Patent ID: 7555712
Filing Date: 2009-06-30
Classification: G06F,G06Q

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method for comparing first and second documents, the first and second documents containing corresponding first and second pluralities of graphic elements, the method comprising assigning a plurality of unique identifiers to the graphic elements of the first and second pluralities of graphic elements wherein each graphic element is assigned an identifier and wherein, upon determining that a first graphic dement of the first plurality of graphic dements is sufficiently similar to a second graphic dement of the second plurality of graphic dements, the method comprises associating the same one of the unique identifiers with both the first and second graphic elements; associating a unique identifier with each graphic element of the first plurality of graphic elements; comparing each one of the second plurality of graphic elements with the first plurality of graphic elements; associating a unique identifier with a graphic element of the second plurality of graphic elements if the graphic element is not sufficiently similar to any graphic element of the first plurality of graphic elements; associating an existing identifier with the graphic element of the second plurality of graphic elements if the graphic element is sufficiently similar to the first graphic element of the first plurality of graphic elements wherein the first graphic element is associated with the existing identifier; wherein comparing the second plurality of graphic elements with the first plurality of graphic elements comprises performing a plurality of element-wise comparisons based on a plurality of similarity rules; wherein the plurality of similarity rules include rules that identify two graphic elements as being sufficiently similar if any differences in their corresponding attribute values result in the two graphic elements being visually similar when printed; and wherein a similarity rule is based on at least one graphic element attribute accuracy value wherein two graphic elements are considered sufficiently similar if, for each at least one graphic element attribute accuracy value, the corresponding values of the two graphic element attributes differ by less than the corresponding accuracy value.