JPS5986961A - Ocr facsimile device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To execute automatically an OCRFAX mode as a business form of the maximum standard by detecting whether a received original is a business form or not, and also size in the longitudinal of the business form. CONSTITUTION:An OCR facsimile device 2 receives transmission of an image on a business form 100 through a transmission line 3 from a facsimile device 1. A receiving part 21 receives a sent facsimile signal and outputs it as a picture signal. An accumulating part 23 has a picture signal accumulating area 23a in which the picture signal transmitted from the receiving part 21 is accumulated, and an area 23b in which a pseudo pattern is stored. A recognizing part 26 recognizes the picture signal read out of the accumulating part 23. A control part 24 detects whether the received original is a business form or not, and also size in the longitudinal direction of the business form, basing on the picture signal accumulated in the accumulating part 23, and when its size is below a set value, a pseudo pattern corresponding to its short portion is read out of the accumulating part 23 and is given to the recognizing part 26.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an improvement in an OCR facsimile device.

[Technical background of the invention]

In standalone 0CR (optical character reader),
For forms with different sizes (vertical size in %), a unit called JOB is registered for each size, and when the operator operates the OCR, the form is used to determine which job among the registered jobs is used. I was keying in every time the size changed.

On the other hand, with a facsimile machine, when the receiver wants to know the vertical size of the document, in manual reception it is possible for the operator to discuss the size before sending the facsimile, but with automatic reception it is possible to know the size in the vertical direction of the document at the earliest. The vertical size is not known until reception is complete.

Furthermore, OCR, which is a combination of the above OCR and facsimile equipment,
CR facsimile equipment uses a format in which both signals resulting from facsimile reception are sent directly to the OCR unit.
It is difficult to switch jobs.

Therefore, when sending forms continuously, the vertical size of the form is limited to one type, or the vertical size of the form to be sent is determined depending on the time of transmission. After receiving the facsimile signal, the resulting image signal is recognized by the OCR unit (hereinafter referred to as 0CRFAX
(referred to as "used in mode").

[Problems with background technology]

For this reason, conventional OCR facsimile devices have many operational restrictions and are difficult to use.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention was developed in view of the shortcomings of conventional OCR facsimile devices, and its purpose is to automatically adjust the maximum standard without operator involvement, even if the vertical size of the form is different. An object of the present invention is to provide an OCR facsimile device that executes an 0CR FAX mode as a form.

[Summary of the invention]

Therefore, in the present invention, there is provided a receiving section that receives the sent facsimile signal and outputs it as an image signal, a signal accumulation area where the image signal sent from the receiving section is accumulated, and an area where the pseudo pattern is stored. a recognition unit that recognizes the image signal read out from the storage unit, and a recognition unit that recognizes whether the received document is a form or not and the vertical direction of the form based on the image signal stored in the storage unit. As a result, if the document is a form and the vertical size of this form is less than a preset size, a pseudo pattern corresponding to the shortfall is read from the storage section. The OCR facsimile apparatus was configured to include a control section for providing information to the above-mentioned recognition section.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. m1.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the present invention in detail.

In the figure, 100 indicates a form, and 1 indicates a facsimile machine on the sending side. Further, 2 indicates an OCR facsimile device, and 3 indicates a transmission path. The above form 100 is
When the facsimile device 1 on the sending side is set in the sending mode, the image of the form "ioo" is facsimile encoded and transmitted via the transmission line 3 to the OCR facsimile device u:
2.

The OCR facsimile device 2 includes a receiving section 21, a storage interface n, a storage section B, a control section U, an OCR interface, and a reading section. Then, the facsimile signal transmitted by facsimile is sent to the receiving section 2.
1, converted into an image signal, and stored in the image signal storage area 23a of the storage section 211 under the control of the control section 211 via the storage interface n.

The capacity of both signal storage areas 23a is equal to or larger than the image number corresponding to the maximum allowable document size. The image signal accumulated in the image signal accumulation area 23a corresponds to whether it is an image of a form or an image of a general document, but if it is a general document, the fli control unit detects this and, for example, By sending it to a display section (or a copy part) that cannot be displayed, it is displayed as described below. Further, when the image signal corresponds to the image of the form, the control section detects it, reads it out, and sends it to the fiber recognition section via the OCR interface station. Further, the storage unit has an area 23b for storing pseudo patterns, and a dream-like pattern is stored in this area 23b, and is sent to the recognition unit 26 by the control unit path through the same path as the image signal. It looks like this.

