JPH0559476B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for automatically inputting documents such as forms using facsimile.

[Prior art] Conventionally, a method for inputting signals read from a facsimile to an information processing device such as a computer was developed in 1973.
-26945 is known.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, a form 1 is scanned by a facsimile machine not shown, and only the portion corresponding to the position of column 3 is read by an input device to determine whether or not mark 4 is present in column 3. The position in column 3 is recognized by calculating the number of clock signals starting at the rising edge of the detection signal of start mark 2 on form 1.

[Problems with the prior art] However, in the conventional automatic input method, the start mark 2 is used as the reference signal for synchronization, so if the synchronization is broken due to some disturbance after reading the start mark 2, the position in column 3 may change. This caused the problem of low data transmission efficiency, as reading of the presence or absence of mark 4 sometimes ended in failure.

In addition, since these marks 2 and 4 simply give a signal indicating their presence or absence, if they become dirty or the black of the marks 2 and 4 becomes thinner and almost gray, there is a problem that accurate reading becomes impossible. It was hot.

Furthermore, in the case of form 1 in FIG.
It was necessary to print or write in a predetermined area of 0 at an accurate position, and in order to ensure accuracy, it was limited to simple items. Therefore, it was not possible to handle diverse forms with many branches.

[Purpose of the Invention] This invention was made in view of the above problems, and it is possible to read information accurately even in the presence of noise caused by disturbance, and it does not require strict accuracy or preparation conditions at the entry stage, and can be used in a wide variety of products. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an automatic document input method and device that can easily and accurately organize and classify even a huge number of diverse forms.

[Means for solving the problem] A control mark in which the large and small line segments of the preceding and succeeding lines are arranged in a straight line is written at the beginning of the paper, and the large and small line segments of the preceding and following lines are arranged in a straight line. write information marks arranged in the same manner on the paper after the control marks, photoelectrically convert the control marks and the information marks with a scanning device, and calculate the coordinates of the information marks using the coordinates of the control marks as the origin; Next, the binary code of the control mark is determined by comparing the sizes of the control marks in the order in which the line segments are arranged, calculating the binary code, reading out the format corresponding to this binary code from the file device, and predetermining the format from this format. The reference coordinates and binary code of the information mark are read out, the calculated coordinates and the reference coordinates are compared for the information mark, and then the information mark is converted into a binary code in the same way as the control mark, and this binary code and The data is compared with the standard binary code, and based on the comparison result, it is determined whether or not to import the data of the information mark.

[Function] For control marks and information marks, each line segment is relatively compared to extract a binary number, the format is specified from this, and the reference coordinates and reference binary code where the information mark should be located in the format are determined. Read out.

Next, the start position coordinates of the information mark read by the scanning device are compared with the reference coordinates to determine whether the paper is normal or abnormal when reading the paper. Furthermore, the extracted binary number is compared with a reference binary code, and based on the comparison result, the data of the information mark is organized and taken in, and the data is output to a subsequent information processing device.

[Example] An example of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a format diagram of an input paper 1 used in the present invention, and 1 is a paper such as a form of any size. A classification mark 20 as a control mark is displayed on the paper 1 by printing or writing.
The book consists of line segments a, b...e arranged in succession in the horizontal direction, and the lengths of each line segment are successively and relatively compared in the order of preceding and succeeding lines.

This classification mark 20 is line segment a and 0 before it.
Or, in other words, compare line segment a and line segment b to determine their size, and then compare line segment b and line c.
Similarly, the line segment d and the line segment e are compared to determine the length of the series.

Below the classification mark 20, a mark 21 regarding the destination as an information mark is displayed at a predetermined distance apart.

Further, below the mark 21, a mark 22 relating to the sender is displayed as an information mark at a predetermined distance apart. Destination data "AAAA" is optionally written and printed below the mark 21.

Further, below the mark 22, a mark 23 related to the document type is provided as an information mark at a predetermined distance apart.
is represented. The sender's data "BBBB" is arbitrarily written below the mark 22.
printed.

Also, below the mark 23, "CCCC", which is the data of the slip type, is arbitrarily written and printed.

