JPH0739816A - Address reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To decrease erroneous recognition in decision of number parts of addresses and to improve correct recognition. CONSTITUTION:Addresses are read in an image input section 21 by scanning the surfaces of postal matters over the entire part and an answer editing section 29 forms address information and collates the information with a segment assigning dictionary 30 by using the results decided by a town name recognizing section 29 based on the read information and the results decided in a number recognizing section 28. This answer editing section 29 compares the cutoff value of the number parts set in this segment assigning dictionary 30 and the evaluation value of the number parts indicating the likeliness of the number parts determined from the recognition information of the number parts outputted from the number recognizing section 28 and outputs segment assignment data when the results of the comparison are decided to be adoption. The cutoff value of the number parts set in the segment assigning dictionary 30 is changed according to the correct recognition and erroneous recognition of the adoption and non-adoption.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention reads an address such as an address written on a mail to be conveyed and classifies the address by using the read address. Regarding the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The mail sorting work is roughly divided into a sorting work for sending collected mail to a destination post office and a sorting work for delivering arrived mail. There is a delivery division business.

Conventionally, as for the sorting work, the postal code automatic reading and sorting machine has been largely automated.
Automation was delayed for delivery division work. However, in recent years, in addition to the function of the automatic zip code reading and sorting machine, by directly reading the address, that is, the address, such as the prefecture name, town name, chome, kanji of the block code, etc., written on the mail by OCR, the mail is delivered. Address reading and sorting machines have been developed that automate the sorting up to the ward level (automatic delivery sorting work).

In the method of determining the numeral portion of the address described in the mail or the like in such an address reading / sorting machine, the evaluation value indicating the certainty of the numeral portion output from the recognition result of the numeral and the mail. The numerical character string of the postal matter is determined by comparing with the cutoff value of the numerical part that is set without depending on the address of the item. The cutoff value referred to here is a reference value indicating whether or not to adopt the recognition result.

However, in the conventional numerical part determination method, since the numerical part cutoff value which does not depend on the recognized address is set, if this value is changed, it is effectively reflected in all the division items, and it has been the case until now. Properly recognized mailpieces may be rejected after this change. Further, even if the mail has been erroneously recognized, the mail that has been rejected due to the low numerical evaluation value may be adopted after this change. That is, as described above, the cutoff value that does not depend on the mailing address is used for the determination. Therefore, if this cutoff value is changed to a high value so as not to use an incorrect recognition result, other mails that have been correctly determined will be used. There is a drawback that things are not adopted.

[0006]

As described above, in the conventional method for determining the number part of the address, since the determination is made by the cutoff value which does not depend on the address of the mail, the erroneous recognition result (erroneous recognition) is not adopted. As described above, when the cutoff value is changed to a high value, on the other hand, there is a problem that another mail item that is correctly determined (correct answer is recognized) is not adopted. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an address reading device capable of reducing erroneous recognition and improving correct answer recognition in determining the number part of an address.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An address reading device of the present invention is a reading means for reading an address described on a mail piece, and a character recognizing means for recognizing a character according to the contents read by the reading means. And a town name recognition means for recognizing a town name from the characters recognized by the character recognition means, a numeral recognition means for recognizing a number from the characters recognized by the character recognition means, and a numeral recognized by the numeral recognition means. A creating means for creating an address from the town name recognized by the town name recognizing means, and a cutoff value for the certainty of the numeral part in the address described in the mail are stored in advance in association with each address. The storage means, the calculation means for calculating the certainty of the number recognized by the number recognition means as an evaluation value, the evaluation value calculated by the calculation means, and the address created by the creating means. It is composed of comparison means for comparing the cutoff value stored in the storage means, and determination means for judging adoption or non-adoption of the address created by the creating means according to the result of the comparison means. .

The address reading device of the present invention is a reading means for reading an address described on a mail piece, a character recognizing means for recognizing a character according to the contents read by the reading means, and the character recognizing means. The town name recognition means for recognizing the town name from the characters recognized by, the number recognition means for recognizing the numbers from the characters recognized by the character recognition means, and the numbers recognized by the number recognition means and the town name recognition means. Creating means for creating an address from the selected town name, calculation means for calculating the certainty of the numbers recognized by the number recognition means as an evaluation value, and the evaluation value calculated by this calculation means,
Comparing means for comparing the preset cutoff value corresponding to the address created by the creating means, and judging whether the address created by the creating means is adopted or not, according to the result of the comparing means And a determination means for performing the determination.

