JPH05151388A - Designating system for processing area and processing condition - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simultaneously designate a processing area and a processing condition, and to simplify a designating work by writing directly a linear graphic having a shape feature corresponding to the processing condition, in a document. CONSTITUTION:A document is read by a scanner 1, its image is inputted to an area/condition determining device 2, and by recognizing a linear graphic of a marker on the document by this area/condition determining device 2, a processing area and a processing condition (or the contents) are determined. This determined contents and the document image are sent to an image processor 3, in which a processing by the determined processing condition is performed to the processing area, and the processed image is outputted by an output device 4. In such a way, by writing directly a linear graphic having a shape feature corresponding to the processing condition, in the document, the processing area and the processing condition can be designated simultaneously to a system for reading and processing the document image, and the designating work becomes extremely simple.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital copier having a function of editing a manuscript image, a facsimile, an optical character recognition system, and various other systems for reading and processing a manuscript image. The present invention relates to a method of designating a processing area of a document and its processing condition.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of system, when a processing area of an original is designated, a line surrounding the processing area is directly written on the original by using a marker (color felt-tip pen or the like) to recognize it. For example, JP-A-2-253
No. 377), or using a tablet, or a mouse or the like on the display screen on which the original image is displayed, by which the area is designated by coordinates (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-
No. 86015) has been adopted. In order to specify what kind of processing (processing condition or content) is to be performed on the designated area, a method is generally used in which a processing selection key is used after the area is designated.

[0003]

However, the method of separately specifying the area and the processing condition or the content for the area is not only troublesome for the specifying work, but also when a large number of originals are to be processed, each original is to be processed. Since the processing area and the processing conditions are usually different, the processing is interrupted every time one sheet is processed, the processing is restarted by specifying the area and processing conditions, and continuous processing (batch processing) is performed. There is a big problem that you can't.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to specify a processing area and processing condition which can simultaneously specify a processing area and its processing condition (or processing content) by a simple operation and which is not inconvenient for batch processing of many originals. To provide.

[0005]

The essence of the present invention is as follows. When specifying the processing area and processing conditions of the manuscript,
Use a marker such as a color felt-tip pen to directly write a line figure surrounding the area to be processed on the document. At this time, select a figure with a predefined shape feature corresponding to the processing conditions as the line figure to be written. .. Then, in the system for reading and processing the original image, the line figure written with the marker on the original is recognized from the read original image,
The range of the line figure is determined as the processing area, and the processing condition is determined based on the shape feature of the line figure.

[0006]

As described above, by directly writing the line figure having the shape feature corresponding to the processing condition on the original, the processing region and the processing condition can be designated at one time, and the designation work is extremely simple.

Further, when it is desired to process a large number of originals, it suffices to write necessary line graphics on all the originals in advance.
In the system, it is possible to perform continuous processing (batch processing) on a large number of originals by sequentially performing necessary processing on each original while determining a processing area and processing conditions.

[0008]

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

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a processing system according to each embodiment described later. The outline of this system is that a document is read by the scanner 1 and the image is input to the area / condition determining device 2, and the area / condition determining device 2
The processing area and processing condition (or content) are determined by recognizing the line figure of the marker on the document. The contents of the determination and the original image are sent to the image processing apparatus 3, where the processing area is processed under the determined processing conditions, and the processed image is output by the output device 4.

More specifically, when this system is a digital copier, the image processing apparatus 3 performs, for example, masking processing on a designated area of the original image, or trimming that leaves only the designated area. Processing is performed, and the processed document image is printed out by the output device 4. When this system is a facsimile, for example, an original image subjected to similar masking processing and trimming processing is sent to the line by the output device 4. In the case of an optical character recognition system, the image processing device 3 performs recognition processing on a specified area under specified conditions, and the recognition result is printed out by the output device 4, displayed on a screen or stored in a storage medium. Will be stored.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the area / condition determining device 2. The original image input from the scanner 1 is buffered in the image buffer 11 and sent to the image processing apparatus 3. The marker line segment detection unit 12 reads the document image from the image buffer 11, extracts the line segment of the line figure directly written on the document with the marker, and the line figure recognition unit 1 based on the extracted line segment information.
The line shape of the marker is recognized in 3. The condition determination unit 14
The recognized shape feature of the line figure is collated with the shape feature of the line figure previously defined for each processing condition, and the image processing apparatus 3 is notified of the processing condition with the matched shape feature. Further, the area determination unit 15 detects the coordinates of the upper left corner and the lower right corner of the rectangle circumscribing the recognized line figure, and notifies the image processing apparatus of the area information as area information.

