JP3296858B2 - Image filing method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image filing method for registering an image of information such as characters recorded on paper or the like in a file format.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, characters, numbers,
An image such as document information including various information such as symbols and graphics is read, a title and a keyword used for search are added to the image, and the image is registered in a file format. The registered image is searched and read out as needed. The image filing method that can be used is often used.

Conventional image filing methods include the following. (1) An application using character recognition processing is executed to read and encode a pattern of characters and the like recorded on a document or the like, that is, perform character recognition of an arbitrary portion of the read document information. .

[0004] (2) When information recorded on paper or the like is read by an image reading device such as a scanner, and when the read image data is registered as a file, an operator specifies a title or a keyword used when searching the file. Input is performed using an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse.

(3) When retrieving image data registered as a file, search information such as a title, a keyword, a file number, and a creation date given when the image data was registered is often used.

[0006]

However, the above-mentioned conventional image filing method has the following problems. (1) Since the function of automatically recognizing layout information and format information of image data to be subjected to character recognition is not supported, the operator inputs character recognition parameters required for character recognition processing such as a keyboard or mouse. Must be entered using.

Further, the character recognition parameters include recognition target area data indicating a rectangular area of image data to be recognized, recognition processing data such as format information of an imaged character to be recognized, and recognition result output format data. And the like, and there are many items that the operator must set and input.

Therefore, even if the image data to be subjected to the character recognition is in a fixed format, the character recognition parameters must be set and input each time an application using the character recognition processing is executed. It was very inconvenient.

(2) A title, a keyword, and the like given to image data are often imaged characters included in image data read as a file. However, the operator must always input the title or keyword from an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse.

That is, since the operator cannot directly use the image data read when inputting the search information, the operator's input work when assigning a title or the like to the image data is extremely burdensome. It was inconvenient.

(3) When searching registered image data, search conditions such as keywords and titles set and input by an operator are often included in the image data. However, even if information such as characters included in the registered image data is specified as a search condition, if the information is not given as a search condition at the time of image data registration, the image data can be searched using the information. Absent.

That is, when the operator does not register information in the image data as a search condition, a search for searching for desired image data despite that information exists in a file of the registered image data. It cannot be used as a condition and is not reflected in search results.

Therefore, information such as characters included in the registered image data cannot be directly used as search information for searching the image data. The work was burdensome and very inconvenient.

[0014] The present invention has been made in view of the above, characters used in character recognition processing on the image data
An object of the present invention is to improve the usability of the setting operation of the recognition parameter .

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention uses optical information such as characters recorded on paper or the like.
Image data and register the image data of the read information
Image filing method,
Character recognition parameter data stored during character recognition processing
Whether to use the character recognition parameters stored in the
Judge and, if used, select character recognition parameters
Read the image data to be recognized
Character recognition processing on the recognition target image data based on the
If not used, read the image data to be recognized,
Enter the character recognition parameters and enter the character recognition parameters
Character recognition processing on the recognition target image data based on the
Run.

[0016]

[0017]

[0018]

[0019]

[0020]

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows an image according to an embodiment of the present invention.
1 is an external view of an image filing apparatus that executes a filing method . This image filing apparatus includes a keyboard 1 having various input keys and a mouse 2 for inputting position data as input devices.

Further, a display device 3 which is a display such as a CRT or an LCD, a storage device 4 such as a floppy disk device, a hard disk device, or an optical disk device, an image reading device 5 such as a scanner, a CPU, a ROM, and a ROM
A processing device 6 including a microcomputer such as an AM.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the first embodiment of the image filing apparatus shown in FIG. 2 together with a hardware configuration. The processing device 6 includes an input control unit 10, an image reading control unit 11, a screen control unit 12, a user registration management ledger storage unit 13, an image data storage unit 14, a keyboard
Mouse input control unit 15, character recognition parameter control unit 1
6, character recognition processing unit 17, character recognition parameter updating unit 1
8 and each function of the character recognition parameter data storage unit 19.

The character recognition parameter data storage 1
Reference numeral 9 includes functions of a recognition target area data storage unit 20, a recognition processing data storage unit 21, and a recognition result output format data storage unit 22. Further, the storage device 4 has the functions of an image data file storage unit 23 and a recognition result data storage unit 24.

The keyboard 1 and the mouse 2 are used for inputting an instruction to read an image of document information, an instruction to search and output a registered image, and an instruction to automatically register character recognition parameters for character recognition of image data. The display device 3 displays an image of document information, various work screens, various messages at that time, and the like.

Image data file storage 2 of storage device 4
3 registers and stores the image of the document information in a file format,
The recognition result data storage unit 24 stores a character recognition result for the image data. The image reading device 5 optically reads an image of document information such as characters, numbers, symbols, and figures recorded on a sheet.

The input control unit 10 performs a control process of transmitting input data from the keyboard 1 and the mouse 2 to the image reading control unit 11, the keyboard / mouse input control unit 15, and the character recognition parameter control unit 16. The image reading control unit 11 controls the image reading apparatus 5 and sends the read image data to the screen control unit 12 and the image data storage unit 14 according to the instruction received from the input control unit 10.

