JPH04142690A - Pattern recognition device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a pattern recognition processor to carry out necessary dictionary registration or correction appropriately and efficiently by providing a dictionary registration means with a means of referring to information about correction of an erroneously recognized character by a postprocessing means to output a message for assisting the user to recognize a correct character. CONSTITUTION:The above pattern recognition processor is provided with a recognition means 5 of recognizing an input pattern by means of pattern matching with pattern dictionary d1, a postprocessing means of correcting the result of recognition by the recognition means 5 using the dictionary of knowledge such as words or the like, and a dictionary registration means 4 of carrying out dictionary registration or correction processing. Further, the dictionary registration means 4 is provided with a means of outputting a message for assisting the user to recognize what registration or correction of dictionary should be done by referring to information about correction done by a postprocessing means on erroneously recognized character the user specified. Thereby, necessary dictionary registration or correction can be carried out firmly and efficiently without charging the user with burden.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] Books! @Akira is character recognition jI! The present invention relates to a pattern recognition device such as a speech recognition device or a speech recognition device, and particularly to a pattern recognition device that performs recognition by input pattern matching and corrects the result using knowledge of words and the like.

do.

[Conventional technology]

For example, in a character recognition device, an input character pattern is recognized by pattern matching, but there is a limit to improving the recognition rate by pattern matching alone. Therefore, recently, post-processing has been performed to correct the recognition results obtained by pattern matching using a dictionary of knowledge such as rules and words regarding the position and size of character patterns.

Furthermore, since the pattern characteristics of handwritten characters vary considerably depending on the writer, it is necessary to register (update) the pattern dictionary when a recognition error occurs. Furthermore, since it is impossible to register in advance all the words and other rules that may appear in the dictionary of words used for post-processing, GL records (updates) are performed as necessary. Must be.

Regarding registration (update) of such a dictionary, an information input device ( voice recognition device)
is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 156998/1983.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, as stated in the above-mentioned Patent Publication, it is dangerous to immediately instruct the pattern dictionary to be updated just because a word has been corrected by matching.

In other words, it is impossible to pre-register a word dictionary that covers every word, so even if there is no problem with the pattern dictionary, incorrect corrections may occur due to deficiencies in the word dictionary. .

In this case, even if the pattern dictionary is registered, the same correction will be repeated by matching words, which will confuse the user.

In this case, a new word corresponding to the input word should be registered.

In addition, what kind of dictionary to avoid such inconvenience! ! Even if we leave it up to the user to decide whether or not to use green, current character recognition devices do not provide the user with the information to make such a decision accurately, making it difficult to properly register the text in a dictionary. It wasn't easy.

An object of the present invention is to appropriately register or modify the required dictionary in a pattern recognition device such as a character recognition device or a speech recognition device that corrects recognition results by pattern matching using a dictionary of knowledge such as words in post-processing. and to be able to do so efficiently.

[Means for Solving the Problem] The invention described in claim (1) of the claims is an I! that recognizes an input pattern by pattern matching. ! A pattern recognition device comprising: a post-processing means for modifying the recognition result of the recognition means using a dictionary of knowledge such as words; and a dictionary registration means for registering or modifying the i-written dictionary. , by referring to the dictionary registration means information regarding corrections made by the post-processing means to misrecognized characters specified by the user, the dictionary registering means can determine which one of the ! The invention as set forth in claim (2) of the present invention is characterized in that it has a means for outputting a message to assist the user in determining whether to make a correction or not. , a pattern recognition device comprising a post-processing means and a dictionary registration means, wherein the dictionary registration means receives a first candidate obtained by the recognition means and a correct answer input by the user for an incorrectly recognized character specified by the user. A message for helping the user determine which entry or correction should be made in the dictionary by comparing with the characters and by referring to information regarding corrections made to the misrecognized characters by the post-processing means. The invention as recited in claim (3) is characterized in that the pattern recognition apparatus includes a recognition means, a post-processing means, and a dictionary registration means as described above. Means for selecting one of the dictionaries in the dictionary registration means by referring to information regarding corrections made by the post-processing means to misrecognized characters specified by the user, and activating the registration or correction process. The invention as recited in claim (4) is characterized in that, in a pattern recognition device comprising a recognition means, a post-processing means, and a dictionary registration means as described above, the dictionary registration means has a , regarding the correction made to the incorrectly recognized character by comparing the first candidate obtained by the recognition means with the correct character input by the user for the incorrectly recognized character specified by the user, and by the post-processing means to the incorrectly recognized character specified by the user. The present invention is characterized by having a means for selecting one of the dictionaries by referring to the information and starting processing for registering or modifying the dictionary.

[For production]

According to the invention described in claim (1) or (2), the user can easily and accurately determine the necessary dictionary registration or modification by referring to the message, and can perform the process.

