Acoustic Text Capture from Rendered Documents

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for recording and retrieving information from read documents are inefficient, lacking convenience and flexibility, and often require physical media or unreliable scanning techniques.

Innovation Solution

A system that captures text from rendered documents using handheld scanners or audio devices, processing the data to identify electronic counterparts, allowing for retrieval, annotation, and integration of digital functionality without altering existing document processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional scanning methods are used to capture document information, then text can be extracted from rendered documents, but the process is unreliable and requires physical media

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetext capture reliabilityVSAvoidconvenience of information recording
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical scanning systems with acoustic field-based recognition. Instead of using physical scanners that require contact with document surfaces, the system uses acoustic waves to capture and recognize text, eliminating the need for mechanical scanning hardware and improving both reliability and convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an acoustic field as an intermediary between the user and the document information. The acoustic waves serve as a mediator that can penetrate and capture text data without requiring physical contact or traditional scanning mechanisms, thereby improving operational ease while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If physical media are used to record document information, then information can be stored, but the system lacks flexibility and requires additional physical components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility of information accessVSAvoidrequirement for physical media
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates acoustic copies of document information that can be stored and transmitted without physical media. Instead of requiring physical storage devices, the system captures text as acoustic data that can be digitally replicated and stored, eliminating the need for physical media while enhancing flexibility and reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state of information storage from physical media to acoustic field parameters. By encoding document information in acoustic wave parameters (frequency, amplitude, timing), the system achieves flexible digital storage without requiring physical components, thereby improving adaptability and reducing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If manual transcription methods are used to record information, then text can be captured, but the process is time-consuming and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation capture efficiencyVSAvoidtime required for text recording
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the system to automatically capture and recognize text through acoustic fields without requiring manual transcription. The acoustic recognition system performs the information extraction task autonomously, eliminating the need for human operators to manually type or transcribe text, thereby dramatically improving productivity and reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual transcription processes with acoustic field-based automatic recognition. Instead of relying on human operators to physically write or type text, the system uses acoustic waves to directly capture and convert text data, eliminating the time-consuming manual process and significantly improving information capture efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS8146156B2Archive of text captures from rendered documents
Publication Date: 2012.03.27 KYOCERA CORP
  • US8146156B2 patent drawing
  • US8146156B2 patent drawing
  • US8146156B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A facility for storing a text capture data structure for a particular user is described. The data structure comprises a number of entries. Each entry corresponds to a text capture operation performed by the user from a rendered document. Each entry contains information specifying the text captured in the text capture operation.