The address reading device of the present invention includes a reading means for reading an address described on a mail piece, an address recognizing means for recognizing the address according to the contents read by the reading means, and the mail piece. Storage means that stores in advance the cutoff value of the certainty of the number part in the described address corresponding to each address, and the certainty of the number part in the address recognized by the address recognition means as the evaluation value. The calculating means for calculating, the evaluation value of the numeral part calculated by the calculating means, and the cutoff value of the numeral part stored in the storage means corresponding to the address recognized by the address recognition means are compared. It is composed of a comparing means and a judging means for judging whether the address recognized by the address recognition means is adopted or not, according to the result of the comparing means.

The address reading / sorting device of the present invention is an address reading / sorting device that reads an address written on a conveyed mail item and classifies the address by using the read address. The reading means for reading the address described in, the address recognition means for recognizing the address according to the content read by the reading means, and the cutoff value for the certainty of the number part in the address described in the above mail individually Storage means stored in advance corresponding to the address of the, the calculation means for calculating the certainty of the number part in the address recognized by the address recognition means as an evaluation value, the number part calculated by this calculation means Comparing means for comparing the evaluation value with the cutoff value of the numeral part stored in the storing means corresponding to the address recognized by the address recognizing means, and the address recognizer according to the result of the comparing means. The decision means for deciding whether or not the address is recognized is adopted, and depending on the decision result of this decision means, if necessary, the cutoff value of the numeral part of each address stored in the storage means is changed. And the changing means for changing.

[0011]

According to the present invention, the address written on the mail is read from the mail, the character is recognized according to the read content, the town name is recognized from the recognized character, and the recognized character is recognized by the numeral recognition means. Recognize numbers and create an address from the recognized number and the recognized town name using the creating means, and set the cutoff value of the certainty of the number part in the address described in the mail in advance for each address. Stored in the storage means, calculate the likelihood of the number recognized by the number recognition means as an evaluation value,
The calculated evaluation value is compared with the cutoff value stored in the storage means corresponding to the address created by the creating means, and the address created by the creating means is adopted according to the comparison result. , Is adopted.

The present invention is an address reading / sorting machine which reads an address written on a mail to be conveyed and classifies the address using the read address, and the address is read from the mail on the address reading / sorting machine. The address is read, the address is recognized by the address recognition means according to the read content, and the cutoff value of the certainty of the number part in the address described in the mail is stored in advance in the storage means in association with each address, The certainty of the number part in the address recognized by the address recognition means is calculated as an evaluation value, and the calculated evaluation value of the number part and the storage means corresponding to the address recognized by the address recognition means are stored. The cut-off value of the numeral part that is being stored is compared, and whether the address recognized by the address recognition means is adopted or not is determined according to the result of the comparison means, and the above-mentioned memory is stored if necessary according to the determination result. Remembered by means That it is obtained so as to change the foot switch value of the numerical part in each address.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows an automatic mail sorting machine as an address reading sorting machine using the address reading device of the present invention, and has the following configuration. That is, the supply unit 1
The postal items P, such as postcards and sealed letters, are set in a batch and in a standing position. The postal matter P ...
The postal code and address information (address information) given to the postal matter P are read by the address reading device 4 which is sequentially taken out and conveyed one by one from the frontmost postal matter P and is arranged in the middle of the take-in conveyance path 3. .

Next, the postal matter P passing through the address reading device 4 is conveyed to the sorting section 11 via the conveying path 3. The sorting section 11 has a plurality of sorting and conveying paths 5a vertically provided by a gate mechanism section (not shown).
.About.5 g is selectively distributed based on the postal code, the reading result of the address information, and the like.

