Method and system for image processing

• US 20020168090A1
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Published: 11/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Korber Supply Chain LLC
• Original Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Bruce, Ben F., Kessler, Linda J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,436,979 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/101
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/10 Character recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/127 with the intervention of an operator
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1444 Selective acquisition, locating or processing of specific regions, e.g. highlighted text, fiducial marks or predetermined fields

Abstract

A method of processing an image containing written information according to the invention includes the steps of scanning a surface of an object to obtain an image of the surface represented by image data, analyzing the image data to determine locations of one or more regions with written indicia on the surface, where indicia may include logos, stamps, meter marks, alphanumeric information, labels or other distinctive marks, creating one or more sub-images substantially limited to the dimensions of the indicia-bearing regions, transmitting the sub-images from a first computer or process used to create the sub-images to a second computer or process, and further analyzing the sub-images at the second computer or process, such as by OCR, to decode the written indicia in the sub-images. By transmitting the sub-images, preferably in combination with position data indicating where each sub-image was on the original image, the scanned written indicia can be decoded automatically or manually without having to transmit the original image from one computer or process to another. This is particularly important when the image data is a grayscale or color image that is much larger than a black and white (binary) image of the same dimensions.

Claims

1. A method of processing an image containing written information, comprising the steps of:

(a) scanning a surface of an object to obtain an image of the surface represented by image data;

(b) analyzing the image data to determine locations of one or more regions with written indicia on the surface;

(c) creating one or more sub-images substantially limited to the dimensions of the indicia-bearing regions;

(d) transmitting the sub-images from a first computer or process used to create the sub-images to a second computer or process;

(e) further analyzing the sub-images at the second computer or process to decode the written indicia in the sub-images, where indicia may include logos, stamps, meter marks, alphanumeric information, labels or other distinctive marks.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the object is a mail piece and the indicia bearing regions include addresses.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the object is a change of address form and the indicia bearing regions include a name, a new address, and a former address.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sub-images are grayscale images.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sub-images are color images.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) further comprises displaying one or more sub-images to a human operator for editing of data fields which correspond to information in the sub-images.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein step (e) further comprises displaying the sub-images in a video display in alignment with corresponding data field input objects in such a manner as to optimize the operator interface with respect to recognition and processing of data.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein steps (d) further comprises transmitting position data for each sub-image to the second computer or process, which position data identifies the position of the sub-image on the scanned image.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of reconstructing a facsimile of the original scanned images by simultaneous display of the sub-images.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the facsimile permits viewing of each sub-image on a larger scale than a background which corresponds to the original image.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) further comprises applying character recognition logic to the sub-images.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein step (e) further comprises determining the identity of a sub-image from among a predetermined set of possible data types based on criteria including the position of the sub-image on the surface.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein step (e) further comprises, if applying character recognition logic to a sub-image does not decode a sub-image to a predetermined level of confidence, displaying the sub-image to a human operator for editing of data fields which correspond to information in the sub-images.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the object is a mail piece, the indicia bearing regions include addresses, and the scanner comprises a grayscale scanner.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the object is a change of address form and the indicia bearing regions include a name, a new address, and a former address.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein further comprising:

means for displaying one or more sub-images to a human operator for editing of data fields which correspond to information in the sub-images.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the displaying means displays the sub-images in a video display in alignment with corresponding data field input objects.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the displaying means displays the sub-images by reconstructing a facsimile of the original scanned images by simultaneous display of the sub-images.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the means for analyzing the image data includes logic for determining the identity of a sub-image from among a predetermined set of possible data types based on criteria including the position of the sub-image on the surface.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the means for analyzing the sub-image comprises optical character recognition logic.

14. A system for processing an image containing written information, comprising:

a scanner for scanning a surface of an object to obtain an image of the surface represented by image data;

a first computer having a memory;

means for analyzing the image data on the first computer to determine locations of one or more regions with written indicia on the surface;

means for creating one or more sub-images substantially limited to the dimensions of the indicia-bearing regions and for storing the sub-images in the memory of the first computer;

means for transmitting the sub-images from the first computer or process to a second computer or process;

means for analyzing the sub-images at the second computer or process to decode the written indicia in the sub-images.

22. A digital data packet, comprising:

a first sub-image created by scanning a surface of an object to obtain an image of the surface represented by image data, analyzing the image data to determine locations of one or more regions with written indicia on the surface, and creating one or more sub-images substantially limited to the dimensions of the indicia-bearing regions; and

first location parameters indicating the position of the sub-image on the scanned image.

23. The packet of claim 22, further comprising a second sub-image and associated second location parameters, wherein the first and second sub-images represent different areas of the scanned image surface.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising, prior to transmitting the sub-images to the subscriber, the steps of:

transmitting the sub-images from a first computer or process used to create the sub-images to a second computer or process; and

further analyzing the sub-images at the second computer or process to decode the written indicia in the sub-images, where indicia may include logos, stamps, meter marks, alphanumeric information, labels or other distinctive marks.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the object is a mail piece and the indicia bearing regions include addresses.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the object is a change of address form and the indicia bearing regions include a name, a new address, and a former address.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the sub-images are grayscale images.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the sub-images are color images.

24. A method of processing an image containing written information, comprising the steps of:

scanning a surface of an object to obtain an image of the surface represented by image data;

analyzing the image data to determine locations of one or more regions with written indicia on the surface;

creating one or more sub-images substantially limited to the dimensions of the indicia-bearing regions; and

transmitting the sub-images from a first computer or process used to create the sub-images to a subscriber.