JPH1040238A - Document processing system and method for preparing routine document applied to the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a document processing system whereby a desired routine document is efficiently generated from a free-style document with high precision. SOLUTION: The system is the one where a work station 1 is combined with OCR(optical character reading device) 2 so as to optically reads the free- style document data recorded in a document, for example, by an image scanner 3 and input it in OCR 2. OCR 2 outputs text data consisting of input image data and a character code to the work station 1. The work station 1 extracts text data corresponding to an image range which is designated in input image data displayed on a screen and inputs it to the input object item of the routine document format on the screen. Thus, inputted free-style document data is generated by executing conversion into document data of the routine document format in accordance with the input object item of the routine document format.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a document processing system having a function of reading document data on a document as image data and processing the image data to create a standard document.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a document processing system for creating various documents using a computer system such as a workstation or a personal computer has been developed. In the document, there is a fixed document in which a plurality of items (necessary items) are set in advance and the contents of the document correspond to each item. Specific examples include a specification for a patent application and a proposal for an invention in which a fixed format is set in each company.

Conventionally, as a method for creating a fixed form document, a computer or a word processor on which document creation software is executed is used, and an operator uses a keyboard or a pointing / writing device to copy the entire text in accordance with the set requirements.
A method of inputting using a device is generally used. In this method, the format of a fixed form document is input and registered in advance, and is called on a screen at the time of creation to input document data. Further, there is a method in which a format of a standard document is prepared in advance, and the format of the standard document is read and registered by an optical character reader (OCR).

[0004]

The conventional fixed document creation method has the following problems. In the method of inputting using a keyboard or a pointing device, the creation efficiency and the creation accuracy (input of an incorrect item) differ depending on the operation ability of the operator. In addition, the format using OCR is excellent in format input efficiency and accuracy,
Since it is necessary to prepare a format of a standard document for each standard document in advance, it is necessary to manage the format. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a document processing system capable of efficiently and accurately creating a desired fixed-form document from a free-form document.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a system in which a computer system such as a workstation or a personal computer is combined with an OCR, and for example, free-form document data recorded on a document is optically converted. Image input means for reading the image data, data conversion means for converting the image data input by the image input means into text data consisting of character codes, and image data in a fixed document format managed as the input image data and file information. Means for displaying text on the screen, text data specifying means for extracting text data corresponding to a specified image range from input image data displayed on the screen, and input from an image in a fixed document format on the screen Previous when the target item was specified Associates the extracted text data item of the input object is a document processing system and an output means for outputting the document data of the standard document formats.

With the system having such a configuration, a document recorded in a free format is read using an OCR or the like, and text data in a range corresponding to necessary items is extracted from image data of the document to form a standard document format. Enter the relevant items in. Therefore, the user does not need to input the entire text using a keyboard or the like in accordance with the standard document format, and can efficiently create a standard document by using document data read with high accuracy by OCR or the like. In addition, since the fixed document format information having various fixed document formats is managed by the computer system, it is not necessary to manage the fixed document format for reading the OCR.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a system related to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the operation of the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the operation of the present embodiment. It is a flowchart. (System Configuration) As shown in FIG. 1, the system according to the present embodiment includes a workstation 1, which is roughly classified as a computer, an OCR (optical character reader) 2, and an image scanner 3. Workstation 1 is a CP
It includes a U4, an input / output interface 5, a text data memory 6, an output buffer memory 7, a display memory 8, and a mouse 11 as an input device. CP
U4 executes a fixed document creation process related to the present embodiment based on a program prepared in advance. In the present embodiment, the input / output interface 5 is connected to the OCR 2 and the mouse 11, and inputs image data from the OCR 2 and text data including character codes.

[0008] The text data memory 6 corresponds to a storage area of a main memory for storing text data input by the OCR 2. Output buffer memory 7
Stores text data to be output as standard document data. The display memory 8 is a memory for storing image data to be displayed on a screen of a display (not shown) provided in the workstation 1. In the present embodiment, the display memory 8 includes a memory area (hereinafter, referred to as a standard image area) 9 for displaying image data in a standard document format in a window, and a window displaying image data of a document input via the OCR 2. Memory area (hereinafter, referred to as an input image area) 10.

