JPH11184972A - Communication system, control method for the same and computer readable memory - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication system, its control method and a computer readable memory that can improve efficiency in a communication system between a terminal for performing character recognition and a central control unit. SOLUTION: A mobile terminal 100 reads out a read document 102 as picture data. Character recognition is performed with the read out picture data by a character recognition part 106 on the basis of a recognition unable decision threshold. The character recognition result is transmitted from a character recognition result transmission part to a central control unit 200 or a threshold reception part 110 receives the recognition unable decision threshold from the central control unit 200. On the other hand, the central control unit 200 receives the character recognition result, which comes from the mobile terminal 100, from a character recognition result reception part 202 or the recognition unable decision threshold is transmitted from a threshold transmission part 206 to the mobile terminal 100. Then, on the basis of the received character recognition result, the recognition unable decision threshold is controlled by a threshold control part 204.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication system for performing communication between a terminal and a central controller, a control method thereof, and a computer-readable memory.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a terminal having a character recognition device is:
The character recognition result in the terminal is transferred to the central control unit, where post-processing such as error correction, search, and storage of the character recognition result is performed. At this time, if the terminal determines that the accuracy of the character recognition candidate is low, the terminal recognizes the character recognition candidate as unrecognizable, transmits a predetermined identifier (hereinafter, referred to as a reject code) to the central control device, and cannot recognize the character. To the effect.

[0003] The reject code calculates the likelihood (hereinafter, referred to as similarity) of each recognized candidate character, and if it is lower than a predetermined threshold, it is determined that the character cannot be recognized.
Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4, when the degree of occurrence of a reject code (hereinafter, referred to as a reject rate) is generally high, that is, when the similarity threshold is high, the similarity of characters that are determined to be relatively recognizable is relatively high. The degree is higher and the correct answer rate is higher. Conversely, when the reject rate is low, the correct answer rate of the character tends to be low even if it is determined that the character can be recognized.

[0004]

However, in the conventional communication system for performing communication between the terminal and the central control unit, the rejection rate is unique to the communication system, that is, the threshold value of the similarity is fixed. Therefore, for example, if the rejection rate changes due to a change in the character recognition status of each terminal, the central control unit cannot cope with it, and the efficiency of post-processing is inevitably reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a communication system capable of improving processing efficiency in a communication system for performing communication between a terminal that performs character recognition and a central control device, and a control method therefor. A method for providing a computer readable memory.

[0006]

A communication system according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following arrangement.
That is, a communication system for performing communication between a terminal and a central control device, the terminal comprising: reading means for reading an original as image data; and text data based on a control signal for the image data read by the reading means. A character recognition unit that performs recognition, a first communication unit that transmits a character recognition result of the character recognition unit to the central control device, or receives the control signal from the central control device; A second communication unit that receives a character recognition result of the character recognition unit or transmits the control signal to the terminal;
Control means for controlling the control signal based on a character recognition result of the character recognition means received by the second communication means.

Preferably, the character recognition means includes:
A recognition unit that outputs recognition candidate characters for the image data using a recognition dictionary, and a determination unit that determines whether or not the recognition candidate character is unrecognizable based on the control signal, wherein the determination result of the determination unit is The character recognition result is output based on the result.

Preferably, the determination means determines whether or not the recognition candidate character is unrecognizable by comparing the similarity between the control signal and the recognition candidate character.

Preferably, when the value indicated by the control signal is larger than the similarity of the recognition candidate character, the determination means determines that the recognition candidate character is unrecognizable.

Preferably, when the result of the determination by the determination means determines that the recognition candidate character is unrecognizable, the character recognition means determines that the recognition candidate character cannot be recognized as a recognition result corresponding to the recognition candidate character. The specified code shown is output.

Preferably, when the predetermined code number included in the character recognition result by the character recognition means received by the second communication means is greater than or equal to a predetermined number, the control means indicates the control signal. Make the value smaller than the current value.

Preferably, the control means indicates the control signal when the predetermined code number included in the character recognition result by the character recognition means received by the second communication means is less than a predetermined number. Make the value greater than the current value.

