JPH02268387A - Picture processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the recognition processing of a character by detecting the size of a reference mark from the picture of a slip received through a communication channel, setting magnification for restoring the received picture to an original picture and executing the recognition of the character based on the restored original picture. CONSTITUTION:The image data of the slip, for which the reference mark is provided on a prescribed position, are transmitted from a transmission side FAX equipment connected to the communication channel and received by a FAX adapter 11. A FAX controller 12 transfers the received picture to a control part 11 and the received picture is processed by an image processing part 14, stored to a sheet buffer 15 and recognized by a recognition part 16. The recognition part 16 detects the size of the reference mark from the received picture and judges whether the size of the original picture is changed for the received picture or not. Then, the magnification is set for restoring the received picture to the original picture. The received picture is restored to the original picture based on the set magnification and the recognition of the character is executed based on the restored original picture. Thus, the recognition processing of the character can be executed from received image data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an image processing device that reads characters from image information input via a communication line by, for example, a facsimile machine.

(Prior Art) Generally, an image processing device (hereinafter referred to as a FAX-OCR device) uses a character reading device to recognize character patterns in FAX image information received by a facsimile device (hereinafter referred to as a FAX device). )
The processing target is a form in which a reference mark having a constant size is provided at a predetermined position regardless of the type.

That is, the FAX-OCR device detects a character pattern from an image of a document provided with a reference mark transmitted from a sending FAX device, and performs character recognition processing on this character pattern.

(Problem to be solved by the invention, 6) By the way, when an image is sent from the transmitting side FAX device to the FAX-OCR device, the FAX adapter that receives the image information from the FAX-OCR device side Image information corresponding to the size of the original document (form) is sent.

For example, the specification of the document size on the sender's FAX machine can be switched to A4 or B4, and the document size on the receiver's FAX-O
In a case where the original size specification of the CR device's FAX adapter is fixed to A4 size, if the original size specification of the sending fax machine is incorrectly set to B4 instead of A4, the image information to be sent will be is reduced and sent. In other words, the reduction ratio for converting B4 size to A4 size (approximately 81.6
% reduction), the reduced image is sent to the receiving side F.
Sent to AX adapter.

In this way, when the image information of an original A4 size document (form) is reduced, the FAX-OC
The problem with the R device is that it is no longer possible to recognize characters from the received image information.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is possible to recognize characters from a received image even when the specification of the original size of the sending fax machine and the specification of the original size of the own apparatus are different. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a FAX-OCR device that can perform the following functions.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention detects the size of a reference mark from a received image,
The apparatus further includes determining means for determining whether or not the received image is a resized original image based on the size of the detected reference mark, and the determining means determines whether or not the received image is the same size as the original image. If it is determined that the received image has been changed, the magnification for restoring the received image to the original image,
The reference mark size detection step is set based on the size of the reference mark detected by the step, the received image is restored to the original image based on the set magnification, and characters are determined based on the restored original image. The system is configured to recognize the following information.

(Function) In the FAX-OCR device configured in this manner, it is determined whether the received image is a resized version of the original image based on the size of the reference mark provided on the form. . If the received image is determined to have been changed in size from the original image, it will be restored to the original image. Even if there is a character, it is possible to perform character recognition processing from the received image.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a FAX-OCR device according to the same embodiment. In the same figure, FAX adapter 11
is connected to a communication line, and transfers attribute data (described later) of received images (hereinafter referred to as image data) sent and received via the communication line to a FAX machine (not shown) between the FAX machine and the FAX machine. It is used to confirm the information and also to send and receive image data. The FAX adapter 11 has
A FAX controller 1 that temporarily holds image data and attribute data received by the FAX adapter 11
2 is connected. The FAX controller 12 has a FAX
-Control unit 13 that controls each part constituting the OCR device
is connected. The control unit 13 includes a FAX controller 1
decoding the image data held by 2;
An image processing section 14 that performs enlargement/reduction processing and the like is connected.

The image processing unit 14 is connected to a sheet buffer 15 that stores an image (decoded image) obtained by decoding and enlarging/reducing the image data. sheet buffer 1
5 is connected to a recognition unit 16 that performs character recognition processing. The recognition section 1B detects a character pattern from the image stored in the sheet buffer 15, performs character recognition processing, and transfers the recognition result to the control section 13. In addition, the control unit 13
An input/output section 17 is connected to the . The input/output unit 17 includes, for example, a CRTlg and a keyboard (KB). The CRT 1g displays the recognition results etc. in the certification section IG via the control section 13. Further, the keyboard 19 is used when inputting correction data to the control unit 13 when there is a correction to the character recognition result.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

Here, it is assumed that image data of a form with a reference mark provided at a predetermined position is transmitted from a sending FAX device (not shown) connected to a communication line. Further, it is assumed that the form size specification on the sending side FAX device can be switched to A4 or B4, and the form size specification on the FAX adapter 11 of the FAX-OCR device is fixed to A4.

