US 9,792,520 B2 · System and method for transcribing handwritten records using word grouping with assigned centroids

Abstract

A handwriting recognition system converts word images on documents, such as document images of historical records, into computer searchable text. Word images (snippets) on the document are located, and have multiple word features identified. For each word image, a word feature vector is created representing multiple word features. Based on the similarity of word features (e.g., the distance between feature vectors), similar words are grouped together in clusters, and a centroid that has features most representative of words in the cluster is selected. A digitized text word is selected for each cluster based on review of a centroid in the cluster, and is assigned to all words in that cluster and is used as computer searchable text for those word images where they appear in documents. An analyst may review clusters to permit refinement of the parameters used for grouping words in clusters, including the adjustment of weights and other factors used for determining the distance between feature vectors.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for assigning text to a record from an image of the record, comprising:

obtaining a scanned image of a record;
determining at an optical character recognition system that at least some words in the scanned image are unidentified;
evaluating the record image in order to locate each of multiple word images corresponding to the unidentified words;
for each located word image, identifying multiple word features of that word image;
assigning each of the multiple word images that have similar word features to one of a plurality of word clusters;
selecting a representative word image in each of the word clusters as a centroid;
reviewing, by an analyst, the centroid in each of the word clusters, and entering data representing text for the centroid;
and
assigning the representing text for the centroid to all other word images in the same word cluster as the centroid.

6 more elements

A system for assigning text to a record from an image of the record, comprising:

one or more processors;
and
a memory, the memory storing instructions that are executable by the one or more processors and configure the system to:
obtain a scanned image of a record;
determine at an optical character recognition system that at least some words in the scanned image are unidentified;
evaluate the record image in order to locate each of multiple word images corresponding to the unidentified words;
for each located word image, identify multiple word features of that word image;
assign each of the multiple word images that have similar word features to one of a plurality of word clusters;
select a representative word image in each of the word clusters as a centroid;
receive, from an analyst, the centroid in each of the word clusters, and corresponding data representing text for the centroid;
and
assign the representing text for the centroid to all other word images in the same word cluster as the centroid.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for transcribing handwritten records using word grouping with assigned centroids

Life of this patent

System and method for transcribing handwritten records using word grouping with assigned centroids

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20