Similar to the classification mark 20, the marks 21 to 23 are two or more lines of different lengths, for example, five line segments a and b.
...e are arranged consecutively in the horizontal direction.
Similarly to the classification mark 20, the lengths of these line segments a, b, . . .

Further below each of these marks 20 to 23, other ordinary characters, figures, etc. are arbitrarily written or printed. Also, each line segment a constituting each mark 20 to 23
The lengths of ~e are intentionally determined in advance to be predetermined lengths, and the meaning of each mark is specified. Also, each line segment a~
The line width of e is the thickness of at least one scanning line of a scanning device to be described later.

Under a certain classification mark 20, mark 21
The coordinate values (x1 to y3) of the entry start position of 23 are predetermined on paper 1 based on the entry start position (0, 0) of the upper classification mark 20.

FIG. 2 shows the overall configuration of the automatic document input device, in which 24 is a facsimile scanning device, 32 is a central processing unit (CPU), 25 is an adapter that substitutes for the facsimile 24, 29 is a file device such as a hard disk, 31 is a CRT display device. The central processing unit 32 includes a main buffer memory 26, a binary number reader 27, and an image memory 3.
3. Comparison circuit 28, synthesis circuit 30, judgment circuit 3
4 are provided.

The facsimile 24 and the adapter 25 can communicate with facsimile machines in faraway places via public lines and facsimile (F) networks, and they examine the marks 20 to 23 written on the form 1 and photoelectrically convert them. This image data is given to the main buffer memory 26.

These image data are compared with the reference data read from the file device 29 by the CPU 32, and intermediate results and final results are stored on the CRT 31.
displayed above. Also, the final result of this calculation is CPU3
2, the code is sent as a numerical code to a host computer or other information processing device.

Image data of "AAAA" and other characters and numbers written on the paper 1, including the marks 20 to 23 on the paper 1, are captured in the main buffer memory 26. Image data such as the classification mark 20 is input to the binary number reading device 27, and input characters such as "AAAA" and other written characters are separated and input to the image memory 33.

The binary number reading device 27 calculates a binary number by comparing each line segment of the marks 20 to 23 in order of arrangement.

The comparison circuit 28 compares the data read by the binary number reading device 27 with the file data from the file device 29.

The synthesis circuit 30 synthesizes the processing result from the comparison circuit 28 and the image data from the image memory 33, and outputs it to the CRT 31 or to a host computer or the like.

The comparator circuit 28 has a RAM 35 as a work area, and the file device 29 includes a large capacity memory in which a large number of predetermined data files as shown in FIG. 4 are stored in advance.

The judgment circuit 34 analyzes the comparison result of the comparison circuit 28 and makes a judgment.

FIG. 3 shows the internal structure of the binary number reading device 27, in which 12 indicates the mark 20 from the main buffer memory 26.
~23 is a slave buffer memory that inputs image data, and 13 is a control circuit that outputs various timing pulses Pi.

Further, the control circuit 13 sets the writing start point of the classification mark 20, which is a control mark, at (0, 0), reads the writing start coordinates (x1 to y3) of the marks 21 to 23 read thereafter, and stores them in the RAM 35.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a measuring circuit that temporarily stores one island image separated from the slave buffer memory 12 and measures its length.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a shift register to which each count value from the measurement circuit 14 is given, and a plurality of shift registers 15a to 15n, for example, are provided so as to independently store the count values of each island image in the slave buffer memory 12.

16 is a secondary comparison circuit, for example, a plurality of 16a--
The secondary comparator circuit 16a compares the count values of the shift registers 15a and 15b with each other, and outputs a binary number 0 or 1 depending on the determination result.

Similarly, the comparative comparator circuit 16b is connected to the shift register 15.
The count values of a and 15c are compared with each other, and a binary number of 0 or 1 is output depending on the determination result. Similarly, the comparative comparator circuit 16m is connected to the shift registers 15m and 15.
Compare the count values of n.

17 is a sum circuit, and secondary comparison circuits 16a to 16m
The binary numbers consisting of 0 and 1 given from are arranged in order and output to the RAM 35 of the comparator circuit 28.

Next, the operation of the automatic document input device will be explained using FIGS. 4 to 7.