A plurality of pockets (collection boxes) 6 are provided below the sectioned conveying paths 5a to 5f along the lower surface thereof.
.. are arranged in a plurality of stages (stages A to G), and the postal matter P sent to the sorting conveyance paths 5a to 5g is stored in a predetermined pocket 6 based on the reading result of the reading unit 4. It is designed to be collected separately.

A conveyance detector group (not shown) for detecting the conveyance of the postal matter P on the conveyance path is provided on the conveyance paths 3, 5a, .... Further, an operator panel 7 as an operation panel is provided above the supply unit 1.

FIG. 3 shows an electric circuit, which includes a control unit 31.
Reads out the classification designation data corresponding to the address information supplied from the address reading device 4 by using the classification designation table stored in the memory 32, and reads the read classification designation data (pocket 6, Pocket 6 corresponding to ... address)
The above-mentioned postal matter P can be conveyed to. For example, by outputting a sorting gate control signal in response to a transportation detection signal from a transportation detector (not shown) in the middle of the transportation path 3, the driver 33 is used to control the sorting gates 9. It is like this. The memory 32 stores addresses (classification designation data) of each postal code, pockets 6 corresponding to address information as classification designation tables.

Further, the control unit 31 controls the entire transport system by driving the transport mechanism unit 36 such as the transport path 3 with the driver 35. Figure 1
Shows a schematic configuration of the address reading device 4.

That is, the address reader 4 includes an image input unit 21, a region detection unit 22, a line inspection unit 23, a character inspection unit 24, a character recognition unit 25, a town name recognition unit 26, a number inspection unit 27, and a number. It comprises a recognition unit 28, an answer editing unit 29, and a classification designation dictionary 30.

The image input section 21 scans the entire surface of the mail to read characters. The image information read by the image input unit 21 is supplied to the area detection unit 22, and the area detection unit 22
The area in which the character string is described is detected. When the area in which the characters are written is detected, the read information of this area is supplied to the line inspection unit 23, and the line inspection unit 23 detects and cuts out the line of the character string.

The read information of the cut-out line of the character string is cut out by the character inspection unit 24 by detecting each character, and each cut out character is supplied to the character recognition unit 25. The character recognition unit 25 recognizes each character and supplies the recognition information of this character to the town name recognition unit 26. The town name recognition unit 26 creates town name information by combining the recognition results of the respective characters, and supplies the town name information to the number inspection unit 27.

In the number inspection unit 27, each character in the number portion described after the town name is detected and cut out, and each cut out character is supplied to the number recognition unit 28. The numeral recognition unit 28 recognizes each numeral and recognizes the numeral (for example, street information such as street number, street address, street number, etc.).
Is supplied to the answer editing unit 29.

In the answer editing section 29, the address information created by using the result determined by the town name recognizing section 26 and the result determined by the numeral recognizing section 28 and the classification designation dictionary 30 connected to the answer editing section 29. Collate and determine the applicable classification.
Then, the cutoff value of the numeral part set for the classification is compared with the evaluation value of the numeral part obtained from the recognition information of the numeral supplied from the numeral recognition unit 28. As a result of the comparison, the answer editing unit 29 outputs the classification designation data if it is determined to be adopted.

In the classification designation dictionary 30, the number part cutoff value is set in advance corresponding to the address information. For example, if the address is "** prefecture ** city" and the town names are "B" and "C", the cutoff value for the number part in the address information "B1-2 chome" is 6 points, and the address information "B3 ~". Set the number section cutoff value at "4 chome" to 7 points, the number section cutoff value at address information "C1 chome" to 6 points, and the number part cutoff value at address information "C2 to 9 chome" to 7 points Has been done. Further, this set value can be individually changed by the operator from the operator panel 7 as described later.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the address description of the mail, in which "** prefecture ** city C" is town name information, "1 chome" is city block information, and "** prefecture ** city C 1 chome". Each address information is represented.

Next, the operation of the answer editing unit 9 in the address reading device 4 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. That is, in step S1, the number is edited by combining the number recognition information output from the number recognition unit 28 to generate the number character string information. In step S2, a numerical part evaluation value indicating the certainty of the numerical part is obtained. The numerical part evaluation value in this case is calculated from the similarity after the shape check, the sub-features, and the like.

In step S3, the town name information (for example, "** prefecture ** city C" in FIG. 4) output from the town name recognition unit 26 and the block information (for example, "1 in FIG. 4" output from the number recognition unit 28. Address information (for example, "City 1-chome in ** prefecture ** city" in FIG. 4).

In step S4, the address information is collated with the segment designation dictionary 30 to find the corresponding item. In step S5, the numerical part cutoff value set in the classification designation dictionary 30 is obtained.

In step S6, it is determined whether or not the numerical part evaluation value obtained in step S2 is compared with the numerical part cutoff value obtained in step S5. If the numerical part evaluation value is the same as or larger than the numerical part cutoff value, it can be adopted and the process proceeds to step S7. If the numerical part evaluation value is smaller than the numerical part cutoff value, it is not adopted, It ends as unrecognizable.

In step S7, it is determined that the address can be adopted, the address is recognized, and the address can be classified. Next, the correction operation of erroneous recognition in the numeral part determination method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

For example, it is assumed that the content of the postal matter P shown in FIG. 6B is "C1 chome, ** prefecture ** city". On the other hand, as shown in (c) of FIG. 6 as a result of reading the mail P, the town name part recognized by the town name recognition part 26 is "C", and the number part recognized by the number recognition part 28 is "3 chome". It is an erroneous recognition result. In the answer editing unit 9,
The number recognition information indicating the certainty of the number portion is obtained from the number recognition information output from the number recognition unit 28, and the above-mentioned “3 chome” is obtained.
In this case, it is assumed that the numerical part evaluation value was 7 points.

The answer editing unit 9 obtains "C1 chome" by combining the town name recognition unit and the number recognition unit of the recognition result, and based on this result, collates with the classification designation dictionary shown in FIG. 6 (a). ,
The third address information from the top of this dictionary is "C1 chome"
Then, the cutoff value of the numeral part corresponding to this is 6 points.

As a result, in the case of recognition here, this result is adopted because the numerical part evaluation value is higher than the numerical part cutoff value.
The address "C3 chome" of the mail P is erroneously recognized as "C1 chome". In other words, in this case, the postal matter P is classified as a correct answer recognition even though it was erroneously recognized. (Recognition process before changing the cutoff value) Therefore, in order to correct this erroneous recognition, the operator changes the cutoff value for the numeral portion from the operator panel 7 to eight points.
As a result, the numerical part evaluation value becomes lower than the numerical part cutoff value, and therefore the above result is not adopted.
"Chome" becomes unrecognizable. (Recognition Process After Changing Cutoff Value) Next, the unrecognizable correction operation in the numeral part determination method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 7.

For example, it is assumed that the description content of the postal matter P shown in FIG. 7B is "B1 chome of ** prefecture ** city". On the other hand, as shown in (c) of FIG. 7 as a result of reading the mail P, the town name portion recognized by the town name recognition unit 26 is “B”, and the number portion recognized by the number recognition unit 28 is “1 chome”. It is a correct recognition result. In the answer editing unit 9,
The number recognition information indicating the certainty of the numeral portion is obtained from the numeral recognition information output from the numeral recognition unit 28, and the above-mentioned "1 chome" is obtained.
In this case, it is assumed that the numerical part evaluation value was 7 points.

The answer editing unit 9 obtains "B1 chome" by combining the town name recognition unit and the number recognition unit of the recognition result, and based on this result, it is collated with the classification designation dictionary shown in FIG. 7 (a). ,
The first address information from the top of this dictionary is "B1 chome"
Then, the cutoff value of the numeral part corresponding to this is 6 points.

As a result, in the case of recognition here, since the numerical part evaluation value is lower than the numerical part cutoff value, this result is not adopted, and the address "B1 chome" of the mail P becomes unrecognizable.
That is, in this case, the postal matter P is rejected because the postal matter P is not recognized even though it is correctly recognized. (Recognition Process Before Changing Cutoff Value) Therefore, in order to correct this erroneous recognition, the operator changes the cutoff value for the numeral part to four points from the operator panel 7.
As a result, the numerical part evaluation value becomes higher than the numerical part cutoff value, so the above result is adopted, and "B1 chome" of the postal matter P is adopted.
Is recognized correctly. (Recognition process after changing the cutoff value) As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to change the cutoff value of the numerical part of the classification item having a disadvantage in the recognition result, and the classification item that is often misrecognized. A high cutoff value can be set for, and a low cutoff value can be set for a category item with few false recognitions, so that the correct recognition of the reading of the numeral part can be improved and the false recognition can be reduced. In other words, it is possible to set the cutoff value for the number part according to the address information of the address.