First, when image data transmission processing is started in the sending FAX device, a training mode is executed between the sending FAX device and the FAX adapter 11. That is, in the training mode, attribute data such as the image format of the image data to be transmitted, the resolution of the image data, the document size (horizontal direction), and the transmission rate are transmitted from the transmitting side FAX device to the FAX adapter 11.
Confirmation is performed with the FAX adapter 11. In addition,
The image format in the attribute data indicates whether the format of the image data is compressed or uncompressed, and if it is compressed, it is coded data indicating the encoding method. The encoding method includes MH
(Modified・)1human) MR (Modified Read), MMR (Modified MR), etc. are used. In addition, the resolution of image data is as follows for each of the main scanning direction resolution and sub-scanning direction resolution.
It is expressed in a predetermined unit (for example, dot/1nch or dot/111). When the training mode ends, the sending FAX device sends the image data to the FAX adapter. At this time, if the form size specification on the sending side fax machine is 84 and is different from the form size specification (A4) on the receiving side, the sending side fax machine will adjust the image data to match the form size specified on the receiving side. Reduce and send. For example, when reducing from B4 size to A4 size, the size is reduced by about 82% in both the vertical and horizontal directions.

The FAX adapter 11 sequentially outputs the received image data to the FAX controller 12. The FAX controller 12 buffers the image data while detecting line ends and data ends in the image data. Then, when the buffer is full or when the image data transfer ends (data end detected),
The image data in the buffer is transferred to the control unit 13.

After completing the image data transfer, the FAX controller 12 transfers the attribute data of the image data obtained in the training mode to the control unit 13.

The control unit 13 sets the following parameters (e, ax, ay) in the image processing unit 14 from the attribute data transferred from the FAX controller 12.

Image format - decoding method: e Main scanning direction resolution Lifetime scanning direction enlargement/reduction ratio: ax Sub-scanning direction resolution → Sub-scanning direction enlargement/reduction ratio: ay Where, e: For restoring image data to the original image Parameter ax for specifying the decoding method: Enlargement/reduction ratio ay in the main scanning direction when restoring image data to the original image; Enlargement/reduction ratio in the sub-scanning direction when restoring the image data to the original image.

First, the control unit 13 sets the main scanning direction enlargement/reduction ratio ax and the sub-scanning direction enlargement/reduction ratio ay to 100% for the image processing unit 14. That is, the parameter aX assumes that the specification of the form size on the sending side FAX device and the specification of the form size on the FAX-OCR device side are the same, and that the received image data is not enlarged/reduced.

Set ay to a value that does not perform enlargement/reduction.

After setting each parameter (e, ax, ay), the control unit 13 transfers the image data for the first time to the image processing unit 14. The image processing unit 14 performs decoding processing on the image data according to a predetermined encoding method among MH, MR, and MMR indicated by a parameter e, and a parameter ax indicating an enlargement/reduction ratio in the main/sub-scanning direction.

Enlargement/reduction processing is performed according to ay (no enlargement/reduction during the first image data transfer). Image processing section I
4 stores the image obtained by the decoding process and the enlargement/M sub-process in the sheet buffer 15. sheet buffer 1
An example of an image of the form 21 stored in 5 is shown in FIG.

When writing of the image to the sheet buffer 15 is completed, the control unit 13 instructs the recognition unit 1B to start character reading processing for the image stored in the sheet buffer. In response to instructions from the control unit 13, the recognition unit 1B searches for a reference mark according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the form 21 is provided with reference marks 22 to 24. This reference mark 22~
Reference numeral 24 serves as a reference for specifying the position and size of the image of the form 21 stored in the sheet buffer 15, and a specific size is set regardless of the size of the form 21.

