JPH04320573A - Character data sorting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce cost and to prevent the appearance of card from being deteriorated without printing out sorting information such as a bar code on the card in a character data sorting device for reading out/sorting character data written in the card such as a name card. CONSTITUTION:A data base allowing the writing format of character data on a name card 1 to correspond to a keyword in the character data is previously stored in a RAM 13 or a magnetic disk device 10. A CPU 11 recognizes a prescribed keyword from read data based upon the program control of a ROM 12, extracts the character data writing format based upon the keyword from said data base and sorts the read data based upon the writing format. Thereby it is unnecessary to print out sorting information such as a bar code on the card.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character data sorting device for reading character data written on cards such as business cards and automatically classifying the read data.

0002

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in a device that reads character data written on cards such as business cards and automatically sorts them, classification information such as a bar code is printed on the cards together with the character data. There is a system that reads text along with character data and classifies the read data based on the classification information.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, with such conventional sorting devices, it is necessary to print sorting information such as barcodes on the cards, which not only increases costs but also makes the cards look bad. There is a problem.

[0004] Particularly in the case of business cards, it is both realistic and impossible to print classification information such as the above-mentioned barcodes on each business card in advance for each company.

[0005]The present invention was developed in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to automatically classify character data written on a card without printing classification information such as a bar code on the card, thereby reducing costs and reducing costs. It is an object of the present invention to provide a character data classification device that prevents deterioration of the appearance of cards.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a character data sorting device that reads character data written on a card such as a business card and classifies the read data. A database is prepared in advance in which data writing formats correspond to predetermined keywords in the character data, and after reading the character data, the keywords in the read data are recognized and the writing format corresponding to the keywords is created from the database. The method is characterized in that the read data is extracted and the read data is classified based on this writing format.

[0007]

[Operation] In the above configuration, a database is provided in which the writing format of character data on the card is associated with keywords in the character data, and after reading the character data, a predetermined keyword is recognized from the read data. However, since the writing format of character data based on the keyword is retrieved from the database and the read data is classified based on this writing format, there is no need to print classification information such as a bar code on the card.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the character data classification device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an embodiment of a character data classification device and an example of a business card conveyance device.

[0010] The character data classification device 5 is constituted by a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer).
A personal computer main body 6 comprising U11, ROM 12, RAM 13 and an input/output interface (I/F) 14 and connected through an internal bus 15, and a reading section 3 such as an OCR connected via the input/output interface 14. Input devices 7 such as a keyboard and mouse, peripheral devices such as a display device (CRT) 8, a printer 9, and a magnetic disk device 10 are provided. The reading section 3 and the input/output interface 14 are connected via a cable 4 such as RS 232C, and the character data read by the reading section 3 is sent to the personal computer of the character data sorting device 5 via this cable 4. 6 as read data.

In addition to various system programs executed by the CPU 11 for character recognition processing such as character reading and pattern matching, the ROM 12 also contains a system program for character data classification processing according to the present invention, that is, A program is stored for the CPU 11 to recognize a predetermined keyword from the read data, retrieve from the database a writing format for character data based on the keyword, and classify the read data based on this writing format. There is.

Further, the RAM 13 or the magnetic disk drive 10 stores a database storing standard patterns for each character for pattern matching and at least character string patterns of entire keywords, and a database storing keywords for each company, that is, for each business card. and the writing format of the character data for each business card, that is, the "
A database is stored in advance in which character data such as "department/section name", "name", "address", "telephone number", etc. are mapped to the arrangement on the business card 1, and the database is stored in advance in the magnetic disk device 10.
If those databases are stored in
Store in AM13. Note that the keywords for each business card are usually the "company name" and the form or shape of the "company emblem" as well as the writing format of the business card for each company. Use "chapter".

[0013] Further, the business card conveying device 2 automatically sends the business cards 1 one by one, and displays character data such as "company name", "name", and "telephone number" printed on the sent business cards 1. The motor 21, roller 2
2. A business card holding spring 23 and the like are provided.

Next, character data classification processing by the character data classification device and business card conveyance device configured as described above will be explained with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 and 3.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, business cards 1 are fed one by one in the business card conveying device 2 (step 100).
The reading unit 3 reads character data from the business card 1 (step 110), and transfers the read data to the personal computer 6 of this device via the cable 4 (step 12).
0), the personal computer body 6 performs recognition and classification processing on the sent read data (step 130).

The detailed process of this step 130 is shown in FIG. 3. First, the CPU 11 performs character recognition processing using a technique such as pattern matching (step 210).
, if each read data can be recognized, that is, if the recognition rate is above a predetermined value (step 220 "Yes"), keyword detection and identification are performed (step 230). Detection and identification of the keyword is performed by comparing the pattern of the read data with the pattern of the entire keyword character string stored in the RAM 13 after the CPU 11 recognizes the character.

Further, if each read data cannot be recognized, that is, if the recognition rate is not higher than a predetermined value (step 220 "N
o”), it is thought that the business card could not be recognized due to the difference in vertical and horizontal writing, so the read data was rotated 90 degrees (step 270), and the read data was re-recognized and a judgment was made as to whether it could be recognized (step 210). , 220)
. If steps 270, 210, and 220 are performed until the read data rotates at least once, the character data will always be recognized unless there is a large amount of character data that is not registered as a pattern. Note that the method of rotating read data by 90 degrees is, for example, in the case of pattern matching read data, that is, binarized read data, for each "
This can be done by a method such as converting elements of a row into corresponding elements of each column.