According to the invention described in claim (3) or (4), it is possible to automatically select and perform appropriate dictionary registration or modification without depending on the user's judgment.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a character recognition device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 is a scanner that reads an image of a document and inputs it as binary data, and 2 is an image memory that stores the input image data. 3 is a central processing unit (CPU) that executes various processes and controls; 4 is a program memo 1 that stores various processes executed by the CPU 3, control programs, operating systems, etc.; and 5 is an intermediate unit for processing by the CPU 3. A work memory for storing data, processing result data, etc.; 6 a dictionary memory for storing a pattern dictionary d1 for recognizing input characters by pattern matching; a word dictionary d2 and a rule dictionary d3 for post-processing; It is. 7, 8 and 9 are a display, keyboard and mouse for a user interface.

Examples of programs related to character recognition stored in the program memory 4 include a preprocessing program pl for preprocessing the images stored in the image memory 2, such as character image extraction and character image normalization;

A recognition program p2 for character recognition by pattern matching, a post-processing program p3 for post-processing the recognition results by pattern matching using a word dictionary d2 and a rule dictionary d3, and a modification to correct the recognition results. A dictionary for registering the processing program p4, pattern dictionary d1 or word dictionary d2, or registering or modifying the rule dictionary d3! Ef! There is a program p5.

Note that this dictionary registration program p5 allows the user to select four types of modes by operating the keyboard 8 or mouse 9. The first mode and the second mode are
This mode leaves the decision of what kind of dictionary registration (modification) should be performed to the user. The third mode and the fourth mode are modes in which the user does not intervene in the judgment.

Next, the contents of the character recognition process will be explained.

When the image data of the original is stored in the image memory 2, a preprocessing program pi is started, and lines are cut out from the input image, and then character images are cut out and normalized. The normalized character image and character cutting information are temporarily stored in the work memory 5.

For example, when one or more lines of character image extraction is completed, the recognition program p2 is started and character recognition is executed by pattern matching of the normalized character images.

Specifically, the feature amount of the character image is extracted, a distance calculation is performed with each pattern dictionary d1 (standard pattern feature amount) stored in the dictionary memory 6, and the candidates are sorted in descending order of distance. It can be obtained up to the nth position. The candidate character codes are stored in the recognition result area a1 of the work memory 5.

For example, when recognition results are obtained by pattern matching for one or more lines, the post-processing program p3 is activated, and post-processing is performed on the recognition results within the recognition result area 1.

First, the extraction information and candidate character codes stored in the work memory 5 are referred to, and the relative position of the character image within the line (related to the distinction between "・" and ",", etc.), the character size ( Since character images are normalized, this is related to the distinction between C and C, etc.)
, character type (if there is a kanji numeral "-" in the katakana string, change it to a katakana long sound symbol "-", etc.)
By applying the rule dictionary d3, which is the knowledge of
The candidate character string by pattern matching in the recognition result area mil is corrected, and the correction result is stored in the final recognition result area a2. Also, for characters that have been modified,
Predetermined unique numerical information is stored as correction information in a pair with the recognition result in the recognition result area a2.

Morphological analysis and matching with the word dictionary d2 are performed on the character strings in the final recognition result Ariami2, and necessary corrections are made. If the information is modified here, predetermined unique numerical information is stored as modification information in the final recognition result area a2 as a pair with the recognition result. The recognition result after this processing becomes the final recognition result.

When such character recognition is completed for, for example, one document (the first candidate in the final recognition result Ariami 2 is displayed on the display 7 screen), start the correction processing program p4. The recognition result can be corrected, and the dictionary registration program p5 can be activated to perform dictionary registration related to the misrecognized character. It is also possible to perform correction processing and dictionary registration at the same time.

Next, dictionary registration processing will be explained for each mode.

In addition, FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the first mode, FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the second mode, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the third mode.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the fourth mode.

The first mode user specifies the misrecognized character on the screen of the 5-display 7 using, for example, the mouse 9.

The dictionary registration program p5 waits for a designation input of a misrecognized character (step 100), and when a misrecognized character is specified, reads numerical information (correction information) corresponding to the misrecognized character from the final recognition result area a2. Step 102), a message corresponding to the numerical information is output on the display screen (Step 104), and instructions are received from the user (Step 106).

