Table Cell Matching for Accurate Document Difference Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing document difference display programs fail to effectively identify differences in table data within documents, particularly in legal documents where visual inspection is limited and small content differences can lead to significant legal implications.
Innovation Solution
An information processing system that acquires and processes first and second document data, including table data, to specify correspondences between cells based on content similarity, and highlights differences between these data sets for user terminals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If visual inspection is used to identify differences in table data, then simplicity is maintained, but accuracy and efficiency deteriorate due to inability to detect small content differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection with automated computer processing. The system uses processors to execute algorithms that compare table data between document versions, substituting human visual analysis with machine-based automated difference detection that can accurately identify even minor content changes in tabular formats.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing system that acts as a mediator between the original documents and the user. This system includes components for acquiring document data, extracting table information, specifying correspondences between cells, and generating visual outputs that highlight differences, thereby bridging the gap between complex data comparison and user comprehension.
2Productivity
If automated processing is implemented to detect table data differences, then accuracy improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the document processing task into distinct components: acquiring document data, extracting table data, identifying cell correspondences between versions, detecting differences, and generating visual outputs. This segmentation allows each component to be processed independently and efficiently by the processor, improving overall productivity while managing system complexity through modular organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates structured representations (copies) of table data from documents in various formats. By converting original table data into standardized internal representations that can be systematically compared, the system enables efficient automated processing without requiring complex direct manipulation of diverse original formats.
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive cell correspondence specification is performed, then difference detection accuracy improves, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters of cell comparison by focusing on content similarity metrics rather than exhaustive structural analysis. The system specifies correspondences between cells based on similarity of their content data, using configurable thresholds and similarity measures that balance accuracy with processing efficiency, allowing adjustment between precision and speed based on specific needs.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing method is an information processing method executed by a processor, the information processing method including: acquiring first document data including first table data and second document data including second table data; specifying a correspondence between at least one first cell included in the first table data and at least one second cell included in the second table data based on similarity of contents data included in cells; and specifying a difference indicating a different part between the first table data and the second table data based on correspondence data generated by specifying the correspondence.