[0013] A control method for a communication system according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is,
A control method of a communication system for performing communication between a terminal and a central control device, a reading step of reading a document as image data, and for the image data read in the reading step,
A character recognition step of performing character recognition based on a control signal; a first communication step of transmitting a character recognition result of the character recognition step to the central control device or receiving the control signal from the central control device; A second communication step of receiving a character recognition result of the character recognition step or transmitting the control signal to the terminal; and performing the control based on the character recognition result of the character recognition step received by the second communication step. Controlling the signal.

A computer-readable memory according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is,
A computer-readable memory storing a program code for controlling a communication system that performs communication between a terminal and a central control device, wherein a program code for a reading step of reading a document as image data, and image data read in the reading step. A program code of a character recognition step for performing character recognition based on a control signal, and a character recognition result of the character recognition step transmitted to the central control device or a first control signal received from the central control device. A program code of a communication step, a program code of a second communication step of receiving a character recognition result of the character recognition step from the terminal, or transmitting the control signal to the terminal;
A program code for a control step of controlling the control signal based on a character recognition result of the character recognition step received by the communication step.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

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

As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system includes a mobile terminal 100 and a central controller 200. Also,
The mobile terminal 100 and the central control device 200 are connected through a wireless network 300. Note that, here, the mobile terminal 100 is configured by one mobile terminal 100 and the central control device 200, but the present invention is also applied to a case where a plurality of mobile terminals 100 are configured. When each mobile terminal of the plurality of mobile terminals 100 communicates with the central control device 200, for example, a different identification signal is issued to the central control device 200 so that each mobile terminal can be identified. , The central control device 200 can identify each mobile terminal.

In the mobile terminal 100, reference numeral 102 denotes a read original. Reference numeral 104 denotes a scanner that reads the read document 102 and generates an image signal. 106 is a scanner 104
Dictionary 106a for character recognition of the image signal generated by
This is a character recognition unit performed using. Reference numeral 106b denotes a non-recognizable determining unit that determines whether or not the character recognition candidate character output by the character recognizing unit 106 is unrecognizable based on a non-recognizable determination threshold. Reference numeral 108 denotes a character recognition result transmitting unit that transmits the character recognition result by the character recognizing unit 106 to the central control device 200. Reference numeral 110 denotes a threshold value receiving unit that receives a threshold value for determining the inability to recognize from the central control device 200.

In the central control unit 200, a character recognition result receiving unit 202 receives a character recognition result from the mobile terminal 100. A character recognition result post-processing unit 208 performs post-processing of the character recognition result received by the character recognition result receiving unit 202. A storage unit 208a stores data such as a processing result of the character recognition result post-processing unit 208. 21
Reference numeral 0 denotes a display unit that displays a processing result by the character recognition result post-processing unit 208. 204 is a character recognition result receiving unit 202
Is a threshold control unit that sets a threshold value for recognizing unrecognizable data based on the character recognition result received in step (1). 206 is a threshold control unit 204
This is a threshold transmission unit that transmits the threshold for unrecognition determination set in the above to the mobile terminal 100.

The mobile terminal 100 and the central control unit 200
Each have a CPU, RAM, and ROM (not shown) mounted thereon, and the CPU mounted on each terminal executes various programs for controlling the devices stored in the ROM.
Deploy to AM and execute. The RAM also functions as a data work area and a temporary save area.

Next, the operation of the communication system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

Scanned document 1 prepared on mobile terminal 100 side
In step 02, an image signal corresponding to the read document 102 is generated by the scanner 104. The generated image signal is sent to the character recognition unit 1
06, and performs character recognition. The threshold receiving unit 110
Central control device 200 via wireless network 300
The threshold value for non-recognition determination set in the threshold value control unit 204 is received. Here, the character recognizing unit 106 compares the similarity of each recognition candidate character with the threshold for recognizability determination received by the threshold receiving unit 110. As a result of the comparison, when the similarity of the recognition candidate character is larger than the threshold for determination of non-recognition, the character code corresponding to the recognition candidate character is output as the recognition result. On the other hand, when the similarity of the recognition candidate character is smaller than the threshold for determination of non-recognition, it is determined that recognition is not possible and a predetermined reject code is output. The details of the processing executed by the character recognition unit 106 will be described later. The character recognition result transmitting unit 108 transmits a character code as a result of character recognition by the character recognizing unit 106 and a reject code indicating recognizability to the central control device 200 via the wireless network 300.