The screen control unit 12 controls display of the display device 3 and displays image data and the like on the display device 3 according to instructions from the image reading control unit 11, the keyboard / mouse input control unit 15, and the character recognition parameter control unit 16. Let it.

The user registration management ledger storage unit 13 stores the user character stored in the recognition target area data storage unit 20, the recognition processing data storage unit 21, and the recognition result output format data storage unit 22 of the character recognition parameter data storage unit 19. A user registration management ledger file for managing a recognition parameter file (user registration file) is stored.

The image data storage section 14 stores the image data sent from the image reading control section 11. The keyboard / mouse input control unit 15 converts the input data received from the input control unit 10 into a screen control unit 12, a character recognition processing unit 17
To send to.

The character recognition parameter control unit 16 receives the recognition target area data storage unit 20 and the recognition processing data storage unit 2 based on the user registration management ledger file in the user registration management ledger storage unit 13 via the character recognition parameter updating unit 18.
1. Data is read from the recognition result output format data storage unit 22.

The character recognition processing section 17 is provided in the image data storage section 1
The character recognition process is performed using the image data of No. 4 and the data of the character recognition parameter control unit 16, and the recognition result is stored in the recognition result data storage unit 24.

The character recognition parameter updating unit 18 includes a recognition target area data storage unit 20, a recognition processing data storage unit 21,
A process of updating the data in the recognition result output format data storage unit 22 and a process of transmitting data read from each unit to the character recognition parameter control unit 16 are performed.

A character recognition parameter data storage unit 19 stores a user registration file, and a recognition target area data storage unit 20 stores rectangular coordinates of image data to be recognized.
The recognition processing data storage unit 21 stores the format information of the imaged characters to be recognized in the recognition result output format data storage unit 22.
Stores format data for outputting a character recognition result from image data.

The image data file storage unit 23 is a memory for storing image data of document information read by the image reading device 5 in a file format. The recognition result data storage unit 24 is a memory for storing data obtained as a result of character recognition by the character recognition processing unit 17.

Next, a description will be given of the operation of each unit during character recognition processing on image data in the image filing apparatus. When a setting by reading from a user registration file is selected and input as a method of setting a character recognition parameter by the keyboard 1 or the mouse 2, the instruction is sent to the character recognition parameter control unit 16 via the input control unit 10.

The character recognition parameter control unit 16 reads the user registration management ledger file from the user registration management ledger storage unit 13 in accordance with the instruction input, and stores the attributes, file name, remarks, and registered date and time in the file. The registration management ledger data is sent to the screen control unit 12. The screen control unit 12 causes the display device 3 to display the user registration management ledger data.

When each character recognition parameter of image data to be subjected to character recognition is selected and input from the displayed contents by the keyboard 1 or the mouse 2, the data of the selection instruction is input via the input control unit 10 to the character recognition parameter. Send to control unit 16.

The character recognition parameter control unit 16 responds to the instruction from the recognition target area data storage unit 20, the recognition processing data storage unit 21, and the recognition result output format data storage unit 22 via the character recognition parameter update unit 18. The data of the user registration file to be read is read and set in the character recognition parameter data area.

On the other hand, the image reading control section 11 reads image data from the image reading device 5 and sets the image data in the image data area of the image data storage section 14. Then, the character recognition processing unit 17 executes a character recognition process of the image data set in the image data area based on the character recognition parameter data set in the character recognition parameter data area of the character recognition parameter control unit 16. The recognition result is stored in the recognition result data storage unit 24.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the format of the user registration management ledger file stored in the user registration management ledger storage unit 13 shown in FIG. The user registration management ledger file stores data for managing the character recognition parameter file. The file includes a maximum registration number storage area E1, a registration table storage area E2,
And parameter ledger information storage area E3.

The maximum number of registrations is stored in the maximum registration number storage area E1, and the use status of the parameter ledger information storage area E3 is set to ON / OFF in the registration table storage area E2.
Registered with an OFF flag, each character recognition parameter management information file is stored in the parameter ledger information storage area E3.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the format of each character recognition parameter management information file of the user registration management ledger file shown in FIG. This character recognition parameter management information file contains the parameter file number, parameter file name, remarks,
Update date, password, recognition target area data file I
D, recognition processing data file ID, and recognition result output format data file ID.

The recognition target area data file ID, the recognition processing data file ID, and the recognition result output format data file ID are respectively stored in the recognition target area data storage unit 20, the recognition processing data storage unit 21, and the recognition result output format data storage. The identifier of the file stored in the unit 22.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the format of the recognition target area data file stored in the recognition target area data storage unit 20 shown in FIG. The recognition target area data file includes four areas: a file ID storage area E4, a recognition target area number storage area E5, a recognition target area data storage area E6, and a resolution storage area E7.

The file ID storage area E4 stores the identifier (ID) of the file in the recognition target area data storage unit 20, and the recognition target area number storage area E5 stores the recognition target area data storage area E6. The number of stored data is stored, a coordinate value indicating each recognition target area is stored in the recognition target area data storage area E6, and the resolution is stored in the resolution storage area E7.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a storage format of each recognition target area data shown in FIG. In the storage area of each recognition target area data, an upper left X, Y coordinate value and a lower left X, Y coordinate value indicating the recognition target area are stored as the respective recognition target area data.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the format of the recognition processing data file stored in the recognition processing data storage unit 21 shown in FIG. The recognition processing data file includes a file ID storage area E8, a line direction storage area E9, a character direction storage area E10, a recognition target character type storage area E11, a character pitch storage area E12, a line end processing storage area E13, and a left margin processing storage area E1.
4 and eight areas of language processing storage area E15.

In the file ID storage area E8, a file identifier (I
D) is stored, and information indicating the horizontal or vertical writing line direction is stored in the line direction storage area E9, and information indicating the upward, downward, leftward, or rightward character direction is stored in the character direction storage area E10. I do.

The recognition target character type storage area E11 stores information indicating character types such as all character types, only kana kanji, and only alphanumeric characters. The character pitch storage area E12 has no character pitch, ピ ッ チ pitch, and 2 characters. / 2 pitch, etc., and the line end processing storage area E13 has no line feed at the end of the line.
Stores information about end-of-line processing such as with line break (with blank line) and with line break (without blank line).

The left margin processing storage area E14 stores information with a left margin (complemented by a space) and no left margin, and the language processing storage area E15 stores information indicating the presence or absence of language processing.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the format of the recognition result output format data file stored in the recognition result output format data storage unit 22 shown in FIG. The recognition result output format data file includes three areas: a file ID storage area E16, an output code type storage area E17, and an output type type storage area E18.

In the file ID storage area E16, the identifier (ID) of the file in the recognition result output format data storage section 22 is stored, and the output code type storage area E1 is stored.
7 stores information indicating the type of output code such as JIS, shift JIS, EUC, etc., and stores an output type type storage area E.
18 stores information indicating the type of output type such as a text format and a form format.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the format of the image data management ledger file. The image data management ledger file stores data for managing the image data files registered in the image data file storage unit 23, and stores a maximum registration number storage area E19, a registration table storage area E20, and image data ledger information. Area E21
It consists of three areas.

In the maximum registration number storage area E19, the maximum number that can be registered is stored, and the registration table storage area E20 is stored.
The use status of the image data ledger information storage area E21 is registered with an ON / OFF flag, and the image data ledger information file is stored in the image data ledger information storage area E21.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the format of the image data management ledger file shown in FIG. In this image data management ledger file, data of registered image file number, image data file name, remarks, creation date and time, update date and time, password, and keyword are stored from the upper area. The registered image file number indicates an image data file stored in the image data file storage unit 23.

Next, in this image filing apparatus,
The recognition process according to the image filing method of the present invention will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the recognition process. First, it is determined whether or not to use a recognition parameter file. If so, a recognition parameter file is selected, image data to be recognized is read, and recognition processing is executed.

On the other hand, if the recognition parameter file is not used, the image data to be recognized is read, the recognition parameters are input (set), and it is determined whether or not the input recognition parameters are registered. If the recognition parameters are registered, the input recognition parameters are registered as a file and the recognition processing is executed. If the recognition parameters are not registered, the recognition processing is executed as it is.

After execution of the recognition process, the recognition result is stored, it is determined whether or not there is still unrecognized image data, and if so, it is further determined whether or not to use the same recognition parameter. The processing returns to the reading processing of the recognition target image data, and returns to the first processing if not used. Then, if there is no unrecognized image data, this process ends.

Next, the registration of character recognition parameters in the image filing apparatus and a display example at that time will be described. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displaying the document information read by the image reading device.

The screen 50 displays the document information 51 read by the image reading device. here,
When the mouse cursor MC is moved to the image item 52 in the work menu column and the mouse button is clicked, a window including work selection items related to image processing is displayed.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a work screen when a character recognition target parameter file is created. This screen 50
A window 53 including work selection items related to image processing is displayed therein. When a parameter creation item 54 in the window 53 is selected by the mouse cursor MC, the screen changes to a work screen for setting recognition target area data. .

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a work screen when the recognition target area data is set. First, the mouse cursor M
C, the recognition target area BX for the character to be recognized in the document information 51 on the screen 50 is designated and input, and when the setting end item 55 in the work menu column is designated, the work for setting the recognition processing data and the recognition result output format data is performed. Change to screen. In this screen 50, the recognition target area B
Although X is specified for each line, an area extending over a plurality of lines can also be specified.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a work screen when the recognition processing data and the recognition result output format data are set. The recognition target character type, line expansion direction, character direction,
Line ending processing, character pitch, left margin complementing processing, and language processing are recognition processing data, and output code types and output type types are recognition result output format data. specify. When the setting end item 55 in the work menu column is designated,
A work screen for selecting the registration destination of the character recognition parameter file is displayed.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a work screen when selecting a registration destination of a character recognition parameter file.
On this screen 50, 3.5 in of the drive selection field 56
The drive of the registration destination is selected and designated from the ch floppy disk, the hard disk, and the optical disk, and the cabinet name and the holder name of the registration destination are respectively designated and designated from the cabinet selection column 57 and the holder selection column 58.

For example, a 3.5 inch floppy, CABINET3,
If you specify HOLDER 3 respectively, as shown in FIG.
The fields corresponding to each item are highlighted. Then, when the setting end item 55 in the work menu column is designated, each designated and inputted parameter data is registered in the designated registration destination.

That is, the data of the coordinate values of each recognition target area, the respective recognition processing data, and the recognition result output format data are stored in the holder of the cabinet in the designated drive, respectively. And registered as recognition result output format data.

As described above, the recognition target area data, the recognition processing parameter data, and the recognition result output required for performing the character recognition processing on the image data read by the image reading apparatus using the character recognition processing application. Format data can be filed and registered as a user.

Therefore, when image data of the same format is to be subjected to the character recognition processing, the operator selects a character recognition parameter registered by the user, and the character recognition processing based on the predetermined character recognition parameter is performed on the image data. Can be done automatically. Further, it is not necessary to perform a detailed setting operation of the character recognition parameters at the time of executing the application, and the work load at that time can be reduced.

This image filing apparatus uses image data
Register the character recognition parameters for
Performs character recognition on image data based on parameters.
Therefore, given character recognition parameters for the image data
Can automatically perform character recognition processing. Therefore,
Parameters for character recognition processing on image data
Reduce input work and make it easier to use
Can be. If the recognition target area data, the recognition processing parameter data, and the recognition result output format data are set in any combination, the character recognition parameters in various formats for performing the character recognition on the image data can be set. Can be.

Next, an image file serving as a reference of the present invention will be described.
The following is a description of the operating device . FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the image filing apparatus shown in FIG. 2 as a reference of the present invention together with a hardware configuration, and portions common to FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Processing unit 6 of this image filing apparatus
Are input control unit 10, image reading control unit 11, screen control unit 12, image data storage unit 14, character recognition parameter control unit 16, character recognition processing unit 17, character recognition parameter data storage unit 19, recognition result data storage unit 24, a character recognition processing control unit 25, a file information input control unit 26, a file information input unit 27, a file information data storage unit 28,
And each function of the file registration processing unit 29. The storage device 4 includes an image data file storage unit 23 '.

The keyboard 1 and the mouse 2 are used to input an instruction for character recognition for image data of document information. The display device 3 displays an image of document information, various work screens, various messages at that time, and the like. The image data file storage unit 23 'of the storage device 4 registers and stores the image data of the document information in a file format, and registers and stores the recognition result by the user registration file as search information in association with the image data.

The input control unit 10 sends input data from the keyboard 1 and the mouse 2 to the character recognition processing control unit 25, the file information input control unit 26, and the file registration processing unit 29. The screen control unit 12 controls the display of the display device 3, and causes the display device 3 to display image data and the like according to instructions from the image reading control unit 11, the keyboard / mouse input control unit 15, and the character recognition parameter control unit 16.

The image data storage unit 14 stores the image data sent from the image reading control unit 11. The character recognition parameter control unit 16 reads the data stored in the character recognition parameter data storage unit 19 and sends it to the character recognition processing control unit 25.

The character recognition processing section 17 performs character recognition processing of the image data in the image data storage section 14 based on the data received via the character recognition processing control section 25 and the character recognition parameter control section 16, and recognizes the result of the character recognition. The data is sent to the recognition result data storage unit 24 via the processing control unit 25.

The character recognition parameter data storage unit 19
Outputs the rectangular coordinates of the image data to be recognized as the recognition target area data, the format information of the imaged characters to be recognized as the recognition processing data, and the recognition result from the image data as the recognition result output format data Is stored as a user registration file. The recognition result data storage unit 24 stores the data of the recognition result in the character recognition processing unit 17.

The character recognition processing control unit 25 sends a processing execution instruction to the character recognition parameter control unit 16, receives the character recognition parameter data, and receives the character recognition parameter data.
Send to Further, the recognition result received from the character recognition processing unit 17 is sent to the recognition result data storage unit 24. Further, it sends the character recognition parameter data and the recognition result to the screen control unit 12.

The file information input control unit 26 instructs the character recognition processing control unit 25 and the file information input unit 27 to execute processing. The file information input unit 27 causes the data in the file information data storage unit 28 to be transmitted to the file registration processing unit 29 in accordance with an instruction from the file information input control unit 26. The file information data storage unit 28 stores search information and file information when registering image data in a file.

The file registration processor 29 stores the image data in the image data storage 14 and the recognition result data storage 24 based on the file information in the file information data storage 28.
Is registered in the image data file storage unit 23 '. In other words, it corresponds to a search information registration unit that registers information of a recognition result in image data as search information such as a title or a keyword when searching for image data that recognizes the information.

Next, the operation of each unit when registering image data and search information in the image filing apparatus will be described. As a method of setting file information by the keyboard 1 or the mouse 2, when a recognition result using a user registration file is selected and registered as a search condition, the instruction is sent to the file information input control unit 26 via the input control unit 10. Sent.