Generally, these are printed in advance at predetermined positions on the form 21 (here, the upper left, upper right, and lower left). The recognition unit 1B sets a search area for detecting the reference mark 22 at the upper left of the image of the form 21 (step Sl). Even if the image stored in the sheet buffer 15 is the same size as the original image, this search area is an image that has been reduced from B4 size to A4 size (hereinafter referred to as a reduced image). Even in this case, the area includes the image of the reference mark 22. Then, the size of the reference mark (reduced size) when the image stored in the sheet buffer I5 is a reduced image is set as a reference value (step S2). Once the reduced size reference value is set, a size range that can be determined as a reference mark is set between the standard size and the reduced size reference value. Further, a standard size is set as a size reference value for the reference mark at the upper left. Next, recognition part IB
scans the sheet buffer 15 within the search area and searches for the reference mark 22 at the upper left (step S3). Here, if there is no image included in the size range that can be determined as a reference mark and the reference mark 22 at the upper left is not detected (step S4), the image stored in the sheet buffer 15 is not subject to processing. It is determined that the sheet is a form (sheet is rejected) and the process is terminated (step S5). Further, if it is determined in step S4 that the reference mark has been detected, the detected reference mark 2
2 size check is performed (step S6). Here, if the size of the reference mark 22 at the upper left is the standard size (step S7), it is determined that the image stored in the sheet buffer 15 is not reduced. Then, search areas for detecting the reference marks 23 and 24 at the upper right and lower left are respectively set (step S8). Also, the size reference values for the upper right and lower left reference marks are set as standard sizes (step S9
). Next, the recognition unit ill scans the sheet buffer 15 within the set search area and searches for the reference marks 23 and 24 at the upper right and lower left (step 510). Here, if the reference mark 23 or 24 at the upper right or lower left is not detected (step 5ll), it is determined that the image stored in the sheet buffer 15 is of a fine form to be processed (sheet reject). to end the process (
Step S5). Further, if it is determined that the reference marks 23 and 24 have been detected in step Sll, the image stored in the sheet buffer 15 is searched based on the position information indicated by the detected reference marks 22 to 24.
A character pattern is cut out, and character recognition processing is performed on this character pattern. The recognition unit 16 transfers the result of the character recognition process to the control unit 13. The control unit 13 edits the recognition results transferred from the recognition unit 1B,
The final character reading result is output to the input/output section 17, and the CRT
18.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S7 that the size of the reference mark 22 detected at the upper left is not the standard size, the size of the detected reference mark 22 is determined based on the reduced size reference value set in step S2. Determine whether or not is a predetermined reduced size (step 514)
. That is, the image stored in the sheet buffer 15 is
It is determined whether the image is a reduced image that has been reduced from B4 to A4. Here, the size of the reference mark 22 is set in advance in step S.
If the size is different from the basic reduction size set in step 2 (intermediate size), the image stored in the sheet buffer 15 is not subject to processing (sheet reject).
(Step S5) The process ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S14 that the size of the reference mark 22 is the predetermined reduced reference size, the image stored in the sheet buffer 15 has different document size specifications between the sending side and the receiving side. Therefore, the image data is regarded as a reduced image, and a request is made to the control unit 13 to enlarge and retransmit the image data (step 515). The control unit 13 is a recognition unit IB.
In response to an image enlargement and retransmission request from , each parameter is set in the image processing unit 14 again. That is,
Parameters (e, ax, ay) are set for enlarging the received image data from A4 to B4 size and for decoding. At this time, parameters ax and ay are set to an enlargement rate of 122.6% for enlarging from A4 size to B4 size. When the parameters are set again in the image processing section 14, the control section 13 instructs the image processing section 14 to transfer the image data for the second time. The image processing unit 14 decodes and enlarges the image data based on the set parameters, and stores the resulting image in the sheet buffer 15. below,
According to the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, the reference marks 22 to 24 are detected by the procedure described above. In the second image data transfer, since the image restored to the original image is stored in the sheet buffer 15, the reference marks 22 to 24 are normally detected and character reading processing is performed.

Note that when searching for the reference marks 22 to 24 from the image obtained by the second image data transfer, if the size of the reference mark 22 at the upper left is not standard,
If the reference marks 23 and 24 at the upper right and lower left are not detected, it is determined that the received image data is other than the form to be processed, and character reading processing is not performed.

Further, in the above embodiment, the form size specification of the sending side FAX device is A4 or B4, and the receiving side FAX
Although the case has been described in which the specification of the document size in the OCR device is fixed to A4, it is also possible to specify other document sizes on the transmitting side and the receiving side. In this case, in the search process for the reference marks 22 to 24 from the image stored in the sheet buffer 15,
Standard value used to judge the size of 24 (reduced size).

Standard size) should be set to a value that corresponds to the form size specification.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, the FAX controller 1
Although the configuration is such that the fax controller 2 and the controller 13 are separated, the controller 13 may replace the function of the fax controller 12.

Further, the FAX controller may be a storage type exchange equipped with a receiving image buffer.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, since the document size specifications are different between the sending FAX device and the receiving FAX-OCR device, image data different from the size of the original image is Even when received, the image data is restored to the original image based on the size of the reference mark provided on the form, so it is possible to perform character recognition processing from the received image data. be.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an image processing apparatus (FA) according to an embodiment of the present invention.
A block diagram showing the configuration of the X-OCR device, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an image of a form stored in a sheet buffer in the same embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a reference mark detected from the image shown in FIG. 2. It is a flowchart which shows a processing procedure. 11...FAX adapter, 12...FAX controller, 13...control unit, 14...image processing unit (
original image restoration means), 15... Sheet buffer, 1G.
...Recognition part.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An image processing device that receives an image of a form with a reference mark provided at a predetermined position via a communication line, and recognizes characters written on the form based on the received image, a reference mark size detection means for detecting the size of the reference mark from the received image; and a reference mark size detection means for detecting the size of the reference mark from the received image; a determination means for determining whether or not the received image is a resized original image; Setting means for setting based on the size of the reference mark detected by the mark size detection means; Original image restoring means for restoring the received image to the original image based on the magnification set by the setting means. An image processing apparatus characterized in that the image processing apparatus performs character recognition based on the original image restored by the original image restoration means.