In this embodiment, the control unit 24 has a program with a flowchart as shown in FIG. 2, and executes a processing mode for normal documents and an OCRFAX mode for forms.

By the way, the form 1oo used in this example is
Designed as shown. Ori, form LO.

The u1 line to the ρ2 line/th line from the tip P of the
Left 9ia L to n□ bit to n2 pit and 11
．． A black start mark 101 is printed from the bit month to the n4th bit, and a portion of m bits from the n1th bit from the left end, which is below a predetermined line from the tip P, has a length of h bits. Line timing marks 102 indicating that there is a recognition pan area on the right side are printed at predetermined intervals. 'Also, 103 is an ID number area that distinguishes the type of form, and 1o4 is a format determined by the ■D number.This is the format determined by the D number on the form.As will be explained in detail below, the control section 1 is a start mark area. 1
It is determined whether or not it is a form based on the presence or absence of 01, and the size of the form is detected based on the class of the line timing mark 102.

This will be explained below with reference to FIG.

First, in step 201, the control unit 7/I registers a register MAX that stores the maximum number of form lines it has, for example.
Set the line deposit specified by the operator to LN.

Next, for each control unit, a pseudo (dummy) pattern including a row timing mark is stored in the area 23b of the storage unit Z3. That is, a pattern generator (not shown) is built in the control section column, and a pseudo pattern 5 including row timing marks 102 as shown in FIG. 4 is generated by the operator's operation.
．． 00 is specified, this is generated by a pattern generator, and when a pseudo pattern 500' including a line timing mark 102 and a pattern 105 indicating the number of forms as shown in FIG. 5 is specified, this is generated by a pattern generator. , the control unit U stores this in the storage unit n. Specifically, the control unit and the storage unit are connected by bidirectional drivers 4 and 5, a bidirectional bus 6°7.8, and an address bus 9, as shown in FIG. Then, the control unit 24 outputs a predetermined address in the area 23b to the address bus 9, outputs a signal to activate the bidirectional driver 4 to the signal line J, and inputs the bidirectional driver 12 to the signal line 11. Outputs an active signal, sends a pseudo pattern to the bidirectional bus 6, and sends a write signal from the WR terminal to the signal line 1.
Output to 8. Then, this pseudo pattern reaches the storage unit via the bidirectional bus 6 → bidirectional driver 4 → bidirectional bus 7 → bidirectional driver 5 → bidirectional path 8, and is stored in the area 23b indicated by the address of the address bus 9. is stored in In this way, once the necessary pseudo-patterns have been stored,
The control unit 24 proceeds to step 203 and checks whether the operation rate 1+tff of the recognition unit (OCR unit in FIG. 2) 26 is set. Here, when the control unit 24 receives a ready signal via a signal line (not shown), the process branches to YES and further proceeds to step 204. In step 204, the control unit U sends a signal to the receiving unit 21 to inquire whether reception of one member of the document has started. Here, when there is a response from the receiving section 21 indicating the start of reception, the control section U branches to YES, and inputs the image signal to the storage section in step 205. In other words, the control unit 24 performs the steps described in step 202.
As shown in FIG. 6, an address for a predetermined area of the image information-FAi storage area 23a is output from the address bus 9 in FIG. do. In this way, the image signal is stored in the storage section Z3 while the control (+
'TIr'; 1524 is the reception of one part of the manuscript in step 206.

Inquires the receiving unit 21 whether or not the process has ended.
When the receiver receives a signal indicating that one member's reception has been completed, y
The process branches to r;;s and proceeds to step 207.

In this step 207, the control section determines whether the storage section Z3
Both signals in a predetermined range of both signal accumulation areas 23a in the ri1
714, and calculate how many bits the black pit continues in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction in that range.

That is, regardless of its format, the start mark 101 shown in FIG. Based on the position data and size data of the mark 101, the image signal storage area 2 of each storage section is
The image signal stored in 3a is read out and the above calculation is performed. In FIG. 6, the control section outputs the line address of the start mark 101 (corresponding to the island in FIG. 3) on the address bus 9, and the bidirectional driver 4 on the signal line 10. Outputs a signal to activate,
A signal is output on the signal line 11 to make the bidirectional driver 12 inactive, and a read timing pulse is sent to the terminal RD.
The first line of the start mark 101 is input to the control unit 24 by outputting the signal IflJ13 from the start mark 101 to the signal IflJ13.

