Abstract: A method of swipe-scanning a graphic image pre-printed on a surface. The method comprises the steps of: (i) operatively positioning a swipe scanner relative to the surface and swiping the scanner across the surface; (ii) capturing, during the swipe, successive images of portions of the graphic image; (iii) printing, during the swipe, successive parts of a position-coding pattern onto the surface, the position-coding pattern being superimposed with the graphic image; (iv) imaging, during the swipe, portions of the surface on which the printhead has printed the parts of the position-coding pattern; (v) determining absolute positions of the scanner using the imaged parts of the position-coding pattern; and (vi) using the absolute positions to assemble the captured portions of the graphic image into a scanned graphic image.

Abstract: A method and hand-held scanning apparatus for three-dimensional scanning of an object is described. The hand-held self-referenced scanning apparatus has a light source for illuminating retro-reflective markers, the retro-reflective markers being provided at fixed positions on or around the object, a photogrammetric high-resolution camera, a pattern projector for providing a projected pattern on a surface of the object; at least a pair of basic cameras, the basic camera cooperating with light sources, the projected pattern and at least a portion of the retro-reflective markers being apparent on the 2D images, a frame for holding all components in position within the hand-held apparatus, the frame having a handle, the frame allowing support and free movement of the scanning apparatus by a user.

Abstract: A method and system for preprocessing an image for Optical Character Recognition (OCR), wherein the image includes a plurality of columns is disclosed. Each column includes one or more of Arabic text and non-text items. The method includes determining a plurality of components associated with one or more of the Arabic text and the non-text items, wherein a component includes a set of connected pixels. On determining the plurality of components, a line height and a column spacing is determined for the plurality of components. The plurality of components are then associated with a column of the plurality of columns based on the line height and the column spacing. Subsequently, a set of characteristic parameters are calculated for each column and the plurality of components of each column are merged based on the set of characteristic parameters to form sub-words and words.

Abstract: A business card recognition system includes a mobile communication apparatus and a computer host. The mobile communication apparatus has an image pickup device. The computer host is in communication with the mobile communication apparatus. When the image pickup device of the mobile communication apparatus is used to shoot a business card, a business card image is acquired. After the business card image is transmitted to the computer host, the computer host performs an optical character recognition operation on the business card image, thereby obtaining business card information. By searching address information of the business card information, the computer host acquires an address proximity map image. The business card information and the address proximity map image are transmitted from the computer to the mobile communication apparatus. As such, the user of the mobile communication apparatus can realize the business card information and the address proximity map image.

Abstract: A method of obtaining metadata associated with an element of television programming involves instructing an access device to generate and communicate a signal to a control device suitable for driving a display, wherein the signal contains metadata suitable for rendering on a display device in a visual representation; receiving the signal and storing a representation of the video frame; processing the video frame using OCR to extract enough information to identify an element of television programming content from the video frame; processing the video frame to extract sufficient information to identify an element of television programming content from the video frame; and retrieving metadata associated with the identified element of television programming content from a television programming content source of metadata. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A system for document processing including decomposing an image of a document into at least one data entry region sub-image, providing the data entry region sub-image to a data entry clerk available for processing the data entry region sub-image, receiving from the data entry clerk a data entry value associated with the data entry region sub-image, and validating the data entry value.

Abstract: A system includes an imaging device and an acquisition layer. The imaging device acquires an image. The acquisition layer is logically located between a source manager and the imaging device, the source manager being called by an application when a user of the system requests to acquire the image. The acquisition layer includes imaging acquisition logic that receives the image from the imaging device and performs optical character recognition (OCR) that extracts machine editable text from the image. The acquisition layer forwards the image to the application and makes the machine editable text available to the user.

Abstract: An on-vehicle navigation system reliably performs guidance of a necessary exiting authorized section while avoiding the guidance of a needless exiting authorized section on a plural-lane road having a normal lane and a special lane where advancing from the normal lane in a predetermined advancing authorized section and exiting to the normal lane in a predetermined exiting authorized section are authorized. After discriminating whether the vehicle is driving in the special lane of the plural-lane road based on whether a characteristic object has been detected by a characteristic object detecting section, the guidance of an exiting authorized section is avoided in the case where the vehicle deviated from a recommended route including a special lane, and the guidance of an exiting authorized section is performed in the case where the vehicle deviated from a recommended route not including a special lane and drives in a special lane.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting fraudulent identification tags, such as Universal Product Codes (UPC) applied to goods to be purchased is disclosed. Images of the goods to be purchased and corresponding feature models are stored in a database. When a customer desires to purchase an item containing a UPC, a scanned image of the item about to be purchased may be acquired and a feature model of the scanned image may be created. The system may retrieve from the database the image and feature model previously stored for the item associated with the just-scanned UPC. A variety of image processing techniques may be used to compare the scanned and database images and/or the scanned and database feature models. In one embodiment, these image processing techniques may include determining a geometric transformation that maps the features of the scanned image onto the features of a database model.

Abstract: An audio photograph data storage system stores a printed image and a plurality of audio segments associated with the printed image. The audio segments are arranged in a plurality of audio layers.

Abstract: A character recognition processing system includes a character recognition confidence evaluating unit that evaluates whether confidence of character recognition of a plurality of areas are low or high, a character area classification unit that classifies a first area evaluated low by the character recognition confidence evaluating unit into a plurality of components, a character separation unit that separates the components classified by the character area classification unit into a character component and non-character components, according to information relating to a second area evaluated high by the character recognition confidence evaluating unit, and a first character recognition unit that performs character recognition processing for the character component separated by the character separation unit.

Abstract: An image capture module includes a liquid lens having a first and a second electrode, and a first and a second conductor element in electrical contact with the first and second electrode, respectively, the first and second conductor elements being each intended for connection with a voltage generator for driving the liquid lens. The first conductor element includes an electrically conductive body having a peripheral region for contact with the first electrode of the liquid lens with a light diaphragm aperture in a central region thereof.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of managing information is disclosed. The method can include receiving a message from a mobile device configured to connect to a mobile device network (the message including a digital image taken by the mobile device and including information corresponding to words), determining the words from the digital image information using optical character recognition, indexing the digital image based on the words, and storing the digital image for later retrieval of the digital image based on one or more received search terms.

Abstract: A method using integrated software and algorithms for measuring, modeling, benchmarking and validating any Enterprise Content management system, forms processing data capture system or data entry system, including, at the user's option, ingest of special engineered test materials such as a Digital Test Deck®, applying data quality scoring algorithms, use of cost models, validation of downstream business processes, and implementing statistical process control.

Abstract: An image partitioner is configured to find a partition point that divides a received image into four sub-images each having a pre-selected activated pixel count. A recursion processor is configured to (i) apply the image partitioner to an input image to generate a first partition point and four sub-images and to (ii) recursively apply the image partitioner to at least one of the four sub-images for at least one recursion iteration to generate at least one additional partition point. A formatter is configured to generate a features representation of the input image in a selected format. The features representation is based at least in part on the partition points. The features representation can be used in various ways, such as by a classifier configured to classify the input image based on the features representation.

Abstract: A handheld device includes an image input device capable of acquiring images, circuitry to send a representation of the image to a remote computing system that performs at least one processing function related to processing the image and circuitry to receive from the remote computing system data based on processing the image by the remote system.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method to increase reliability, correctness of objects recognition processing by performing a recognized object description as a set of special standard elements along with the spatial and parametrical correlation thereof. The said standard elements are preliminarily assigned graphic structures of elementary form and of easy identification and recognition. They may be provided with spatial and/or parametric details and thus may describe any object on the image including characters of text.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus including computer program products for recognizing text in images are provided. In one implementation, a computer-implemented method for recognizing text in an image is provided. The method includes receiving a plurality of images. The method also includes processing the images to detect a corresponding set of regions of the images, each image having a region corresponding to each other image region, as potentially containing text. The method further includes combining the regions to generate an enhanced region image and performing optical character recognition on the enhanced region image.

Abstract: A matching device includes a first storing unit, a second storing unit, and a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a control unit and a circuit unit. In the circuit unit, a first circuit including distance calculating circuits that calculate distances between unknown characters and dictionary characters and a selecting circuit that selects P distances having smallest values and character codes corresponding to the distances is configured, and then a second circuit including a permutation circuit that outputs distances in order from one having a smallest value and outputs character codes corresponding to the distances is configured.