The paper 1 is scanned by a facsimile 24, and the classification marks 20 and the like are photoelectrically converted and stored in the main buffer memory 26 as image data. Alternatively, the paper 1 is scanned by a facsimile at a distant location, and the data is imported into the main buffer memory 26 via the adapter 25.

The image data in the main buffer memory 26 is separated into line segment image data such as the classification mark 20 and image data such as other characters. Image data such as letters and characters are respectively transferred to the image memory 33.

At the same time, each mark 2 in the slave buffer memory 12
Starting position coordinates from 0 to 23 are read out by the control circuit 13. That is, the starting position of the classification mark 20 is set as the origin (0,0), and the mark 21 regarding the destination is
starting position coordinates (x1, y1), mark (x2, y2) regarding the sender, and mark 2 regarding the document type.
3 (x3, y3) is read and the comparator circuit 28
The data is stored in the RAM 35 at addresses 41 to 43 shown in FIG.

Next, in the binary number reading device 27, the classification mark 20
A binary evolution is performed.

In FIG. 3, the control circuit 13 separates the line segment a of the first partial image data of the classification mark 20 from the slave buffer memory 12 and supplies it to the measurement circuit 14. The measuring circuit 14 measures the length of this line segment a in units of its own pixels, and the control circuit 13 uses this measured value a.
is applied to the shift register 15a.

Subsequently, the control circuit 13 first clears the measurement circuit 14, separates the next line segment b from the slave buffer memory 12, and supplies it to the measurement circuit 14. Here again, the measuring circuit 14 measures the length of the line segment b, and this measured value b is given to the shift register 15b.

Thereafter, in the same manner, line segments c...e are separated one after another in the order of successive lines from left to right, their lengths are measured, and the line segments are provided to the shift registers 15c...e, respectively.

Next, the control circuit 13 reads the measured value a of the shift register 15a and the measured value b of the shift register 15b, and supplies them to the secondary comparison circuit 16a.

The secondary comparator circuit 16a compares these measured values a and b, and for example, if a>b, the binary number "0" is replaced by a.
If <b, output “1”, (in this case a>b
Therefore, it outputs "0" and stores it in the first bit of the sum circuit 17.

Almost at the same time, the control circuit 3 shifts the shift register 15b.
The measured value b of the shift register 15c and the measured value c of the shift register 15c are read out and applied to the vertical comparison circuit 16b. The vertical comparison circuit 16b compares these measured values b and c, and determines that b<c
Therefore, it outputs "1" and stores it in the second bit of the sum circuit 17.

Similarly, the control circuit 13 reads out the measured values c to e of the shift registers 15c...15e, respectively, and supplies them to the vertical comparison circuit 16b, which calculates the difference between successive preceding data and succeeding data, and calculates the difference between the successive preceding data and subsequent data. A binary number of 0 or 1 is outputted and stored in the corresponding bit of the sum circuit 17, respectively.

Finally, the control circuit 13 reads bit data 01... in the sum circuit 17 serially or in parallel,
The data is stored at address 40 in the RAM 35 as shown in FIG.

Classification marks 2 drawn continuously in this way
The binary number 1011 is decoded by comparing the sizes of a to e of the 0 line segment.

Similarly, the sizes of line segments a to e of marks 21 to 23 drawn consecutively are compared and a binary number is determined.
1010, 0110, and 0101 are decoded respectively.

Figure 5 A shows how the classification mark is converted into a binary number, B shows how the destination mark 21 is converted into a binary number, C shows how the sender mark 22 is converted into a binary number, and D shows the binary number of the slip type mark 23. Each shows the state of change.

These binary numbers 1010, 0110, 0101 are RAM35
are stored at addresses 41, 42, and 43, respectively, as shown in FIG.

In this way, the comparator circuit 28 uses the binary number 1011 of the classification mark 20 in the RAM 35 as a guide to select the file device 2.
4th search within 9 and grouped under code 1011
Pull out the data table for the diagram. This data table is, for example, the format of a transfer slip, and
1, etc., the desired entry start coordinate values X1, Y1, etc. and the desired binary reference value, etc. are read out together.