The process of recognizing the line figure from the binary image can be easily realized by a known technique. In addition, the technology of detecting the line segment of the marker
For example, it is described in detail in JP-A-2-25377. Hereinafter, each example will be described individually.

Embodiment 1 This embodiment relates to a system such as a digital copier or a facsimile having a manuscript editing function. Here, as the editing process, a masking process that deletes the inside of the specified region and a trimming process that leaves only the inside of the specified region and deletes other parts can be specified.

Then, a simple rectangle such as the figure 21 shown in FIG. 3 is defined as a line figure for designating a region for trimming processing, and a figure connecting the diagonal lines of the rectangle such as the figure 22 is defined as a region for masking processing. Define as a line figure to specify. Therefore, the condition determining unit 14 of the system
Can use the presence or absence of a diagonal line (shape feature) to determine the processing conditions.

When the system user writes the line drawing 22 with a marker on the original 25 as shown in FIG. 4, for example, the system side specifies the range of the circumscribed rectangle of the line drawing 22 in the area / condition determining device 2. Since it is an area and there is a diagonal line, the processing condition is determined to be masking processing. Then, the image processing apparatus 3 performs masking processing on the designated area, and the image 26 shown in FIG. 4 is output by the output apparatus 4 (printout or transmission).

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, with respect to the original 27 in which the line figure 21 of the trimming process is written by the marker, the image 28 in which only the inside of the circumscribed rectangle of this line figure is left is output. ..

Regarding the processes such as the inversion process, the rotation process, the mirror surface process, the blurring process, etc., the shapes of the line figures corresponding to the respective processes are defined, and the manuscripts are filled in with the markers according to this definition to specify them. The processing can be performed simultaneously with the area designation.

Embodiment 2 This embodiment relates to an optical character recognition system. In this embodiment, a rectangle whose one side is an arrow is used as a line figure for designating a region, and the direction of the arrow on one side of this line figure designates a character direction, which is one of the processing conditions.

That is, the figures 51a to 5 as shown in FIG.
4b is defined corresponding to the character direction. When the character direction is designated as the upward direction, the figure 51a or 51b is selected, and this is written on the original with a marker. The other character directions are the same. The condition determining unit 14 of the system
The direction of the arrow of the line figure on the document can be used as the shape feature for determining the character direction.

For example, in the case of the manuscript 56 shown in FIG. 7, the line figure 57 marked with a marker is the figure 53a or 5 shown in FIG.
It has the same shape characteristics as 3b. Also, the line figure 58
Has the same shape feature as the figure 51a or 51b in FIG.

In the case of this manuscript 58, in the system,
The area / condition determining device 2 recognizes the line figures 57 and 58 on the original, determines the range of the respective circumscribing rectangles as the processing area, and determines the character direction of the area of the line figure 57 to be leftward. The character direction of the area 58 is determined to be upward.
Then, the image processing apparatus 3 performs the recognition processing on the area of the line graphic 57 on the condition that the character direction is leftward, and the recognition processing on the area of the line graphic 58 that the character direction is upward. Do.

Instead of the arrow, another symbol may be written on the tip of the line segment of the side. This also applies to Examples 3 and 4 described later.

Embodiment 3 This embodiment relates to an optical character recognition system. In the present embodiment, a rectangle whose one side is an arrow is used as a line figure for designating a region, and the direction of the arrow on one side of this line figure designates the row direction, which is one of the processing conditions.

FIG. 8 shows the shape of a line figure defined corresponding to the row direction. When the line direction is designated as vertical, the graphic 61a or 61b is selected and this is written on the original with a marker. The condition determining unit 14 of the system can use the direction of the arrow of the line figure as a shape feature for determining the row direction.

For example, in the case of the manuscript 65 shown in FIG. 9, the line drawing 66 marked with a marker is the drawing 61a or 6 shown in FIG.
It has the same shape characteristics as 1b. Also, the line figure 67
Has the same shape feature as the figure 62a or 62b of FIG.

