Form Field Recognition and Population in Static Documents

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing techniques struggle to recognize and populate form fields in electronic forms, especially those without pre-defined live form fields, such as flat forms, leading to inefficiencies in data entry and user experience.

Innovation Solution

The system identifies fillable form fields using pattern and text recognition, and suggests data based on prior user responses or contextual information, allowing for automatic or manual entry, even in forms with static fields, by utilizing image recognition, OCR, and machine learning to match field attributes and provide relevant suggestions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If existing techniques are used to automatically fill form fields, then data entry efficiency is improved, but the system can only work with forms containing explicit live form field definitions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata entry efficiencyVSAvoidcompatibility with different form types

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs multiple functions: it can process both live forms with explicit field definitions and flat forms without definitions. The form field recognition module universally handles different form types by detecting form fields through image processing and pattern recognition, while also supporting traditional live form field processing methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary form field recognition module that acts as a bridge between the form input and the automatic filling system. This module detects and identifies form fields in flat forms by analyzing graphical representations, converting them into a format that the automatic filling system can process, thus enabling compatibility without explicit field definitions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the system requires explicit form field definitions for automatic filling, then data suggestion accuracy is improved, but the system cannot process forms without such definitions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata suggestion accuracyVSAvoidability to process undefined form fields

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary form field recognition and identification before the automatic filling process. The form field recognition module pre-processes flat forms by detecting field locations, boundaries, and characteristics, storing this information for subsequent matching with user data, thus enabling accurate data suggestions even without explicit field definitions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical requirement for explicit form field definitions with an optical and pattern recognition-based system. Instead of relying on programmed field definitions, the system uses image processing algorithms to visually identify and interpret form fields, substituting the need for explicit structural definitions with intelligent visual analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If manual form field identification is required for flat forms, then system complexity is reduced, but user time and effort increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem architecture simplicityVSAvoiduser time for data entry

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically recognizing and identifying form fields in flat forms without requiring manual user intervention. The form field recognition module autonomously analyzes the form structure, detects field boundaries and characteristics, and prepares the form data for automatic filling, eliminating the need for users to manually identify or define fields.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes manual mechanical processes of form field identification with automated optical character recognition and pattern recognition systems. The computer vision algorithms automatically detect form fields, extract their characteristics, and structure the data, replacing the manual effort previously required with intelligent automated processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10614266B2Recognition and population of form fields in an electronic document

Publication Date: 2020.04.07 ADOBE INC

AI summary

Techniques are disclosed for identifying and populating static form fields using prior responses to similar form fields. An example method includes receiving an electronic form having, encoded in the form, static text and a static form field for containing information specific to a given user of the electronic form. Using an image recognition algorithm, a fillable form field candidate is identified based on a graphical representation of the static form field. An attribute of the fillable form field candidate can be identified based on the static text. A suggested response for populating the fillable form field candidate is selected from prior responses to other form fields having at least one attribute in common with the identified attribute of the fillable form field candidate. The prior responses are inputs obtained from or associated with the given user. The suggested response is presented to the user for subsequent acceptance or rejection.