On the other hand, in the central control unit 200, first, the character recognition result transmitted from the mobile terminal 100 is received by the character recognition result receiving unit 202. The received character recognition result is corrected by the character recognition result post-processing unit 208 and stored in the storage unit 20.
8a, storage unit 208a using the result of character recognition as a key
In this case, a process such as a search for data stored in the storage device is performed, and the processing result is displayed on the display unit 210. The threshold control unit 204 determines the amount of the character recognition result received by the character recognition result receiving unit 202, and determines the unrecognizable determination unit 1 of the mobile terminal 100.
In step 06, an optimum threshold value for determination of unrecognizable state is set.
The details of the processing executed by the threshold control unit 204 will be described later. The threshold for unrecognizable determination set by the threshold controller 204 is transmitted by the threshold transmitter 206 to the mobile terminal 100 via the wireless network 300.

Next, regarding the processing executed in the present invention,
This will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, in particular, the character recognition unit 106 and the threshold control unit 20 which are the main features of the present invention
4 will be described in detail.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing executed by the character recognition unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

First, in step S300, the mobile terminal 10
The character recognizing unit 106 within 0 performs character extraction for extracting characters from the image signal input from the scanner 104. In step S302, a predetermined feature is extracted from the character image signal extracted in step S300. Step S304
Then, the similarity between the character image signal to be recognized and the learning characters in the recognition dictionary 106a is calculated based on the features extracted in step S302. In step S306, a predetermined number of recognition candidate characters (the number of recognition candidate characters) starting from the one with the highest similarity
Just select and sort. The number of candidate characters is set in a recognition candidate character number register (not shown).

In step S308, the unrecognizable determining unit 10
In step 6b, the first candidate of the recognition candidate character, that is, the similarity of the recognition candidate character having the highest similarity is compared with the threshold for recognizing non-recognition. If the degree of similarity of the first candidate is smaller than the threshold for determination of non-recognition (NO in step S308), the process proceeds to step S310, and the recognition target character is determined to be unrecognizable, and a predetermined identifier, that is, a reject code is output. on the other hand,
If the similarity of the first candidate is larger than the threshold for determination of non-recognition (YES in step S308), since at least one character recognition result can be output, it is determined that the recognition has succeeded and step S31 is performed.
Proceed to 2.

In step S312, a recognition candidate character number counter i (not shown) that counts the number of processed recognition candidate characters.
Is substituted for 2. In step S314, it is determined whether or not the contents of the recognition candidate character number counter i have exceeded the number of recognition candidate characters set in the recognition candidate character number register. If the content of the recognition candidate character counter exceeds the number of recognition candidate characters (YES in step S314), there are no more recognition candidate characters, so the subsequent processing is stopped and step S3 is performed.
Proceed to 16. Then, in step S316, all the character codes corresponding to the recognition candidate characters whose similarity exceeds the threshold for unrecognizable determination are output. On the other hand, if the content of the recognition candidate character counter i does not exceed the number of candidate characters (NO in step S314), the process proceeds to step S318.

In step S318, the similarity of the i-th candidate is compared with the threshold value for determination of non-recognition. If the similarity of the i-th candidate is smaller than the threshold for unrecognizable determination (NO in step S318), candidate characters after the i-th candidate are determined to be unrecognizable, and the process proceeds to step S316. On the other hand, when the similarity of the i-th candidate is larger than the threshold for unrecognizable determination (Y in step S318)
ES), the flow advances to step S320 to increment the recognition candidate character number counter i, and the flow returns to step S314.

The recognition candidate character number register and the recognition candidate character number counter are each realized in the central control device 200, for example, on a RAM mounted on the device, or by being constituted by dedicated hardware. You.