In the case of this manuscript 67, in the system,
The area / condition determining device 2 recognizes the line figures 66 and 67 on the document, determines the range of each circumscribing rectangle as the processing area, and determines that the line direction of the area of the line figure 66 is vertical.
The row direction of the area of the line graphic 67 is determined to be horizontal. And
The image processing apparatus 3 performs the recognition process on the area of the line graphic 66 assuming that the line direction, which is the recognition condition, is vertical, and performs the recognition process on the area of the line graphic 67, assuming that the line direction is horizontal.

Embodiment 4 This embodiment relates to an optical character recognition system. In the present embodiment, the character direction is specified by the direction of a single arrow on the upper side or the right side of the rectangle to be written on the manuscript to specify the area, and the line direction is specified by attaching a double arrow on the lower side or the left side of the rectangle. Is specified. Specifically, the figures 71 to 74 and the figures 75 and 76 shown in FIG.
A line figure that is a combination of is used to specify the area.

The condition determining unit 14 of the system can use the direction of the arrow on the upper side or the right side of the line figure on the original as a shape feature for determining the character direction, and can also use the direction of the arrow on the lower side or the left side of the line figure. Presence / absence can be used as a shape feature for determining the row direction.

For example, in the case of the manuscript 77 shown in FIG. 11, the line drawing 78 marked with a marker has the shape characteristics of the drawing 76 and the shape 73 of FIG. Further, the line figure 79 has the shape characteristics of both the figures 71 and 75 of FIG.

In the case of this manuscript 77, in the system,
The area / condition determining device 2 recognizes the line figures 78 and 79 on the original and determines the range of each circumscribing rectangle as the processing area. Further, the line direction of the area of the line figure 78 is vertical and the character direction is left. Determine the horizontal direction of the line drawing 79 area,
The character direction is determined to be upward. Then, the image processing apparatus 3 executes the recognition process on each of the designated areas under the determined recognition conditions.

Embodiment 5 This embodiment relates to an optical character recognition system. In this embodiment, as the line figure, the figure 8 shown in FIG.
1,82 are used. In this line figure, two sides that coincide in the row direction have two main lines. The area / condition determining device 2 of the system can use the number of lines on the sides of the line figure as a shape feature for determining processing conditions.

For example, in the case of the manuscript 83 shown in FIG. 13, the line graphic 84 marked with a marker has the shape feature of the graphic 81 of FIG. 12, and the line graphic 85 has the shape feature of the graphic 82 of FIG. Therefore, in the system, the line direction is recognized as vertical for the area of the line figure 84,
For the area of the line graphic 85, the recognition processing is performed with the row direction being horizontal.

Embodiment 6 This embodiment relates to an optical character recognition system. In this embodiment, as the line figure, the figure 9 shown in FIG.
1,92 are used. In this line figure, two sides that coincide in the row direction are dotted lines (broken lines). The system area / condition determining device 2 can use the continuity of the sides of the line figure as the shape feature for determining the processing conditions.

For example, in the case of the manuscript 93 shown in FIG. 15, the line figure 91 marked with a marker has the shape feature of the figure 91 of FIG. 14, and the line figure 95 has the shape feature of the figure 92 of FIG. Therefore, in the system, the line direction 94 is recognized as the line direction is vertical to the area,
With respect to the area of the line graphic 95, the recognition processing is performed with the row direction being horizontal.

Embodiment 7 This embodiment relates to an optical character recognition system. In the present embodiment, line graphics such as graphics 101 and 102 shown in FIG. 16 are used to specify the processing area on the document. In this line figure, the length of the two sides that do not match the row direction is halved to specify the row direction, which is the processing condition. In the system area / condition determination unit 2,
The position of the short side of the line figure on the document can be used as the shape feature for determining the processing conditions.

For example, in the case of the manuscript 103 shown in FIG. 17, the line figure 104 filled with the marker is the figure 101 in FIG.
16 has the shape feature of FIG.
It has the shape feature of. Therefore, in the system, the line direction is recognized as vertical for the area of the line graphic 104, and the line direction is recognized as horizontal for the area of the line graphic 105.

Embodiment 8 This embodiment relates to an optical character recognition system. In the present embodiment, line graphics such as graphics 111 and 112 shown in FIG. 18 are used to specify the processing area on the document. This line figure has a character type (Kanji / English) that is a recognition processing condition depending on whether the side is a single line or a double line.
Is specified. However, "Kanji" here means a general Japanese sentence, and "English character" means an English sentence. When three or more character types are designated, a graphic using multiple lines such as a triple line and a quad line may be additionally defined. In the area / condition determining unit 2 of the system, the number of lines forming each side of the line figure on the document can be used as the shape feature for determining the processing condition.