For example, the relationship between the read numerical information and the output message is as follows. If the numerical information means no modification in post-processing, there is a high possibility that the specified misrecognized character was erroneously recognized in the recognition process using the pattern dictionary, so a message recommending registration in the pattern dictionary is output. Numerical information is a word dictionary d
If it means correction by post-processing using 2, there is a high possibility that the word is incorrect because the necessary word is not registered in the word dictionary d2, so a message recommending that the word be registered in the word dictionary is output. If the numerical information means correction by post-processing using the rule dictionary d3, there is a high possibility that the necessary rules in the rule dictionary d3 are unregistered (or inappropriate) and are incorrect, so the rule dictionary registration (or If both numerical information indicating correction in post-processing using the 6-word dictionary d2 and numerical information indicating correction in post-processing using the rule dictionary d3 are read out, a message recommending correction) is read out. may be wrong because the required unit or rule is not registered in both or one of the dictionaries (or the rule is inappropriate), so either the rule dictionary registration or the word dictionary registration. Or output a message recommending registration (correction) of both.

The user refers to the message output on the display screen, decides whether or not to register (modify) the dictionary, and which dictionary to register (modify), and then displays the decision using the mouse 9.
Or input using the keyboard 8.

When dictionary registration II (correction) is instructed, the dictionary registration program p5 registers (corrects) the dictionary specified by the user, but at that time outputs an input message on the display screen prompting for input of necessary information. (step 108
). Following the input messages on the display screen, the user inputs the correct character for the incorrect ms character when registering a pattern dictionary, the word he or she wants to register when registering a word dictionary, and the information about the rule he or she wants to register when registering a rule dictionary. Each input is made from the keyboard 8. When pattern dictionary registration is specified, the dictionary registration program p5 reads, for example, the feature amount of the misrecognized character previously extracted by the recognition program p2 from the work memory 5, and reads it as is or after performing necessary processing. , the code of the correct character input by the user is associated and registered in the pattern dictionary dl. When the word dictionary GL is specified, the word (character string) input by the user is registered in the word dictionary d2. If rule dictionary registration (modification) is specified,
The user registers information on rules specified by the user in the rule dictionary d3 (or modifies the contents of the rule dictionary d3).

The second mode user specifies the misrecognized character on the screen of the display 7 using, for example, the mouse 9 and also uses the keyboard 8.
Enter the correct character using .

The dictionary registration program p5 waits for the designation of the misrecognized character and the input of the correct character (step 200). When the misrecognized character is designated and the correct character is input, the dictionary registration program p5 updates the recognition result of the recognition program p2 for the misrecognized character. The character code of the first candidate is read from the recognition result area a1, and a match is determined with the code of the correct character (step 202
).

If the first candidate character and the correct character do not match, the dictionary registration program p5 outputs a message to the screen of the display 7 to the effect that pattern dictionary registration is necessary (step 206), and waits for the user's decision (step 206). 206
), the user makes a decision as to whether or not to register the pattern dictionary by referring to the message on the screen, and inputs the decision result from the keyboard 8. When a registration instruction is input from the user, the dictionary registration program p5 reads the feature amount of the misrecognized character previously extracted by the recognition program p2, for example, from the work memory 5, and uses it as it is or after performing necessary processing. are registered in the pattern dictionary d1 in association with the code of the correct character input by the user (step 208).

If it is determined that there is a match in step 202, the dictionary registration program p5 stores the numerical information (
(Step 210), a message corresponding to the numerical information is output on the display screen (Step 212), and instructions from the user are awaited (Step 214).

For example, the relationship between the read numerical information and the output message is as follows. If the numerical information means correction by post-processing using the word dictionary d2, a message to the effect that word dictionary registration is necessary is output. If the numerical information indicates correction by post-processing using the rule dictionary d3, a message indicating that registration in the rule dictionary is required is output. If both numerical information indicating correction in post-processing using word dictionary d2 and numerical information indicating correction in post-processing using rule dictionary d3 are read, rule dictionary registration or word dictionary registration is performed. Outputs a message to the effect that one or both of the above must be registered.

Referring to the message output on the display screen, the user decides whether or not to register (modify) the dictionary and which dictionary to register (modify), and uses the mouse 9 or keyboard 8 to transmit the decision result. Enter using

When dictionary wall # (modification) is instructed, the dictionary registration program p5 registers (modifies) the dictionary specified by the user.
At that time, an input message prompting the input of necessary information is output on the display screen (step 216).
. In accordance with the input messages on the display screen, the user inputs the word he or she wishes to register using the keyboard 8 when registering a word dictionary, and inputs necessary rule information when performing rule dictionary wall #k (correction). The dictionary registration program p5 registers the word input by the user in the word dictionary d2 when word dictionary registration is specified, and registers the word input by the user in the word dictionary d2 when rule dictionary registration (correction) is specified. Information in rule dictionary d3! 71 (correct the contents of the rule dictionary d3 based on the input information).

The third mode user specifies the misrecognized character on the display screen using, for example, the mouse 9.

The d-registration program p5 waits for input of designation of the misrecognized character (step 300), and when the misrecognition character is specified, reads numerical information (correction information) corresponding to the misrecognized character from the final recognition result area a2. (step 302), and selects and activates a dictionary registration function based on the numerical information (step 304). The method for selecting this function is the same as in the first mode, except that the user's judgment is not intervened. be. Then, an input message prompting the input of necessary information along with the name of the activated dictionary registration function is output on the display screen (step 306), and an input from the user is waited for (step 3o8).

