JPH0916753A - Character information processing system, method and image filing system for storing images thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] In a character information processing system for inputting a character and recognizing the character, a character input by a user and a character recognized by the system can be easily compared. [Structure] A character image in a format defined by a first FAX is transmitted, the second FAX receives the character image, and the character image is read and input. By referring to the character recognition information, the input image is converted into an image corresponding to the character into a corresponding code, which is converted into a font image. And
By referring to the format information of the format, the input character image and one or more converted font images are combined to generate a combined image. The combined image is transmitted from the second FAX to the first FAX.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character information processing system, method, and image filing system for storing images thereof, and more particularly to a character information processing system for reading and recognizing handwritten characters and the like. A character information processing system and method suitable for transmitting a form image, reading and recognizing the transmitted image, and confirming the recognition result at the transmission source, and an image filing storing the created composite image Regarding the system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a system in which characters are transmitted by FAX or the like, and the characters are read and recognized by using optical means.

First, a conventional system will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a FAX-OCR system. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a form format used in the FAX-OCR system according to the related art.

This system uses FAX11 (facsimil
From e), send letters and send them to FAX-OCR12 (facsimile
-optical character reader), it is configured to read it.

First, characters are handwritten on the form 21 shown in FIG. 2 and transmitted from the FAX 11. FAX-OCR
In order to know whether or not this data could be read, 12 confirmed by having the read result sent back as a read result image.

Alternatively, a means has been adopted in which unreadable characters are marked and sent back.

As such a technique, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-274
The "character recognition communication processing device" described in Japanese Patent No. 463 discloses a configuration in which when a character cannot be recognized, the number of unrecognized characters and the recognition result are sent back to the sender to prompt re-input.

[0008]

The above prior art is a method of confirming whether or not a character can be transmitted correctly when the site for inputting the character and the site for recognizing the character are apart from each other. there were.

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, it is impossible to compare the characters actually written and transmitted with the characters recognized by the system, and the user merely compares the transmitted characters with the read result as an image. There was a problem that it was difficult to understand.

Further, conventionally, an image read as an image by OCR and a recognized character are stored in different forms, which is inconvenient to search, and matching between input and recognized character is required. There was a problem that it was difficult.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and its object is a character information processing system for inputting a character and recognizing the character. An object of the present invention is to provide a character information processing system capable of easily comparing characters recognized by.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an image filing system capable of confirming recognized characters at the same time when searching an input form or the like.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, the structure of the invention relating to the character information processing system of the present invention is as follows:
A character information processing system for inputting a character on a predetermined format as an image and processing the character, and having format information of the format, character recognition information, and font information, and a means for inputting the character as an image. , Means for recognizing characters and converting them into corresponding codes, means for converting codes to images, means for synthesizing images, means for outputting synthesized images, and means for inputting characters as images Input a character image of a predetermined format, refer to the format information of the format from the character image, cut out an image corresponding to one character, recognize the character, and convert it into a corresponding code. A means refers to the character recognition information, converts an image corresponding to the one character into a corresponding code, and converts the code into an image,
A means for converting the converted code into an image of a corresponding font by referring to font information and synthesizing the image, refers to the format information of the format, and compares the input character image with the input character image. The means for outputting a combined image by combining one or more of the converted font images with each other to output the combined image.

More specifically, in the above character information processing system, the defined format is defined such that the input character image and the font image corresponding to the character are placed at positions where they can be compared with each other. According to the format information, the input character image and the image of the font corresponding to the character are output as a combined image.

More specifically, the above character information processing system has a first FAX and a second FAX that are connected by a communication line and can exchange images, and are determined by the first FAX. A character image having a different format, the second FAX receives the transmitted character image, inputs the received character image, and further,
The output composite image is transmitted from the second FAX to the first FAX.

Further, the configuration of the invention relating to the image filing system of the present invention comprises means for storing an image and means for retrieving the image, and the output information is stored by the character information processing system, It is made to be searchable.

Next, in the configuration of the invention relating to the character information processing method of the present invention, in the character information processing method of inputting a character on a defined format as an image and processing the character, format information of the format, A means for inputting characters as an image having character recognition information and font information, a means for recognizing characters and converting them into corresponding codes, a means for converting codes into images, and a means for synthesizing images. And (1) a step of inputting a character image of a predetermined format by means of inputting a character as an image, and (2) format information of the format from the character image. A procedure for cutting out an image corresponding to one character, and (3) a means for recognizing the character and converting it into a corresponding code refers to the character recognition information and corresponds to the one character. (4) a procedure of converting an image into a corresponding code, (4) a procedure of converting the code into an image by converting the converted code into an image of a corresponding font by referring to font information, (5) A step of synthesizing the image, synthesizing the input character image and one or more converted font images with reference to the format information of the format to generate a synthetic image; 6) The means for outputting the combined image comprises a procedure for outputting the combined image, and the steps (1) to (6) are performed in this order.

