Method and apparatus for pattern recognition
First Claim
1. Pattern recognition apparatus which provides an identity for an unknown pattern, said apparatus comprising:
- pattern recognition means for providing plural candidates for the unknown pattern, each of the plural candidates being based on a different one of respectively different distance functions;
comparing means for comparing said plural candidates so as to determine whether or not said plural candidates are comparable, and for outputting one of said plural candidates as the identity of the unknown pattern in a case where said comparing means determines that said plural candidates are comparable; and
detail processing means for performing detail processing to determine the identity of the unknown pattern, said detail processing means being selectably operable so as to determine the identity of the unknown pattern in accordance with a determination by said comparing means that said plural candidates are not comparable.
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Abstract
Pattern recognition system which provides an indication of the confidence with which a candidate is selected for an unknown pattern. The pattern recognition apparatus includes an image data input device, a host for segmenting the image data into unknown patterns, and a character recognition device for providing a candidate for each unknown pattern. The character recognition device includes a confidence level indicator for providing a confidence level indication. In one aspect, the confidence level indication is determined based on the proximity of an unknown pattern to a known pattern. In another aspect, the confidence level indication is determined based on the consistency with which the unknown pattern is recognized using different recognition functions. In yet another aspect, the confidence level indication is determined by ensuring that a candidate is not provided unless the candidate is closer than a predetermined distance from a known pattern. The pattern recognition apparatus may be provided in a stand-alone device including the image data input device, the host and the character recognition device in one integrated device, and this device may interface to a network bus. Alternatively, the pattern recognition apparatus may be distributed over a network bus. A preview function may be provided so as to preview results of recognition processing.
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Citations
68 Claims
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1. Pattern recognition apparatus which provides an identity for an unknown pattern, said apparatus comprising:
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pattern recognition means for providing plural candidates for the unknown pattern, each of the plural candidates being based on a different one of respectively different distance functions; comparing means for comparing said plural candidates so as to determine whether or not said plural candidates are comparable, and for outputting one of said plural candidates as the identity of the unknown pattern in a case where said comparing means determines that said plural candidates are comparable; and detail processing means for performing detail processing to determine the identity of the unknown pattern, said detail processing means being selectably operable so as to determine the identity of the unknown pattern in accordance with a determination by said comparing means that said plural candidates are not comparable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Pattern recognition apparatus which provides an identity for an unknown pattern, said apparatus comprising:
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a host for segmenting image information into patterns whose identities are unknown; pattern recognition means for providing plural candidates for each unknown pattern, each of the plural candidates being based on a different one of plural respectively different distance functions; comparing means for comparing said plural candidates so as to determine whether or not said plural candidates are comparable, and for outputting one of said plural candidates as the identity of the unknown pattern in a case where said comparing means determines that said plural candidates are comparable; and detail processing means for performing detail processing to determine the identity of the unknown pattern, said detail processing means being selectably operable so as to determine the identity of the unknown pattern in accordance with a determination by said comparing means that said plural candidates are not comparable. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. Pattern recognition apparatus which provides an identity for an unknown pattern, said apparatus comprising:
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a computerized network bus for carrying image information; an image input device connected to said network bus, said image input device for inputting image information; pattern recognition means connected to said bus, said pattern recognition means for providing plural candidates for an unknown pattern, each of the plural candidates being based on a different one of plural respectively different distance functions, for comparing said plural candidates so as to determine whether or not said plural candidates are comparable, for outputting one of said plural candidates as the identity of the unknown pattern in a case where it is determined that the plural candidates are comparable, and for performing detail processing to determine the identity of the unknown pattern in a case where it is determined that the plural candidates are not comparable; and plural processing means connected to said bus, each said processing means for segmenting image information input by said image input device into patterns whose identities are unknown, for providing each unknown pattern to said pattern recognition means, and for receiving the identity of the unknown pattern determined from said pattern recognition means. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A pattern recognition method for providing an identity for an unknown pattern, comprising the steps of:
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determining distance values between an unknown pattern and at least one known pattern based on plural respectively different distance functions; providing plural candidates for the unknown pattern, each of the plural candidates corresponding to a different one of the plural respectively different distance functions; comparing said plural candidates so as to determine whether or not said plural candidates are comparable; outputting one of said plural candidates as the identity of the unknown pattern in a case where said comparing step determines that said plural candidates are comparable; and performing detail processing to determine the identity of the unknown pattern, said detail processing step being selectively performed so as to determine the identity of the unknown pattern in a case where said comparing step determines that said plural candidates are not comparable. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A pattern recognition method for providing an identity for an unknown pattern segment, comprising the steps of:
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segmenting image information into unknown pattern segments; determining distance values between an unknown pattern segment and at least one known pattern segment based on plural respectively different distance functions; providing plural candidates for the unknown pattern segment, each of the plural candidates corresponding to a different one of the plural respectively different distance functions; comparing said plural candidates so as to determine whether or not said plural candidates are comparable; outputting one of said plural candidates as the identity of the unknown pattern segment in a case where said comparing step determines that said plural candidates are comparable; and performing detail processing to determine the identity of the unknown pattern segment, wherein said detail processing step is selectably performed so as to determine the identity of the unknown pattern segment in a case where said comparing step determines that said plural candidates are not comparable. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A pattern recognition method for providing an identity for an unknown pattern segment, comprising the steps of:
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inputting image information from an image input device connected to a computerized network bus which carries such image information; segmenting said image information into segmented patterns whose identities are unknown; determining distance values between an unknown segmented pattern and at least one known pattern based on plural respectively different distance functions; providing plural candidates for each of the unknown segmented patterns, each of the plural candidates being based on a different one of the plural respectively different distance functions; comparing said plural candidates so as to determine whether or not said plural candidates are comparable; selecting one of said plural candidates as the identity of the unknown pattern segment in a case where said comparing step determines that said plural candidates are comparable; performing detail processing to determine the identity of the unknown pattern segment, said detail processing step being selectively performed so as to determine the identity of the unknown pattern segment in a case where said comparing step determines that said plural candidates are not comparable; and transferring the identity for each unknown pattern segment onto the network bus. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
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Specification