Character recognizing device, image reading device, character recognizing method, and program product

An image reading device comprising:

• a reading unit that reads a document and outputs its image data;
• an extracting unit that extracts table areas from the outputted image data;
• a character recognizing unit that recognizes character strings included in said table areas;
• a converting unit that converts character strings consisting of numbers from the recognized character strings into numerical data;
• a defining unit that defines operational expressions based on specific character strings from the recognized character strings;
• an operational unit that calculates based on said numerical data and said operational expressions;
• a comparing unit that compares calculated value provided by said operational unit with said numerical data;
• a forming unit that forms an image that reports mismatches when there are mismatches between said calculated value and said numerical data;
• and
• an output unit that outputs the image formed by the forming unit.

A character recognition device comprising:

• an extracting unit that extracts table areas from an image;
• a character recognizing unit that recognizes character strings included in said table areas;
• and
• an identifying means that identifies recognition errors committed by said character recognizing unit;
• wherein,
• said identifying means including:
• a converting unit that converts character strings consisting of numbers from the recognized character strings into numerical data;
• a defining unit that defines operational expressions based on specific character strings from the recognized character strings;
• an operational unit that calculates based on said numerical data and said operational expressions;
• and
• a comparing unit that compares calculated value provided by said operational unit with said numerical data.

An image reading device comprising:

• a reading unit that reads a document and outputs its image data;
• an extracting unit that extracts table areas from the outputted image data;
• a character recognizing unit that recognizes character strings included in said table areas;
• and
• an identifying means that identifies recognition errors committed by said character recognizing unit;
• wherein,
• said identifying means including:
• a converting unit that converts character strings consisting of numbers from the recognized character strings into numerical data;
• a defining unit that defines operational expressions based on specific character strings from the recognized character strings;
• an operational unit that calculates based on said numerical data and said operational expressions;
• and
• a comparing unit that compares calculated value provided by said operational unit with said numerical data.

A character recognition method comprising the steps of:

• 1) extracting table areas from an image;
• 2) recognizing character strings included in said table areas;
• 3) converting character strings consisting of numbers from the recognized character strings into numerical data;
• 4) defining operational expressions based on specific character strings from the recognized character strings;
• 5) calculating based on said numerical data and said operational expressions;
• 6) comparing calculated value with said numerical data;
• and
• 7) reporting mismatches when there are mismatches between said calculated value and said numerical data.

A storage medium readable by a computer for storing a program operable to recognize characters, the program comprising:

• an extracting means that extracts table areas from an image;
• a character recognizing means that recognizes character strings included in said table areas;
• a converting means that converts character strings consisting of numbers from the recognized character strings into numerical data;
• a defining means that defines operational expressions based on specific character strings from the recognized character strings;
• an operational means that calculates based on said numerical data and said operational expressions;
• a comparing means that compares calculated value provided by said operational means with said numerical data;
• and
• a reporting means that reports mismatches when there are mismatches between said calculated value and said numerical data.

A computer program product for recognizing characters, the computer program products comprising:

• a computer usable medium having computer readable program means embodied in said medium, said computer readable program means comprising:
• an extracting means that extracts table areas from an image;
• a character recognizing means that recognizes character strings included in said table areas;
• a converting means that converts character strings consisting of numbers from the recognized character strings into numerical data;
• a defining means that defines operational expressions based on specific character strings from the recognized character strings;
• an operational means that calculates based on said numerical data and said operational expressions;
• a comparing means that compares calculated value provided by said operational means with said numerical data;
• and
• a reporting means that reports mismatches when there are mismatches between said calculated value and said numerical data.