More specifically, the first FAX and the second FAX which are connected by a communication line and can exchange images.
And (0) transmitting the character image of the defined format by the first FAX, and transmitting the character image transmitted by the second FAX. The procedure of receiving, (1) 'the procedure of inputting the received character image, (7) the procedure of transmitting the output composite image from the second FAX to the first FAX, and (0) The procedure (1) ′, the procedure (1) ′, the procedures (2) to (6), and the procedure (7) are performed in this order.

[0019]

According to the present invention, an input character and an image obtained by recognizing the input character are imaged and combined in a form that can be compared. Therefore, when checking, the input character and its recognition result are obvious.

In particular, when the input site and the site for recognizing characters are in remote areas, for example, F where the input side is FAX
In the case of the AX-OCR system, the advantage that can be confirmed at the transmission source is great.

Further, even when the composite image is searched using an optical disk or the like, the input image and the recognition result can be searched at once and can be compared, which is convenient.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 to 7. [FAX-OCR System] An embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 to 6. First, the system configuration of the FAX-OCR system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of the FAX-OCR system, as described above. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a form format used in the FAX-OCR system according to the present invention.

This system uses FAX11 (facsimil
e) and FAX-OCR12 (facsimile-optical charact
er reader) is connected by a communication line such as a telephone line, and information can be exchanged. FAX-OCR12
Is usually located in the head office, head office, headquarters, etc., where information is integrated, while FAX1 is installed in each branch, branch, and branch.
One is placed.

Then, the FAX 11 sends the created form to the FAX-OCR 12. FAX-OCR1
In No. 2, the character is read from the image of the received data, and data processing and data storage are performed.

Now, taking the form shown in FIG. 3 as an example,
Let's explain the operation of this system.

The user manually writes the characters in the application No. 32, the name 34, and the address 36, which are required entry items of the form 31. This character must be in a standard typeface that is mechanically readable. Then, this form is sent from FAX 11 to the communication line via FAX-OCR.
Send to 12.

From the received image, the FAX-OCR 12 recognizes the characters including the application No. 32, the name 34, and the address 36, which are read items. Next, the character is searched by the corresponding code of the character, and the image data is created by the font created in advance. Then, the character data recognized as the same as the character written by the user is associated with the application No. 32, the name 34, and the address 36, and each column of the read result application No. 33, the read result name 35, and the read result address 37, respectively. Write in. After that, the data synthesized as shown in FIG.
It is sent back to the AX11 and the user is asked to confirm that it was read correctly.

Next, referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, FAX-O will be described.
The processing procedure of CR12 will be described in detail. Figure 4 shows FA
It is a schematic diagram which showed each part of X-OCR12, and the data flow. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the FAX-OCR 12. FIG. 6 is a diagram highlighting that the handwritten character could not be read. First, the image receiving unit 41 receives an image from the FAX 11 via the communication line (S501).

In the form recognition unit 42, the format information 4
Based on 21, the form image 412 is cut out from the received image 411, and the form edge position, the form inclination, the form distortion, etc. are recognized (S502).

In this example, it is assumed that the background of the form is black. However, since the background of the FAX image is usually white, the position of the form is often recognized by using another means such as a corner mark.

Next, in the field position correcting unit 43, according to the information (form edge position, form inclination, form distortion) of the form image 412 recognized by the form recognizing unit 42 and the read field position information included in the format information. , The position of the reading field 413 is corrected and calculated (S50
3).

Next, the character cutout unit 44 cuts out a character pattern from the image of the reading field 413 in units of one character in accordance with the reading position information included in the format information 421 (S504), and generates one character pattern 451.

Next, the character recognition unit 451 inputs the one-character pattern 451 cut out by the character cutting unit 44, and recognizes the pattern "as a character" according to the recognition dictionary 452 registered in advance (S505). Here, the recognition dictionary stores information about the shape of a standard character pattern of each character. Further, “to recognize as a character” means to compare and calculate the one-character pattern 451 and this recognition dictionary, and output the code of the matching character as the reading result 453.

Next, the code image conversion unit 46 inputs the read result 453 output from the character recognition unit 45, searches the dot data corresponding to the code of the read result 453 from the font data 461, and converts the code image. The data is output to the buffer 462 (S506).

Next, the field position correction unit 47 calculates the position correction of the read result pasting field 414 in the received image 411 according to the read result pasting position included in the format information 421 (S507). This process is similar to the field position correction calculation process of the read field in S503.

Next, in the image synthesizing section 48, the above-mentioned S5
By referring to the position data obtained in 07, the form image 412 and the dot image in the code image buffer 462 are combined, and the combined image is output to the combined image buffer (S50).
8).

Finally, the image composition / transmission unit 49 returns the composite image in the composite image buffer 481 to the FAX 11 (S509).

Here, as shown in FIG. 6, when the read image cannot be recognized as a character, the character is subjected to processing such as half-tone dot meshing and image black / white inversion, and is returned to the sender. May be.