The file information input control unit 26 calls the character recognition processing control unit 25 according to the instruction input. The character recognition processing control unit 25 includes a character recognition parameter control unit 16
The user registration file stored in the character recognition parameter data storage unit 19 is read through and the file is sent to the character recognition processing unit 17.

On the other hand, the image reading control section 11 reads image data to be registered as a file from the image reading apparatus 5 and sets the read image data in the image data storage section 14. Next, the character recognition processing unit 17 performs character recognition of the image data set in the image data storage unit 14 based on the data of the user registration file, and outputs the recognition result to the recognition result data via the character recognition processing control unit 25. It is stored in the storage unit 24.

Then, based on the file information in the file information data storage section 28, the file registration processing section 29 registers the image data in the image data storage section 14 in the file format in the image data file storage section 23 'and recognizes the image data. The recognition result from the image data stored in the result data storage unit 24 is registered in the image data file storage unit 23 'in association with a search condition such as a keyword or a title.

Next, an image registration process in the image filing apparatus will be described. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the processing. First, it is determined whether or not to automatically register a search item of a registered image. If the item is to be automatically registered, a recognition parameter file is selected, image data to be registered is read, and recognition processing is executed.

Next, the image data and the recognition result (search item data) are registered, and it is determined whether or not unregistered image data still exists. If there is unregistered image data, it is determined whether or not to use the same recognition parameter. If it is used, the process returns to the registration target image data reading process. If not, the process returns to the recognition parameter file selection process. Then, when there is no more unregistered image data, this process ends.

On the other hand, if the registered image search item is not automatically registered, the image data to be registered is read, the image data is registered, and it is determined whether or not there is any unregistered image data. The process returns to the process of reading the image data to be registered, and repeats the image data registration process. Also,
If there is no unregistered image data, the search item of the registered image data is input (manual input), and the process is terminated.

Next, an image data registration operation in the image filing apparatus and a display example at that time will be described. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displaying the document information 61 read by the image reading device.

The screen 60 displays the document information 61 read by the image reading device. here,
When the mouse cursor MC is moved to the image item 62 in the work menu column and the mouse button is clicked, a window including work selection items related to image registration is displayed.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of a work screen when image data is registered. On this screen 60, an input is performed for selecting a keyword registration method at the time of image registration. That is,
On the screen 60, a window 63 including each work selection item related to image registration is displayed.
When the automatic registration item 64 in 3 is selected and input by the mouse cursor MC, the screen changes to a work screen for selecting a call destination of the character recognition parameter file.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of a work screen for selecting a call destination of a character recognition parameter file. In this screen 60, in the drive selection column 66, 3.
A drive to be called is selected and specified from among a 5-inch floppy disk, a hard disk, and an optical disk.

Further, a call destination cabinet name and a holder name are respectively selected and designated from the cabinet selection field 67 and the holder selection field 68, and the document number of the character recognition parameter file is inputted by the character recognition parameter file selection field 69. I do.

For example, a 3.5 inch floppy, CABINET1,
And HOLDER 2 are selected and the document number 1 is entered.
As shown in FIG. 3, a column corresponding to each item is highlighted and number 1 is displayed. When the setting end item 55 in the work menu column is designated, each designated and inputted parameter data is called from the designated registration destination.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of a recognition target area called from a character recognition parameter file. FIG.
When the data of each recognition target area BX shown in FIG. 24 is called by the work shown in FIG. 23, the recognition processing of the character corresponding to each recognition target area BX on the format of the document information 61 is executed.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a screen on which the recognition target area is displayed for the document information 61. On this screen 60,
Each recognition target area BX based on the character recognition parameter data read from the registration destination selected on the work screen shown in FIGS. 22 and 23 is displayed so as to be superimposed on the document information.

Here, when execution is instructed, character recognition of the information corresponding to each recognition target area BX is performed, and the recognition result is used as search information such as a keyword or a title at the time of search. The image data is written in the file register, and the image data is also registered in a file format.

Further, when there is further image data of the document information to be registered, similar to the display example shown in FIG.
The next document information is displayed on the screen, and each recognition target area BX is displayed so as to overlap the document information. Then, the process of automatically registering the recognition result of the character in each recognition target area BX as a search condition when searching the image data is repeated.

In this way, the recognition target area data, the recognition processing data, and the recognition result output format data registered by the user are called, and the image data to be registered is subjected to character recognition based on the data, and the recognition result is displayed. The image data can be registered as search conditions such as a keyword and a title when searching for the image data.

Therefore, when an image reading apparatus equipped with an automatic paper feeder (ADF) continuously reads images of a plurality of originals and registers the image data as a file, the character recognition called from the user registration file is required. Character recognition of each image data is performed based on the parameters.

Since the result of the recognition processing can be automatically registered as a title or a keyword when searching for the image data corresponding to the result, it is not necessary to input the search condition for the image data. The work load on the operator can be reduced. like this
The information of the recognition result by character recognition is
Title or keyword for searching image data
If you register as search information such as
To automatically add search information and register
Wear. Therefore, when registering image data,
Reduce input work such as
Can be

Next, another image file serving as a reference of the present invention will be described.
The illing device will be described. FIG. 26 is a block diagram showing another functional configuration of the image filing apparatus shown in FIG. 2 as a reference of the present invention, together with a hardware configuration.
The same reference numerals are given to the parts common to. The processing device 6 includes a file search processing unit 30 instead of the file registration processing unit 29 shown in FIG. 18, and the processing of each unit is slightly different.

