Document Validation System Using OCR and Business Rules

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for automatic business transaction document validation are inefficient due to challenges in extracting and normalizing data from varied document formats, leading to inaccurate comparisons and high manual intervention costs.

Innovation Solution

A system that performs optical character recognition (OCR) on received document images, extracts identifiers, compares them with data sources, requests complementary information, and outputs relevant data for display on a mobile device, leveraging business rules and data normalization to enhance validation accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual review of documents is performed, then validation accuracy is improved, but time consumption and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalidation accuracyVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service document validation by automatically extracting data from various document formats, comparing it against business rules, and validating transactions without requiring manual intervention. The automated system performs the validation function that previously required human reviewers, thereby maintaining accuracy while eliminating time consumption and associated costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical manual review process with an automated electronic system that uses optical character recognition (OCR), data extraction algorithms, and business rule engines to validate documents. This substitution eliminates the need for human reviewers while maintaining validation accuracy through sophisticated automated processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Loss of time

If automatic extraction and recognition of document information is performed, then time consumption is reduced, but accuracy deteriorates due to varied document formats

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime consumptionVSAvoidextraction accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system adapts to various document formats by dynamically adjusting extraction parameters and algorithms based on the specific document type and structure. The business rule engine modifies validation parameters according to the context, enabling accurate extraction and validation across diverse document formats without sacrificing time efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where extracted data is validated against business rules and previous successful extractions. This feedback loop allows the system to learn from and correct extraction errors, improving accuracy over time while maintaining automated processing speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If data from varied document formats is extracted and normalized, then validation reliability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalidation reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs a universal business rule engine that can handle multiple document formats and validation scenarios through a single integrated platform. This multi-functional approach allows the same system architecture to validate various document types without requiring separate specialized systems, thereby improving reliability while controlling complexity through consolidation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a business rule engine as an intermediary layer between the document extraction module and the validation logic. This intermediary component simplifies the system architecture by centralizing validation rules and providing a standardized interface for handling diverse document formats, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables efficient, automated validation of business transactions by correcting OCR errors and normalizing data, reducing manual intervention and improving accuracy across different document formats, thus facilitating faster and more reliable document validation.

Implementation Method 1

performing optical character recognition (OCR) on the image

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical character recognition:

Data Source

PatentUS8879846B2Systems, methods and computer program products for processing financial documents

Publication Date: 2014.11.04 TUNGSTEN AUTOMATION CORPORATION

AI summary

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving an image of a tender document; performing optical character recognition (OCR) on the image; extracting an identifier of the tender document from the image based at least in part on the OCR; comparing the extracted identifier with content from one or more data sources; requesting complementary information from at least one of the one or more data sources based at least in part on the extracted identifier; receiving the complementary information; and outputting at least some of the complementary information for display on a mobile device. Exemplary systems and computer program products are also described.