Method and apparatus for extracting areas

A method for extracting areas, comprising:

• obtaining a table dataset representing a table and storing the obtained table dataset in memory circuitry in a computer, the table having a plurality of cells arranged in rectangular form, at least some of the plurality of cells having numerical values or character strings;
• replacing, by processor circuitry in the computer, each of the numerical values in the table with a first constant value, and each of the character strings in the table with a second constant value whose sign is opposite to a sign of the first constant value;
• generating, by the processor circuitry, a plurality of area datasets each including first to third rectangular areas mapped on the plurality of cells, the first rectangular area having a top side and a left side, the second rectangular area having a right side that coincides with the left side of the first rectangular area, the third rectangular area having a bottom side that coincides with the top side of the first rectangular area, the plurality of area datasets respectively including different first rectangular areas;
• calculating, by the processor circuitry, a difference between a first sum and a second sum with respect to each of the generated area datasets, the first sum being a sum of first constant values and second constant values contained in cells of the first rectangular area, the second sum being a sum of first constant values and second constant values contained in cells of the second rectangular area and in cells of the third rectangular area;
• identifying, by the processor circuitry, a difference-maximizing area dataset among the plurality of area datasets, the difference-maximizing area dataset having a largest difference between the first sum and the second sum;
• and
• outputting, by the processor circuitry, the first rectangular area of the difference-maximizing area dataset as a numerical area of the table, the second rectangular area of the difference-maximizing area dataset as a column header area of the table, and the third rectangular area of the difference-maximizing area dataset as a column header area of the table.

An apparatus for extracting areas, comprising:

• memory circuitry that stores a table dataset representing a table, the table having a plurality of cells arranged in rectangular form, at least some of the plurality of cells having numerical values or character strings;
• and
• processor circuitry coupled to the memory circuitry and configured to perform a procedure including:
• reading the table dataset out of the memory circuitry;
• replacing each of the numerical values in the table with a first constant value, and each of the character strings in the table with a second constant value whose sign is opposite to a sign of the first constant value;
• generating a plurality of area datasets each including first to third rectangular areas mapped on the plurality of cells, the first rectangular area having a top side and a left side, the second rectangular area having a right side that coincides with the left side of the first rectangular area, the third rectangular area having a bottom side that coincides with the top side of the first rectangular area, the plurality of area datasets respectively including different first rectangular areas;
• calculating a difference between a first sum and a second sum with respect to each of the generated area datasets, the first sum being a sum of first constant values and second constant values contained in cells of the first rectangular area, the second sum being a sum of first constant values and second constant values contained in cells of the second rectangular area and in cells of the third rectangular area;
• identifying a difference-maximizing area dataset among the plurality of area datasets, the difference-maximizing area dataset having a largest difference between the first sum and the second sum;
• and
• outputting the first rectangular area of the difference-maximizing area dataset as a numerical area of the table, the second rectangular area of the difference-maximizing area dataset as a column header area of the table, and the third rectangular area of the difference-maximizing area dataset as a column header area of the table.