According to the input message, the user inputs the correct character when the pattern dictionary registration function is selected, the word when the word dictionary registration function is selected, and the user inputs the correct character when the rule dictionary registration (correction) function is selected. Enter information about the rule you want to register (or information for modifying the rule).

The dictionary registration program p5 registers (modifies) the selected dictionary using the information input by the user (
step 310).

In the fourth mode, the user specifies the misrecognized character on the display screen using, for example, the mouse 9, and inputs the correct character using the keyboard 8.

The dictionary registration program p5 waits for the specification of the misrecognized character and the input of the correct character (step 400), and when this input is made, it recognizes the first candidate character of the recognition result by pattern matching for the specified misrecognition character. Results area a1
This is read out and checked to see if it matches the input correct character (step 402).

If this comparison does not match, the dictionary registration program p5 selects and starts the pattern dictionary registration function in step 404.
), the process of registering the pattern of the misrecognized character in the pattern dictionary d1 is executed (step 406).

If the comparison in step 402 results in a match, the dictionary registration program p5 reads numerical information corresponding to the misrecognized character, that is, correction information, from the final recognition result area a2 (step 408), and registers the necessary word dictionary by analyzing it. Alternatively, select and activate one or both of the rule dictionary registration (modification) functions (step 410), output an input message on the display screen prompting for the name of the function and necessary information (step 412), and Wait for input (step 414).

When the user inputs the necessary information, the dictionary registration program p5 uses the input information to select the dictionary wall a(
correction) processing is executed (step 416).

The embodiments of the character rE recognition device have been described above.
The present invention can be similarly applied to a speech recognition device that recognizes a single syllable by matching patterns and performs post-processing using a word dictionary or the like.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above in detail, according to the present invention.

Since necessary dictionary registration or modification can be performed accurately and efficiently without placing a burden on the user, it is possible to realize a character recognition device that is more user-friendly and easier to use than ever before.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a character recognition device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and 2rgJ to @58U are flowcharts for explaining each mode of dictionary registration processing. 1... Scanner, 2... Image memory, 3
...CPU, 4...Program memory, 5
...Work memory, 6.Dictionary memory, 7.
・・Display, 8・Keyboard, 9・
...Mouse, dl-...Pattern dictionary, d2...Word dictionary, d3...Rule dictionary, pl...Pre-processing program, p2...Recognition program, p3...
Post-processing program, p4...correction processing program,
p5...Dictionary registration program. Second calculation mode. Figure 3 Figure 4 v3 mode

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A recognition means for recognizing an input pattern by pattern matching with a pattern dictionary, a post-processing means for modifying the recognition result by the recognition means using a dictionary of knowledge such as words, and a post-processing means for registering or modifying the dictionary. and dictionary registration means for processing, and the dictionary registration means registers any of the registrations or registrations in the dictionary by referring to information regarding corrections made by the post-processing means to misrecognized characters specified by the user. A pattern recognition device characterized by having means for outputting a message to help a user decide whether or not to make a correction. (2) a recognition means for recognizing an input pattern by pattern matching with a pattern dictionary; a post-processing means for modifying the recognition result by the recognition means using a dictionary of knowledge such as words; and a post-processing means for registering or modifying the dictionary. and a dictionary registration means for processing, and the dictionary registration means compares the first candidate obtained by the recognition means with the correct character input by the user for the misrecognized character specified by the user. and means for outputting a message to help the user determine which entry or correction should be made in the dictionary by referring to information regarding corrections made to the misrecognized characters by the post-processing means. A pattern recognition device characterized by: (3) a recognition means for recognizing an input pattern by pattern matching with a pattern dictionary; a post-processing means for modifying the recognition result by the recognition means using a dictionary of knowledge such as words; and a post-processing means for registering or modifying the dictionary. dictionary registration means for performing processing, and the dictionary registration means selects one of the dictionaries by referring to information regarding corrections made by the post-processing means to misrecognized characters specified by the user. A pattern recognition device characterized in that it has means for activating a registration or modification process. (4) a recognition means for recognizing an input pattern by pattern matching with a pattern dictionary; a post-processing means for modifying the recognition result by the recognition means using a dictionary of knowledge such as words; and a post-processing means for registering or modifying the dictionary. and a dictionary registration means for processing, and the dictionary registration means compares the first candidate obtained by the recognition means with the correct character input by the user for the misrecognized character specified by the user. and means for selecting one of the dictionaries and activating its registration or correction process by referring to information regarding corrections made by the post-processing means to the erroneously recognized characters. recognition device.