AR-Assisted Form Data Capture via Region Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for capturing data from forms using mobile devices often result in low-resolution images, leading to incomplete data capture and increased processing costs due to image stitching, which complicates text recognition and data extraction.
Innovation Solution
The use of augmented reality on mobile devices to assist in capturing form data by identifying form regions, providing overlays to guide users in capturing high-resolution images of specific regions, and avoiding unnecessary document areas, thereby enhancing data quality and reducing processing burdens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mobile device cameras are used to capture form images, then the capture process is convenient and accessible, but the image resolution is insufficient for text recognition and data extraction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the form capture process into multiple high-resolution images of different regions rather than attempting to capture the entire form in a single low-resolution image. The system segments the form into multiple capture areas, allowing each region to be captured at high resolution for accurate text recognition and data extraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-image capture approach to a multi-image spatial arrangement. By capturing multiple images of different form regions and arranging them in a specific spatial configuration, the system achieves high resolution without requiring a single oversized capture, thus maintaining mobile device convenience while improving image quality.
2Measurement precision
If multiple images are captured and stitched together to achieve high resolution, then image quality improves, but processing time and computational resources increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions during the capture phase by organizing images into a predetermined spatial arrangement that corresponds to their physical layout on the form. This pre-arrangement eliminates the need for complex post-capture stitching operations, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining high resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and processes only the necessary form regions that contain data, rather than attempting to stitch and process entire high-resolution images of the complete form. This selective approach reduces computational burden and processing time while maintaining sufficient resolution for data extraction.
3Loss of information
If multiple images are captured to cover the entire form, then complete document coverage is achieved, but unnecessary portions are captured increasing data volume and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by capturing images at high resolution only for specific form regions that contain data, rather than uniformly capturing the entire form. The system identifies and focuses on relevant areas, reducing unnecessary data capture while ensuring complete coverage of information-bearing regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the form into distinct capture regions, capturing only those areas that contain form data. This segmentation approach ensures complete document coverage for data extraction while avoiding capture of unnecessary blank or irrelevant portions, thereby reducing data volume and processing requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for using augmented reality to assist in capturing data from a document are described. The method may include capturing, with a camera of a mobile device, an image of a first region of a document. The method may also include determining, by a processor of the mobile device, a dimension of the first region relative to the document. The method may also include rendering, in a display of the mobile device, an image of the document in an augmented reality scene with a first augmented reality overlay rendered over the first region of the image of the document and a second augmented reality overlay rendered over a second region of the document, the first region and the second region being different regions of the document.