The rejection rate determined by the above processing has a tendency as shown in FIG. That is, when the reject rate is high, the correct answer rate of the character determined to be recognizable is improved, but the absolute number is small. Conversely, when the reject rate is low, the number of characters that are determined to be recognizable is large,
The correct answer rate of letters also decreases. Therefore, in the present invention, the threshold value for the recognition failure determination is set according to the determination state of the recognition failure determination unit 106b of the mobile terminal 100 so that the character recognition in the mobile terminal 100 is performed at the optimum rejection rate. The threshold value is reset by the threshold control unit 104 of 200.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing executed by the threshold control unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In step 402, the character recognition result receiving unit 2
02, the number of unrecognizable characters per read document (reject code) is set to the first value based on the character recognition result received in step S02.
Is determined to be not less than the threshold value TH1. When the number of unrecognizable characters is equal to or greater than the first threshold value TH1 (step S40)
(YES in 2), it is determined that the reading state of the document read by the scanner 104 of the mobile terminal 100 has deteriorated for some reason, and the process proceeds to step S406. Then, step 406
In order to increase the number of recognizable characters, the mobile terminal 10
The recognizable non-recognition determination threshold value which is smaller than the current non-recognizable determination threshold value set by the non-recognizable non-recognition determination unit 106b is reset. After that, the process ends. On the other hand, if the number of unrecognizable characters is less than the first threshold value TH1 (NO in step S402), the process proceeds to step S404. In step S404, the number of unrecognizable characters is equal to the second threshold value TH2 (<T
H1) It is determined whether it is less than. If the number of unrecognizable characters is less than the second threshold value TH2 (YES in step S404), it is determined that the correct answer rate of the character recognition result has deteriorated,
Proceed to step 408. Then, in step 408, in order to improve the accuracy rate of the recognition result, the recognizable non-recognition determination threshold that has been increased from the current recognizable non-recognition threshold set by the non-recognizable determination unit 106b of the mobile terminal 100 is re-read. Set. After that, the process ends.

On the other hand, if the number of unrecognizable characters is equal to the second threshold value TH2
If this is the case (NO in step S408), it is determined that the current threshold for unrecognizable determination set by the unrecognizable determination unit 106b of the mobile terminal 100 is appropriate, and the process ends.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the operator determines the character recognition status of each mobile terminal in the central control device 200, and uses the recognition used for the determination in the non-recognition determination unit 106b of the mobile terminal 100. By adaptively controlling the impossibility determination threshold, a character recognition result with optimal accuracy can always be obtained. In particular, the mobile terminal 100
When the recognition state of the mobile terminal 100 changes every moment, it can greatly contribute to the efficiency of the character recognition processing of the mobile terminal 100.

In the above embodiment, the number of recognition candidate characters output by the character recognition unit 106 of the mobile terminal 100 is plural, but the number is not limited to this. For example, the recognition candidate character having the highest similarity may be determined as the only recognition candidate character, and a determination made by the non-recognition determining unit 106b may be performed on the recognition candidate character. In this case, the processing can be speeded up.

In the above embodiment, the wireless network 30
Mobile terminal 100, central control unit 200
The communication system consisting of is described as an example,
It is not limited to this. For example, there is no problem with a communication system including terminals connected by a wired network and a central control device.

The present invention can be applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), but can be applied to a single device (for example, a copier, a facsimile machine). Etc.).

An object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
And MPU) read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In a communication system that performs communication between a terminal that performs character recognition and a central control device, it is possible to provide a communication system capable of improving processing efficiency, a control method thereof, and a computer-readable memory.

[0045]

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process executed by a character recognition unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process executed by a threshold control unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between a rejection rate and recognition character accuracy.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 100 terminal 200 central control device 300 wireless network 104 scanner 106 character recognition unit 106a recognition dictionary 106b non-recognizable determination unit 108 character recognition result transmission unit 110 threshold reception unit 202 character recognition result reception unit 204 threshold control unit 206 threshold transmission unit 208 characters Recognition result post-processing unit 208a Storage unit 210 Display unit

