System and method for improved character recognition in distorted images

A method for recognizing one or more characters within a distorted image using a computing device, the method comprising:

• (a) rendering, with a processor executing code, an imitation image;
• (b) applying at least a first distortion model to the imitation image, thereby generating an initially distorted imitation image;
• (c) comparing the initially distorted imitation image with the distorted image by
• i. simulating a further distortion of the initially distorted imitation image, the further distortion comprising at least a second distortion model, and
• ii. computing a similarity between the further distortion of the initially distorted imitation image and the distorted image;
• and
• (d) identifying the characters based on the similarity.

A method for processing a distorted data element using a computing device, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving the distorted data element;
• (b) rendering, with a processor executing code, a plurality of imitation data elements, each of the imitation data elements comprising a unique undistorted simulation of the distorted data element;
• (c) determining one or more distortion models to be applied to each of the imitation data elements, the one or more distortion models being applied based on at least one of:
• i. metadata that corresponds to the distorted data element,
• ii. a processing of the distorted data element in order to determine one or more distortion types present in the distorted data element, and
• iii. a processing of one or more data elements related to the distorted data element in order to determine one or more distortion types present in the one or more data elements related to the distorted data element;
• (d) applying the one or more distortion models to each of the imitation data elements, thereby generating a plurality of distorted imitation data elements;
• (e) comparing each of the distorted imitation data elements with the distorted data element in order to compute a similarity between each respective distorted imitation data element and the distorted data element;
• (f) comparing each of the computed similarities with one another in order to identify a most accurate simulation;
• and
• (g) outputting at least one of:
• each of the computed similarities and the most accurate simulation.