# US 8,787,670 B2 · Software for text and image edit recognition for editing of images that contain text

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- Number: US 8,787,670 B2
- Document ID: US8787670B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/586,608
- Filed: 2012-08-15
- Published: 2013-05-16
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2011-08-15
- Applicants: Victor John Cowley; Simon William Yearwood
- Inventors: Victor John Cowley; Simon William Yearwood
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8787670B2

## CPC

- G06F 18/00: Pattern recognition
- G06V 30/10: Character recognition
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING

## Abstract

Software for editing text and images enables a user to select a portion of an image and read the text on the selected image portion via an OCR function. The software enables the user to apply a mask containing the originally read text, that allows the user to type or paste new text to replace the previously read text in the selected image portion. The software also enables a user to edit images by automatically recognizing the borders of fields and/or columns and the background color. As a result the user can easily modify an image by applying a mask to an image wherein the mask has new data such as different text the identical background color or a different background color or different layout etc. and which may be placed exactly on the recognized borders of the original image.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A document-processing computer-implemented method that is operable to edit an original image containing both text and non-text elements comprising:
a component for selecting a specific area in the original image;
an optical-character-recognition component for recognizing the text elements in the selected area;
an edge-recognition component for recognizing boundaries in the selected area; and
a component for applying a mask to the selected area;
wherein a user manipulates the mask before applying the mask to the original image.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The document-processing computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein manipulating the mask includes editing the text field within the mask.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The document-processing computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein manipulating the mask includes editing the graphical characteristics of the mask.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The document-processing computer- implemented method of claim 1, wherein the edge-recognition and optical-character-recognition component enables the user to extract various attributes and style data related to the highlighted area that include background color, background pattern, border styles, text font and text size.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The document-process computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein third party software application manipulates the original image and generates a mask automatically.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The document-process computer-implemented method of claim 5 wherein the third party software application manipulates the original image and generates a mask at the command of a user.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The document-process computer-implemented method of claim 6 wherein third party software application automatically manipulates the automatically generated mask.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The document-process computer-implemented method of claim 6 wherein third party software application automatically applies the manipulated mask to the original image.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The document-process computer-implemented method of claim 5 wherein third party software application automatically manipulates the automatically generated mask.

### Claim 10 (depends on 5)

The document-process computer-implemented method of claim 5 wherein third party software application automatically applies the manipulated mask to the original image.