Patent ID: 7590275
Filing Date: 2009-09-15
Classification: G06K,G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method of identifying candidate characters of a character string in a captured image, the method comprising using a processor to perform the steps of: identifying special characters within the captured image of said character string, including: performing a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) on a portion of the captured image; performing an inverse FFT yielding a cross-correlation image representing a cross-correlation between the captured image and a character template image corresponding to the special characters; box-filtering the cross-correlation image to smooth the cross-correlation image; subtracting the box-filtered image from the cross-correlation image yielding a modified cross-correlation image; and based at least in part on the modified cross-correlation image, identifying the special characters; determining a bounding box generally encompassing said character string based on the identified special characters; determining segments of said bounding box containing candidate characters; comparing each determined segment of said bounding box with at least one character template image, each character template image including features associated with a respective character to be recognized; and identifying a candidate character when said segment includes image information corresponding to one of a set of character template images.