Automated Document Preprocessing for Data Extraction Accuracy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for data extraction from electronic documents are inefficient, requiring human labor, being error-prone, costly, and insecure, especially when dealing with sensitive information, as they rely on manual processing, outsourcing, and partial automation which are time-consuming and prone to errors, and lack effective security measures.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that uses multiple image transformation algorithms to preprocess electronic documents, partitioning them into pieces, applying various image processing techniques to improve data extraction accuracy, and securely transmitting data using SSL technology, reducing human intervention and enhancing security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual data extraction methods are used, then human labor can process documents, but processing time is excessive and error rates are high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata extraction speedVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical data extraction with an automated computer-based system that uses optical character recognition (OCR) and image processing algorithms to extract data from documents, eliminating the need for human workers to manually transcribe information

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables documents to be processed automatically without human intervention by using self-learning algorithms that can identify and extract data elements autonomously, allowing the extraction process to serve itself without external human labor

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of manufacture

If outsourcing data extraction is used, then labor costs may be reduced, but data security is compromised and accuracy remains problematic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecost efficiencyVSAvoiddata security

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces secure encryption protocols and authentication mechanisms as intermediaries between the document processing system and external networks, ensuring that sensitive data is protected during transmission and storage without requiring physical handling by external workers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If conventional data extraction methods are used, then existing systems can process documents, but accuracy is limited and human error persists

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational simplicityVSAvoiddata extraction accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where extraction results are continuously evaluated and used to refine and improve the algorithms, with confidence scoring that allows the system to learn from its own performance and increase accuracy over time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary image processing and preprocessing steps before data extraction, including image enhancement, noise reduction, and feature detection, to prepare documents for more accurate extraction and reduce errors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Productivity

If automated processing is implemented, then productivity increases, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing throughputVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the document processing system into distinct modular components including image acquisition, preprocessing, OCR, data extraction, and output generation modules, allowing each to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8897563B1Systems and methods for automatically processing electronic documents

Publication Date: 2014.11.25 GRUNTWORX LLC

AI summary

In a document analysis system that receives and processes jobs from a plurality of users, in which each job may contain multiple electronic documents, to extract data from the electronic documents, a method of automatically pre-processing each received electronic document using a plurality of image transformation algorithms to improve subsequent data extraction from said document is provided. The method includes: electronically partitioning each received electronic document page into pieces; automatically processing each piece of the received electronic document page using each of a plurality of image pre-processing algorithms to produce a plurality of image variations of each piece; and analyzing the outputs of subsequent processing and data extraction, on each of the image variations of the pieces to determine which output is best, from the plurality of outputs for each piece.