The OCR 2 is an ordinary optical character reading device which outputs image data read by an image scanner 3 which is an image input device, executes a character recognition process from the image data, and executes a text consisting of a character code. It has a function to convert to data. The image scanner 3 scans a document printed on paper (including handwriting), for example, in units of one page, and converts the document into OC data.
Input to R2. The mouse 11 is a cursor input device, and is used in this embodiment to specify an item or an image range in a window on the screen. (Operation of this Embodiment) The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a printed document 2 created in a free format by a word processor or the like is used.
From 0, a process of creating a desired fixed document according to a fixed document format stored and managed in advance in a file device (hard disk device or the like) of the workstation 1 is assumed.

The user operates the image scanner 3 to
Read the document recorded in the print document 20 (step S
1). The image scanner 3 converts the document recorded on the print document 20 into image data and outputs the image data to the OCR 2. The OCR 2 is connected via the input / output interface 5
The input image data (referred to as input image data) is output to the workstation 1 and is also converted to text data by performing a character recognition process and output.
As shown in FIG. 2, the text data is obtained by converting a character string such as “Proposal” recorded in the print document 20 into a character code.

The CPU 4 stores the text data input from the OCR 2 in the text data memory 6 (step S2). That is, the memory 6 stores text data, which is document data recorded on the print document 20, as shown in FIG. Further, the CPU 4 develops the input image data into the input image area of the display memory 8 and displays it on the screen (step S3).
That is, as shown in FIG. 2, input image data corresponding to the document recorded in the print document 20 is displayed in the window 21 on the screen.

It is assumed that the user operates the mouse 11 to designate an image range corresponding to a desired item in the input image displayed on the window 21 by using a cursor. Here, the desired item corresponds to a necessary item for creating a standard document, and corresponds to an item included in the standard document format displayed on the window 22 as described later. Here, it is assumed that the date item “94-12-14” is specified, for example.

The CPU 4 extracts image data corresponding to the item specified by the cursor on the screen, and calculates the image coordinates (steps S4 and S5). That is,
As shown in FIG. 2, vertical and horizontal (X, Y) coordinate values (X, Y) for cutting out image data corresponding to the designated date item.
i-Xn, Y1-Y2). Next, the CPU 4
The text data (character string data) included in the range of the calculated image coordinates is searched from the memory 6 (step S).
6). Here, the memory 6 holds image coordinate information in units of one character. Therefore, the user can automatically select the corresponding range of text data only by specifying the range of the input image data on the screen with the mouse 11. When only a part of the character string in the item is selected, a function may be provided so that the corresponding / excluded selection operation is performed for each character on the screen.

The CPU 4 stores the searched text data in the output buffer memory 7 (step S7). Further, according to the operation of the mouse 11 by the user, the CPU 4
Image data of a desired fixed document format is developed in the fixed image area 9 from the fixed document format information stored in the file device of the workstation 1 and displayed in a window on the screen (step S8).
That is, as shown in FIG.
Is displayed in the window 22. It is assumed that the user operates the mouse 11 and selects an input item (here, the creation date) from the fixed image in the window 22 with the cursor (step S).
9).

The CPU 4 reads the text data (date item "94-12-1") stored in the output buffer memory 7.
The character string data “4”) is input into the item field of “creation date” in the standard document format specified in the window 22 (step S10). That is, the CPU 4 stores the output buffer memory 7 in the fixed image area 9 of the display memory 8.
Image data corresponding to the text data stored in the window 22 is displayed and output to the window 22 (step S
11).

By repeating the processing between steps S4 to S11 described above, the document data of the designated item from the document data (character string data 20 and image data 21) created in the free format corresponds to the standard document format. Items can be entered. As a result, a document created in a free format can be converted into a document according to a fixed document format, and as a result, a desired fixed document can be created. Note that the CPU 4 can print out a standard document developed in the standard image area 9 by a printer in response to a user request. Further, the created standard document is stored in a file device, and can be displayed or printed out by calling it as needed. The process of displaying the standard document format in the window 22 in step S8 is executed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when input image data is displayed in step S3, it may be displayed simultaneously or immediately. Good.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a user can use a document created in a free format to create a fixed document according to a desired fixed document format by simply operating the workstation 1. It can be created efficiently. That is, the document to be created is sent to the image scanner 3 and O
Since it is a method of reading by the CR2 and inputting it to the workstation 1, it is possible to input document data with high accuracy and high speed with almost no input errors. Further, the method of managing the standard document format as file information in the workstation 1 eliminates the need to manage the standard document format in the form of a document, and outputs the required standard document format on the screen quickly and easily. It is possible. (Application) FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an application of the present embodiment. The handy-type image scanner 40 is used as the image scanner 3, and the original document 20 is created not in units of pages but in units of items, for example. This is a method for inputting partial document data.

