Patent ID: 9116923
Filing Date: 2015-08-25
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A computerized method for counting symbols that represent parts in an image, the method comprising: providing an image in electronic form, the image having a plurality of symbols, wherein the same symbol may represent a plurality of different types of parts, with at least some of the symbols having separate distinguishing identifiers associated therewith, each of the identifiers including a plurality of pixels, with the same symbol representing a particular type of part based on its associated identifier; identifying, by a computer processor, a symbol in the image to search; searching, by the computer processor, the image for the identified symbol and displaying initial search results for the identified symbol on a display screen; selecting, by the computer processor, the identified symbol from the displayed initial search results; specifying, by the computer processor, pixels of a selected first identifier associated with the selected symbol, with symbols having the first identifier representing a different type of part than symbols not having the first identifier; performing, by the computer processor, a separate refining secondary search of the initial search results for symbols having the specified pixels of the first identifier; displaying the symbols from the secondary search, including symbols that have the specified pixels of the first identifier, with the symbols having the first identifier highlighted in order to be distinguished from the symbols not having the first identifier; after displaying the symbols from the secondary search, removing, by the computer processor, the highlighted symbols from the displayed initial search results, so that the remaining displayed initial search results no longer display symbols that include the specified pixels of the first identifier; specifying, by the computer processor, pixels of a selected second identifier associated with the selected symbol; performing, by the computer processor, an additional secondary search of the initial search results for symbols that include the specified pixels of the second identifier; and displaying the symbols from the additional secondary search that include the specified pixels of the second identifier, including highlighting, in the display of the remaining initial search results, the symbols that include the specified pixels of the second identifier.