METHOD FOR ANALYSING DIGITAL DOCUMENTS

Described is a method for analysing documents which can be implemented by a computer comprising the steps of:—selecting a digital document (10) comprising a text component (11) and a graphical component (12);—analysing the graphical component (12) identifying alphanumeric indicators (13) associated with respective portions of the graphical component (12);—searching inside the text component (11) of the digital document (10) for the alphanumeric indicators (13) identified inside the graphical component (12) and associating them uniquely with a text indicator (14) of the text component (11) representing the respective portions of the graphical component (12);—converting the digital document (10) into an augmented reality document (20) at least by displaying on the graphical component (12) of a corresponding text (15) of the text indicator (14), at the respective alphanumeric indicator (13) associated with the text indicator (14).

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to the technical sector for the study and search of digital documents by computer.

More specifically, the invention relates to a method for the analysis of digital documents, especially documents of a patent type or other documents, such as, for example specifications, maintenance and user manuals, technical drawings and others, comprising, inside them, a graphical component.

The increasing development of the electronics and information sectors has lead to an ever greater digitalisation of the sources of information available to the public.

However, the quantity of information available and the amount of documents which can be consulted has made it necessary to develop special data banks and search programs which allow the information to be collected, catalogued and classified in such a way as to render it effectively and efficiently useable.

BACKGROUND ART

There are a wide range of solutions in the computer program sector which allow access to suitable data banks, some generic and others specifically for particular sectors, and searching inside them for the desired information by using keywords or other criteria.

However, the prior art search and analysis methods are not particularly efficient in the management and presentation of documents which simultaneously have a text component and a graphical component, both from the point of view of the search between documents and within the same document.

This failing is particularly felt in the patents sector, where there is often the need to be able to associate the information contained in the graphical component, such as drawings and diagrams, with that contained in the text component, which describe in detail these elements and their constituent parts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In this context, the technical purpose which forms the basis of this invention is to provide a method for analysing documents which overcomes at least some of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

More specifically, the aim of this invention is to provide a method for analysing documents which is able to manage and have a wide range of information in a dynamic, simple and efficient manner, also allowing a user to personalise it depending on the particular requirements.

The technical purpose indicated and the aims specified are substantially achieved by a method for analysing documents comprising the technical features described in one or more of the appended claims.

The invention describes a method for analysing documents which can be implemented by a computer comprising the steps of:selecting a digital document comprising a text component and a graphical component;analysing the graphical component identifying alphanumeric indicators associated with respective portions of the graphical component;searching inside the text component of the digital document for the alphanumeric indicators identified inside the graphical component and associating them uniquely with a text indicator of the text component representing the respective portions of the graphical component;converting the digital document into an augmented reality document configured for displaying on the graphical component a corresponding text of the text indicator, at the respective alphanumeric indicator associated with the text indicator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The method for the analysis of digital documents10, of which a flow diagram is shown inFIG. 1, makes it possible to obtain and make available to a user a large range of information by the association to a portion of a graphical component12of the document of a variety of portions of a text component11containing information connected to the portion of the graphical component12of interest.

More specifically, the method according to the invention comprises selecting a digital document10, which comprises a text component11and a graphical component12.

The analysis method is particularly suitable in the cases in which the digital document10is a patent document, such as, for example, shown inFIG. 2A, in this case, the text component11is represented by the description of the patent text and the graphical component12is represented by the drawings of the patent text.

The graphical component12is then analysed in such a way as to identify the alphanumeric indicators13which are associated with respective portions of the graphical component12.

For example, the graphical component can contain inside it drawings and numbers which are associated with different parts of the drawings and which identify them.

Advantageously, the analysis method according to the invention is able to manage a wide variety of electronic formats in which the digital document10could be produced, such as, for example txt, pdf, Excel file and others.

More specifically, in order to allow a correct analysis, the method comprises a step of converting the digital document into a format suitable for being searched, preferably by means of an optical character recognition process (OCR).

The possibility of performing the analysis also on documents in a format which cannot normally be searched guarantees the possibility of selecting the digital document10from a wide variety of sources without having to select in advance only those in which the digital document10is provided in predetermined formats.

The digital document10may therefore be selected both by an internal source, such as an internal memory of the computer on which the method is performed, and by an external source, such as, for example, a database present on the Internet.

Once all the alphanumeric indicators13have been identified, the alphanumeric indicators13are searched for inside the text component11of the digital document10and they are associated uniquely with a text indicator14, contained in the text component11, representing the respective portions of the graphical component12to which the alphanumeric indicators13refer.

In other words, the alphanumeric indicators13perform the function of intermediaries between the various portions of the graphical component12and the parts of the text component11which describe them or, in general, contain information relative to them, allowing the first to be uniquely associated with the second.

Lastly, the digital document10is converted into an augmented reality document20, shown by way of example inFIG. 2B, by displaying on the graphical component12of a corresponding text15of the text indicator14at the respective alphanumeric indicator13to which it is associated.

In use, the method according to the invention makes it possible to display a plurality of information relative to the various portions of the graphical component12directly on the graphical component12.