Further, in this embodiment, when the composite image shown in FIG. 3 is created, only the read result is pasted and combined, but additional information such as the OCR receipt number is pasted and the composite image is attached. May be created.

For example, in the case of membership application work, the membership number is attached on the spot by pasting the membership number on the form received upon completion of the membership procedure and replying to the sender of the membership application. It can be considered to be used.

Further, not only the read result is pasted, but also the result corrected by the operator on the OCR side is displayed as FAX1.
You may decide to send it back to 1.

[Image Filing System] An image filing system for storing and retrieving images created by the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a system configuration diagram of the image filing system according to the present invention.

A large-capacity medium such as an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk can be used for filing the combined image.

Then, by inputting a form number or form name into an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse and performing a search, the synthesized image is called and displayed. At this time, if the format shown in FIG. 3 is used, the input handwritten character and the reading result can be confirmed at one time, which is convenient.

[0045]

According to the present invention, in a character information processing system for inputting and recognizing a character, a character information processing system capable of easily comparing a character input by a user with a character recognized by the system is provided. can do.

Further, it is possible to provide an image filing system capable of confirming the recognized characters at the same time when the input form or the like is searched.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a FAX-OCR system.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a form format used in a FAX-OCR system according to a conventional technique.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a form format used in the FAX-OCR system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing each part of the FAX-OCR 12 and a data flow.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the FAX-OCR 12.

FIG. 6 is a diagram highlighting that a handwritten character could not be read.

FIG. 7 is a system configuration diagram of an image filing system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... FAX, 12 ... FAX-OCR, 21 ... Conventional form format, 25 ... Conventional reading result format,
31 ... Form format of the present invention, 411 ... OCR received image, 412 ... Form image in OCR received image, 413 ...
Reading field of form image in OCR received image, 414
... Read result pasting field of form image in OCR received image, 462 ... Read result pasting image buffer, 481 ... Image combining buffer.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A character information processing system for inputting a character in a defined format as an image and processing the character, including format information of the format, character recognition information, and font information, wherein the character is an image. , A means for recognizing a character and converting it to a corresponding code, a means for converting a code to an image, a means for synthesizing an image, and a means for outputting a synthesized image. The means for inputting as an image inputs a character image of a predetermined format, refers to the format information of the format from the character image, cuts out an image corresponding to one character, recognizes the character, and responds. The means for converting into a code refers to the character recognition information, converts an image corresponding to the one character into a corresponding code, and converts the code into an image. , The converted code, by referring to the font information, to convert the image of the corresponding font, the means for synthesizing the image, with reference to the format information of the format, the input character image, A character information processing system characterized in that one or more converted font images are combined to generate a combined image, and the means for outputting the combined image outputs the combined image. 2. The defined format is defined so that the input character image and a font image corresponding to the character are placed at positions where they can be compared with each other, and the input is performed according to the format information. The character information processing system according to claim 1, wherein a composite image in which a character image and a font image corresponding to the character can be compared is output. 3. A first FAX and a second FAX that are connected by a communication line and can exchange images, and the first FAX transmits a character image in the predetermined format, Receiving the transmitted character image by the second FAX, inputting the received character image, and further transmitting the output composite image from the second FAX to the first FAX. Claim 1 characterized by
And the character information processing system according to claim 2. 4. A means for storing an image and a means for searching for an image are provided, and the output image is stored by the character information processing system according to claim 1.
An image filing system that can be searched. 5. A character information processing method for inputting a character in a defined format as an image and processing the character, comprising format information of the format, character recognition information, and font information, wherein the character is an image. (1) inputting means, recognizing characters, converting means to corresponding code, converting code to image, combining image, and outputting combined image, ) A procedure of inputting a character as an image, a procedure of inputting a character image of a predetermined format, (2) a procedure of referring to the format information of the format from the character image, and cutting out an image corresponding to one character, (3) A procedure for recognizing the character and converting it into a corresponding code, referring to the character recognition information, and converting an image corresponding to the one character into a corresponding code.
(4) A procedure of converting the code into an image, by converting the converted code into an image of a corresponding font by referring to font information, (5) the means of combining the images into the format (6) outputting the combined image by referring to the format information and combining the input character image with one or more images of the converted fonts to generate a combined image. A means for outputting the synthesized image, wherein the means performs the steps (1) to (6) in this order, and the character information processing method. 6. A first FAX and a second FAX that are connected by a communication line and can exchange images, and each procedure according to claim 5, and (0) by the first FAX, A step of transmitting the character image in the defined format and receiving the transmitted character image by the second FAX, (1) ′ a step of inputting the received character image,
(7) A procedure of transmitting the output composite image from the second FAX to the first FAX, including the procedure (0), the procedure (1) ′, and the procedures (2) to (). A character information processing method characterized by performing the procedure 6) and the procedure 7) in this order.