Scan-to-Redact Searchable Documents

• US 20090164881A1
• Filed: 07/30/2008
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Dudas, Csaba, Csatadi, Gyorgy, Reisch, Gyorgy, Segarra, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US12/182,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20090164881A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/230
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/10 Character recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/12 Detection or correction of errors, e.g. by rescanning the pattern
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1444 Selective acquisition, locating or processing of specific regions, e.g. highlighted text, fiducial marks or predetermined fields

Abstract

An automatic scan-to-redacted electronic document is described. A user input is received which identifies a scanned document. Then the scanned document is automatically processed to produce a corresponding redacted document which having searchable document text and a document image. The searchable document text includes coded redaction text satisfying defined redaction parameters. The document image includes redacted image areas corresponding to redacted elements.

Claims

1. A method of producing a redacted electronic document, the method comprising:

receiving a user input identifying a scanned document; and

automatically processing the scanned document to produce a corresponding redacted document which includes;

i. searchable document text including coded redaction text satisfying defined redaction parameters, and

ii. a document image having redacted image areas corresponding to redacted elements.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the redaction text is visually highlighted for review.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising:

removing the redaction text from the redacted document; and

substituting placeholder characters for the redaction text.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the redaction text comprises placeholder characters which substitute for text in the scanned document which satisfies the defined redaction parameters.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing an annotation field for recording post-redaction comments associated with selected redaction text.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the processing uses pre-established redaction criteria to identify and produce the redaction text.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the redaction criteria includes a set of keywords associated with redaction.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein the redaction criteria includes redaction patterns representing patterns of text associated with redaction.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the searchable document text includes bookmarks identifying segments of redaction text.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the redacted image areas are visually distinctive of redaction.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the redacted image areas have a uniform non-text appearance.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the user-input is produced from a user selectable button on a computer network device.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the user-input is produced from a user selectable button on a computer display.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the redacted document is a PDF format document.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein the redacted document is an editable word processor document.