US 6,272,242 B1 · Character recognition method and apparatus which groups similar character patterns

Abstract

A character recognition method and apparatus which assembles similar character patterns into groups. By performing character recognition for each character of the group and comparing the recognition results for the group, a single recognition result can be obtained for the entire group which is quite accurate. Alternatively, a representative pattern may be generated for the group and a single recognition processing performed on this pattern in order to reduce the amount of time necessary to perform the character recognition process. When the result of the character recognition does not strongly indicate a single recognition result, the probability of appearance of individual characters and/or groups of characters such as digrams or trigrams can be analyzed to obtain more accurate results.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A character recognition method for use with an image of a document, comprising the steps of:

extracting character patterns from the image;
detecting similarities between the character patterns;
grouping the character patterns into groups using the detecting similarities;
determining for each of said groups a corresponding character code using a character recognition process, the corresponding character code corresponding to features of the members of a corresponding group, after the step of grouping;
and
assigning to each character pattern of each of said groups the character code which corresponds to the group of the character pattern,
wherein each character pattern of one of the groups is assigned a same character code, and
wherein the same character code is a recognized character code.

5 more elements

A character recognition apparatus for use with an image of a document, comprising:

means for extracting character patterns from the image;
means for detecting similarities between the character patterns;
means for grouping the character patterns into groups using the detected similarities;
means for determining for each of said groups a corresponding character code using a character recognition process, the corresponding character code corresponding to features of the members of a corresponding group, after grouping the character patterns into groups;
and
means for assigning to each character pattern of each of said groups the character code which corresponds to the groups of the character patterns,
wherein each character pattern of one of the groups is assigned a same character code, and
wherein the same character code is a recognized character code.

5 more elements

A computer program product having a computer readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for preforming a character recognition process on an image of a document, comprising:

means for extracting character patterns from the image;
means for detecting similarities between the character patterns;
means for grouping the character patterns into groups using the detected similarities;
means for determining for each of said groups a corresponding character code using a character recognition process, the corresponding character code corresponding to features of the members of a corresponding group, after grouping the character patterns into groups;
and
means for assigning to each character pattern of each of said groups the character code which corresponds to the groups of the character patterns,
wherein each character pattern of one of the groups is assigned a same character code, and
wherein the same character code is a recognized character code.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Character recognition method and apparatus which groups similar character patterns

Life of this patent

Character recognition method and apparatus which groups similar character patterns

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25