Document Image Storage via Character Recognition

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image processing apparatuses require pre-registration of storage destinations for each document type, leading to difficulties in storing image data correctly when new or unregistered document types are encountered, as users must perform multiple operations to select appropriate folders for storage.

Innovation Solution

An image processing apparatus that includes a reading unit, character recognition unit, display unit, reception unit, determination unit, and storing unit, allowing users to select character strings for storage destinations after a single reading instruction, with the apparatus determining and storing image data in folders named with the selected character strings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If pre-registration of storage destinations for each document type is required, then storage accuracy for registered document types is improved, but operability and adaptability to new document types deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage accuracyVSAvoidoperability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary character recognition on the document image to extract storage destination information before the user completes the reading operation. This allows the storage destination to be determined automatically based on recognized text, eliminating the need for pre-registration while maintaining accurate storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables the document itself to specify its storage destination through character recognition of text within the document. The document's own content (such as file names, paths, or destination indicators) is used to automatically determine where the scanned image should be stored, making the system self-configuring rather than requiring external pre-registration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If pre-registration of storage destinations is required, then storage accuracy is improved, but adaptability to new document types deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage accuracyVSAvoidadaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables the document itself to specify its storage destination through character recognition of text within the document. The document's own content (such as file names, paths, or destination indicators) is used to automatically determine where the scanned image should be stored, making the system self-configuring rather than requiring external pre-registration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the approach from static pre-registered destinations to dynamic destination determination based on document content. By extracting text information from each document and using it to determine storage parameters, the system adapts to any document type without requiring pre-registration, thereby improving versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If multiple reading instructions are required for each document type, then storage accuracy is improved, but productivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage accuracyVSAvoidreading efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the character recognition process with the image reading process into a single integrated operation. Instead of requiring separate steps for reading and selecting storage destinations, the system performs both functions simultaneously by recognizing text during the reading process and automatically determining storage destinations, thereby improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables the document itself to specify its storage destination through character recognition of text within the document. The document's own content (such as file names, paths, or destination indicators) is used to automatically determine where the scanned image should be stored, making the system self-configuring rather than requiring external pre-registration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11272073B2Image processing apparatus, control method, and storage medium for storing image data to a folder

Publication Date: 2022.03.08 CANON KK

AI summary

An image processing apparatus recognizes a character string included in image data generated by a reading unit, displays the recognized character string, receives a selection, performed by a user, of the displayed character string. The image processing apparatus thereafter determines, as a storage destination for the image data, a folder named with the character string that is based on the received selection and thereby stores the image data in the determined storage destination. Additionally, the image processing apparatus, in response to a reading instruction being issued once, reads images of a plurality of documents to generate image data, receives a plurality of times selection, performed by the user, of the displayed character string, and determines, as storage destinations, a plurality of folders named with the respective character strings that are based on the selection received a plurality of times.