Method for classifying line patterns of characters in dictionary

A method for classifying character line patterns in a dictionary of a character recognition system operating by recognizing characters using structural information of the characters, the character recognition system including an input device, a processing portion, and a memory in which the dictionary is formed, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) obtaining a first class to which one or a plurality of first line patterns belongs, the first line patterns being related to characters having been input through the input device to determine the first line patterns stored in the memory;
• (b) obtaining a second class to which one or a plurality of second line patterns belongs, the second line patterns being related to characters having been input through the input device to determine the second line patterns stored in the memory;
• wherein each of the first and second line patterns is characterized by respective structural information;
• (c) using the processing portion, determining whether or not the structural information of the first line pattern and the structural information of the second line pattern are similar to each other, in accordance with a predetermined rule which is applied to the structural information by the processing portion;
• and
• (d) when said step (c) determines that the structural information of the first line pattern and the structural information of the second line pattern are similar, using the processing portion to carry out a step of combining said first class and said second class so as to form a new class to which the first and second line patterns belong so that line patterns stored in the dictionary may be stored in the memory differently than before said step (d) because of said formation of said new class.