For example, in the case of the manuscript 113 shown in FIG. 19, the line figure 114 marked with a marker is the figure 111 in FIG.
18 has the shape feature of FIG.
It has the shape feature of. Therefore, the system recognizes the character type as an alphabetic character for the area of the line graphic 114 and recognizes the character type as a Chinese character for the area of the line graphic 115.

In the present embodiment, the processing condition to be specified is the character type, but it is also possible to specify the character direction or the line direction depending on the difference in the number of lines on the same side.

Embodiment 9 This embodiment relates to an optical character recognition system. In this embodiment, the line type used to specify the processing area on the original is a Kanji character (general Japanese sentence).
20 or a letter (English sentence), a solid line rectangle such as the graphic 121 shown in FIG. 20 or a dotted line (broken line) rectangle like the graphic 122 is used. It should be noted that in order to specify three or more kinds of character types, a graphic using line types with different continuity such as a one-dot chain line and a two-dot chain line may be defined. In the area / condition determining unit 2 of the system, the difference in continuity (line type) of the lines forming each side of the line figure on the document can be used as the shape feature for determining the processing condition.

For example, in the case of the manuscript 123 shown in FIG. 21, the line figure 124 marked with a marker is the figure 122 in FIG.
The line figure 125 has the shape feature of FIG.
It has the shape feature of. Therefore, the system recognizes the character type as an alphabetic character for the area of the line graphic 124 and recognizes the character type as a Chinese character for the area of the line graphic 125.

Although the character type is designated as the processing condition in the present embodiment, it is also possible to designate the character direction or the line direction by the similar continuity of lines.

[0043]

As described above in detail, according to the first to sixth aspects of the present invention, the line image having the shape feature corresponding to the processing condition is directly written on the document to read and process the document image. The processing area and processing conditions can be specified at one time for the system to be specified, and the specification work becomes extremely easy. In particular, many parameter inputs for specifying the processing conditions for each area, such as a character recognition system, are required. Designation work can be greatly simplified for a required system, and continuous processing (batch processing) of a plurality of originals can be performed only by previously writing necessary line graphics on a plurality of originals.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a processing system according to each embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a region / condition determining device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a line figure used in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of writing a line figure on a document and an image after masking processing according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of writing a line figure on a document and an image after trimming processing in the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a line figure used in the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of writing a line figure on an original according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a line figure used in the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of writing line graphics on a document according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a line figure used in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of writing a line figure on an original according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a line figure used in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of writing a line figure on an original according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a line figure used in the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of writing a line figure on an original according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of a line figure used in Example 7.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of writing a line figure on an original according to the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of a line figure used in Example 8.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of writing a line figure on an original according to the eighth embodiment.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram of a line figure used in Example 9.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of writing a line figure on an original according to the ninth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Scanner 2 Area / Condition Determining Device 3 Image Processing Device 4 Output Device 11 Image Buffer 12 Marker Line Segment Detection Unit 13 Line Figure Recognition Unit 14 Condition Determining Unit 15 Region Determining Unit

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A document which is input to a system for reading and processing an image of a document, in which line graphics surrounding the processing region and having shape features corresponding to the processing conditions of the processing region are written in advance, and in the system, A method of designating a processing area and processing condition in which a line figure written on the original is recognized from the read original image, the range of the line figure is determined as a processing area, and the processing condition is determined based on the shape feature of the line figure. 2. The processing area and processing condition designating method according to claim 1, wherein a difference in shape of line segments forming sides of the line graphic is used as the shape feature of the line graphic. 3. The method for designating a processing region and processing conditions according to claim 1, wherein a difference in continuity of line segments forming the sides of the line figure is used as the shape feature of the line figure. 4. The processing area and processing condition designating method according to claim 1, wherein a difference in the number of line segments forming the sides of the line graphic is used as the shape feature of the line graphic. 5. The method for designating a processing region and processing condition according to claim 1, wherein a difference in length of line segments forming sides of the line figure is used as a feature of the line figure. 6. The processing area and processing according to claim 1, wherein the processing on the original image is character recognition processing, and the processing condition is a condition for character recognition processing. Condition specification method.