Area extraction program, character recognition program, and character recognition device

A non-transitory computer readable recording medium, in which a program executing an area extraction method is recorded, the program when executed by a computer causes the computer to perform the method comprising:

• an obtaining step of obtaining a character lattice showing a connection relation between unit areas, which are obtained by separating a character string pattern in an image into patterns each recognized as corresponding to a single character;
• a judging step of judging whether or not all combinations of each of the unit areas in the character lattice obtained in the obtaining step and each of the unit areas in a regular lattice defining a regular connection relation between the unit areas are likely to be established;
• a generating step of generating a path coupling between nodes corresponding to the combination of the unit areas, which is determined as likely to be established in the judging step;
• a determining step of determining an optimum path from the paths generated in the generating step based on a degree of coincidence with the regular lattice or the character lattice;
• an extracting step of extracting, from an image, the unit areas in the character lattice corresponding to the optimum path determined in the determining step;
• and
• a recognizing step of applying character recognition to a pattern in the unit area, extracted in the extracting step, with use of a dictionary for categories, including only characters in a category to which the unit areas in the regular lattice belong.

A character recognition device comprising:

• acquisition means for acquiring a character lattice showing a connection relation between unit areas, which are obtained by separating a character string pattern in an image into patterns each recognized as corresponding to a single character;
• judgment means for judging whether or not all combinations of each of the unit areas in the character lattice acquired by the acquisition means and each of the unit areas in a regular lattice defining a regular connection relation between the unit areas are likely to be established;
• generating means for generating a path coupling between nodes corresponding to the combination of the unit areas, which is determined as likely to be established by the judging means;
• determining means for determining an optimum path from the paths generated by the generating means based on a degree of coincidence with the regular lattice or the character lattice;
• extraction means for extracting, from an image, the unit areas in the character lattice corresponding to the optimum path determined by the determining means;
• and
• recognition means for applying character recognition to a pattern in the unit area, extracted by the extraction means, with use of a dictionary for categories, including only characters in a category to which the unit areas in the regular lattice belong.

A character recognition method comprising:

• an obtaining step of obtaining a character lattice showing a connection relation between unit areas, which are obtained by separating a character string pattern in an image into patterns each recognized as corresponding to a single character;
• a judging step of judging whether or not all combinations of each of the unit areas in the character lattice obtained in the obtaining step and each of the unit areas in a regular lattice defining a regular connection relation between the unit areas are likely to be established;
• a generating step of generating a path coupling between nodes corresponding to the combination of the unit areas, which is determined as likely to be established in the judging step;
• a determining step of determining an optimum path from the paths generated in the generating step based on a degree of coincidence with the regular lattice or the character lattice;
• an extracting step of extracting from an image the unit areas in the character lattice corresponding to the optimum path determined in the determining step;
• and
• a recognizing step of applying character recognition to a pattern in the unit area, extracted in the extracting step, with use of a dictionary for categories, including only characters in a category to which the unit areas in the regular lattice belong.

A character recognition device, comprising:

• an acquisition part acquiring a character lattice showing a connection relation between unit areas, which are obtained by separating a character string pattern in an image into patterns each recognized as corresponding to a single character;
• a judgment part judging whether or not all combinations of each of the unit areas in the character lattice acquired by the acquisition part and each of the unit areas in a regular lattice defining a regular connection relation between the unit areas are likely to be established;
• a generating part generating a path coupling between nodes corresponding to the combination of the unit areas, which is determined as likely to be established by the judging part;
• a determining part determining an optimum path from the paths generated by the generating part based on a degree of coincidence with the regular lattice or the character lattice;
• an extraction part extracting, from an image, the unit areas in the character lattice corresponding to the optimum path determined by the determining part;
• and
• a recognition part applying character recognition to a pattern in the unit area, extracted by the extraction part, with use of a dictionary for categories, including only characters in a category to which the unit areas in the regular lattice belong.