JP2005138007A - Recognition system of paper sheets - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recognition system of paper sheets constituted so as to recognize the delivery section destination entered in delivery matter and making the processing of on-line OCR and that of off-line OCR continuous to perform mutual functional compensation. <P>SOLUTION: A scanner part 11 reads the image of paper sheets to store the same in an image buffer 19. The stored image is transmitted to the assignable on-line OCR 15 by a control part 16. When the delivery section destination can not be recognized as a result of the recognition of the on-line OCR 15 or assignment is impossible in the on-line OCR, the image and OCR data are transmitted to the assignable off-line OCR 50 from a reject data control part 18 and the recognition result thereof is reported to the on-line OCR 15. When the delivery section destination can not recognized as a result of the recognition of the off-line OCR 50, the image and OCR data are transmitted to a video coding system (VCS)2 to be subjected to coding processing by an operator. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a paper sheet recognition system for recognizing the name and address of a delivery address described in a delivery.

  For example, in an apparatus that classifies deliveries, an OCR is used as a recognition unit that captures the name and address of a delivery destination described in the deliverable with a scanner unit and recognizes the captured data, and based on the recognition result. There is known a delivery processing apparatus that performs sorting processing for sorting delivery destinations. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  In addition, this OCR is placed inside the delivery processing device, and it can be processed online when the recognition of the conveyed paper sheets is processed online and when this online OCR is not recognized or within a certain time. There is an offline OCR in which a postal item that has not been recognized is recognized separately from the online OCR.

However, in the method described in Patent Document 1, when the online OCR cannot be recognized, the unrecognized data is accumulated and transferred to a video coding system (coding device) (hereinafter referred to as VCS) input by the operator. In addition, processing for instructing the delivery classification destination is performed by a video coding terminal (hereinafter referred to as VCD) or offline OCR arranged in the VCS.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-136002 (first page, FIG. 1)

  Even though online OCR and offline OCR have the same functions, the online OCR and offline OCR processing is not continuous, so the functions cannot be complemented with each other. There was a problem that the offline OCR could not be substituted in the event of a failure.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a paper sheet recognition system in which online OCR processing and offline OCR processing are performed continuously to complement each other's functions.

  In order to achieve the above object, a paper sheet recognition system according to the present invention includes a reading unit that reads an image of a paper sheet, a storage unit that stores an image read by the reading unit, and a storage unit that stores the image. A first recognizing means for recognizing the generated image, a first additional means for transmitting first auxiliary information and an image generated as a result of the recognition of the first recognizing means, and the first additional means. The first auxiliary information and the image transmitted are received, the second recognition means for recognizing the image based on the received first auxiliary information, and the recognition result of the first recognition means are received. A first judging means for judging whether or not the image can be recognized, and the first auxiliary information so as to transmit the first auxiliary information to the second recognizing means when the image cannot be recognized by this judgment. Instruction means for instructing the additional means; The second recognizing unit has not been recognized by the second recognizing unit as a result of the determination by the second recognizing unit and the control unit having the second determining unit for determining whether the image data can be recognized by the second recognizing unit. In this case, the image processing apparatus includes a second addition unit that transmits the image data of the paper sheet and second auxiliary information generated as a result of the recognition by the second recognition unit to the video coding system.

  According to the present invention, the online OCR and the offline OCR can be connected to complement each other's functions, so that recognition processing can be divided and high-speed processing can be performed.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a paper sheet sorting system equipped with a paper sheet recognition system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This paper sheet sorting system recognizes information (character information) indicating the sorting destination of a paper sheet and sorts it, and the paper sheet whose sorting destination could not be recognized by this reading sorter body 1 It is composed of a video coding system (coding device) 2 (hereinafter referred to as VCS) 2 in which an operator inputs information indicating the classification destination of the class based on the screen of the paper sheet.

  First, the reading sorter main body 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the reading sorter main body 1 has a transport sorter main body 1 a. In the transport sorter main body 1a, a plurality of paper sheets P on which numbers or characters as information indicating the sorting destination are written or printed on the first surface are arranged such that the first surface faces the same direction. A supply unit 10 is provided that stores the sheets P in a standing position and sequentially supplies the sheets P to a predetermined take-out position. The supply unit 10 is provided with a take-out unit (not shown) for taking out the paper sheets P one by one along the main transport path 17 at a predetermined interval.