Abstract: A method for analyzing image identifications. An optical character recognition (OCR) identification of an image, an associated confidence value, and a photograph of the image are received. After determining that the received confidence value is below a predefined threshold, a data store is searched to find OCR identifications matching the received OCR identification. If the searching fails to find a matching OCR identification, then a manual agent males a correct identification of the image in the received photograph; otherwise a search score associated with each OCR identification is received. If no received search scores is above a predetermined threshold, then the message is sent to the manual agent for correct identification; otherwise the correct identification is determined based on the OCR identifications associated with the search scores above the predetermined threshold and the correct identification thus determined is subsequently transmitted to a billing system.

Abstract: The disclosure, in one aspect, provides a method for providing an image of a fluid that includes passing light through the fluid, detecting light passing through the fluid at at least one wavelength and producing signals corresponding to the detected light, and processing the signals to provide the image of the fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments of the invention provide automated global optimization methods and systems of OCR, tailored to each document being digitized. A document-specific database is created from an OCR scan of a document of interest, which contains an exhaustive listing of words in the document. Images of each word, taken from all the fonts encountered, are entered into the database and mapped to a corresponding textual representation. After entry of a first instance of an image of a word written in a particular font, each new occurrence of the word in that font can be quickly recognized by image processing techniques. The disclosed methods and systems may be used in conjunction with adaptive character recognition training and word recognition training of the OCR engines.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for extracting embedded information that is embedded in an image is provided. The image processing apparatus includes: an information extraction unit configured to extract the embedded information from the image; an executable function determination unit configured to determine one or more executable functions according to the embedded information that is extracted; a display unit configured to display a list of the one or more executable functions determined by the executable function determination unit.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a method, system and computer program product for detecting and recognizing text in the images captured by cameras and scanners. First, a series of image-processing techniques is applied to detect text regions in the image. Subsequently, the detected text regions pass through different processing stages that reduce blurring and the negative effects of variable lighting. This results in the creation of multiple images that are versions of the same text region. Some of these multiple versions are sent to a character-recognition system. The resulting texts from each of the versions of the image sent to the character-recognition system are then combined to a single result, wherein the single result is detected text.

Abstract: The invention deals with an aid device for reading a printed text, comprising a data acquisition peripheral with a camera and a communication interface, said peripheral being movable by a user on a printed text to frame a portion of text, a processing unit, communication means between the peripheral and the processing unit, and a vocal reproduction device. The processing unit is programmed to acquire a sequence of images framed by the camera, to detect when the user has stopped on the text, to recognise at least one word which the user intends reading, and to reproduce the sound of said at least one word by means of vocal synthesis by means of the vocal reproduction device.

Abstract: The present invention decides whether an OCR processing is necessary or not for a printing job by using a difference between text data extracted by performing the OCR processing on an image generated based on a previous printing job having been processed previously and text data extracted from text drawing command of the previous printing job having been processed previously. If the OCR processing is decided to be unnecessary, the text data extracted from the text drawing command of the printing job is registered in a database for retrieving an image data. If the OCR processing is decided to be necessary, text data extracted by performing OCR processing on the image data generated based on the drawing commands of the printing job and the text data extracted from the text drawing command of the printing job are registered in a database for retrieving an image data.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer-readable media for processing an image are disclosed. The system comprises a processor, an image capturing unit in communication with the processor, an inspection surface positioned so that at least a portion of the inspection surface is within a field of view (FOV) of the image capturing unit, and an output device. The system has software that monitors the FOV of the image capturing unit for at least one event. The inspection surface is capable of supporting an object of interest.

Abstract: An interactive rapid response system that utilizes optical character recognition through digital imaging of paper based lottery tickets and rapidly checks against internet based sources to see if they are winners. The system is designed to work on mobile devices, handheld devices, and computers.

Abstract: Techniques provide a file plan including a plurality of containers, wherein each container is capable of providing management information for record information objects assigned to the container, wherein the record information objects represent documents, wherein one of the containers points to a physical record. An electronic record associated with the physical record is stored. The physical record is automatically associated with the electronic record by updating the file plan.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus is configured such that the level of each of first and second output signals obtained by exposing a color image sensor by using mutually differing first and second photoelectric conversion properties is compared with one of threshold values to thereby select output signals to be used as signals for constituting an image from among the first and second output signals for individual color components thereof. The threshold values are set for the individual color components based on the first and second output signals.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a system can be provided to detect fraudulent activity occurring during check processing. Such fraudulent activity can be detected for example by monitoring the electronic check imaging process and performing checks on the data to determine anomalous occurrences that are indicative of fraudulent transactions.

Abstract: An optical imaging system with dynamic buffer management is described. Embodiments of the optical imaging system include an image sensor, a buffer, and a buffer mode controller. The image sensor includes a pixel array to read out a plurality of pixel lines for a frame of an image. The buffer is configured to store a plurality of buffer values corresponding to a plurality of pixel values for each of the pixel lines. The buffer mode controller is configured to dynamically switch between an accumulation mode and an averaging mode. The accumulation mode facilitates a computation of each buffer value according to a sum value of the corresponding pixel value and a corresponding previous buffer value. The averaging mode facilitates a computation of each buffer value according to an average value of a normalized value of the corresponding pixel value and the corresponding previous buffer value.

Abstract: The head pose of a motor vehicle driver with respect to a vehicle frame of reference is assessed with a relative motion sensor positioned rearward of the driver's head, such as in or on the headrest of the driver's seat. The relative motion sensor detects changes in the position of the driver's head, and the detected changes are used to determine the driver's head pose, and specifically, whether the head pose is forward-looking (i.e., with the driver paying attention to the forward field-of-view) or non-forward-looking. The determined head pose is assumed to be initially forward-looking, and is thereafter biased toward forward-looking whenever driver behavior characteristic of a forward-looking head pose is recognized.

Abstract: An image pickup system includes a base, a frame, an image pickup device, a receiving structure, a marking element and a switching element. The frame is connected to the base. The image pickup device is disposed on the frame. The receiving structure is disposed in the base. The frame is rotatable with respect to the base, so that the image pickup device is moved to an optimal shooting position. The marking element indicates that the image pickup device is at the optimal shooting position. When the switching element is triggered, the target object placed in the receiving structure will be shot by the image pickup device.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for identifying an embossed character, light of one color is directed in one direction across the embossed character to illuminate certain character parts and light of another color is directed in another direction across the embossed character to illuminate other character parts. Image data for the two colors are captured and are subjected to separate image processing to detect edges highlighted by the directed light. The processed images are combined and supplemented with OCR analysis before being compared with predicted characters. Based on the comparison, a determination is made as to the probable identity of the character.

Abstract: A method consistent with certain embodiments of identifying a functional command set for an access device that accesses television programming provided by a service provider at a control device involves transmitting a first command from a first command set of a group of possible command sets for the access device to the access device. The first command includes a command that is expected to cause the access device to generate a text containing video frame. A determination is made as to whether the extracted text corresponds to the first command set. The first command set is identified as the functional command set for the access device in response to determining that the extracted text corresponds to the first command set. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: Systems and methods for capturing content and performing operations associated with the content are described. A stylus or other pointing device may be used designate content to be captured. After content is designated, a new window is generated that includes the designated content and user interface elements for annotating, conveying or otherwise acting upon the designated content.

Abstract: Character information recognition means extracts, through a character recognition process, character information from a selection button included in an index image. Based on text data having been outputted from the character information recognition means, index dictionary creation means creates an index dictionary usable for a speech recognition process performed by speech recognition means. The speech recognition means performs the speech recognition process by using speech data retrieved through an ADC and the index dictionary stored in storage means. Based on a result of the speech recognition process performed by the speech recognition means, reproduction control means performs reproduction control of a chapter. Thus, a desired button can be selected by speech, from chapter selection buttons displayed on a chapter selection image of a DVD video.

Abstract: A live video stream captured by an on-device camera is displayed on a screen with an overlaid guideline. Video frames of the live video stream are analyzed for a video frame with acceptable quality. A text region is identified in the video frame approximate to the on-screen guideline and cropped from the video frame. The cropped image is transmitted to an optical character recognition (OCR) engine, which processes the cropped image and generates text in an editable symbolic form (the OCR'ed text). A confidence score is determined for the OCR'ed text and compared with a threshold value. If the confidence score exceeds the threshold value, the OCR'ed text is outputted.

