Physics Model for Semi-Structured Document Data Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Variations in the layouts and designs of semi-structured electronic documents hinder efficient data extraction and transfer, requiring manual template creation or data entry, which is time-consuming and error-prone.
Innovation Solution
A system that generates a physics model of semi-structured documents using relationships among data elements, represented as mechanical objects, to automatically extract data by identifying locations and extracting data without manual input or custom template creation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual template creation or manual data entry is used to extract data from semi-structured documents, then data extraction accuracy can be maintained, but time consumption and operational complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations (template creation and data entry) with an automated physics-based model that uses mechanical object relationships to automatically locate and extract data elements from semi-structured documents, thereby eliminating time-consuming manual processes while maintaining extraction accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service data extraction by allowing the physics model to automatically identify data element locations and extract information without requiring manual intervention or template creation, making the extraction process autonomous and efficient
2Extent of automation
If custom templates are created to match exact document layouts, then data extraction can be automated, but system complexity and development effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The physics-based model serves as a universal extraction mechanism that can handle multiple document layouts and formats without requiring separate custom templates for each, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining automation capability across diverse document types
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the approach from fixed template parameters to dynamic physics-based relationships that adapt to different document layouts, allowing automation without requiring complex custom template creation for each document variation
3Reliability
If manual data entry is required for semi-structured documents, then data accuracy can be ensured, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes manual data entry operations with automated physics-based extraction that maintains data accuracy through structured relationship modeling while dramatically improving productivity by eliminating repetitive manual input tasks
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that describes a semi-structured document for the purpose of acquiring a set of data elements from the semi-structured document. During operation, the system obtains a physics model of a semi-structured document, wherein the physics model includes a set of relationships represented by physical objects that describe relative positions of a set of data elements in the semi-structured document. Next, the system applies the physics model to a representation of the semi-structured document to automatically extract a set of data from the representation. The system then provides the extracted set of data for use with one or more applications without requiring manual input of the data into the one or more applications.