Image based document processing and information management system and apparatus

• US 6,043,819 A
• Filed: 07/01/1997
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Digital Image Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digital Image Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Arnold, Dennis Dwane, LeBrun, Thomas Q., Cage, Kerry
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, TOMMY D
• Application Number:
  US08/886,718
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 395/118, 395/167, 395/169, 395/170, 395/511, 395/326, 395/329, 345/418, 345/467, 345/469, 345/470, 707/500, 707/530, 707/539
• US Class Current: 345/418
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/00 Sorting according to destination collating the pages of a book B42C1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/00 Pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/987 with the intervention of an operator
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/40 Document-oriented image-based pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32512 of different type, e.g. internal and external devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32529 of different type, e.g. internal and external devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32561 using a programmed control device, e.g. a microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0086 Image transceiver H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0087 Image storage device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3204 of data relating to a user, sender, addressee, machine or electronic recording medium H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3212 of data relating to a job, e.g. communication, capture or filing of an image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information

Abstract

The present invention comprises an image based document processing and information management system and apparatus. It provides a more efficient method and apparatus for handling large volumes of form based business transactions using a digital image-based system for the capture, identification and processing of images, statistics and business data. The system converts documents, such as forms and supporting pages, into digital data which can be used to update computer records and to manage and support the adjudicative processing of business transactions by human operators at computer terminals.

Claims

1. A method of converting graphics to character data, comprising the steps of:

producing a graphics image of a document;

identifying the graphics image by comparing portions of the image against a series of identifiers for a match;

extracting at least one graphical data area from a selected portion of the graphics image a vector distance from the matched portion;

converting the graphical data area to a character string by processing individual graphical portions of the data area and converting each portion to a character positioned in the string at a location associated with the location of the graphical portion from which it is derived;

displaying the graphical data area along with the character string;

displaying an unconverted portion of the graphical data area as a universal character intermixed in the character string and located within the character string at a position associated with its location on the graphical data area;

entering at least one replacement character representative of the unconverted portion of the graphical data area; and

replacing the universal character in the character string with the replacement character.

2. A method of converting graphics to character data, comprising the steps of:

producing a graphics image of a document having a plurality of graphical data areas;

identifying the graphics image by comparing portions of the image against a series of identifiers for a match;

extracting one of the graphical data areas located at a selected portion of the graphics image at a predetermined vector distance from the matched portion;

converting the extracted graphical data area to a character string by processing individual graphical portions of the data area and converting each portion to a character positioned in the string at a location associated with the location of the graphical portion from which it is derived;

generating a display of the extracted graphical data area along with the character string having an unconverted portion of the graphical data area intermixed therein as a universal character;

sending the display to one of a plurality of data correction entry stations based upon which one of the plurality of graphical data areas that was extracted to generate the display.