Method of extracting relevant character information from gray scale image data for character recognition

A method of processing a matrix of gray scale picture elements derived from lifting an image of a document to extract strokes from the image of the document, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) calculating a global average value of the gray scale picture elements;
• (b) placing a window over a portion of the matrix of gray scale picture elements;
• (c) calculating a local average value of the gray scale picture elements contained in the window of step (b);
• (d) comparing the global average value of step (a) with the local average value of step (c);
• (e) calculating a relative figure of importance (RFI) value for each gray scale picture element contained in the window of step (b) when the local average value calculated in step (c) is less than the global average value calculated in step (a) such that the RFI value is indicative of the relative importance of that particular pixel relative to its neighboring pixels;
• (f) increasing the size of the window of step (b) and replacing the window of step (b) with this increased sized window when the local average value calculated in step (c) is greater than the global average value calculated in step (a);
• and
• (g) repeating step (b), (c), (d), (e), and (f) using the increased sized window obtained in step (f) until the local average value calculated in (c) is less than the global average value.

An apparatus comprising:

• a memory;
• a scanner device for (i) lifting an image of a document, and (ii) storing the image as a matrix of gray scale picture elements in the memory;
• and
• means for (i) calculating a global average value of the gray scale picture elements, (ii) placing a window over a portion of the matrix of gray scale picture elements, (iii) calculating a local average value of the gray scale picture elements contained in the window, (iv) comparing the global average value with the local average value, and (v) calculating a relative figure of importance (RFI) value for each gray scale picture element contained in the window based upon the comparison of the global average value with the local average value, the RFI value being indicative of the relative importance of that particular pixel relative to its neighboring pixels.