Utility Bill Data Classification for Standardized Reporting
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Solution Overview
Problem
The processing of utility bills with diverse formats is cumbersome and prone to errors due to manual handling, leading to inefficiencies and inconsistencies in data extraction and interpretation.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that processes utility bills of distinct formats by using a processor to generate uniform classified data, compute utility metrics, and generate standardized reports, incorporating a trained model for field categorization and language conversion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual entry and human interpretation are used to process utility bills, then flexibility in handling various formats is maintained, but processing time increases and errors occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical processes with an automated machine learning-based system. The trained model automatically extracts data from utility bills in various formats, eliminating the need for manual entry and human interpretation while improving both accuracy and speed of processing
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms the processing approach by changing from manual parameter extraction to automated machine learning-based extraction. The model learns to identify and extract relevant parameters (consumption metrics, billing periods, cost details) from diverse bill formats automatically, resolving the contradiction between handling variety and processing speed
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual data extraction is used, then adaptability to different bill formats is maintained, but consistency and uniformity of processed data deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal machine learning model that can handle multiple utility bill formats simultaneously. The trained model serves as a multi-functional system that adapts to different billing presentations while maintaining consistent data extraction and classification, resolving the contradiction between format adaptability and data consistency
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a standardized representation of bill data through the trained model's classification output. By copying and transforming diverse bill formats into a unified data structure with predetermined categories, the system maintains both adaptability to original formats and consistency in processed output
3Productivity
If conventional manual processing approaches are used, then system complexity is kept simple, but productivity and operational efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-training the machine learning model on diverse utility bill formats before actual processing begins. This training phase prepares the model to automatically handle various formats during production, significantly improving processing throughput while the model itself encapsulates the complexity rather than requiring complex manual processes
Data Source
AI summary
A system for processing utility bills having distinct formats is provided. The system comprises at least one processor. The processor obtains a plurality of utility bills comprising at least two utility bills of distinct formats and generates bill data based on the plurality of utility bills. The bill data includes a plurality of fields and corresponding field values for each bill. The processor classifies the field values into a set of predetermined uniform categories based on a field-category mapping to obtain uniform classified data. The processor computes one or more utility metrics for each utility bill. The processor generates utility reports for the utility bills based on the uniform classified data and the utility metrics, where each is of a predefined standard template and includes the utility metrics and uniform classified data. The processor provides the utility reports in the predefined standard template for display on a user interface.