[0018] When the keyword is detected and identified in step 230, if the keyword is detected and identified (step 240 "Yes"), that is, if the keyword has already been input, the keyword is Each character data on a business card is classified according to the pre-registered description format corresponding to the business card, that is, the arrangement of character data such as "department name" and "name" on the business card that is predetermined for each business card. , the classified character data is displayed on the CRT 8, for example, as shown in FIG. 4 (step 250). According to this, for example, after character recognition in step 210, for each read data, whether or not the character string has a predetermined meaning is checked against information (idioms) that has a predetermined meaning stored in a database. There is no need for classification.

On the other hand, if the keyword cannot be identified in step 240 (step 230 "No")
In other words, if the keyword has not been input, a message indicating that the keyword cannot be identified will be displayed on the screen of the CRT 8 along with the read data in response to a command from the CPU 11, and the operator can check the character data on the business card while observing the screen. input the description format and its keyword, and store the description format and keyword in correspondence in the database in the RAM 13 (step 2
80). As a result, from the next time onwards, if a keyword is detected and identified in the same description format as that business card, that is, a business card of the same company (step 230), the keyword registered in the database in RAM 13 and the corresponding keyword will be detected and identified. Keywords can be identified by the description format (
(Step 240 "Yes"), character data such as "name" and "telephone number" are automatically classified according to the entered description format (step 250). So far,
This is the process of step 130.

Next, returning to FIG. 2, the classified character data is displayed on the CRT8 screen as shown in FIG. 4, so the operator can modify or add data on the screen while observing it. If there is, it is done, and the CPU 11 temporarily stores the classified and corrected character data in the RAM 13 according to the operator's operation (step 14).
0). Note that the data correction in step 140 is not necessarily necessary, and the correction/addition may not be performed.

[0021] Next, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the business card currently subjected to classification processing is the last one (step 150).
If it is determined that the business card is the last one (step 160 "Yes"), the character data that has been temporarily stored in the RAM 13 is stored all at once in the magnetic disk device 10 of the external storage device. (Step 160). On the other hand, if it is determined that the classified business card is not the last one (step 150 "No"), then step 100 is performed.
The above processes from 170 to 170 are repeated until the last business card is left.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, after character data is read, a keyword is recognized from the read data, a writing style of character data based on the keyword is retrieved from the database, and a writing style is written based on this writing style. Since the read data is classified, the character data written on the card is automatically classified without printing a bar code or classification information on the business card, thereby reducing costs and preventing deterioration of the appearance of the card.

In addition, in FIG. 4, C of character data after classification processing is shown.
An example of the display on the RT8 screen is shown. The A column at the top of the screen displays the process currently being executed, such as character data "reading,""recognition," and "save." If the keywords can be identified and the read data can be classified in step 240 in step 3, for example, "Technical Headquarters", "System XXX Research Institute", "No. ”, “Telephone number (TEL)
” are displayed in bullet points, and the recognition results (for example, “Recognition O
"K", "Recognition NO") are displayed over several lines.

Furthermore, if the keyword cannot be identified, the read data is displayed as is without being classified in the center of the screen, and "" is displayed in column B at the bottom of the screen as shown in FIG.
This format cannot be classified. Please specify the distinction in the first line. A message to the operator will be displayed if the keyword cannot be identified. If such a message or the above "Recognition No." is displayed on the screen, use keyword 7a and mouse 7b to sort the data displayed in the center of the screen or correct character data that could not be recognized. It is done using

Furthermore, if it is determined in step 220 in FIG. 3 that character recognition is not possible, the read data is rotated 90 degrees in step 270 and character recognition is performed again in step 210. For example, the reading direction when reading character data is changed vertically and horizontally so that the difference between vertical and horizontal writing can be dealt with, and after this process, the process returns to the character data reading process of step 110 in FIG. Also good.

Further, in this embodiment, a business card has been described, but the present invention is not limited to a business card, and may of course be a book card or a card on which a general document such as a medical examination card is written.

[0027]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, in the present invention,
A database is prepared in advance in which the writing format of character data on cards such as business cards is associated with the keywords in the character data, and after reading the character data, the keyword is recognized from the read data and the keyword is created based on the keyword. Since the text data writing format is retrieved from the database and the read data is classified based on this writing format, the text data written on the card can be automatically read without printing barcodes or classification information on business cards. It is possible to reduce costs and prevent deterioration in the appearance of cards.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a character data classification device and an example of a business card conveyance device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing character data classification processing performed by the character data classification device and business card transport device of this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing detailed processing of step 130 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the result of classification processing of character data on the screen of a display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Business card 2 Business card conveyance device 3 Reading section 4 Cable 5 Character data classification device 6　　PC body 10 Magnetic disk device 11 CPU 12 ROM 13 RAM

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A character data classification device that reads character data written on a card such as a business card and classifies the read data; A corresponding database is prepared in advance, and after reading the character data,
A character data classification device that recognizes a keyword in the read data, retrieves the description format corresponding to the keyword from the database, and classifies the read data based on the description format.