Form Mark Recognition for Automatic Process Association
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face difficulties in associating marks with processes on forms, leading to manual and time-consuming tasks for users in organizations, especially in processing expense claim forms, invoices, and purchase order forms, as the correspondence between marks and processes is not easily registered.
Innovation Solution
An information processing system that includes a data storing unit for associating identification information with processes, an area identifying unit to identify marked areas, and a processing unit to execute specific processes based on the identified areas and stored information, enabling automatic processing of forms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual registration of correspondence between marks and processes is performed, then accuracy of mark-process association is improved, but time consumption and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows users to self-register mark-process correspondence by directly marking forms with marker pens. The imaging apparatus automatically captures these marks and the information processing system automatically associates them with processes, eliminating the need for manual registration operations while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical registration operations with an automated imaging and information processing system. The imaging apparatus captures mark positions and the information processing system automatically processes this data to establish mark-process associations, substituting human manual work with automated computational processes.
2Productivity
If automated mark detection is implemented, then productivity is improved, but difficulty of detecting and measuring marks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the color properties of marker pen marks for automatic detection. The imaging apparatus captures the colored marks on forms, and the information processing system detects and identifies these marks based on their color characteristics, enabling automated processing while maintaining ease of detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging apparatus serves as an intermediary between the physical mark on the form and the digital information processing system. It captures the mark image and converts it into digital data that the information processing system can automatically analyze and associate with processes, bridging the physical and digital domains.
3Device complexity
If manual setting of mark-process correspondence is required, then system complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Users can directly mark forms with marker pens to associate marks with processes without complex system configuration. The system automatically captures these user actions and processes the associations, making the operation as simple as writing on paper while maintaining low system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging apparatus creates a digital copy of the marked form, preserving the mark positions and characteristics. This digital copy is then processed by the information processing system to establish mark-process associations, allowing users to interact with familiar paper-based marking while achieving automated digital processing.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing system communicably connectable to one or more apparatuses and configured to execute a plurality of processes, includes: a data storing unit configured to store, in response to a user operation on a first apparatus, setting information associating identification information identifying content of a particular process among the plurality of processes and the particular process; an area identifying unit configured to identify an area including the identification information from image data received from a second apparatus; and a processing unit configured to execute the particular process, based on the identified arca and the setting information.