Schedule managing method and apparatus using optical character reader

• US 9,412,032 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2012
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Mi Jung, Yang, Gu Hyun, Kim, Tae Yeon, Ahn, Yu Mi
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Kanjibhai
• Application Number:
  US13/599,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20130050533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,440 Days
• Field of Search: 382/176, 348/239, 345/619, 715/202
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/63 Scene text, e.g. street names
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/10 Character recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1478 of characters or characters lines

Abstract

A schedule managing method capable of automatically generating schedule data using data extracted from an image, and an apparatus thereof are provided. The schedule managing method preferably includes: setting at least one recognition region within an image; extracting data from the set recognition region; categorizing the extracted data according to a predetermined categorization rule; and generating schedule data using the categorized data.

Claims

1. A schedule managing method comprising:

displaying an image;

in response to a tap being performed on the image, selecting, by a controller, a portion of the image where the tap is performed as a recognition region, wherein the portion of the image that is selected includes at least one full word of text;

extracting, by the controller, data from the recognition region by converting image data representing the at least one full word of text into textual data;

categorizing, by the controller, the extracted data including the textual data according to a predetermined categorization rule; and

generating a schedule record using the categorized data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein categorizing the extracted data comprises categorizing the portion of the extracted data as an event date.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein categorizing the extracted data comprises categorizing the portion of the extracted data as detailed information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the categorization rule includes classifying an earliest time indicated by the extracted data as a start time.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the controller categorizes remaining times indicated by the extracted data as detailed information.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a schedule screen including the schedule record.

7. A method comprising:

receiving an image from a camera;

measuring a tilt value of the image relative to an axis of the camera;

comparing the tilt value with a first threshold to determine whether the image is aligned with the axis of the camera; and

outputting a first indication that the image is aligned with the axis of the camera in response to the tilt value satisfying the first threshold;

setting, by a controller, at least one recognition region within the image;

extracting data by the controller from the recognition region;

categorizing, by the controller, the extracted data according to a predetermined categorization rule; and

generating a schedule record using the categorized data.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a tilt input signal from a sensor; and

comparing the tilt input signal with a second threshold,

wherein the first indication is displayed further in response to the tilt input signal meeting the second threshold.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising displaying a second indication that the image is misaligned with the camera in response to the tilt value failing to meet the first threshold.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising detecting an input at a first location in the image, wherein the recognition region is set at the first location, in response to the input.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the first indication is output when conditions φ

≦

Th_φ

, θ

_w≦

Th_θ

_w, and θ

_l≦

Th_θ

_l are satisfied, in which φ

is the tilt value of the image, Th_φ

is the first threshold, Th_θ

_w, is a second threshold value Th_θ

_l, is a third threshold value l, θ

_w is a widthwise tilt relative to a horizontal plane, and θ

_l is a lengthwise tilt relative to the horizontal plane.

12. An electronic device comprising a memory, a display unit, a camera arranged to capture an image, and a controller arranged to:

display the image;

in response to a tap being performed on the image, select a portion of the image where the tap is performed as a recognition region, wherein the portion of the image that is selected includes at least one full word of text;

extract data from the image received from the camera by converting image data in the image representing the at least one full word of text into textual data;

categorize the extracted data according to a predetermined categorization rule; and

generate a schedule record using the categorized data;

store the schedule record in the memory; and

display the schedule record on the display unit.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein categorizing the extracted data comprises categorizing the portion of the extracted data as an event date.

14. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein categorizing the extracted data comprises categorizing the portion of the extracted data as detailed information.

15. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the categorization rule includes classifying an earliest time indicated by the extracted data as a start time.

16. An electronic device comprising a memory, a display unit, a camera arranged to capture an image, and a controller arranged to:

detect a tilt of the image relative to an axis of the camera,

compare the tilt with a first threshold to determine whether the image is aligned with the axis of the camera, and

output an indication that the image is aligned with the axis of the camera when the first threshold is met;

set at least one recognition region within the image;

extract data from the recognition region;

categorize, by the controller, the extracted data according to a predetermined categorization rule; and

generate a schedule record using the categorized data.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, further comprising a sensor arranged to measure and a tilt angle of the electronic device relative to a horizontal plane, wherein the controller is further arranged to compare the tilt angle from the sensor with a second threshold to determine a position of the electronic device relative to the horizontal plane.

18. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the controller is further arranged to detect an input at a first location in the image, and the recognition region is set at the first location, in response to the input.