In this application form, the user reads necessary items (for example, a character string “94-12-14” of a date item) using the handy image scanner 40 and causes the workstation 1 to input the items. The workstation 1 displays the input image data expanded in the input image area 10 in a window on the screen, and stores text data (output of the OCR 2) corresponding to the input image data in the memory 6.

When the user checks the input image by scanning on the screen, the user displays the standard document format in a window on the screen, and specifies an input item (creation date) with the mouse 11. As a result, the text data stored in the memory 6 is input to the item column of “creation date” in the standard document format. Here, as described above, the text data stored in the memory 6 may be stored in the output buffer memory, and may be input from the output buffer memory to the designated item of the standard document format.

According to such an application, the user only needs to input only necessary items from the original document by using the handy type image scanner 40. Therefore, in particular, the items to be used for the standard document from the original document are prepared. When there are few,
The input processing time can be reduced as compared with the method of the present embodiment described above. The basic operation and effect are the same as in the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment and its application, when a fixed document format is selected and displayed,
For example, by specifying an item of “title” from the input image data, the “title” (in this embodiment, a proposal)
May be automatically selected from the file and displayed. At this time, when there are a plurality of candidates, the user selects them with the mouse 11. When the item of “title” is specified from the input image data, text data (character data of a proposal) corresponding to the “title” is stored in the output buffer memory.

[0023]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a document processing system having a function of inputting document data from a free-form document by image processing and a function of managing a fixed-form document format as a file is provided. By extracting data of items necessary for a standard document from a format document, a desired standard document can be created with high accuracy by a simple operation. Therefore, it is possible to realize high-speed and reliable creation of a standard document without depending on the operation ability of the operator. Further, since there is no need to manage the standard document format as a document, it is possible to eliminate the need for complicated management of the standard document format.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a system related to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram related to an application form of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 workstation (computer system) 2 optical character reading device (OCR) 3 image scanner (image input means) 4 CPU 5 input / output interface 6 text memory 7 output buffer memory 8 display Memory (display means) 9: fixed image area 10: input image area 20: printed document (text data) 40: handy image scanner

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A document processing system for creating and outputting a fixed document by using fixed document format information managed as file information, wherein the document data recorded on the document is converted into image data and input. An image input unit that converts input image data input by the image input unit into text data; image data of a desired fixed document format from the fixed document format information; and the input image data, respectively. Display means for displaying on the screen, text data designation means for extracting text data corresponding to the image range designated in the input image data on the screen from the text data obtained by the data conversion means, Image of the standard document format on the screen And output means for outputting text data extracted by the text data specifying means in association with the input target item as document data in a standard document format when an input target item is specified from the data. Characteristic document processing system. 2. A memory for storing text data converted by the data conversion means, wherein the text data specification means calculates coordinate information of an image range specified on the screen, and calculates the coordinate information. 2. A function for specifying and searching for text data stored in the memory means based on the data.
Document processing system as described. 3. An output buffer means for temporarily storing the text data extracted by the text data designating means, wherein the output means includes an output buffer designated on the screen and an input target item of a standard document format. 2. The document processing system according to claim 1, further comprising a function of creating and displaying document data in a fixed document format by inputting the text data stored in the output buffer means. 4. The data conversion means converts input image data input from the image input means into text data corresponding to an item unit of a fixed document format, and the output means outputs a fixed document specified on the screen. 2. The document processing system according to claim 1, further comprising a function of inputting text data in item units obtained by said data conversion means to a format input target item and outputting the data as document data in a standard document format. . 5. Image input means for converting document data recorded on a document into image data and inputting the data, data converting means for converting the input image data into text data, image data in a fixed document format, and Display means for displaying each of the input image data on a screen, and a fixed document creation method applied to a document processing system for creating and outputting a fixed document using fixed document format information managed as file information Converting the document data recorded on the document into image data by the image input unit and inputting the image data; converting the input image data into text data by the data conversion unit; Displaying the input image data on a screen by A step of designating a desired image range from the input image data on the screen; and a step of extracting text data corresponding to the image range designated on the screen from text data obtained by the data conversion unit. Displaying, on a screen, the image data of the standard document format selected by the display means; and, when an item to be input is specified from the image data of the standard document format on the screen, the extracted text data is displayed. Outputting the data as document data in a fixed document format in association with the input target item.