Character Pixel Color Replacement for Editable Document OCR
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for converting printed documents to electronic format do not effectively consider the combination of font color and character pixel color, leading to interference and reduced reusability of images during optical character recognition (OCR) processing.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus and method that recognizes characters, calculates a certainty factor for OCR, determines font color based on this factor, and applies a replacement color to character pixels to improve image reusability by minimizing font interference, using a combination of positive and negative correlations with the certainty factor for optimal color determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If character pixels are erased from the image to improve reusability, then image reusability is improved, but character recognition accuracy may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different processing to different regions: high-certainty characters have their traces erased from the image, while low-certainty characters maintain their traces. This local differentiation allows the image to be reused for purposes other than OCR, while preserving recognition accuracy for uncertain characters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of character pixel visibility based on the certainty factor. Characters with certainty factor above a threshold have their pixel traces removed (parameter change from visible to invisible), while those below the threshold maintain visibility. This parameter change enables both image reusability and recognition accuracy.
2Illumination intensity
If font color is made prominent to improve visibility, then font visibility is improved, but interference with character pixels increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts font color parameters based on the certainty factor of each character. High-certainty characters use standard font colors for visibility, while low-certainty characters use muted or desaturated colors to reduce interference. This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between visibility and interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The font color is not fixed but dynamically adjusted according to the certainty factor of each character. The system adapts the color parameters in real-time during processing, allowing optimal balance between visibility and interference reduction for each individual character.
3Adaptability or versatility
If all character traces are removed to enable image reuse, then image reusability is improved, but OCR reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies selective trace removal based on local character certainty. Each character is evaluated individually, and only high-certainty characters have their traces removed. This local quality differentiation ensures that image reusability is improved without compromising OCR reliability for uncertain characters.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary character recognition and certainty factor calculation before deciding whether to remove character traces. This preliminary action allows the system to make informed decisions about which characters to process, ensuring that only appropriate characters have their traces removed, thus maintaining OCR reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes circuitry configured to recognize a character in an original image by character recognition, to generate a font, calculate a certainty factor of the character recognition, determine a color of the font based on the certainty factor by a first processing method, and determine a replacement color by a second processing method based on the certainty factor, and convert the original image into an editable electronic document including the font and an image in which the character pixel has the replacement color. The replacement color is a color to which a color of a character pixel of the recognized character is replaced.