The keyboard 1 and the mouse 2 are used to input an instruction for character recognition for image data of document information. The display device 3 displays an image of document information, various work screens, various messages at that time, and the like. The image data file storage unit 23 'of the storage device 4 registers and stores the image data of the document information in a file format, and registers and stores the recognition result by the user registration file as search information in association with the image data.

The input control unit 10 sends input data from the keyboard 1 and the mouse 2 to the character recognition processing control unit 25, the file information input control unit 26, and the file search processing unit 30. The screen control unit 12 controls the display of the display device 3, and causes the display device 3 to display image data and the like according to instructions from the image reading control unit 11, the keyboard / mouse input control unit 15, and the character recognition parameter control unit 16.

The image data storage unit 14 stores the image data sent from the image reading control unit 11 or the file registration processing unit 29. The character recognition parameter control unit 16 reads the data stored in the character recognition parameter data storage unit 19 and sends it to the character recognition processing control unit 25.

The character recognition processing section 17 performs character recognition processing of the image data in the image data storage section 14 based on the data received via the character recognition processing control section 25 and the character recognition parameter control section 16, and recognizes the result of the character recognition. The data is sent to the recognition result data storage unit 24 via the processing control unit 25.

The character recognition parameter data storage unit 19
Outputs the rectangular coordinates of the image data to be recognized as the recognition target area data, the format information of the imaged characters to be recognized as the recognition processing data, and the recognition result from the image data as the recognition result output format data Is stored as a user registration file. The recognition result data storage unit 24 stores the data of the recognition result in the character recognition processing unit 17.

The character recognition processing control unit 25 sends a processing execution instruction to the character recognition parameter control unit 16, receives the character recognition parameter data, and receives the character recognition parameter data.
Send to Further, the recognition result received from the character recognition processing unit 17 is sent to the recognition result data storage unit 24. Further, it sends the character recognition parameter data and the recognition result to the screen control unit 12.

The file information input control unit 26 instructs the character recognition processing control unit 25 and the file information input unit 27 to execute processing. The file information input unit 27 causes the data in the file information data storage unit 28 to be transmitted to the file search processing unit 30 according to an instruction from the file information input control unit 26. The file information data storage unit 28 stores information for file search.

The file search processing section 30 converts the image data whose input information matches the recognition result data in the recognition result data storage section 24 into an image based on the information for file search in the file information data storage section 28. The data is retrieved from the data file storage unit 23 'and called, and the screen control unit 12
Perform processing to output to That is, when the same information as the recognition result is input, it corresponds to a means for reading and outputting image data corresponding to the recognition result.

Next, the operation of each unit in the image filing apparatus when searching for image data will be described. When a search based on a recognition result using a user registration file is selected and input as a search method using the keyboard 1 or the mouse 2, the instruction is sent to the file information input control unit 26 via the input control unit 10.

The file information input control unit 26 calls the character recognition processing control unit 25 according to the instruction input. The character recognition processing control unit 25 includes a character recognition parameter control unit 16
The user registration file stored in the character recognition parameter data storage unit 19 is read through and the file is sent to the character recognition processing unit 17.

On the other hand, the file search processing section 30 reads the image data to be searched from the image data file storage section 23 ′ of the storage device 4 and sets it in the image data storage section 14. Next, the character recognition processing unit 17 performs character recognition of the image data set in the image data storage unit 14 based on the data of the user registration file, and outputs the recognition result to the recognition result data via the character recognition processing control unit 25. It is stored in the storage unit 24.

Then, based on the file information in the file information data storage section 28, the file search processing section 30 and the information input from the keyboard 1 or mouse 2 via the input control section 10 and the recognition result data storage section 24 The image data corresponding to the same recognition result as the input information is read from the image data storage unit 14, and is output to the screen control unit 12. Screen control unit 12
Causes the display device 3 to display the image data.

Next, an image retrieval process in the image filing apparatus will be described. FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing the processing. First, it is determined whether a search keyword is to be extracted from an image by inputting a search item. Select the recognition parameter file if you want to extract,
The registered image data is read to execute the recognition processing.

Next, it is determined whether or not there is a recognition result corresponding to the search keyword. If not, the process directly proceeds to the next process. If there is, the image information (image name,
Image number) is stored, and the process proceeds to the next process. In the next process,
It is determined whether or not there is still unregistered image data, and if not, this process is terminated. If there is, however, it is determined whether or not to use the same recognition parameter. If the same recognition parameter is used, the process returns to the process of reading registered image data. If not, the process returns to the process of selecting a recognition parameter file.

