Method and system for form recognition and digitized image processing

• US 6,600,482 B1
• Filed: 10/19/2000
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Angela Assuras Professional Corporation
• Original Assignee: Workonce Wireless Corporation
• Inventors: Leone, Armand Jr., Read, Susan B., Van Sickle, Scott G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella, Matthew C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CUNNINGHAM, GREGORY F
• Application Number:
  US09/692,272
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/172, 345/173, 345/174, 345/178, 345/179, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 178/19.01, 379/88.13, 382/175, 382/317
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/22 by selection of a specific region containing or referencing a pattern; Locating or processing of specific regions to guide the detection or recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1423 the instrument generating sequences of position coordinates corresponding to handwriting preprocessing or recognising digital ink G06V30/32

Abstract

A method and system for automated identification of pre-printed forms, based on the location of a mark made manually on the form. The method comprises the steps of identifying the existence and location of a mark made manually on a form and identifying the pre-printed form based on the location of the mark. The system comprises a digitizer, a pre-printed form, and a template that comprises one or more holes for a user to enter one or more identifying marks to identify the form. The digitizer transmits image data to a computer processor, coupled to a database, including one or more digitized images of marks made on a form. The processor identifies the existence and location of one or more identifying marks made by the user, and identifies the form based on the location of said one or more marks.

Claims

1. A method of automated identification of pre-printed forms, comprising the following steps a, b, c,d, and e:

(a) overlaying a pre-printed form with a marking guide template having one or more marking guide indicia;

(b) performing one of steps b1 and b2

(1) manually pre-applying on said pre-printed form guided by said indicia one or more notations unique to said form and subsequently manually entering on said pre-printed form guided by said notations one or more identifying marks;

(2) manually entering on said pre-printed form guided by said indicia one or more identifying marks;

(c) simultaneously receiving said manually entered one or more identifying marks into a digitizer;

(d) digitizing said received one or more identifying marks to yield one or more digitized identifying marks; and

(e) identifying said pre-printed form from said one or more digitized identifying marks.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) includes the step of positioning said template on said pre-printed form using at least one positioner to ensure proper orientation of said indicia relative to said form.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said positioning step is performed with the aid of at least one positioner integrated into said digitizer.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said positioning step is performed with the aid of at least one positioner integrated into a digitizer simulator.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said template further includes at least one positioning aperture formed therein and extending from said user surface through to said digitizer surface, said positioning aperture for use in interlocking cooperation with said positioner.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said positioner is at least one raised paper guide integrated into said digitizer.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said positioner is at least one raised paper guide integrated into a digitizer simulator.

2. A system for automated identification of pre-printed forms, comprising:

a) a digitizer;

b) a pre-printed form;

c) a marking guide template for overlaying said pre-printed form, said template having one or more marking guide indicia indicating where a user is to provide one of c1 and c2;

(1) one or more notations unique to said form manually pre-applied on said pre-printed form and one or more identifying marks subsequently entered on said form and simultaneously into said digitizer guided by said notations;

(2) one or more identifying marks manually entered on said pre-printed form and simultaneously into said digitizer guided by said indicia; and

d) a computer processor, coupled with a database, capable of

i) receiving one or more digitized images of said manually entered identifying marks;

ii) digitizing said identifying marks to yield one or more digitized identifying marks; and

iii) identifying said form from said digitized identifying marks.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said template has a user surface and a digitizer surface.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said indicia include one or more marking guide apertures formed in said template and extending from said user surface through to said digitizer surface.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said indicia include one or more marking guide notations pre-printed on said digitizer surface and/or said user surface.

7. The system of claim 4, further including at least one positioner for positioning said template on said pre-printed form to ensure proper orientation of said indicia relative to said form.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said template further includes at least one positioning aperture formed therein and extending from said user surface through to said digitizer surface, said positioning aperture for use in interlocking cooperation with said positioner.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said positioner is at least one raised paper guide integrated into said digitizer.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said positioner is at least one raised paper guide integrated into a digitizer simulator.

3. Computer software for automated identification of pre-printed forms, wherein a user:

(a) overlays a pre-printed form with a marking guide template having one or more marking guide indicia; and

(b) performs one of steps b1 and b2

(1) manually pre-applies on said pre-printed form guided by said indicia one or more notations unique to said form and subsequently manually entering on said pre-printed form guided by said notations one or more identifying marks;

(2) manually enters on said pre-printed form guided by said indicia one or more identifying marks;

said computer software being capable of;

(i) simultaneously receiving said manually entered one or more identifying marks into a digitizer;

(ii) digitizing said received one or more identifying marks to yield one or more digitized identifying marks; and

(iii) identifying said pre-printed form from said one or more digitized identifying marks.