Automated Document Redaction via OCR Coordinate Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual redaction of electronic documents is time-consuming and prone to errors, especially in large-scale scenarios like electronic discovery or corporate information sharing, where numerous documents require redaction by multiple individuals.
Innovation Solution
A computing device-based redaction system that utilizes an optical character recognition (OCR) process to identify and redact text within documents by generating redaction coordinates, allowing for automated and precise removal of sensitive information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual redaction is used, then flexibility and control over redaction decisions are maintained, but time consumption and error rates increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of redaction with an automated optical character recognition (OCR) system. The OCR technology automatically detects, identifies, and redacts text in documents, substituting human manual effort with machine-based optical and computational processes. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining redaction accuracy through automated detection while dramatically reducing processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The redaction system performs self-service by automatically identifying text that requires redaction and executing the redaction process without human intervention. The system independently completes the entire redaction workflow, from document analysis to final redaction application, eliminating the need for manual review and execution while maintaining consistent accuracy across all documents.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple individuals perform manual redaction, then diverse perspectives can be applied, but consistency and coordination become difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies homogeneity by using a uniform automated OCR system to process all documents in the same manner. This ensures that every document receives identical treatment through consistent detection and redaction rules, eliminating the variability and inconsistency that arise when multiple different individuals perform manual redaction with potentially different approaches and standards.
3Reliability
If manual redaction is performed on large volumes of documents, then human judgment can be applied, but the number of required personnel and coordination complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex human coordination system with a simplified automated OCR platform. Instead of managing multiple personnel and their interactions, the system uses a single unified technological solution that automatically performs detection and redaction across all documents, eliminating personnel coordination complexity while maintaining reliable results through consistent algorithmic application.
Data Source
AI summary
In embodiments, one or more computer-readable media may have instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor of a computing device provide the computing device with a redaction module. The redaction module may be configured to receive a request to redact a selection of text from a document and identify instances of the text occurring within the document through an analysis of word coordinate information of an image of the document. The redaction module may further be configured to generate redaction information, including redaction coordinates, the redaction coordinates may be based on the word coordinate information associated with respective instances of the text occurring within the document. The redactions, when applied to the image in accordance with the redaction coordinates, may redact the respective instances of the text. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.