The control column is the number of black bits in this one line (the left and right start marks 101 are counted separately)
, and then update the line address and perform the same counting. The controller array also calculates how many lines there are in which black bits exist in the main scanning direction with a predetermined bit.

Then, the control unit proceeds to step 208 based on the above calculation result, and controls the image signal storage area 23a of the storage unit z3.
It is determined whether both signals are from an OCR form. That is, as a result of the above calculation, when a predetermined number of lines in which a predetermined number of black bits exist continues in the main scanning direction, the control section 24 branches to YES, and when this is not satisfied,
Branch to NO.

If the branch is to N'O, the control unit 24 proceeds to step 20.
At step 9, the image signal is read out from the image signal storage area 23a of the storage unit and transferred to a display unit (not shown) for display. This completes the processing for the general document.

Further, when the branch is YES in step 208, the process proceeds to step 210, and O is set in the register LNNUM for the number of line timing marks in the received page. Next, in step 211, the control unit 2/1 reads both signals in a predetermined range of the image signal accumulation area 23a of the accumulation unit, and determines how many bits the black bit continues in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction in that range. Calculate. In order to detect the L1 row timing mark 102 in this step 211, the control unit 24 performs calculation, and the row timing mark 102 is
As shown in the figure, it is assumed that the print has a width of m1 and is spaced at predetermined intervals in the sub-scanning direction. The control unit U performs the above calculation in the same manner as in step 207, proceeds to step 212, and determines whether or not it is a row timing mark. Therefore, if the answer is YES, the process proceeds to step 213, where the control unit adds 1 to the register LNNUM for the number of row timing marks in the received page.

When this step 213 is completed or at step 212
If the branch is made to O, proceed to step 214;
- Determine whether detection of all row timing marks has been completed for image signals for a page, and if NO, step 21
1 to step 214 are repeated.

Then, when detection of all row timing marks is completed for image signals for -pages, the process branches to YES and step 2
At step 15, the control section sets the transfer row number register i to 1. Furthermore, the control section sequence proceeds to step 216, reads out 8247 worth of data including the row timing mark of the first row (1=1 in Todoroki Hajime) from the image signal storage area 23a of the storage section n, and sends it to the recognition section. Send to. At this time,
First, the OCR ink face δ shown in FIG. 6 outputs an image signal request signal by bridging the signal line 14. Then, control section 2
4 receives this and sends it to the address bus 9, for example, No. 3.
The line address slightly above the line timing maggot 102 of the first line of the form 100 in the figure is output, and the signal -+j line 10 is output.
outputs a signal r that makes the bidirectional driver 4 inactive and outputs a signal r that makes the bidirectional driver 12 active on the m-pair line 11.Next, the OCIζ interface etc. read the signal from the signal line 15. By outputting, the terminal RD of the bidirectional driver 5.12 and the storage section z3
When the image signal corresponding to the address on the address bus 9 arrives, the image signal corresponding to the address on the address bus 9 is transferred from the image signal storage area 23a of the storage unit to the bidirectional bus 8 → bidirectional driver 5 → bidirectional bus 7.17 → bidirectional bus 8. The recognition section is reached through the path of dozer 12 → bidirectional bus 16 → OCR interface δ.Furthermore, the control section updates the address and changes the position from the bottom edge of the row timing mark 102 in the first row of FIG. The same operation is performed until the lower line address is reached.When the image signal for one line is transferred in this way, the control unit U, in step 217,
Sends a signal to the recognition unit and inquires whether recognition for one line has been completed. Therefore, a signal indicating the end of recognition is sent to the recognition unit 2.
6, the control section proceeds to step 218 and determines whether the contents of the transfer line register i are equal to the contents of the register LNNUM of the number of line timing marks in the received page. In this step 218, unless the line timing marks within the page are transferred several times, ! l
), N.

If the branch is NO, the controller adds the transfer row register NCI in step 219 and repeats steps 216 to 218 again.

When branching to YES in step 218, the controller sequence proceeds to step 220 and checks whether the contents of the register LNNUM for the number of line timing marks in the received page are smaller than the contents of the register MAXLN for storing the maximum number of form lines. By the way, as shown in FIGS. 7(A) and 7(B)K, the ID number areas 103a and 103b are always in the same position on the form, and the ID number areas 104a and 104 of the form are
04b are different, but the number of lines (the number of line timing marks) is the same, and FIG. 8 (2).

