Constrained Character Recognition via Iterative State Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Machine learning algorithms (MLAs) often produce erroneous or incompatible predictions due to the lack of constraints, leading to user distrust.
Innovation Solution
Defining and applying constraints to MLAs to limit predictions to those that satisfy specific criteria, such as using finite-state automata, regular expressions, or transducers, to filter out invalid states and ensure predictions align with predefined rules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If constraints are applied to limit MLA predictions, then prediction accuracy and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the prediction process into distinct phases: initial MLA prediction generation, constraint validation, and iterative refinement. By dividing the complex task of constrained prediction into manageable stages with clear separation between the MLA component and constraint enforcement component, the system achieves reliable constrained predictions while managing overall complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary constraint checking mechanism that sits between the MLA and the final output. This mediator validates predictions against constraints and orchestrates iterative refinement when constraints are violated, enabling reliable constrained predictions without requiring direct modification of the MLA internal structure, thus managing complexity through intermediate validation layers.
2Measurement precision
If multiple constraints are enforced through iterative searching, then prediction accuracy improves, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary constraint validation on the initial MLA prediction before committing to iterative refinement. By checking constraints early and only initiating time-consuming search processes when necessary, the system achieves high prediction precision while minimizing unnecessary processing time for predictions that naturally satisfy constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial constraint checking at each iteration rather than exhaustive validation, and terminates the iterative process as soon as a valid prediction is found. This partial action approach achieves sufficient prediction precision without the excessive processing time that would result from complete exhaustive search, balancing accuracy and efficiency.
3Productivity
If beam search is used to select MLA states, then computational resources are reduced, but risk of missing optimal predictions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback loops where constraint violation results guide subsequent search iterations. By using constraint checking outcomes as feedback to adjust the beam search direction and prioritize promising candidates, the system maintains computational efficiency through beam search while improving prediction reliability through iterative refinement guided by constraint feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the beam width and search depth based on constraint complexity and prediction context. For simple constraints, a narrower beam provides sufficient efficiency with minimal reliability loss. For complex constraints requiring more thorough search, the system dynamically expands the beam width, balancing computational efficiency and prediction reliability adaptively rather than using fixed parameters.
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed a method of and a system for predicting text in an image using one or more constraints. The image is input to a machine learning algorithm (MLA). The MLA outputs a probability distribution. The probability distribution comprises a predicted probability for each of a plurality of pairs, where each pair comprises a class and a next state of the MLA. The states of the probability distribution are added to a set of states to be searched. States that are end states or that fail to satisfy at least one of the constraints are removed from the set of states to be searched. States of the set of states to be searched are input to the MLA. The search is repeated with new states output by the MLA. End states output by the MLA are output as output states that each comprise a sequence of characters.


