Image analysis – Pattern recognition – On-line recognition of handwritten characters
Reexamination Certificate
1995-01-19
2001-03-27
Couso, Yon J. (Department: 2623)
Image analysis
Pattern recognition
On-line recognition of handwritten characters
C382S161000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06208755
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for handwritten character recognition in which handwritten characters are recognized on the basis of a recognition dictionary.
Conventionally, in a handwritten character recognizing apparatus, the types of characters to be recognized are prepared from handwritten data of tens of people in order to support stroke orders, numbers of strokes, etc. that differ from user to user, and dictionary data that is referred to by various stroke orders or various numbers of strokes is registered in a recognition dictionary beforehand. Nowadays, there is a tendency to store more and more dictionary data, in order to attain an increased recognition ratio.
However, such an increase in the amount of dictionary data leads to the presence of a large amount of dictionary data corresponding to various stroke orders and various numbers of strokes that are rarely used, resulting in a waste of storage capacity. Further, the trend has been toward an increase in information storage capacity despite the progression of miniaturization of information apparatuses. Thus, there is a demand for a reduction in the amount of useless information to a minimum.
Further, conventionally, the display of a large number of character patterns registered by the user is simply given in the form of a list in which characters are arranged according to the order of registration or the order of character codes, so that it takes some effort to find the intended character from such a list
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made with a view toward eliminating the above problems in the prior art. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for handwritten character recognition in which the user repeats handwriting recognition, thereby positively reducing the amount of information stored in the recognition dictionary and effectively utilize the storage device.
Further, the present invention provides a reference pattern registering method according to which registered patterns are displayed such that intended characters can be found easily, and a handwritten character recognizing apparatus in which this method is to be used.
To achieve the above object, there is provided, in accordance with the present invention, a handwritten character recognizing apparatus which recognizes handwritten characters on the basis of a recognition dictionary, said handwritten character recognizing apparatus comprising: selection information updating means for updating a plurality of items of selection information, which are respectively assigned to a plurality of reference patterns corresponding to one object of recognition, in accordance with the reference condition at the time of recognition; and recognition dictionary reconfiguration means for reconfiguring the recognition dictionary on the basis of the plurality of items of selection information.
According to the present invention, there is further provided a handwritten character recognizing apparatus further comprising selection information comparing means for comparing the plurality of items of selection information, wherein the recognition dictionary reconfiguration means reconfigures the recognition dictionary on the basis of the results obtained by the selection information comparing means. Further, the selection information includes frequency information, and, each time the reference pattern is referred to, the selection information updating means increases the frequency information of the corresponding item of selection information. Further, when at least one of the differences of the frequency information has reached a predetermined value, the recognition dictionary reconfiguration means reconfigures the above-mentioned recognition dictionary. Further, the recognition dictionary reconfiguration means reconfigures the recognition dictionary at a predetermined point in time. Further, the recognition dictionary reconfiguration means performs reconfiguration according to the order of frequency of reference as known from the frequency information to initialize the frequency information. Further, when the frequency referred to is not higher than a predetermined frequency, the recognition dictionary reconfiguration means deletes the corresponding reference pattern. Further, the selection information includes frequency information and time lapse information, and the recognition dictionary reconfiguration means checks whether or not there a pattern that is repeatedly referred to even after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, and, when a pattern has been generated which is repeatedly referred to at a predetermined frequency after the lapse of the predetermined period of time, reconfigures the recognition dictionary.
Further, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a handwritten character recognizing apparatus which recognizes handwritten characters on the basis of a recognition dictionary that allows registration of reference patterns by the user, the handwritten character recognizing apparatus comprising: registered pattern display means for displaying registered patterns; and registered pattern information rearranging means for rearranging the registered patterns displayed in accordance with a predetermined condition, wherein the registered pattern information rearranging means rearranges the registered patterns according to the number of strokes of the registered patterns. Further, the registered pattern information rearranging means rearranges the registered patterns according to the dates of registration of the registered patterns. Further, the registered pattern information rearranging means rearranges the registered patterns according radical information on the registered patterns.
Further, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a handwritten character recognizing method in which handwritten characters are recognized on the basis of a recognition dictionary, the method comprising the steps of: assigning a plurality of items of selection information respectively to a plurality of reference patterns with respect to one object of recognition and updating the selection information on the basis of the reference at the time of recognition; reconfiguring the recognition dictionary on the basis of the plurality of items of selection information; and recognizing handwritten characters on the basis of the reconfigured recognition dictionary.
In accordance with the present invention, there is further provided a reference pattern registration method for use in a handwritten character recognizing apparatus which recognizes handwritten characters on the basis of a recognition dictionary that allows registration of reference patterns by the user, the reference pattern registration method comprising the steps of: setting a desired condition when registered patterns are displayed; and rearranging the registered patterns displayed according to the set condition, wherein the condition consists of the numbers of strokes of the registered patterns, the registered patterns being rearranged on the basis of the numbers of strokes in the step of rearranging the registered patterns. Further, the above-mentioned condition may be the dates of registration of the registered patterns, in which case the registered patterns are rearranged on the basis of the dates of registration in the step of rearranging the registered patterns. Further, the above-mentioned condition may be radical (sub set of character pattern) information on the registered patterns, in which case the registered patterns are rearranged on the basis of the radical information on the registered patterns in the step of rearranging the registered patterns. As described above, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for handwritten character recognition in which the user repeats handwritten character recognition, whereby the amount of information stored in the recognition dictionary can be positively reduced and the storage device can be effectively utilized.
Furt
Arai Tsunekazu
Harada Takashi
Matsubayashi Kazuhiro
Mori Shigeki
Sakaguchi Katsuhiko
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Couso Yon J.
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
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