Multifunction Peripheral Real-Time Translation via Touchscreen Region Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multifunction peripherals (MFPs) require a time-consuming and labor-intensive process for translating scanned documents, as they lack the ability to translate only selected portions of a document in real time, especially when dealing with mixed languages, and require separate steps for scanning, optical character recognition, and machine translation.
Innovation Solution
An MFP system with an intelligent controller and touchscreen interface that allows users to select areas of a scanned document for real-time translation, using optical character recognition and machine translation to generate a translated file that can be displayed and printed alongside the original, enabling simultaneous translation and printing of selected document portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the entire scanned document is translated using optical character recognition and machine translation, then complete translation coverage is achieved, but processing time and computational resources increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the scanned document into multiple selectable regions or zones. Users can choose to translate only specific portions of the document rather than the entire document. The system processes and translates selected regions independently, reducing overall processing time and computational resources while maintaining translation quality for the chosen areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial translation by allowing users to select only the portions of the document that require translation. This partial action approach translates only the necessary regions rather than the complete document, significantly reducing processing time and computational load while still achieving the user's translation needs.
2Reliability
If separate steps are used for scanning, optical character recognition, and machine translation, then each process can be optimized independently, but the overall process becomes labor-intensive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the scanning, optical character recognition, and machine translation functions into an integrated workflow. The system performs OCR and translation automatically after scanning, eliminating the need for users to manually execute separate steps. This merging of functions maintains the optimization benefits of each individual process while significantly improving ease of operation through automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs optical character recognition and translation preparation in advance during the scanning process itself. By pre-processing the document content and identifying translatable regions before the user initiates translation, the system reduces the operational steps required and accelerates the overall process while maintaining independent optimization of each function.
3Productivity
If real-time translation of selected areas is implemented, then processing speed and user control are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a touchscreen interface that serves multiple functions: displaying the scanned document, allowing region selection, initiating translation, and displaying results. This multi-functional approach enables real-time translation of selected areas without requiring separate dedicated components for each function, thereby improving productivity while limiting the increase in device complexity through versatile component utilization.
4Use of energy by moving object
If only selected portions of a document are translated, then processing power requirements are reduced, but the ability to handle mixed languages throughout the document is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different processing qualities to different regions of the document. Selected portions receive full OCR and translation processing, while unselected portions remain in their original form. This local quality approach allows the system to handle mixed languages effectively by translating only the specific regions containing foreign text, reducing processing power requirements while maintaining adaptability to multi-language documents through user-selectable region processing.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for real time translation of scanned documents includes a multifunction peripheral having intelligent controller including a processor and associated memory. A scan engine generates an electronic image of a tangible document and a touchscreen user interface receives a user scan instruction. The scan operation generates a scan file and a generated image of the document is displayed on the touchscreen. A user selects an area of the generated image via the touchscreen. An optical character recognition operation generates a character based file which is then translated from a source language to a target language. The resultant translation is then displayed on the touchscreen.