System and method for identifying and extracting character strings from captured image data
First Claim
1. A method of processing captured image data including image data corresponding to at least one string of characters comprising:
- detecting edges within the image data to generate an edge representation having an associated plurality of edge pixels of a single pixel width, the edge representation including at least magnitude and direction information for each edge pixel;
assigning edge pixel labels to each edge pixel dependent on pixel connectedness;
creating bounding area definitions each corresponding to a character using direction information and dependent on similar edge pixel labels;
filtering bounding area definitions using direction information to identify character foreground and background information; and
merging filtered adjacent bounding area definitions to form a line definition dependent on the adjacent bounding area definitions relative location to each other.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method of detecting and extracting a character string within captured image data of a natural image is described. An edge representation of the image data is obtained including a plurality of single width edge pixels each having an associated magnitude and direction. Edge pixels are labeled dependent pixel connectedness. End point edge pixels are identified and their labels are merged at high character curvature areas. Character bounding area definitions are created using the edge pixel direction information and labels. The character boundary definitions are filtered using direction information to identify character foreground and background information. Filtered definitions are merged with adjacent boundary definitions to form a character line definition dependent on the adjacent bounding area definitions relative location to each other.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of processing captured image data including image data corresponding to at least one string of characters comprising:
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detecting edges within the image data to generate an edge representation having an associated plurality of edge pixels of a single pixel width, the edge representation including at least magnitude and direction information for each edge pixel;
assigning edge pixel labels to each edge pixel dependent on pixel connectedness;
creating bounding area definitions each corresponding to a character using direction information and dependent on similar edge pixel labels;
filtering bounding area definitions using direction information to identify character foreground and background information; and
merging filtered adjacent bounding area definitions to form a line definition dependent on the adjacent bounding area definitions relative location to each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system of processing captured image data including image data corresponding to at least one string of characters comprising:
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edge detector for detecting edges within the image data to generate an edge representation having an associated plurality of edge pixels of a single pixel width, the edge representation including at least magnitude and direction information for each edge pixel;
bounding area definition creator including at least an edge pixel labeler for assigning edge pixel labels to each edge pixel dependent on pixel connectedness and direction information;
bounding area definition filter for filtering bounding area definitions using direction information to identify character foreground and background information; and
line definition creator for merging filtered adjacent bounding area definitions to form a line definition dependent on the adjacent bounding area definitions relative location to each other. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer readable medium containing a computer program for processing images wherein the computer program performs:
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detecting edges within the image data to generate an edge representation having an associated plurality of edge pixels of a single pixel width, the edge representation including at least magnitude and direction information for each edge pixel;
assigning edge pixel labels to each edge pixel dependent on pixel connectedness;
creating bounding area definitions each corresponding to a character using direction information and dependent on similar edge pixel labels;
filtering bounding area definitions using direction information to identify character foreground and background information; and
merging filtered adjacent bounding area definitions to form a line definition dependent on the adjacent bounding area definitions relative location to each other. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification