US 5,761,328 A · Computer automated system and method for converting source-documents bearing alphanumeric text relating to survey measurements

Abstract

The computer automated system and method of converting an image file of a scanned source document, bearing alphanumeric text relating to the lengths and directions of the bounding lines of an area surveyed, into a mathematically accurate vector computer drawing file based on that alphanumeric text. The digitized image file is imported into an existing CAD system having a COGO subroutine and using an OCR operating within the CAD system. The alphanumeric text relating to the lengths and directions of the bounding lines of an area surveyed is recognized by the OCR and then converted by the COGO subroutine into mathematically accurate vectors which can be used for producing accurate drawings. The recognition and conversion steps are such that anyone familiar with software of CAD, OCR, and COGO systems can provide a suitable subroutine to enable a user to employ the method. Hard copy survey maps and legal descriptions may be converted into accurate computer based drawings. The method provides a quality control check of source documents by disclosing the closure of the bounding lines and superposing the vector drawing over any originally scanned drawing image.

Claims43

Dependent claims

A computer method of converting an alphanumeric text relating to a length and a direction of a bounding line of an area surveyed from a hard copy source document into a mathematically accurate vector, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving digitized output from an automated digitizing unit into a CAD applications program in a computer, said output comprising alphanumeric text relating to a length and a direction of a bounding line of an area surveyed, and in a format usable by said CAD applications program, said CAD applications program including a coordinate geometry subroutine, said alphanumeric text having been scanned from said hard copy source document;
(b) recognizing said alphanumerical text in an optical character recognition subroutine operating in said CAD applications program;
(c) transporting said alphanumeric text from step (b) in a format usable by said coordinate geometry subroutine into said coordinate geometry subroutine;
and
(d) converting said alphanumeric text from step (c) into a mathematically accurate vector, said vector having an orientation and a distance corresponding to the length and the direction of said bounding line of the area surveyed, said vector also having a beginning point coordinate and an endpoint coordinate.

2 more elements

An automated conversion system for converting alphanumeric text relating to lengths and directions of bounding lines of an area surveyed from a hard copy source document into mathematically accurate vectors, said system comprising in combination an automatic digitizing unit for document scanning and a computer having a CAD applications program, said computer including receiving means and recognition means, said program including conversion means, transport means and vectorization means;

said automatic digitizing unit (i) scanning a hard copy document having alphanumeric text relating to lengths and directions of bounding lines of an area surveyed, (ii) creating a digitized raster file corresponding to said alphanumeric text, and (iii) outputting said digitized raster file;
said receiving means operatively associated with said automated digitizing unit, for receiving said digitized raster file into said CAD applications program;
said recognition means for recognizing said file and creating an ASCII text file and comprising an optical character recognition subroutine operating in said CAD applications program;
said conversion means, operatively associated with said recognition means, for converting said ASCII text file into a converted file useable in said coordinate geometry subroutine;
said transport means, responsive to said converted file, for transporting said converted file into said coordinate geometry subroutine;
and
said vectorization means, operatively associated with said transport means, for converting said converted file into mathematically accurate vectors representing said lengths and said directions of said surveyed area and comprising a coordinate geometry subroutine.

4 more elements

A computer quality control method for a cartographic document, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) scanning a cartographic hard copy source document using an automated digitizing unit, said document having a drawing thereon and alphanumeric text relating to lengths and directions of bounding lines of an area surveyed recorded thereon;
(b) receiving digitized output, said output including said alphanumeric text relating to lengths and directions of bounding lines of an area surveyed and a digitized drawing from an automated digitizing unit into a CAD applications program, said CAD applications program having a coordinate geometry subroutine, said alphanumeric text and said drawing having been scanned from said cartographic hard copy source document;
(c) displaying said digitized drawing;
(d) recognizing said alphanumeric text using a conversion system operating in said CAD applications program, said conversion system having a graphics and textual optical character recognition subroutine and having a graphics drawing vectorizer subroutine, and recognizing said alphanumeric text using said textual optical character recognition subroutine;
(e) transporting said alphanumeric text into said coordinate geometry subroutine;
(f) converting said alphanumeric text in said coordinate geometry subroutine into mathematically accurate vectors representing said lengths and said directions of said bounding lines of said area surveyed;
and
(g) arranging sequentially said vectors according to a sequence of said bounding lines to form a representation of said area surveyed and overlaying said vectors on said digitized drawing.

5 more elements

A computer quality control method for a textual optical character recognition subroutine program, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) scanning a hard copy source document using an automated digitizing unit, said document having a drawing thereon and alphanumeric text relating to lengths and directions of bounding lines of an area surveyed recorded thereon, said alphanumeric text having been accurately recorded;
said drawing having been accurately scaled to said alphanumeric text;
(b) receiving digitized output, said output including said alphanumeric text relating to lengths and directions of bounding lines of an area surveyed and a digitized drawing from an automated digitizing unit into a CAD applications program, said CAD applications program having a coordinate geometry subroutine, said alphanumeric text and said drawing having been scanned from said hard copy source document;
(c) recognizing said alphanumerical text using said textual optical character recognition subroutine program operating in said CAD applications program;
(d) transporting said alphanumeric text into said coordinate geometry subroutine;
(e) converting said alphanumeric text in said coordinate geometry subroutine into mathematically accurate vectors representing said lengths and said directions of said bounding lines of said area surveyed;
and
(f) arranging sequentially said vectors according to a sequence of said bounding lines to form a representation of said area surveyed and displaying said representation.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Computer automated system and method for converting source-documents bearing alphanumeric text relating to survey measurements

Life of this patent

Computer automated system and method for converting source-documents bearing alphanumeric text relating to survey measurements

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims43