JP3391518B2 - Communications system - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication system for recognizing OCR sheet data at a terminal and transmitting it to a host for ordering processing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Orders are processed by telephone or handwritten documents and sent by facsimile, and the ordering center inputs these order data into a host computer with a keyboard to process orders. Since it requires a lot of labor and an error occurs, a method is adopted in which the data transmitted by facsimile is converted into code data handled by the host computer by character recognition processing and processed. In this case, the ordered product is described on the OCR sheet in code display, and the quantity and the like are described in numbers and transmitted by facsimile. A character recognizing device is provided at the order receiving center, recognizes characters transmitted by facsimile, converts them into code data, and inputs them into the host computer.

[0003]

Character recognition devices cannot identify characters with 100% accuracy with current technology. In other words, the probability of erroneous recognition is included, and therefore, the character recognition device sends the code data including the erroneously recognized data to the host computer. The host computer converts this code data into image data and sends it by facsimile to the ordering side for confirmation.
The ordering side checks the returned data and, if there is an error, requests the ordering center to correct the error. At the ordering center, these corrections were processed manually or by filling in a correction sheet and inputting corrections to the host computer. These processes impose a heavy burden on both the ordering side and the receiving center side.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a communication system capable of sending order data with less erroneous recognition to an ordering center.

[0005]

To achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 has a character recognition function.
Data from this fax machine
Performs processing and recognizes characters for this facsimile machine
Communication system consisting of a host for instructing information including knowledge
And the facsimile machine reads the OCR sheet.
A reading means for obtaining image data by capturing the image data
OCR recognition to obtain code data by OCR recognition of data
Host and the recognized data through communication line
And a transmission means for transmitting and receiving data to and from the OCR sheet.
There is an area for displaying senders in this section.
Indicating data as bit data together with the code data
This bit data and code data are sent to the host and sent to the host.
The data is combined and converted into facsimile data,
The configuration to send by facsimile to the X-mill device
Prepare

[0006]

[0007]

[0008]

[0009]

According to the invention of claim 2 , a facsimile machine having a character recognition function and a host for processing data from the facsimile machine and instructing the facsimile machine to perform information including character recognition are provided. In the communication system, the facsimile device is
CR sheet format information, display format information,
A format information storage unit that stores print format information, a reading unit that obtains image data by reading an OCR sheet created based on the OCR sheet format information, and contents of the image data
An OCR recognition means for identifying the OCR recognition data as code data by identifying it based on the sheet format information, and a data modem for transmitting / receiving the recognized data to / from a host via a communication line are provided, and the data is transmitted to a part of the OCR sheet. The sender display data is transmitted as bit data to the host together with the OCR recognition data, and the host combines the bit data and the OCR recognition data to convert the data into facsimile data. It is adapted to be transmitted by facsimile to the device.

[0011]

[Operation] The data written on the OCR sheet is read by the reading means.
This is the read image data, and this image data is
Character recognition is performed to obtain code data. The display means is a code
The contents can be understood only by the code data such as the product name in the data
If it is difficult to read, the content represented by the code data is kanji or hiragana.
It is displayed together with code data in characters such as N. As a result, the recognition result is displayed on the side of the facsimile device in a form that is easily understood by the user, so that it is possible to confirm whether or not the information on the OCR sheet has been correctly recognized, and whether or not data having no error was sent to the host. You can check whether or not.

[0012]

[0013]

[0014]

[0015]

Since the form data written on the OCR sheet and sent to the host as code data is displayed by numbers and codes (also kanji can be recognized), data for identifying the sender by a handwritten signature or the like is not included. In the case of money-related slips such as order slips, it is often desirable to identify the sender. Therefore, a field for displaying the sender is provided on the OCR sheet so as to be signed or stamped, and this data is transmitted as bit data to the host by the data modem together with the code data. On the host side, the code data and bit data are converted into facsimile data in a predetermined format and transmitted to the calling terminal by the facsimile modem. As a result, the host side can confirm the sender, and the facsimile machine side of the terminal can confirm that the requested contents have been transmitted and received by the host.