On the other hand, x1 to y3 and binary numbers in the RAM 35 in FIG. 6 indicate coordinate values read from paper 1 and extracted binary numbers. For example, x1 and y1 are the read coordinate values of the entry start point regarding mark 21. be. Similarly, read coordinate values x2, y2, etc. of the mark 22 etc. are stored hereafter.

Next, the comparison circuit 28 checks whether the read coordinate values (RAM data) of the marks 20 to 23 are the predetermined values, and whether or not the marks 20 to 23 are actually the same.
Binary number read from ~23 (RAM data)
matches the reference binary number from the file.

Even if the starting coordinates deviate significantly from the reference value, if the binary numbers match, the data after correcting the difference from the reference value for the starting coordinates is used.

The comparison circuit 28 then calculates the difference between the read value x1 of the writing start coordinates of the mark 21, etc., and the reference value x1 from the file shown in FIG.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the difference between the reading coordinate x1 of the mark 21 etc. and the reference coordinate x1, x1−X1=L1,
Calculate x2−X2=L2, x3−X3=L3.

The judgment circuit 34 checks whether these calculation results are the same length in the same direction (with the same sign). Similarly, the coordinates y1−Y1=m1, y2−Y2
Check whether = m2, y3 - Y3 = m3, etc. are also the same length in the same direction.

The judgment circuit 34 determines that if L1, L2, L3 and m1,
If m2 and m3 have different lengths in different directions, paper 1
For example, it is assumed that some abnormality occurs after the mark 20 is scanned during scanning, and the subsequent data is discarded or the data is used after correcting the difference from the reference value.

If L1, L2, L3 and m1, m2, m3 were approximately the same length in the same direction, there would be a skip in scanning after reading the classification mark 20 while scanning paper 1 with the facsimile 24, but after mark 21 The subsequent data is accepted assuming that there was no abnormality in the reading.

For example, the determination circuit 34 determines x1 regarding the reading coordinates of the mark 21 regarding the destination of the information mark.
−X1=0, y1−Y1=0, but the extracted 2
If the base number and the standard value of the binary number 1010 are equal, the read image data is considered to be the mark 21 regarding the destination, and the destination "AAAA" or the like of the attribute data is accepted.

The comparison circuit 28 also compares the binary number of the mark 21 regarding the destination as an information mark in the RAM 35.
Using 1010 as a guide, the file device 29 is searched and a data table similar to the classification marks grouped under code 1010 is retrieved. This data table is, for example,
Reference values such as the desired entry start coordinate values X, Y, etc., such as data "AAAA" regarding the destination, are read out. Regarding the other information marks 22 and 23, the entry start coordinate values where each data such as "BBBB" should be located are similarly read out.

Then, the determination circuit 34 determines whether or not the X and Y values of each information mark, for example, the read coordinates of the data "AAAA" regarding the destination, are at the standard values.

In this way, when the binary code of the control mark is determined, the position of the information mark 21 etc. is determined.
The corresponding binary code was also found, and information mark 2
The data position of the first attribute is known and the data can be obtained accurately.

The comparison circuit 28 outputs these values and data in order to the synthesis circuit 30 via the RAM 35, and the synthesis circuit 30 outputs the data such as the format of the control mark decoded by the comparison circuit 28 and the image memory 3.
The attribute data "AAAA" etc. from 3 and data such as handwritten characters are organized as shown in FIG. 7 and output to the host computer for subsequent processing.

When transmitting digital data via facsimile communication, the quality of the line during transmission on the facsimile network may be unstable, and even if this may cause the entry position to be incorrect, the present invention can distinguish between the reference value of the entry position and the actual value. Compare the positions read by
It is determined whether the information data is accepted as correct, and even suspicious data can be accepted if its normality is confirmed.

Therefore, it is possible to reliably determine whether to discard or accept data when a scanning line is skipped due to disturbance noise, and accurate data can be extracted even when there is some noise, making data transfer more efficient. .

In addition, since binary digitization is performed by relative comparison of line segment lengths, it is highly separable against noise such as dirt and paper wrinkles, and the preparation conditions for forms etc. may be relaxed. Data can also be transferred by handwriting line segments.

In the above embodiment, line segment a and line segment b are compared to determine their size, and then line segment b and line segment c are compared, and the same procedure is performed thereafter. However, the first line segment a and the previous 0, and since 0<a, the first bit is always set to 1, and this 1 may be used for error checking.