  The paper sheet P supplied to the supply unit 10 is pre-determined as a large-scale sorting destination as a machine code, in addition to the characters corresponding to the information indicating the sorting destination on the first surface. A bar code determined in the reading sorter main body 1 corresponding to the customer code and the sorting destination of the paper sheet P, or an online OCR 15 (first recognition means) and an offline OCR 50 (second recognition means) described later. The ID code assigned to the paper sheet P for which the classification information cannot be recognized is described. Each of these codes is given to the first surface of the paper sheet P as bar-coded information.

  The paper sheets P supplied to the supply unit 10 are taken out at regular intervals and are conveyed at regular conveyance intervals (pitch) by the main conveyance path 17 that conveys them at a constant speed. The paper sheet P transported on the main transport path 17 is excluded in the case of foreign matter that cannot be machined, and only the paper sheet P that can be machined is transported.

  A scanner unit (reading unit) 11, an ID code reading unit 12, a barcode printer unit 15, and a sorting unit 14 are provided on the main conveyance path 17. The scanner unit 11 reads a surface on which information indicating the sorting destination of the paper sheet P on the main conveyance path 17 is written, and transmits the read image to an image buffer (storage unit) 19. This image is transmitted to an online OCR (first recognition means) 15 for recognizing information indicating the sorting destination. The ID code reading unit 12 reads the ID code or the machine code when the ID code or the machine code is given to the first surface of the paper sheet P conveyed on the main conveyance path 17. is there.

  The bar code printer unit 13 prints an ID code or a machine code on the first surface of the paper sheet P as necessary. This is because when the classification information can be recognized by the online OCR 15 or the offline OCR 50, the classification information is converted into a bar code and the machine code is printed on the paper sheet, and the classification information cannot be recognized by the online OCR 15. The ID code is printed.

  On the downstream side of the barcode printer unit 13 in the sheet conveyance direction, there is provided a sorting unit 14 that sorts the sheet P conveyed on the main conveyance path 17 according to the sorting destination. . This division part 14 is comprised from the several division | segmentation pocket divided into several steps and several rows. Each pocket is set corresponding to each sorting destination, and the paper sheets P sorted based on the sorting information or the machine code are sequentially accumulated in each pocket. Further, the sorting unit 14 is provided with a VCS exclusion pocket (a VCS reject sorting box) in which paper sheets whose sorting destination cannot be recognized are accumulated. The paper sheets accumulated in the VCS exclusion pocket are re-supplied to the supply unit 10 after information indicating the sorting destination is input by the operator at the VCS 2.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, each part of the reading sorter main body 1 is controlled by a control unit 16. Connected to the control unit 16 are a supply unit 10, a scanner unit 11, an ID code reading unit 12, a barcode printer unit 13, a sorting unit 14, an online OCR 15, an image buffer 19, and the like.

  The scanner unit 11 transmits to the image buffer 19 an image obtained by optically reading the first surface on which the paper sheet classification information is described.

  The online OCR 15 cuts out characters as segmentation information from the images controlled by the control unit 16 and sequentially stored in the image buffer 19, performs character recognition, and compares them with a character dictionary and an address dictionary (not shown). The classification information is recognized by This recognition possibility is returned to the control unit 16. Further, when the online OCR 15 cannot recognize the information indicating the sorting destination, the OCR information (first auxiliary information) attached to the read image, that is, the size of the paper sheet, the size of the character, the direction of the character, It has means for generating information indicating a classification destination, a character type, a recognition depth, information indicating a location where VCS processing is necessary, and the like.

  The online OCR 15 also has a reject data control unit that performs control to transmit the read image of the paper sheet that could not be recognized and the first auxiliary information for the paper sheet to the offline OCR 50 as processing data of a predetermined format. (First addition means) 18 is connected. Accordingly, an offline OCR 50 is connected to the reject data control unit 18.

  The offline OCR 50 receives the read image of the paper sheet and the first auxiliary information that could not be recognized by the online OCR 15 from the reject data control unit 18, and performs recognition based on the first auxiliary information. The recognition result is transmitted to the online OCR 15 through the reject data control unit 18. In addition, the offline OCR 50 has a reject data control unit that performs control to transmit the read image of the paper sheet that could not be recognized and the second auxiliary information for the paper sheet to the VCS 2 as processing data of a predetermined format ( 2nd addition means) 51 is connected. Details of the function of the offline OCR 50 will be described later.

  When the ID code is assigned to the paper sheet P transported on the main transport path 17, the control unit 16 searches for a sorting destination corresponding to the ID code from a database (not shown) using the ID code, Control to sort the paper sheet P based on the sorting destination is performed.

  Next, VCS2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the VCS 2 includes a storage / distribution device 20 and a plurality of video coding terminals (hereinafter referred to as VCD) 30. The storage / distribution device 20 temporarily stores processing data including the read image of the paper sheet P that could not be recognized by the reading sorter main body 1 and the second auxiliary information. The VCD 30 displays an image of the paper sheet P distributed from the storage / distribution device 20 on the image display unit 33, and the operator inputs information indicating the sorting destination based on the displayed image.

  The storage / distribution device 20 includes a memory control unit 21, a mass storage device 22, an image memory 23, a video distribution control unit 24, a timing control unit 25, and an input / output control unit 27.

  The memory control unit 21 receives processing data including an unrecognizable sheet P image transmitted from the reading sorter body 1 and second auxiliary information for the image, and performs image compression, Processing such as fusion is performed and stored in the image memory 23.

  The large-capacity storage device 22 is composed of a hard disk drive (HDD) or the like, and stores an image received from the reading sorter main body 1 based on the control of the memory control unit 21 and second auxiliary information. The processing data stored in the mass storage device 22 is read onto the image memory 23 in response to a transmission request from the memory control unit 21.

  The video distribution control unit 24 is connected to the memory control unit 21 and the timing control unit 25. The video distribution control unit 24 determines the VCD 30 that is the transmission destination (distribution destination) of the processing data based on the contents of a distribution request table (not shown) created according to the distribution request transmitted from each VCD 30. . That is, the video distribution control unit 24 can determine the VCD 30 that can be coded (key input of the segmentation destination) by the distribution request table and is waiting for input of processing data, and controls each memory control unit 21 to control each VCD 30. Send processing data.

  Also, the coding information input in each VCD 30... Is received by the input / output control unit 27. The input / output control unit 27 transmits the coding information received from each VCD 30... To the control unit 16 of the reading sorter body 1 via the timing control unit 25.

  The VCD 30 includes a control unit 31, a storage unit 32, a display unit 33, an input unit 34, and the like. The control unit 31 controls the entire VCD 30, receives processing data for the paper sheet P from the storage / distribution device 20, and receives the input result (coding information) from the input unit 34 as the input / output control unit 27. It has a function to transmit to.

  The storage unit 32 stores the processing data of the paper sheet P supplied from the accumulation / distribution device 20. The storage unit 32 can store a plurality of pieces of processing data such as an image that is currently being coded (first) and an image that is to be coded next.

  The display unit 33 causes the control unit 31 to display an image of the paper sheet P supplied from the storage / distribution device 20. In addition to the one-screen display that displays only the image that is currently being coded, the display unit 33 displays two images on the top and bottom, two screens on the left and right, Display such as a two-screen display is possible.

  The input unit 34 is composed of a keyboard or the like, and the operator inputs information indicating the sorting destination based on the image displayed on the display unit 33 by the operator.

  Next, the configuration of the paper sheet recognition system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The images read by the scanner 11 of the reading sorter main body 1 are controlled by the control unit 16 and sequentially stored in the image buffer 19. The stored image is supplied to the online OCR 15 assigned by the control unit. Note that a plurality of units of the online OCR 15 are arranged according to the processing amount and processing form of paper sheets. FIG. 2 shows a case where three units of online OCR are arranged, and one unit among them is assigned for recognition processing of the image. Similarly, the same number of reject data control units 18 as online OCR units are arranged. Therefore, in this case, 3 units are arranged.

  A plurality of units of offline OCR 50 and reject data control unit 51 are also arranged. In FIG. 2, three units of offline OCR 50 are arranged, and the same number of reject data control units 51 as the number of units of the offline OCR 50 are arranged.

  By arranging a plurality of units of the online OCR 15 and the reject data control unit 18 and the offline OCR 50 and the reject data control unit 51 in this way, when a failure occurs in the active online OCR or offline OCR, it is a unit that has not failed. Since it can be replaced, it is possible to sort paper sheets without system down. Also, by arranging a plurality of units of offline OCR 50, it can be used as a dedicated device for specific sorting processing. For example, a discrimination process in which the character recognition level is changed to discriminate paper sheets that could not be recognized by the online OCR, or a process of classifying only the designated postal code.

  Next, a case where an image that cannot be read by the offline OCR 50 of the reading sorter main body 1 is processed by the VCS 2 will be described.

  First, the image of the paper sheet P supplied from the supply unit 10 is read by the scanner unit 13. The read image is subjected to recognition processing of information indicating the sorting destination by the online OCR 15. The online OCR 15 generates OCR information (first auxiliary information) based on the recognition result of the information indicating the classification destination when the information indicating the classification destination cannot be completely recognized from the read image. As described above, this OCR information includes information indicating a location where VCS processing is necessary. The OCR information generated by the online OCR 15 in this way is sent to the reject data control unit 18 together with the read image of the paper sheet P for which the information indicating the sorting destination could not be recognized.

  The reject data control unit 18 sends the read image of the paper sheet and the OCR information to the offline OCR 50. The offline OCR 50 performs recognition based on the read image or OCR information sent from the reject data control unit 18 and returns the result to the reject data control unit 18 when the recognition is successful. Similarly, image information and OCR information (second supplementary information) are sent to the VCS.

  Next, operations of the online OCR 15 and the offline OCR 50 will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operations of online OCR and offline OCR. First, the operator sets paper sheets in the supply unit 10, designates processing modes as various operation settings on the operation panel (not filled in), and inputs an instruction to start processing. Then, the control unit 16 starts the operation of the sorting process based on the processing mode input by the operator.

  When the sorting process is started, the control unit 16 takes out one paper sheet P set in the supply unit 10 one by one, and conveys it by the main conveyance path 17. Thereby, the scanner unit 11 reads one image of the paper sheet P conveyed through the main conveyance path 17 one by one (S1), and transmits the read image of the paper sheet P to the image buffer 19 (S2). ). Further, the scanner unit 11 may transmit an image to the image buffer 19 and transmit it to the assignable online OCR 15. The scanner unit 11 may directly transmit the image of the paper sheet P to the online OCR 15 without using the image buffer 19 when the processing amount of the paper sheet P is small and it is not necessary to arrange a plurality of online OCRs 15. . Here, a case where the image buffer 19 is used will be described.

  The control unit 16 sequentially stores the image of the paper sheet P supplied from the scanner unit 11 in the image buffer 19 (S3), and the image of the paper sheet P stored in the image buffer 19 is stored in the online OCR 15 It is determined whether it can be assigned to (S4). If assignment is possible (Yes in S4), the image of the paper sheet P is transmitted to the assignable online OCR 15 (S5). If the assignment is not possible as a result of the determination (No in S4), the processing after step S10 is performed to determine whether the processing can be performed by the offline OCR 50. That is, even if there is no online OCR 15 that can be assigned to perform image recognition processing of the paper sheet P, if the offline OCR 50 having the same function as this online OCR 15 can be assigned, the offline OCR 50 can use the online OCR 15. In some cases (details will be described later).

  As described above, when the online recognition processing unit is configured by a plurality of units including the online OCR 15 and the reject data control unit 18 as one unit, parallel processing by the plurality of units becomes possible, so that the processing capability is improved.

  The online OCR 15 to which the image of the paper sheet P is assigned performs a classification information recognition process (online recognition process) within a predetermined time for the image of the paper sheet P supplied from the scanner unit 11 ( S6). The result of the online recognition process by the online OCR 15 is notified to the control unit 16.

  The control unit 16 that has received the recognition result from the online OCR 15 determines whether or not the classification information of the paper sheet has been recognized by the online OCR 15 based on the received recognition result (S7, first determination means). . If it is determined that the classification information can be recognized by the online OCR 15 (Yes in S7), the control unit 16 deletes the image of the paper sheet from the image buffer 19 (S8) and is recognized by the online OCR. Based on the sorted information, the paper sheet is sorted (S9).

  If it is determined that the classification information cannot be recognized by the online OCR 15 based on the above determination (No in S7), the image of the paper sheet and the read image of the paper sheet generated during the recognition process of the online OCR 15 are displayed. The accompanying OCR information (first auxiliary information) is subjected to format processing by the reject data control unit 18. The reject data control unit 18 transmits the formatted image of the paper sheet and the OCR information to the offline OCR 50.

  The offline OCR 50 determines whether the image can be handled by the offline OCR 50 from the image of the sheet and the OCR information received from the reject data control unit 18 (S10). For example, when the processing performed in the offline OCR 50 is set to operation limited to paper sheets in which a specific postal code is entered, mail items other than the specific postal code become paper sheets that are not handled by the offline OCR 50. . If it is determined in step S10 that the offline OCR 50 can be handled (Yes in S10), it is further determined whether it can be assigned to the offline OCR 50 (S11). As a result of the determination, if it is determined that the assignment to the offline OCR 50 is possible (Yes in S11), the image of the paper sheet is transmitted to the assignable offline OCR 50 (S12).

  Here, when the offline recognition processing unit is configured by a plurality of units including the offline OCR 50 and the reject data control unit 51 as one unit, the content to be processed for each unit may be allocated and operated. For example, the first unit has a function equivalent to the online OCR 15 and can be used as a substitute for the online OCR 15, and the second unit handles paper sheets with a specific zip code as described above. The third unit is intended for paper sheets that have been recognized by the online OCR 15 but have failed, but have failed and are recognized again by changing the recognition level.

  In this way, the assigned offline OCR 50 performs a classification information recognition process (offline recognition process) within a predetermined time period for the paper sheet image supplied from the reject data control unit 18 (S13). The result of the offline recognition processing by the offline OCR 50 is notified to the online OCR 15 via the control unit reject control unit 18 and is also notified from the online OCR 15 to the control unit 16.

  The control unit 16 that has received the recognition result from the offline OCR 50 determines whether or not the classification information has been recognized by the offline OCR 50 based on the received recognition result (S14, second determination means). When it is determined that the classification information can be recognized by the offline OCR 50 based on this determination (Yes in S14), the control unit 16 deletes the image of the paper sheet from the image buffer 19 (S8) and is recognized by the offline OCR 50. The classification information and the ID code of the paper sheet are stored in a memory (not shown) in association with each other.

  As a result, for the paper sheets whose classification information has been recognized by the offline OCR 50, when the paper sheets are re-supplied to the supply unit 10, the ID code of the paper sheet and the ID code thereof are associated. Classification processing is performed based on the classification information recognized by the offline OCR 50.

  Further, when it is determined by the above determination that the classification information cannot be recognized by the offline OCR 50 (No in S14), or when it is determined in Step S10 that the image is not handled by the offline OCR (No in S10), the above steps are further performed. When it is determined in S11 that the assignment to the offline OCR is impossible (No in S11), the OCR information attached to the paper sheet image and the read image of the paper sheet generated during the offline OCR recognition process ( The second auxiliary information) is subjected to format processing by the reject data control unit 51.

  The reject data control unit 51 sends the formatted image of the paper sheet and the OCR information to the VCS 2 (S15). Then, the image of the paper sheet is deleted from the image buffer 19 (S8).

  The VCS 2 receives the processing data supplied from the reject data control unit 51 and performs a coding process for coding the classification information of the paper sheet based on the image of the paper sheet. The sorting information input by such coding processing is returned from the VCS 2 to the reading sorting machine body 1 in association with the ID code of the paper sheet.

  The reading sorter main body 1 stores the sorting information notified from the VCS 2 and the ID code of the paper sheet in correspondence with each other in a memory (not shown), and the paper sheet is re-supplied to the supply unit 10. In the case where the paper sheet is processed, the paper sheet is subjected to a sorting process (second sorting process) based on the ID code of the paper sheet and the sorting information corresponding to the ID code (S9).

  As described above, according to the present invention, the online OCR and the offline OCR are connected to each other and the functions of each other can be complemented. Therefore, there are cases where paper sheets that could not be recognized by the online OCR can be recognized by the offline OCR. In addition, since the processing can be divided between the online OCR and the offline OCR, the high-speed processing is possible. Furthermore, by configuring with a plurality of online OCR units and a plurality of offline OCR units, it becomes possible to exclusively process alternatives and specific postal codes when an online OCR failure occurs.

  The present invention can be applied to a paper sheet recognition system of a delivery sorting machine that recognizes and classifies the name and address of a delivery destination described in a delivery.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a paper sheet sorting system equipped with a paper sheet recognition system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure explaining the structure of the recognition system of the paper sheets of embodiment of this invention. The flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of online OCR and offline OCR.

Explanation of symbols

P Sheet 1 Reading sorter body 1a Conveyance sorter body 2 Video coding system 10 Supply unit 11 Scanner unit 12 ID code reading unit 13 Bar code printer unit 14 Sorting unit 15 Online OCR
16 Control unit 17 Main transport path 18, 51 Reject data control unit 19 Image buffer 20 Storage / distribution device 30 Video coding terminal 50 Offline OCR

Claims (4)

Reading means for reading an image of a paper sheet;
Storage means for storing an image read by the reading means;
First recognition means for recognizing an image stored by the storage means;
First additional means for transmitting first auxiliary information and an image generated as a result of recognition by the first recognition means;
Second recognition means for receiving the first supplementary information and image transmitted by the first supplementary means, and recognizing the image based on the received first supplementary information;
First judging means for judging whether or not an image can be recognized by receiving the recognition result of the first recognizing means;
The instruction means for instructing the first addition means to transmit the first auxiliary information to the second recognition means when the information cannot be recognized by this determination, and the second recognition means A control unit having second determination means for determining whether or not the recognition is possible;
As a result of the determination by the second determination means, if the second recognition means cannot recognize the image data of the paper sheet, and a second incident generated as a result of the recognition by the second recognition means And a second adding means for transmitting information to the video coding system. Reading means for reading an image of a paper sheet;
Storage means for storing an image read by the reading means;
First recognition means for recognizing an image stored by the storage means;
First additional means for transmitting first auxiliary information and an image generated as a result of recognition by the first recognition means;
Second recognition means for receiving the first supplementary information and image transmitted by the first supplementary means, and recognizing the image based on the received first supplementary information;
Second addition means for transmitting second auxiliary information generated as a result of recognition by the second recognition means;
A plurality of first recognition units including the first recognition means and the first addition means as one unit;
A plurality of second recognition units including the second recognition unit and the second addition unit as one unit;
Either of the plurality of first recognition units or the plurality of second recognition units is assigned, and the recognition result from the assigned first recognition unit or the second recognition unit is received, and the received result A control unit for determining
A recognition system for paper sheets. The controller is
It is determined to which of the first recognition units the image stored in the storage unit can be assigned, and when the image can be assigned, the image is assigned to the first recognition unit of the assigned first recognition unit. Image transmitting means for transmitting;
First determination means for determining whether or not the recognition result of the first recognition means has been received and recognized;
When it is determined that the image cannot be recognized as a result of the first determination means, it is determined whether or not the image can be handled by the second recognition means. Instructing means for instructing the second adding means to transmit the first auxiliary information and the image to the second recognizing means of the second recognizing unit when the assignment is possible. ,
3. The paper sheet recognition system according to claim 2, further comprising: a second determination unit that determines a recognition result of the second recognition unit.   3. The image of the paper sheet is deleted from the storage unit when it is recognized as a result of recognition by the first recognition unit or the second recognition unit. 4. Paper sheet recognition system.

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