On the other hand, if the retrieval keyword is not extracted from the image, the retrieval item data of the retrieval target image is read, and it is determined whether or not there is a recognition result corresponding to the retrieval keyword. If not, proceed to the next process,
If present, image information (image name, image number) in search result storage field
And proceeds to the next process. In the next process, it is determined whether or not there is still unsearched image data, and if so, the process returns to the process of reading the search item data of the image to be searched, and if not, the process ends.

Next, an image data search operation in the image filing apparatus and a display example at that time will be described. FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displaying the document information read by the image reading device.

On this screen 70, document information 71 read by the image reading device is displayed. here,
When the mouse cursor MC is placed on the image item 72 in the work menu column and the mouse button is clicked, a window including work selection items related to the image search is displayed.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing an example of a work screen at the time of image data search. On this screen 70, the user selects a search method for the registered image data. That is,
On the screen 70, a window 73 including each of the work selection items related to the image search is displayed.
When the automatic input item 74 in 3 is selected and input by the mouse cursor MC, the screen changes to a work screen for selecting a call destination of the character recognition parameter file. In this operation, for example, when automatic registration is performed by image registration, the user selects to specify a recognition target parameter using a registered character recognition parameter file.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing an example of a work screen for selecting a call destination of a character recognition parameter file. On this screen 70, in the drive selection column 76, 3.
A drive to be called is selected and specified from among a 5-inch floppy disk, a hard disk, and an optical disk.

Further, a cabinet name and a holder name of a call destination are respectively selected and designated from the cabinet selection column 77 and the holder selection column 78, and the document number of the character recognition parameter file is input in the character recognition parameter file selection column 79. Then, the setting end item 75 in the work menu column is designated.

For example, a 3.5 inch floppy, CABINET2,
And HOLDER 2 and enter document number 2
As shown in FIG. 1, the corresponding item column is highlighted and the document number 2 is displayed. Then, each designated and input parameter data is called from the designated registration destination, and the screen changes to a work screen for selecting a call destination of the registered image data file to be searched.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing an example of a work screen for selecting a call destination of a registered image data file to be searched. In this screen 70, a drive selection field 80
The drive to be called is selected from the 3.5 inch floppy, hard disk, or optical disk.

Further, a callee cabinet name and a holder name are respectively selected and designated from the cabinet selection column 81 and the holder selection column 82, and the search target image data file selection column 83 is used to specify the registered image data file to be searched. Enter the number.

For example, a 3.5 inch floppy, CABINET3,
And HOLDER 4 and specify document numbers 5, 10, 11, 1
When the user inputs 2, 20 as shown in FIG. 33, the corresponding item column is highlighted and each document number is displayed. Then, when the setting end item 75 in the work menu column is designated, the screen changes to a screen displaying the search target image data and the recognition target area.

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing a screen displaying a recognition target area for the document information 71 to be searched. On this screen 70, search target document information 71 read from the registration destination selected from the work shown in FIGS. 32 and 33 is displayed. Further, the recognition target areas 84 and BX based on the character recognition parameter data read from the registration destination selected from the work shown in FIGS. 30 and 31 are displayed so as to overlap the document information 71.

Next, character recognition of information corresponding to each of the recognition target areas 84 and BX is performed, and the result of the recognition is registered as search information such as a keyword or a title at the time of search.
Therefore, when the operator inputs search conditions such as a keyword and a title for desired document information, the result of comparing the input search conditions with search information obtained by character recognition is stored.

Then, the file number of the image data having the search information matching the search condition input by the operator is displayed. For example, when the operator inputs the search condition “patent information”, the characters in the recognition target area 84 of the document information 71 shown in FIG. 34 correspond thereto, so that the image data file number of the document information 71 is displayed as the search result. You.

As described above, when searching for a file of registered image data, in addition to using file information such as a title and a keyword input by the operator at the time of registration as a search keyword, the operator can select a file from the user registration file. Based on the selected character recognition parameter, an imaged character pattern in the registered image data is read, and the result of the recognition can be used as a search keyword.

Therefore, the operator can perform a search using the information in the registered image data at any time without inputting a keyword or title for searching the image data when registering the image data. It is possible to reduce the work load for searching for image data that has not been registered. In addition, the same
When one piece of information is input, the image corresponding to the recognition result
By reading and outputting image data,
Search using the information in the data. Therefore, the image
The character string, word, etc. in the data
You can now perform searches and use them when searching for image data.
You can improve your selfishness.

In the above-described image filing apparatus , only the case where the read or searched image data is displayed has been described. However, a printing apparatus such as a laser printer is connected to the image filing apparatus. The printing device may print the image data on paper. Further, a facsimile apparatus may be connected to transmit facsimile image data via a communication line.

[0132]

As has been described in the foregoing, according to the image filing method according to the invention, with respect to the image data
Setting of character recognition parameters used for character recognition processing
It can be easy to use.

[0133]

[0134]

[Brief description of the drawings]

[1] In this image filing apparatus shown in FIG. 2
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration for executing an image filing method of the present invention together with a hardware configuration.

FIG. 2 is an image filing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Functions for implementing the law and functions that are useful for the present invention.
It is an external view of the image filing apparatus provided with .