In addition, by increasing the number of line segments a, b, etc. of control marks, etc., the number of bits of the binary coded number can be increased, and the number of classification targets can be greatly increased to 24=16, 25=32, . . . 27=256.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, a control mark in which the large and small line segments of the preceding and following lines are continuously arranged in a straight line is written at the beginning of the paper, and the large and small lines of the preceding and following lines are Information marks in which the minutes are arranged continuously in a straight line are written on the paper after the control mark, the control mark and the information mark are photoelectrically converted by a scanning device to calculate the coordinates of these marks, and then the control mark The binary code of the control mark is determined by comparing the sizes of the line segments in the order in which they are arranged, and calculating the binary code of the control mark.
A format corresponding to the hexadecimal code is read from the file device, the reference coordinates and binary code of the planned information mark are read from this format, the calculated coordinates and the reference coordinates are compared for the information mark, and then the The information mark is encoded in binary code in the same way as the control mark, the binary code is compared with the reference binary code, and it is determined whether or not to import the data of the information mark based on the comparison result. This makes it possible to input data stably and accurately without being bothered by some noise.

Furthermore, since the input conditions are not strict, it is possible to easily and accurately organize and classify a wide variety of forms and a huge amount of them on paper.

Furthermore, by using the scanning device as a facsimile machine, data can be directly transferred from a remote location to a data center such as a head office, and data can also be easily input from a facsimile machine within the same premises (in-house).

Furthermore, data can be easily transferred by anyone without the need for a specially skilled operator for input, and costs can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a diagram of a sheet of paper on which control marks, etc. of the present invention are written, Fig. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of the automatic document input device of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a block diagram of the binary number reading device of Fig. 2. , FIG. 4 is a memory configuration diagram of the file device in FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a method of decoding each mark in FIG. 1, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the recording state of the RAM in FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the synthesis result of the synthesis circuit of FIG. 2, and FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrams of sheets showing the conventional automatic reading method. 1...Paper, 20...Control mark, 21-23
...Information mark, 24...Facsimile, 25...
...Adapter, 26...Main buffer memory, 17
... Binary number reading device, 28 ... Comparison circuit, 29
...File device, 30...Synthesizing circuit, 33...
Image memory, 34... Judgment circuit, a to e...
line segment.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A control mark in which large and small line segments of preceding and succeeding lines are arranged continuously in a straight line is written at the beginning of a sheet of paper, write an information mark on the paper after the control mark, photoelectrically convert the control mark and the information mark with a scanning device, calculate the coordinates of the information mark using the coordinates of the control mark as the origin, and then write the information mark on the paper after the control mark. The binary code of the control mark is determined by comparing the sizes of the control marks in the order in which the line segments are arranged, calculating the binary code, reading out the format corresponding to this binary code from the file device, and predetermining the format from the format. The reference coordinates and binary code of the information mark are read out, the calculated coordinates and the reference coordinates are compared for the information mark, and the information mark is converted into a binary code in the same manner as the control mark. An automatic document input method comprising comparing a base code with the standard binary code and determining whether to import data of the information mark based on the comparison results. 2. Paper on which a control mark consisting of linearly continuous large and small line segments in the preceding and subsequent lines and an information mark placed after this control mark and consisting of linearly continuous large and small line segments in the preceding and subsequent lines are written. a scanning device that inputs this paper and outputs image data; a file device that stores pre-classified formats and other data; and a scanning device that inputs the paper and outputs image data, a file device that stores pre-classified formats and other data, and a scanning device that scans the information mark from the image data with the coordinates of the control mark as the origin. a binary number reading device that calculates the coordinates of the control mark and the information mark and calculates a binary number by comparing the line segments in the order of arrangement, and a binary number reading device that calculates a binary number based on the binary code of the control mark and the file device. A comparison method that reads out a format for the information mark, reads the reference coordinates and reference binary code of a predetermined information mark from this format, and compares the calculated coordinates and calculated binary number of the information mark with the reference coordinates and reference binary code, respectively. An automatic document input device comprising: a circuit; and a determination circuit that determines whether or not to import data of the information mark based on the comparison result.