Patent ID: 6356655
Filing Date: 2002-03-12
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
A method of identifying a class of a bitmap image including a plurality of horizontal line segment images, the method being carried out on a bitmap image identifying apparatus that has a bitmap image definition set containing information for identifying a plurality of bitmap images, comprising the steps of:(a) scanning said bitmap image to extract information for specifying a plurality of horizontal line segments which line segments are substantially parallel to the direction of the scanning of the bitmap image; (b) extracting information for specifying a circumscribed rectangle based on said information for specifying the plurality of horizontal line segments and circumscribing the plurality of horizontal line segments; (c) using information extracted in step (b) as at least one virtual reference mark for specifying if the circumscribed rectangle is similar to pre-registered information for specifying a circumscribed rectangle in a bitmap image definition; and (d) checking whether or not said extracted information for specifying a plurality of horizontal line segments is similar to pre-registered information for specifying horizontal line segments in said bitmap image definition set so that the class of bitmap can be determined using a self generated reference mark.