Document Image Note Masking and File Naming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies for generating electronic files from captured images of documents with attached notes are not user-friendly, as they require complex handling and recognition of notes across multiple pages, leading to errors and inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

An image processing apparatus and program that extracts document and note areas using optical character recognition, masks the note areas, and generates file names and electronic files, simplifying the process by focusing on note position rather than type or shape, allowing users to easily create files without manual note removal or complex registration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If complex note recognition and handling across multiple pages is implemented, then comprehensive document processing capability is improved, but operation complexity and error rate increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedocument processing capabilityVSAvoidoperation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the document processing task into distinct components: note area detection, character recognition, and file naming. By dividing the complex process of handling notes across multiple pages into manageable segments, the system maintains comprehensive processing capability while reducing operational complexity for the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs automatic note area detection and character recognition without requiring manual user intervention. The apparatus autonomously identifies note regions, extracts characters, and generates file names, eliminating the need for users to manually handle complex note recognition tasks across multiple pages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If manual note removal or complex registration processes are required, then processing accuracy is improved, but time consumption and efficiency decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing accuracyVSAvoidprocessing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of note areas and recognition of characters before the actual file generation process. By pre-identifying note regions and extracting characters in advance, the system ensures processing accuracy is maintained while avoiding time-consuming manual note removal or registration steps during file creation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical processes (physical note removal, manual character registration) with automated optical and computational systems. The image scanner and character recognition module automatically detect and process notes, substituting manual operations with automated technology to maintain accuracy while dramatically improving efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Loss of information

If note areas are preserved in the electronic file, then complete document information is maintained, but document quality and readability decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedocument information completenessVSAvoiddocument quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts characters from note areas and uses them for file naming purposes, then removes the note areas from the final document image. This extraction approach preserves the informational value of notes (by using characters for naming) while eliminating visual distractions from the document quality, achieving both information retention and quality maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11470211B2Image processing apparatus for generating an electronic file of a document image from an optically captured image, and non-transitory computer readable recording medium that records image processing program for generating an electronic file of a document image from an optically captured image

Publication Date: 2022.10.11 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

An image processing apparatus includes a document area extracting module configured to extract a document area from the captured image, the document area being an area of the document, a note area extracting module configured to extract a first note area from the captured image, the first note area being an area of the first note positioned at a first position of the document area of the first page, a character determining module configured to determine the first character included in the first note area by optical character recognition, a document image generating module configured to mask the first note area included in the document area, and generate a document image, a file name generating module configured to generate a file name including the first character, and a file generating module configured to generate an electronic file of the document image having the file name.