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A communication system for performing communication between a terminal and a central control device, the terminal comprising: reading means for reading a document as image data; and a control signal for image data read by the reading means. A character recognition unit that performs character recognition based on the first control unit; a first communication unit that transmits a character recognition result of the character recognition unit to the central control device or receives the control signal from the central control device; Receiving a character recognition result of the character recognition means from the terminal,
Alternatively, the communication device includes: a second communication unit that transmits the control signal to the terminal; and a control unit that controls the control signal based on a character recognition result of the character recognition unit received by the second communication unit. Communication system. 2. The character recognition means outputs recognition candidate characters for the image data using a recognition dictionary, and determines whether or not the recognition candidate characters are unrecognizable based on the control signal. 2. The communication system according to claim 1, further comprising: means for outputting a character recognition result based on a determination result of the determination means. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit determines whether or not the recognition candidate character is unrecognizable by comparing the similarity between the control signal and the recognition candidate character. A communication system according to claim 1. 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the determining unit determines that the recognition candidate character is unrecognizable when the value indicated by the control signal is larger than the similarity of the recognition candidate character. A communication system as described. 5. When the recognition unit determines that the candidate character is unrecognizable as a result of the determination, the character recognizing unit outputs a predetermined code indicating that recognition is not possible as a recognition result corresponding to the recognition candidate character. 5. The communication system according to claim 4, wherein 6. The control means according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined code number included in the character recognition result received by said character recognition means by said character recognition means is equal to or more than a predetermined number. 6. The communication system according to claim 5, wherein the value is smaller than the value of. 7. The control means, if the number of predetermined codes included in the result of character recognition by the character recognition means received by the second communication means is less than a predetermined number, changes the value indicated by the control signal to a current value. 6. The communication system according to claim 5, wherein the value is larger than the value of. 8. A method for controlling a communication system for performing communication between a terminal and a central control device, comprising: a reading step of reading a document as image data; and a control signal for the image data read in the reading step. A character recognition step of performing character recognition by using the terminal; a first communication step of transmitting the character recognition result of the character recognition step to the central control device, or receiving the control signal from the central control device; Receive the character recognition result of the process,
Alternatively, there is provided a second communication step of transmitting the control signal to the terminal, and a control step of controlling the control signal based on a character recognition result of the character recognition step received by the second communication step. Communication system control method. 9. The character recognition step includes outputting a recognition candidate character for the image data using a recognition dictionary, and determining whether the recognition candidate character is unrecognizable based on the control signal. The method according to claim 8, further comprising a step of outputting a character recognition result based on a result of the determination in the determining step. 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the determining step determines whether or not the recognition candidate character is unrecognizable by comparing a similarity between the control signal and the recognition candidate character. 3. The control method for a communication system according to item 1. 11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the determining step determines that the recognition candidate character is unrecognizable when the value indicated by the control signal is larger than the similarity of the recognition candidate character. A control method of the communication system according to the above. 12. As a result of the determination in the determination step, when it is determined that the recognition candidate character is unrecognizable, the character recognition step includes a predetermined code indicating recognition failure as a recognition result corresponding to the recognition candidate character. 12. The control method for a communication system according to claim 11, wherein 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the control step includes: when the predetermined code number included in the character recognition result received by the character recognition step in the character recognition step received in the second communication step is equal to or more than a predetermined number, 13. The control method for a communication system according to claim 12, wherein the value is set to be smaller than the value of. 14. The control step, if the predetermined code number included in the character recognition result in the character recognition step received in the second communication step is less than a predetermined number, changes the value indicated by the control signal to a current value. 13. The control method for a communication system according to claim 12, wherein the value is set to be larger than the value. 15. A computer readable memory storing a program code for controlling a communication system for performing communication between a terminal and a central control device, wherein: a program code for a reading step for reading a document as image data; For the read image data, a program code of a character recognition step for performing character recognition based on a control signal, and transmitting a character recognition result of the character recognition step to the central control device, or the control signal from the central control device. Receiving a program code of a first communication step of receiving a character recognition result of the character recognition step from the terminal;
Alternatively, a program code of a second communication step of transmitting the control signal to the terminal, and a program code of a control step of controlling the control signal based on a character recognition result of the character recognition step received by the second communication step A computer readable memory comprising: