Analyzing an image of a document using alternative positionings of a class of segments

A machine for obtaining segment data contained in a document, said machine comprising:

• image input circuitry for obtaining image set data as input, said image set data representing said document;
• memory for storing alternative position data, said alternative position data indicating two or more alternative positionings on a document for a class of document segments;
• processing circuitry connected for receiving image set data from the image input circuitry and connected to the memory for accessing said alternative position data stored in the memory, said processing circuitry comprising:
• circuitry for obtaining an alternative identifier;
• the alternative identifier identifying one of the set of alternative positionings;
• and
• circuitry for using the alternative identifier and the alternative position data, and the image set data to obtain segment data from the image set data.

An article of manufacture comprising:

• a storage medium for use in an image processing system, said storage medium having program instructions stored therein, said instructions for obtaining segment data contained in a document, said program instructions comprising:
• instructions for accessing alternative position data;
• the alternative position data indicating a position for each of a set of two or more alternative positionings that a class of document segments could have;
• instructions for receiving image set data from image input circuitry coupled to said image processing system;
• the image set data representing a document;
• instructions for providing a user with means for specifying an alternative identifier, said alternative identifier identifying one of the set of two or more alternative positionings;
• instructions for obtaining an alternative identifier specified by the user;
• and
• instructions for using the alternative identifier, the alternative position data, and the image set data to obtain segment data.