As shown in (B), ID number area 103c,
103d is always in the same position (ID number area 1 in Figure 7)
03a and 1103b), the recognition areas 104c and 104d of the form may be different (they may be the same), and the number of lines may be different. In the case of FIG. 7, the number of rows is the same, so it can be processed in the same JOB, but in the case of FIG. 8, the number of rows is different, so it cannot be processed in the same JOB. Therefore, in step 220, the control section checks whether an image signal for a document having a number of lines smaller than a preset maximum number of document lines is set in the storage section.

If No in this step 220, the recognition unit 2fiiC
indicates that the image signals for the maximum number of form lines have been transferred in the operations from step 216 to step 219, so the control section receives the form having the maximum number of form lines,
The transfer will be terminated. On the other hand, in the recognition unit 26, as shown in step 217, first! D number area 10
Recognize 3 and format the form], then repeat the recognition line by line.

Also, for the maximum form j00a in Figure 8 (2), the eighth
When the form 100b in Figure (B) is received, a branch is made to YES in step 220. Therefore, the control section proceeds to step 221 and adds 1 to the register L N N U M for the number of row timing marks in the received page. Furthermore, for each control unit, the process proceeds to step 222, where the pseudo pattern previously stored in the area 23b of the storage unit is stored.
Bidirectional bus 8→bidirectional driver 5→bidirectional bus 7.17→bidirectional driver 12→bidirectional bus 16 in FIG.
→Transfer to recognition unit A via OCR interface B route. The operation of this transfer was explained in detail when step 216 was explained, so it is omitted here, but the pseudo pattern (fourth
500 or 500' in FIG. 5 is stored, and, for example, a pseudo pattern of an appropriate number of forms (1 serial number:) in the pseudo pattern 500' is transferred.

From this step 222, the control section sequence proceeds to step 223, and checks whether the recognition section has recognized the transferred pseudo pattern. If YES, the control section sequence returns to step 220. The operations from step 220 to step 223 are performed on a form 1oo with two lines less than the maximum number of form lines as shown in FIG. 8(B).
b, iterates twice, and then in step 220, N
It becomes O and ends.

In this way, by setting the maximum number of lines in a form in advance, when a form with fewer lines than the set number of lines is received, the missing pseudo pattern is automatically transferred to the recognition unit 26. be.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, 0CRF A
In the
There is no need to switch OB.

Therefore, if you set the maximum specification etc. in the initial settings when starting up the OC1ζ facsimile machine, all forms can be processed in the same job! Operational constraints of 0.0CR7 axis device can be removed.

"Furthermore, if the pseudo pattern K includes a serial number, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, it will be extremely convenient for document management and organization of recognition results.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the present invention in detail, FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a partially omitted plan view showing an example of a form, and FIG. 4
Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of a pseudo pattern, and Figure 6 is a diagram showing an example of a pseudo pattern.
The main part block diagram in the figure, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are plan views showing examples of forms. 2...OCR facsimile device 21...Receiving unit 22...Storage interface n...By storage unit...Control unit 5...OCR interface statement...Recognition department agent Patent attorney Book 1) Artbook 1 Figure j Figure 3 Figure 2 Figure 4 Figure 105 Figure 6 Figure 7 (A) (B) Figure 8 (A) (B) 505-

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) It has a receiving section that receives the sent facsimile signal and outputs it as an image signal, an image 4i storage area where the image signal sent from the receiving section is accumulated, and an area where a pseudo pattern is stored. a storage section; a recognition section that recognizes the image signal read out from the storage section; and a recognition section that determines whether the received document is a form and the vertical size of the form based on the image signal stored in the storage section. As a result, if the document is a form and the vertical size of this form is less than a preset size, a pseudo pattern corresponding to the shortfall is read from the storage section. an OCIζ facsimile apparatus, comprising: a control section for providing information to the recognition section; (2) The control unit reads an image signal area corresponding to a predetermined start mark and line timing mark of the form from among the image signals in the storage unit, and the control unit reads out an image signal area corresponding to a predetermined start mark and line timing mark of the form, and the image signal is Claim No.
QCR7 axis device described in section 1). (3) The control section has a pattern generator that generates an arbitrary pattern, and when the system is initially set, the pattern generator creates a predetermined pseudo pattern and stores it in the storage section. 1st (1st
) or (2). (4) The OCR facsimile apparatus according to any one of claims (1) to (3), wherein the pseudo pattern includes at least a line timing mark and a serial number pattern of a form.