognition operation to determine a top recognized word. The prior corrections made by the user are analyzed to calculate a ratio of times the user has corrected the top recognized word to a particular other word as opposed to correcting the particular other word to the top recognized word. If the ratio meets or exceeds a required minimum, then at least one secondary source is optionally analyzed to determine if the particular other word is used a certain number of times more frequently than the top recognized word in the secondary source. The system performs a swap of the top recognized word with the particular other word when the required criteria are met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Leung, Michael Revow, Richard K. Sailor
  • Publication number: 20110019916
    Abstract: A system for assisting a user in extracting information from a document set including at least one original document 2 having content comprises: a pen 201 arranged to make pen strokes on a representation of the document 2, a recording system 232 238 242 arranged to record the position of the pen strokes on the representation, and a processor 210, 212, arranged to interpret the pen strokes as identifying selected parts of the content on the document 2 and to produce a reference document relating to the document set, the content of the reference document being dependent on the selected content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventor: Andrew MacKenzie
  • Patent number: 7876960
    Abstract: A system for recording information from a surface. The system includes a base having a surface provided with a first position code coding locations of a plurality of first points and. In a zone of the surface, a second position code codes locations of a plurality of second points. The system also includes a sensing device having an image sensor for obtaining an image of the surface. A processor is configured for determining whether or not the second position code is present in the image of the surface, determining a location by means of the second position code and determining whether the sensing device is placed in a field on the surface of the base, wherein the field is associated with a function to be performed by the sensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Paul Lapstun, Kia Silverbrook, Jacqueline Anne Lapstun
  • Patent number: 7873228
    Abstract: A method identifying a ligature within a scanned document, the ligature including two or more touching characters. The two or more touching characters of the ligature are then compared to a plurality of prototypes to identify two or more matched prototypes. A synthetic ligature is then created based on the two or more matched prototypes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Dennis G. Nicholson, Robert Filippini
  • Patent number: 7869655
    Abstract: A system, computer program product and method are provided that smooth handwritten information following the transmission of handwritten data to a second computing device, thereby reducing the memory, processing and communications bandwidth requirements of a first computing device that captured the handwritten information. A system, computer program product and method are also provided for creating new points in the vicinity of at least some of the data points of the handwritten data after transmission of the data, thereby effectively improving the resolution of the handwritten information without increasing the memory, processing and communications bandwidth requirements of the first computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: ADS Software MGMT. L.L.C.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Clary, Roger L. Booth, Christopher M. DiPierro, Peter F. Hebert, Jr., Jason S. Priebe, Joseph S. Tate
  • Patent number: 7869654
    Abstract: Objects of the present invention are to facilitate filling out by hand an electronic paper and to realize digitization of contents with which the electronic paper is filled out by hand with a simple structure. A read image is obtained by optically reading a reading-object of the electronic paper. Based on the document information written on the electronic paper and writing-conditions during document writing, which are represented by the document information, a display image of the document in accordance with the read image information is formed. A written image is separated and extracted by converting a density only of pixels among the respective pixels of the read image, whose densities vary in accordance with the document writing and which correspond to a portion, to which ink of a pen for the handwriting is not adhered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiro Yamazaki, Setsuji Tatsumi, Kanji Nagashima, Seiichiro Oku, Toshiya Kojima, Kenichi Kodama, Seiichi Inoue, Naoki Kusunoki
  • Patent number: 7865018
    Abstract: Handwriting recognition techniques employing a personalized handwriting recognition engine. The recognition techniques use examples of an individual's previous writing style to help recognize new pen input from that individual. The techniques also employ a shape trainer to select samples of an individual's handwriting that accurately represent the individual's writing style, for use as prototypes to recognize subsequent handwriting from the individual. The techniques also alternately or additionally employ an intelligent combiner to combine the recognition results from the personalized recognition engine and the conventional recognition engine (or engines). The combiner may use a comparative neural network to combine the recognition results from multiple recognition engines. The combiner alternately may use a rule-based system based on prior knowledge of different recognition engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmad A. Abdulkader, Ioannis A. Drakopoulos, Qi Zhang
  • Publication number: 20100329562
    Abstract: A statistical system and method for generating patterns and performing online handwriting recognition based on those patterns. A plurality of predetermined patterns may be generated by performing feature extraction operations on one or more character samples utilizing a Gabor filter. An online handwritten character may be acquired. The online handwritten character may be pre-processed. One or more feature extraction operations, utilizing a Gabor filter, may be performed on the online handwritten character to produce a feature vector. One or more patterns may be generated, using a statistical algorithm, for the online handwritten character, based on the feature vector. The online handwritten character may be statistically classified based on a comparison between the one or more patterns generated for the online handwritten character and the plurality of predetermined patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventor: Feng Drake Zhu
  • Patent number: 7860315
    Abstract: A game apparatus includes a CPU core. In response to a setting of a reverse input mode, the CPU core reverses vertically and horizontally BG/OBJ data corresponding to a question, and displays on an LCD an image based on the reversed BG/OBJ data. When a handwriting input operation associated with the image is accepted by a touch panel, the CPU core displays on the LCD an image based on handwriting input data corresponding to the accepted handwriting input operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Kawamoto, Yoshinori Katsuki, Shinji Kitahara
  • Publication number: 20100315425
    Abstract: Embodiments include an article of manufacture, apparatus, device, system, computer-program product, and method. In an embodiment, an article of manufacture includes a display surface that includes a machine-distinguishable form identifier keyed to an electronic version of the form and at least two fields. Each field of the at least two fields respectively includes a unique machine-distinguishable field identifier keyed to a field of the electronic version of a form, a content area that accepts a hand-formed entry, and a unique user-understandable field identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: SEARETE LLC
    Inventors: Alexander J. Cohen, Edward K.Y. Jung, Royce A. Levien, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, John D. Rinaldo, JR.
  • Publication number: 20100309131
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for electronically capturing handwritten data using a computing device having a handwriting capture interface. The method includes detecting a position associated with an actuation of the handwriting capture interface to define a handwritten input, and defining a bounding box encompassing at least a portion of individual strokes of the handwritten input. In addition, the method includes storing the handwritten input and the bounding box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventor: Gregory J. Clary