Document scanner, system and method
First Claim
1. A method for scanning a document imprinted with data, locating the data and deciphering the data and outputting the data as a delimited string of decoded or calculated characters to a computer system via a common computer communications link, the method comprising:
- one of (a) scanning a form document that is adapted to have imprinted thereon data in at least one data image field and obtaining positional information for said at least one data image field on said form document or (b) inputting a topological description for said at least one data image field for said form document, said topological description including positional information for said at least one data field;
identifying and storing data field descriptors for said at least one data field, said data field descriptors including said positional information and data field size information, data type information, the presence or absence of data validation parameters, the presence or absence of data error reporting and data correction, and data output destination information relative to said delimited string of decoded characters;
with respect to other form documents, repeating the steps of scanning said other form documents or inputting topological descriptions of said other form documents and repeating the steps of identifying and storing said data field descriptors for each said form;
scanning said document imprinted with data and capturing an image thereof as a scanned image;
comparing said scanned image with said stored data descriptors for said forms, and utilizing positional, data field size and data type information, selecting one form corresponding to said scanned image;
extracting data from said scanned image and decoding, calculating or and validating said data with decoding, calculation or validation routines, based upon said data field descriptors and storing the decoded data;
reporting and correcting errors in the presence of said data error reporting and correction descriptor;
outputting said decoded data as said delimited string of decoded characters based upon said data output destination information.
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Abstract
The document scanner, system and method operates in conjunction with a document imprinted with data and a plurality of form documents adapted to have data imprinted thereon. The documents have at least one and typically many data image fields. Ultimately, the document scanner, system and method outputs a delimited string of decoded characters to another computer system via a common computer communications port. The method includes either scanning a form document to obtain positional information of the data field or fields or inputting a topological description of the field. Typically, the operator identifies descriptors for each data field which include data field size information, data type information, the presence or absence of data validation parameters, the presence or absence of data error reporting and data correction routines or parameters, and data output destination information. The data output destination information locates the decoded data in a certain sequence or location in the delimited string of decoded characters output to the coupled computer system. The document scanner, system and method scans the document imprinted with data and captures an image thereof. The scanned input document image is compared with the stored forms, and particularly the stored data field descriptors utilizing positional, data field size and data type information. The system selects one of the stored forms, extracts the data from each data field, decodes or calculates the data, and validates the data (in the presence of data validation parameters) and stores the decoded/calculated data. A data error reporting and data correction system, activated in the presence of the data error reporting and correction descriptor, enables correction of errors.
57 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for scanning a document imprinted with data, locating the data and deciphering the data and outputting the data as a delimited string of decoded or calculated characters to a computer system via a common computer communications link, the method comprising:
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one of (a) scanning a form document that is adapted to have imprinted thereon data in at least one data image field and obtaining positional information for said at least one data image field on said form document or (b) inputting a topological description for said at least one data image field for said form document, said topological description including positional information for said at least one data field;
identifying and storing data field descriptors for said at least one data field, said data field descriptors including said positional information and data field size information, data type information, the presence or absence of data validation parameters, the presence or absence of data error reporting and data correction, and data output destination information relative to said delimited string of decoded characters;
with respect to other form documents, repeating the steps of scanning said other form documents or inputting topological descriptions of said other form documents and repeating the steps of identifying and storing said data field descriptors for each said form;
scanning said document imprinted with data and capturing an image thereof as a scanned image;
comparing said scanned image with said stored data descriptors for said forms, and utilizing positional, data field size and data type information, selecting one form corresponding to said scanned image;
extracting data from said scanned image and decoding, calculating or and validating said data with decoding, calculation or validation routines, based upon said data field descriptors and storing the decoded data;
reporting and correcting errors in the presence of said data error reporting and correction descriptor;
outputting said decoded data as said delimited string of decoded characters based upon said data output destination information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A unitary, stand-alone system for scanning, extracting and decoding a document imprinted with data, based upon a plurality of form documents, each form document having at least one data image field therein, the system outputting the data as a delimited string of decoded or calculated characters to a further computer system via a common computer communications link, the system comprising:
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a scanner for scanning said document imprinted with data and capturing an image thereof as a scanned image and for scanning said form document;
a form input system, coupled to said scanner, having means for obtaining positional information for said at least one data image field on some form documents of said plurality of form documents and means for inputting a topological description for said at least one data image field for other forms of said plurality of form documents, said topological description including positional information for said at least one data field;
means for identifying and storing data field descriptors for said at least one data field for each form document, said data field descriptors including said positional information and data field size information, data type information, the presence or absence of data validation parameters, the presence or absence of data error reporting and data correction, and data output destination information relative to said delimited string of decoded or calculated characters;
selection system for selecting one form of said plurality of form documents corresponding to said scanned image based upon a comparison of said scanned image with said stored data descriptors for said forms, and utilizing positional, data field size and data type information;
data extractor for obtaining data from said scanned image;
data decoder for decoding the scanned data, said data decoder having a data validator to ascertain data validity in the presence of data validation parameters;
data correction routine to correct errors in the decoded data in the presence of said data error reporting and correction descriptor;
compiler for outputting said decoded data as said delimited string of decoded characters based upon said data output destination information. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification