Marker Detection for Automatic File Naming and Email Routing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Users face inconvenience when inputting transmission addresses and file names for image data using a touch panel or hard keys on an image reader, as it is not user-friendly.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with a marker detection section that analyzes image data to detect marker portions and extracts texts within them, using these texts as file names and transmission addresses without manual input, allowing image data to be transmitted via email or storage with marker pen markings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual input methods (touch panel or hard keys) are used for entering transmission address and file name, then the device can transmit image data, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to the cumbersome input process
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically extracts transmission address and file_name from marker portions in the document image, eliminating the need for manual user input. The marker detection section identifies marked regions, and the text extraction section automatically retrieves the necessary information, allowing the transmission to proceed without user intervention for data entry.
Solution Approach 2:
The user pre-marks the transmission address and file_name information in the document using a marker pen before scanning. This preliminary marking action allows the system to automatically capture and utilize this information during the transmission process, eliminating the need for subsequent manual input.
2Ease of operation
If automatic extraction from marker portions is implemented, then the ease of operation improves by eliminating manual input, but the device complexity increases due to additional detection and extraction functions
Solution Approach 1:
The image reader is enhanced with multi-functional capabilities: it not only scans documents but also performs marker detection, text extraction from marked regions, and automatic transmission setup. By integrating these functions into a single device, the system avoids the need for separate specialized devices while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The marker portions in the document serve as an intermediary carrier that contains both the visual information to be transmitted and the metadata (transmission address, file_name) needed for the transmission process. This intermediary approach allows the system to automatically extract all necessary information from a single source without requiring complex user interactions.
3Extent of automation
If marker detection and text extraction functions are added, then automation extent improves by eliminating manual input, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases due to the need to identify marker portions and extract texts
Solution Approach 1:
The system detects marker portions based on their distinct color characteristics that differ from the normal document content. By identifying the unique color properties of marker pen markings, the marker detection section can automatically distinguish and isolate the marked regions from the rest of the document image.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical process of copying information from the document to transmission settings is replaced with an automated optical and computational system. The image reader captures the document image, the marker detection section identifies marked regions through image processing, and the text extraction section automatically retrieves the text information, eliminating manual intervention entirely.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device includes an image reading section, a marker detection section, and a processing section. The marker detection section analyzes image data and detects a first marker portion indicated in the image data and a second marker portion indicated in the image data in a mode different from a mode of the first marker, and also extracts texts indicated in the first marker portion and the second marker portion. The processing section performs processing of transmitting the image data where the text indicated in the first marker portion is defined as a file name of the image data and the text indicated in the second marker portion is defined as a transmission address to which the image data is transmitted.