[0017]

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

FIG. 1 shows a communication system comprising an OCR-FAX device having a facsimile function and an OCR recognition function, and an OCR center device connected via a line. O
The CR-FAX device 1 has a facsimile communication function for transmitting and receiving image data and a data communication function for transmitting and receiving character data and various command data. A display 3 is provided on the operation surface to display the OCR recognition result and the like. If there is an error in this display, the correction key 4 is used for correction. The function key 5 switches operations such as display, printing, and transmission. The OCR center device 2 connected by a line has a host computer having a facsimile communication function and a data communication function, and a facsimile modem is used to collect the slips sent from the OCR-FAX device 1 and confirm the sent slips. It returns and downloads the form formats to each OCR-FAX device 1. The OCR-FAX device 1 is installed in the sales office or business office on the orderer side, and the OCR center device 2 is installed in the order receiving center.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the OCR-FAX apparatus. The CPU unit 11 controls the whole,
It is connected to each part. The operation unit 12 is provided by an operator with an instruction from a keyboard or the like, and performs correction of the OCR recognition result, transmission instruction, display on the screen, printing instruction and the like. The time generation circuit 13 supplies time information necessary for displaying the time such as the transmission time and the time of creating the form. The communication control unit 14 selects a facsimile modem or a data modem (PC modem) according to the data and performs transmission / reception. The code processing unit 15 compresses the transmission data of the facsimile data and expands the reception data when receiving. The PC communication processing unit 16 performs a process of transmitting / receiving code data. Scanner control unit 1
Reference numeral 7 controls a scanner for reading a facsimile original or an OCR sheet. The switching unit 18 includes a code processing unit 15, P
The input / output of the C communication processing unit 16 and the scanner control unit 17 is switched.

The memory controller 19 controls input / output data and memory. The IC card 20 stores software necessary for OCR recognition, and the memory control unit 1
By connecting to 9, it functions as an OCR-FAX device. The page memory 21 stores the data read by the scanner and the recognition data subjected to the OCR recognition processing.
The character recognition processing unit 22 loads the software of the IC card 20, reads the data of the OCR sheet read by the scanner stored in the page memory 21, performs recognition processing, and then stores the data in the page memory 21. The format data storage unit 23 stores the OCR sheet format information, display format information, format information, etc. downloaded from the OCR center device 2. The form paper creation unit 24 creates data for printing an OCR sheet based on the OCR sheet format information.

The character generator 25 generates a character pattern for displaying or printing code data. The display control unit 26 develops the OCR-recognized data into a bit map on the display memory 27 according to the display format information and displays it on the display 28. The recording control unit 29 develops the OCR-recognized data into a bitmap on the recording memory 30 according to the print format information, and the recording unit 31 prints it. In addition, OC based on the data created by the form paper creation unit 24
The R sheet is printed by the recording unit 31.

The operation of the apparatus and system configured as above will be described. FIG. 3 shows a procedure for downloading various format information from the OCR center apparatus 2 to the OCR-FAX apparatus 1 (terminal 1). First, the OCR center device 2 (center 2) connects the line to the terminal 1, outputs a negotiation signal indicating whether the connection is permitted, and when the terminal 1 obtains an acknowledgment (ACK) response, a data transfer notification is issued. Do it, get approval, and you're ready to send data. Next, each data is transmitted. First, the OCR sheet format information / format identification information is transmitted to the terminal 1
If the approval is obtained, then the display format information is transmitted to obtain the approval of the terminal. Similarly, the print format information, the form designation information, and the code conversion table (table) for converting the code data into characters are transmitted to complete the data transmission, and the terminal 1 is notified of the termination and the line is disconnected.

FIG. 4 is a procedure diagram when the terminal requests the center 2 to format a form. When the terminal 1 establishes a line connection and issues a connection request to the center 2 and is approved, a data transfer request is made. When the center 2 is approved, the transmission right is transferred to the center 2. The procedure from the data transfer notification from the center 2 to the end of the data transmission is the same as in FIG. 3. When the data transmission is completed, the center 2 transfers the transmission right to the terminal 1. The terminal 1 completes by disconnecting the line.

FIG. 5 shows an OCR including format identification information.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing configuration items of sheet format information, and FIG. 6 is an OCR sheet created based on this information. The configuration items will be described with reference to both figures. Among the items, 41 to 45 show the contents of the device setting conditions, and 46 to 52 show OMR parameters. 53 to 65 show OCR parameters, and 66 to 68 show OCR sheet printing information.

The input image start address of 41 represents the physical address value of the page memory. The width of the input image 42 represents the width size (A4, B4, etc.) of the read image.
Reference numeral 43 indicates a resolution of 8 dots / mm for main scanning and 7.7 lines / mm for sub scanning. The reject coefficient of 44 determines the number of characteristic points at the time of recognition. When it is increased, unrecognizable characters occur frequently, but the rate of showing that the recognized characters are correct increases. The tilt detection mark range of 45 determines the range in which the bending rate of the document is allowed.