Abstract: A method of identifying a wafer serial number is provided. First, a wafer having a wafer serial number is provided. Second, an identification procedure is carried out to identify the wafer serial number by means of multiple identification recipes thereby obtaining multiple digit results which correspond to the multiple identification recipes and a specific digit in the wafer serial number. The multiple digit results include at least two of a successful result and an unsuccessful result. Then, the wafer serial number is determined in accordance with the multiple digit results.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes an image reading unit which reads a manuscript image by optically scanning a manuscript placed on a reading region, a region division unit which divides the reading region into a plurality of partial regions in accordance with a division direction directed along a sub scanning direction to which the image reading unit moves for scanning the manuscript and a division direction directed along a main scanning direction perpendicular to the sub scanning direction, a condition setting unit which sets a condition on which the image reading unit reads the manuscript image for each of the partial regions, and a controller which directs the image reading unit to read the manuscript image on the conditions depending on the partial regions being scanned by the image reading unit.

Abstract: A method for organizing a dictionary look up process in an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) system is described. Word length and an additional relative position within the words of a graphical feature, for example a stem, ascender, descender etc. are used in combination to index a dictionary. Unrecognized characters are analysed the same way, i.e. word length and relative position within the unrecognized word is then used to address the dictionary, resulting in an output of one ore more candidate words as an identification of the unrecognized word. An iterative process may reduce the number of candidate words identified in the dictionary look up process.

Abstract: Systems and methods for using a multimodal handheld reader are described. The reader can be used to read non electronic labels, passive RFID tags using backscatter modulation techniques and battery based active RFID tags using a single handheld. The reader deploys a multiplexed antenna design and thereby contains a method to read a group of passive RFID tags and at the same time the reader can isolate a single passive RFID tag from amongst a group of passive RFID tags within close proximity. All such passive RFID tags use backscatter modulation techniques and are in the readers own RF zone.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus for management of document images. In input document image data, when an area from which index information is to be extracted is designated, an index item for the designated area is set. Then, index extraction information where information specifying the designated area is linked with information indicating the set index item is generated. The generated index extraction information is combined with the document image data.

Abstract: A form reader includes a landmarks extractor configured to select textboxes of a converted document as form landmarks based on textual characteristics. A set of positional constraints constrain the form entries relative to the identified form landmarks. A constraints solver selects textboxes of the converted document as form entries by solving the set of positional constraints respective to a set of facts including the selected form landmarks and converted document. In some embodiments, the constraints solver includes a query engine configured to (i) construct a query in a logic programming language setting forth the set of positional constraints and the set of facts and to (ii) input said query to a logic programming language query solving engine and to (iii) receive a response from the query solving engine responsive to the input.

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.

Abstract: A method for document processing including decomposing an image of a document into at least one data entry region sub-image, providing the data entry region sub-image to a data entry clerk available for processing the data entry region sub-image, receiving from the data entry clerk a data entry value associated with the data entry region sub-image, and validating the data entry value.

Abstract: In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of, at a computer system, receiving an image recorded at and transmitted from a remote source, at the computer system, processing the transmitted image, for segregation of the transmitted image into a corresponding intrinsic image and, at the computer system, processing the corresponding intrinsic image to perform a preselected task, for a result. As a further feature of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the remote source comprises a cell phone or remote computer system.

Abstract: A user-interactive automatic translation device for a mobile device, includes: a camera image controller for converting an image captured by a camera into a digital image; an image character recognition controller for user-interactively selecting a character string region to be translated from the digital image, performing a character recognition function on the selected character string region based on an optical character reader (OCR) function and character recognition information to generate a text string; and user-interactively correcting errors included in the text string.

Abstract: A sticky note display processing device is connected to an image reading device and a display device and is provided with at least a storage device and a control device. The control device includes image reading unit that controls the image reading device to read an image on a sticky note, and display controlling unit that adjusts a size of the image that should be displayed on a display screen of the display device, and controls a position of the image in such a manner that the image is displayed at a portion of the display screen where there is no display.