[0037]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide an address reading device capable of reducing erroneous recognition and improving correct answer recognition in determining the number part of an address.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an address reading device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of an automatic mail sorting machine according to the present invention.

3 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the automatic mail sorting machine of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of address description of a mail item.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the answer editing unit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of correcting erroneous recognition in the numeral part determination method of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of correcting unrecognizable characters in the numeral part determination method of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Supplying unit P ... Postal item 4 ... Address reading device 21 ... Image input unit 26 ... Town name recognizing unit 27 ... Numeral censoring unit 28 ... Numeral recognizing unit 29 ... Answer editing unit 30 ... Sorting dictionary 31 ... Control unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A reading means for reading an address described on a mail piece, a character recognizing means for recognizing a character according to the read content by the reading means, and a character recognized by the character recognizing means. A town name recognition means for recognizing a town name, a numeral recognition means for recognizing a number from a character recognized by the character recognition means, an address recognized by the numeral recognized by the numeral recognition means and a town name recognized by the town name recognition means. And a storage means for preliminarily storing the cutoff value of the certainty of the number part in the address described in the mail corresponding to each address, and the number recognition means. The calculating means for calculating the certainty of the number as the evaluation value, the evaluation value calculated by the calculating means, and the cutoff value stored in the storage means corresponding to the address created by the creating means Comparing means for compare, result utilization of address created by said creating means in response to the comparison means, address reading apparatus being characterized in that includes determination means for rejection, a. 2. A reading means for reading an address described on a mail matter, a character recognizing means for recognizing a character according to the contents read by the reading means, and a character recognized by the character recognizing means. A town name recognition means for recognizing a town name, a numeral recognition means for recognizing a number from a character recognized by the character recognition means, an address recognized by the numeral recognized by the numeral recognition means and a town name recognized by the town name recognition means. And a calculation means for calculating the certainty of the number recognized by the number recognition means as an evaluation value, the evaluation value calculated by the calculation means, and the address created by the generation means. Comparing means for comparing with a preset cutoff value, and judging means for judging adoption or non-adoption of the address created by the creating means according to the result of the comparing means. Address reading apparatus according to claim and. 3. A reading means for reading an address described on the mail piece, an address recognition means for recognizing the address according to the contents read by the reading means, and a numeral in the address described in the mail piece. Storage means for storing in advance the cutoff value of the certainty of each part corresponding to each address, and a calculation means for calculating the certainty of the number part in the address recognized by the address recognition means as an evaluation value, The comparison means for comparing the evaluation value of the numeral part calculated by the calculating means with the cutoff value of the numeral part stored in the storage means corresponding to the address recognized by the address recognition means, An address reading apparatus comprising: a determination unit that determines whether the address recognized by the address recognition unit is adopted or not according to the result of the unit. 4. An address reading / sorting machine, which reads an address written on a mail to be conveyed and classifies the address using the read address, detects the address written on the mail from the mail. A reading means for reading, an address recognition means for recognizing an address according to the contents read by the reading means, and a cutoff value for the certainty of the number part in the address described in the above mail in advance corresponding to each address. A storage unit that stores the information, a calculation unit that calculates the certainty of the number part in the address recognized by the address recognition unit as an evaluation value, an evaluation value of the number part calculated by the calculation unit, and the address recognition Comparing means for comparing the cutoff value of the numeral part stored in the storage means corresponding to the address recognized by the means, and adoption of the address recognized by the address recognition means according to the result of the comparing means A decision means for deciding rejection, and a changing means for changing the cutoff value of the numeral part in each address stored in the storage means, if necessary, according to the decision result of the decision means. Address reading machine characterized by having done.