3 is a diagram showing an example of a format of a user registration management ledger file stored in a user registration management ledger storage unit 13 shown in FIG.

4 is a diagram showing an example of a format of each character recognition parameter management information file of the user registration management ledger file shown in FIG.

5 is a diagram showing an example of a format of a recognition target area data file stored in a recognition target area data storage unit 20 shown in FIG.

6 is a diagram showing an example of a storage format of each recognition target area data shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a format of a recognition processing data file stored in a recognition processing data storage unit 21 shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 shows a recognition result output format data storage unit 22 shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a format of a recognition result output format data file stored in the storage device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a format of an image data management ledger file.

10 is a diagram showing an example of a format of the image data management ledger file shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a recognition process in the image filing apparatus shown in FIG.

12 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displaying document information read by the image reading device shown in FIG.

13 is a diagram showing an example of a work screen when a character recognition target parameter file is created in the image filing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a work screen when setting recognition target area data in the image filing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a work screen when setting recognition processing data and recognition result output format data in the image filing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a work screen when selecting a registration destination of a character recognition parameter file in the image filing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

17 is a diagram showing a display example after setting input on the work screen shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is an image filing apparatus shown in FIG. 2 according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration to be referred to together with a hardware configuration.

19 is a flowchart showing an image registration process in the image filing apparatus shown in FIG.

20 is a diagram showing an example of a screen on which document information 61 read by the image reading device shown in FIG. 18 is displayed.

21 is a diagram showing an example of a work screen when registering image data in the image filing apparatus shown in FIG.

22 is a diagram showing an example of a work screen when selecting a call destination of a character recognition parameter file in the image filing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a display example after setting input on the work screen shown in FIG. 22;

24 is a diagram illustrating an example of a recognition target area called from a character recognition parameter file in the image filing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 18;

25 is a diagram showing a screen on which a recognition target area is displayed for document information 61 in the image filing apparatus shown in FIG. 18;

[26] The calling of the image filing apparatus shown in FIG. 2
FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing another functional configuration that is clearly referred to together with a hardware configuration.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing an image search process in the image filing apparatus shown in FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displaying document information read by the image reading device shown in FIG. 26;

29 is a diagram showing an example of a work screen when searching for image data in the image filing apparatus shown in FIG. 26.

30 is a diagram showing an example of a work screen when selecting a call destination of a character recognition parameter file in the image filing apparatus shown in FIG. 26.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing a display example after setting is input on the work screen shown in FIG. 30;

32 is a diagram illustrating an example of a work screen when selecting a call destination of a registered image data file to be searched in the image filing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 26.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing a display example after setting input on the work screen shown in FIG. 32;

34 is a diagram showing a screen on which a recognition target area is displayed with respect to search target document information 71 in the image filing apparatus shown in FIG. 26;

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 keyboard 2 mouse 3 display device 4 storage device 5 image reading device 6 processing device 10 input control unit 11 image reading control unit 12 screen control unit 13 user registration management ledger storage unit 14 image data storage unit 15 keyboard / mouse input control unit 16 Character recognition parameter control unit 17 Character recognition processing unit 18 Character recognition parameter update unit 19 Character recognition parameter data storage unit 20 Recognition target area data storage unit 21 Recognition processing data storage unit 22 Recognition result output format data storage units 23, 23 'Image data File storage unit 24 Recognition result data storage unit 25 Character recognition processing control unit 26 File information input control unit 27 File information input unit 28 File information data storage unit 29 File registration processing unit 30 File search processing unit 50, 60, 70 Screen 51, 61, 71 Book information 52, 62, 72 Image item 53, 63, 73 Window 54 Parameter creation item 55 Setting end item 56, 66, 76, 80 Drive selection column 57, 67, 77, 81 Cabinet selection column 58, 68, 78, 82 Holder selection field 64 Automatic registration item 69, 79 Character recognition parameter file selection field 74 Automatic input field 83 Search target image data file selection field 84, BX recognition target area MC Mouse cursor E1 Maximum registration number storage area E2 Registration table storage area E3 Parameter Ledger information storage area E4 File ID storage area E5 Recognition target area number storage area E6 Recognition target area data storage area E7 Resolution storage area E8 File ID storage area E9 Line direction storage area E10 Character direction storage area E11 Recognition target character type storage area E12 Character pitch storage area E13 Line end processing storage area E14 Left margin processing storage area E15 Language processing storage area E16 File ID storage area E17 Output code type storage area E18 Output type type storage area E19 Maximum registration number storage area E20 Registration table storage area E21 Image data ledger information storage area

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06T 1/00 G06F 17/30 G06K 9/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. Optical information such as characters recorded on paper or the like.
Image data and register the image data of the read information
In the image filing method, a character recognition parameter is used during a character recognition process on the image data.
The character recognition parameters stored in the meter data storage
Determine whether or not to use, and if so, use the character recognition parameter.
Data, read the recognition target image data, and
Based on the character recognition parameters,
Performs character recognition processing.
Data, input the character recognition parameters,
A sentence is added to the image data to be recognized based on the recognition parameter.
Image filing that performs character recognition processing
Method.