Next, the OMR parameters are entered, and the format identification OMR table 46 represents the OMR sheet number table, the number 47 of marks is the number of sheet number marks to be written in OMR, and the number 48 of the head mark X. The coordinates represent the start coordinates of the OMR mark. The mark width of 49 and the mark height of 50 are recognition width information of the OMR mark, and in the form printing, the dropout color (a color that is visible to the naked eye but not perceivable by the scanner, such as yellow) is printed. Information. The X coordinate interval value of 51 indicates the correction coefficient, and the number of lines of 52 indicates the number of lines when there are a plurality of formats (sheet numbers).

Entering parameters for OCR, 53 timing mark detection X coordinate, 54 timing mark detection Y coordinate.
The coordinates represent the detected position information of the OCR timing mark,
The timing mark detection width of 55 and the timing mark detection height of 56 are size information of the timing mark detection. The number of blocks in the row of 57 indicates the number of recognition blocks following the timing mark, and the number of marks of 58 indicates the actual number of marks, and the number of marks at the time of printing. The mark width of 59 and the mark height of 60 represent the actual mark width and the mark height, and represent the mark width and the mark height when printing. 61
The X coordinate interval value of indicates the correction value. The number of characters 62, the first character cut-out range X coordinate of 63, the character cut-out width of 64, and the character cut-out height of 65 represent the character recognition cut-out block information at the time of OCR recognition and the dropout color area print information at the time of printing.

The form paper additional generation information of 66 represents the generation information when printing the form paper, the timing mark interval distance of 67 represents the equidistant distance for each mark, and X _1, Y _1, X of 68. _2, Y _2, X _{n, and} Y _n represent individual position information at unequal intervals. 69 indicates the end of data.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 71 indicates an OMR sheet mark. Reference numeral 72 is a timing mark, and the frame 73 is a frame provided for the writer. When the OCR sheet is printed in color, dropout color is used, and the color is set so that it cannot be detected by the scanner. Further, when the form is printed on the terminal, black frame printing is performed, but at the time of recognition, only the characters within this frame are recognized. 74 is a signature column for sender confirmation, and the characters in this area are sent to the center 2 as bit data.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the display format information. FIG. 8 shows a screen displayed according to the display format and this printing. Reference numeral 81 indicates how many screens the form is displayed. Reference numeral 82 represents fixed screen character data determined by a form, and represents characters such as a product name, a product code, the number of orders, the number of returned products, an order return slip, and a store name as shown in FIG. The character recognition block data 83 is the data entered in the OCR sheet for ordering, and represents the numbers entered in the box below the product code, the number of orders, and the number of returned products in FIG. 7, and is the numerical value indicated by 83 in FIG. Is. 84 is a kanji character representing the same content from the code data as the display content of the recognition data,
It is a table for converting characters such as hiragana. The code data indicating the store name of 85 is a numeral as it is, but since the content of the product code is not understood by the code data, it is a table for converting it into a character such as a kanji character. By using these conversion tables, FIG.
In addition to the contents described in the OCR sheet, the contents are displayed and printed in a format 86 that is easy to understand as shown in FIG.

Next, after recognizing and correcting the OCR sheet,
The operation from the transmission to the OCR center 2 and the printing of the result will be described with reference to flow charts, FIGS. 9, 10 and 11.

In FIG. 9, the OCR-FAX apparatus 1 as a facsimile apparatus stands by (S1) and monitors whether a bell signal notifies the incoming call (S2). When the incoming call arrives, the facsimile reception starts (S3) and ends. (S4), and returns to step S2. If there is no ringing in step S2,
It is checked whether the IC card is inserted and the OCR operation is required (S5). If it is not inserted, it is checked whether the facsimile transmission original is set (S6). If it is set, the facsimile transmission is started ( If completed (S7) (S8), the process returns to step 2.

When the IC card is inserted in step S5 (S5), the IC card is read and the OCR sheet recognition program is read (S9), and the OCR operation mode is displayed on the display 3 (S10). Press the function key 5 to start the OCR operation (S1
1) Start the OCR operation. The OCR sheet in which the product name and the quantity thereof shown in FIG. 6 are entered is set in the scanner (S12), and the function key 5 for starting reading is pressed (S13).

The scanner starts reading the OCR sheet (S14), reads the OCR sheet into the page memory 21, and completes the reading (S15).
Character recognition processing of the data read from the page memory 21 is performed according to the recognition program read from the card 20 (S16), and is performed until the completion (S17). The recognition result is stored in the page memory 21. When the character recognition of the data of the OCR sheet is normally completed (S18), the process moves to the process of FIG. 10, and when the recognition process cannot be performed normally due to the OCR sheet being reversed and read by the scanner, an alarm is issued. A message is displayed to prompt resetting of the OCR sheet (S19). If the OCR sheet is to be reset (S20), the process returns to step S13. If the OCR sheet is not to be reset, the end key is pressed (S21), and the process returns to step S2.

In FIG. 10, when the recognition process is normally completed, the result is developed in the display memory 27 and displayed on the display 28 as shown in FIG. 8 according to the display format shown in FIG. 7 (S22). The operator checks whether the contents match the contents described on the OCR sheet, or whether the displayed contents are correct but there is a place to change the contents (S23), and the contents are corrected. If there is (S24), this is corrected (S25). As a result, the contents of the display memory 27 are corrected. When the correction process is completed (S26), the data of the page memory 21 in which the recognition result is stored is similarly corrected (S2).
7), the write operation of the corrected data to the page memory 21 is completed (S28).

Next, moving to FIG. 11, the corrected data is transmitted to the OCR center 2 as an order slip. When the content is corrected, it is checked whether the transmission is automatic transmission according to a preset procedure (S29), and if it is not automatic, it is checked whether it is manual transmission (S29).
30) If it is manual transmission, enter the telephone number of the OCR center device 2 (S31) and press the execute key (S32).
If it is not manually transmitted in step S30, if only the recognition data file is created and is not transmitted (S
33) and returns to step S2.

If it is an automatic transmission (S29), the center 2
Automatically connects the telephone to the number (S34), and also S32
After the execution key is pressed at, the recognition data stored in the page memory 21 is transmitted as code data by the data modem (S35). When the transmission is completed (S36), it is checked whether there is bit data (S37). As the bit data, the signature or seal stamp in the signature column of FIG. 6 is read. These are transmitted as bit data following the code data by the data modem (S38). When the transmission of the bit data is completed (S39), the transmission is completed and the line is disconnected (S40).

Next, in order to record the transmission data, it is developed into a bitmap in the recording memory 30 according to the print format information (S41), and the date and time of the transmission, the ID number of the sender, etc. are added (S42). , Develops the font data into bits and starts printing (S43). Upon completion of printing (S44), the order slip transmission process ends and the process returns to step S2. FIG. 12 shows the result printing of the data transmitted to the center 2.

Next, the print output flow of the OCR sheet is shown in FIG.
3 will be described. OCR sheet format information is
When there is a change or new creation or when there is a request from the terminal 1, it is sent from the center 2 immediately, so the terminal 1 prints this and always uses the latest OCR sheet and issues an incorrect slip. I try not to. Also OC
Even if the R sheet is used up and the OCR paper is used up, it will be printed.

In FIG. 13, it is checked whether or not there is an OCR sheet printout request from the operator (S50).
It is checked whether the data is updated from the center 2 or the newly created OCR sheet format information is transmitted and stored in the format storage unit 23 (S
51). If there is a print output request in step S50,
Alternatively, when an updated one is sent from the center 2, the form paper creation unit 24 starts processing (S52), and the format data storage unit 23 causes the OCR described in FIG.
The sheet format information is read (S53). OCR
It is checked whether the form number of the sheet is the same as the requested number, and if the number is the same, it is expanded into a bitmap in the recording memory 30 according to the format information (S54), and when the expansion is completed (S55), the recording unit 31 The printing is started with (S56), and when the printing is completed (S57), the process returns to the start.

From the OCR-FAX device 1 (terminal 1) to FIG.
Order slip data (code, bit data) shown in 2
Is transmitted to the OCR center device 2 (center 2), the center 2 processes the order and notifies the terminal 1 by facsimile transmission that the order has been received. Figure 1
4 and 15 are operation flow diagrams of the OCR center device 2.

In FIG. 14, when the system for receiving the data from the terminal 1 side is prepared (S60), the center 2 starts the receiving process (S61). The center 2 collects the number of ordered products and the number of returned products in the received order slip, the corresponding amount of money, creates a database, and stores the file (S
62). When these tabulation processes are completed (S63), it is checked whether the order result is to be returned to the terminal 1 (S64). If not returned, the center process is completed (S65), and if returned, the order is received. The return processing of the effect is started. Therefore, the file number storing the order receipt is designated (S66), and the received data (code data and bit data) in the data storage memory is read (S6).
7). First, the code data is raster-converted by the character generator and expanded in the memory (S68), and then bit data such as a sign is expanded in the memory and combined with the code data (S69) to complete the memory expansion ( S70). Figure 1
In step 5, the facsimile transmission unit is activated next,
Transmission is started using the facsimile mode (S7
1). To send, first dial out to terminal 1 and connect, then
When the transmission procedure is completed (S72), facsimile transmission is started (S73), and when the transmission is completed (S74), the line is disconnected (S75) and the process is terminated (S76). FIG. 16 shows the data returned from the center 2 to the terminal 1. As a result, the orderer of the terminal 1 can confirm whether the correct order is placed.

[0043]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, an ordering slip or the like is character-recognized by a terminal using an OCR sheet, and the result is confirmed in a display format that is easy for the operator to confirm, and then the host computer confirms the result. Since the data is sent, the character recognition / correction processing on the host side is eliminated, and the efficiency of order processing is improved. Further, since the order slip is sent with a signature or a seal that can confirm the sender's identity, the host can trust the order slip. Further, since a copy of the order slip is sent from the host side, the sender of the terminal can confirm the order contents. Further, the town load operation facilitates the processing corresponding to a plurality of forms, and the system can be easily changed by downloading.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a communication system including an OCR-FAX device and an OCR center device.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an OCR-FAX device.

FIG. 3 is a procedure for downloading format information from the OCR center device to the OCR-FAX device.

FIG. 4 is a format information request procedure diagram from an OCR-FAX device to an OCR center device.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of format identification information and OCR sheet format information.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an OCR sheet.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of display format information.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen.

FIG. 9 is an operation flow chart of OCR sheet recognition, correction processing, and transmission.

FIG. 10 is an operation flowchart following FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an operation flowchart following FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example in which a transmission result to the OCR center device is printed.

FIG. 13 is a print output operation flowchart.

FIG. 14 is an operation flow diagram of returning an order slip from the OCR center device to the terminal.

FIG. 15 is an operation flowchart following FIG.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a reply to an order slip from the OCR center device

[Explanation of symbols]

1 OCR-FAX device 2 OCR center equipment 3 displays 4 Correction key 5 function keys 11 CPU unit 12 Operation part 13 Time generation circuit 14 Communication control unit 15 Code processing unit 16 PC communication processing unit 17 Scanner control unit 18 Switch 19 Memory controller 20 IC card 21 page memory 22 Character recognition unit 23 Format data storage 24 Form Paper Creation Department 25 character generator 26 Display control unit 27 Display memory 28 displays 29 Recording control unit 30 recording memory 31 Recording Department

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Koichi Nagoshi 2-3-8 Shimo-Meguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo Matsushita Electric Transport Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazuki Sato 2-3-8 Shimo-Meguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo No. Matsushita Transmission Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Go Nishijima 2-3-8 Shimomeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo Matsushita Transmission Co., Ltd. (56) Reference JP-A-57-183172 (JP, A) JP HEI 4-84377 (JP, A) JP-A 1-208963 (JP, A) JP-A-58-108858 (JP, A) JP-A-63-14567 (JP, A) Actual development 61-47553 (JP , U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/00-1/00 108 H04N 1/32-1/36 H04N 1/42-1/44

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A communication system comprising a facsimile device having a character recognition function and a host for processing data from the facsimile device and for instructing the facsimile device to perform information including character recognition. The facsimile apparatus reads an OCR sheet to obtain image data, and an OCR sheet for reading the image data.
An OCR recognition unit for CR recognition to obtain code data and a transmission unit for transmitting / receiving the recognized data to / from a host via a communication line are provided, and an area for displaying a sender is provided on a part of the OCR sheet. The sender display data is transmitted as bit data to the host together with the code data, the host synthesizes the bit data and the code data, converts the data into facsimile data, and transmits the facsimile data to the facsimile device. Communication system. 2. A communication system comprising a facsimile device having a character recognition function and a host for processing data from the facsimile device and for instructing the facsimile device to perform information including character recognition. The facsimile apparatus includes a format information storage unit that stores OCR sheet format information, display format information, and print format information, a reading unit that reads an OCR sheet created based on the OCR sheet format information, and obtains image data. An OCR recognition means for identifying the content of the image data based on the OCR sheet format information to obtain the OCR recognition data as code data; and a data modem for transmitting / receiving the recognized data to / from a host via a communication line, Part of OCR sheet An area for displaying the sender is provided in the OC, and the sender display data is used as bit data in the OC.
A communication system characterized in that it is transmitted to a host together with R recognition data, the host combines the bit data and OCR recognition data to convert it into facsimile data, and the facsimile data is transmitted to a sender's facsimile machine.