Form recognition using reference areas
First Claim
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1. A method for processing an input image, comprising:
- for each of a plurality of different templates, computing a reference metric for each of a multiplicity of candidate areas;
selecting reference areas from among the candidate areas on each of the plurality of different templates responsive to the reference metrics thereof;
comparing reference areas on the input image to the selected reference areas on at least some of the templates, so as to compute a matching score for each of the templates indicating a degree of similarity between each template and the input image;
identifying the template whose matching score indicates the greatest degree of similarity; and
extracting information from the input image based on the identified template.
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Abstract
A method for processing an input image includes automatically selecting reference areas on each of a plurality of different templates. Reference areas on the input image are compared to the selected reference areas on at least some of the templates, so as to identify the template that most closely matches the input image, and information is extracted from the input image based on the identified template. Typically, the input image is an image of a form document, having fields defined by one of the templates, which fields are filled in with the information. The input image is registered with the identified template in order to extract the information from the fields.
167 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for processing an input image, comprising:
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for each of a plurality of different templates, computing a reference metric for each of a multiplicity of candidate areas;
selecting reference areas from among the candidate areas on each of the plurality of different templates responsive to the reference metrics thereof;
comparing reference areas on the input image to the selected reference areas on at least some of the templates, so as to compute a matching score for each of the templates indicating a degree of similarity between each template and the input image;
identifying the template whose matching score indicates the greatest degree of similarity; and
extracting information from the input image based on the identified template. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus for processing an input image, comprising:
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a memory, which is adapted to store images of a plurality of different templates; and
an image processor, which is adapted to compute a reference metric for each of a multiplicity of candidate areas on each of the templates and to select reference areas from among the candidate areas on each of the plurality of different templates responsive to the reference metrics thereof, and further to receive the input image and compare reference areas on the input image to the selected reference areas on at least some of the templates, so as to compute a matching score for each of the templates indicating a degree of similarity between each template and the input image and to identify the template whose matching score indicates the greatest degree of similarity, and extract information from the input image based on the identified template. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A computer software product for processing an input image, comprising a computer-readable medium having program instructions stored therein, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to compute a reference metric for each of a multiplicity of candidate areas reference areas on each of a plurality of different templates and to select reference areas from among the candidate areas on each of the plurality of different templates responsive to the reference metrics thereof, and further to compare reference areas on the input image to the selected reference areas on at least some of the templates, so as to compute a matching score for each of the templates indicating a degree of similarity between each template and the input image and to identify the template whose matching score indicates the greatest degree of similarity, and to extract information from the input image based on the identified template.
Specification