More specifically, the corresponding text15may comprise a name of the respective portion of the graphical component12, a synonym of the name of the respective portion of the graphical component12, a description of the respective portion of the graphical component12, a paragraph of the text component11which comprises the alphanumeric indicator13of the respective portion of the graphical component12or a translation of the text indicator14in one or more different languages.

Is also possible that one alphanumeric indicator13is associated inside the text component11of the digital document10to different text indicators14.

In this situation, the corresponding text15may comprise and therefore show to the user all the different text indicators14with which a predetermined portion of the graphical component has been indicated, or select only a single text indicator14to be showed, selecting it on the basis of suitable criteria, such as, for example, the number of uses inside the text component11.

All this may advantageously be made configurable by means of setting up of the system by the user.

In use, the user thus has the possibility of selecting the piece of information, or the information items, which are the most interesting for the user and useful to be displayed by inserting a suitable input, such as, for example: a click of the pointing device, a combination of keys or by using a drop-down menu.

This information can be collected directly inside the digital document10, in particular that relative to the name of the portion of the graphical component12, or outside the digital document10by searching in other digital documents10or in suitable websites and archives, useful in particular for searching for synonyms and translations.

Moreover, the user can to personalise the information collected by applying the analysis method since the augmented reality document can be edited for modifying the contents of the corresponding text15.

This modification can reflect itself, or not, in a corresponding modification also of the text indicator14to which the corresponding text15refers.

If, for example, the corresponding text15is edited for inserting a note or a comment by the user to have a reference ready in a subsequent analysing step, or also for helping the understanding of the digital document10by another user, this modification can be applied and displayed only in the corresponding text15.

Alternatively, if the corresponding text15is edited in order to correct errors, for example of typing or syntax, of the digital document10, this modification can be automatically made also inside the text component11of the digital document10.

Preferably, the corresponding text15associated with an alphanumeric indicator13of the graphical component12is displayed inside a window16which can open if the user acts actively on the alphanumeric indicator13, or appear automatically when the user slides the pointer above it.

With regard to the opening of more windows16there are different operating configurations. According to a first configuration, the windows16which open when the user interacts with an alphanumeric indicator13disappear automatically when a different alphanumeric indicator13is activated or interacted with.

The term “activate” means any type of interaction of the user with a predetermined element of the digital document10; an example of this interaction is the superposing of a pointer on the element.

In other words, the corresponding text15is visible only when an operator superposes, for example, a pointer on the respective alpha-numeric indicator13of the graphical component12.

According to a further configuration, the various windows16remain, on the other hand, open until the user closes them voluntarily, but an optimisation algorithm selects their relative positions in such a way that there are not two windows16superposed and in fact, the various windows16are adequately spaced.

Lastly, especially in consideration of the case in which the number of windows16open is high, the user can reposition the windows16manually as desired.

In other words, the windows16are movable inside a work space defined by the augmented reality document20.

Similarly, it is possible to display the corresponding text15by means of different graphics as a function of certain parameters, such as, for example, the positioning inside the text component11of the text indicator14to which they refer, for example corresponding texts15representing text indicators14which appear in different pages or paragraphs may be displayed differently.

The method according to the invention also allows a comparison to be made in which all the possible versions of the digital document10are compared with each other, available both in the internal memory of the computer on which the method is performed, and on the databases present on the Internet.

There is therefore a step of acquiring a plurality of different versions of the same digital document10, the different versions may be, for example, characterised by having a different preparation and/or publication date, and performing a comparison between the respective text components11of all the versions available of the digital document10and performing the same comparison between the respective graphical components12.

The result of this comparison, that is to say, all the differences existing between two different versions of the digital document10, can be selectively displayed by a user in suitable windows16identical to those containing the corresponding text15, or be presented in revision mode directly superposed on the digital document10indicated by the user as the starting point with respect to which to perform the comparison, the starting digital document could be, for example, the one having the oldest preparation date.

This functionality makes it possible to display in a simple and efficient the modifications which have been performed over time and which characterise different versions of the same digital document10.

More specifically, in the patent sector this function makes it possible to obtain an immediate check on the modifications of the patents present in the same family of patent documents, or to display how a patent has been modified following the decision to file a divisional application or how the classification of the patent has been changed or how certain text indicators14have been changed during the translation into different languages.

The method according to the invention further comprises a step of generating a table17, shown in detail inFIG. 3, inside of which there is each alphanumeric indicator13of the graphical component12combined with the corresponding portion of the text component11associated uniquely to it.

Alternatively, it is possible to apply a filter to the table17in such a way that it only shows the alphanumeric indicators13and the corresponding text indicators14relative to a limited part of the graphical component12, such as, for example, a single drawing contained therein.

In other words, the method according to the invention provides the user with a table17which presents the complete list of the alphanumeric indicators13contained inside the graphical component12, each combined directly with the relative text indicator14, in such a way as to provide a simple and efficient reference which makes it possible to display and identify in a complete and immediate manner all the various portions of the graphical component12and the associated information.

Is also possible for the user to select the type of text indicator14, in such a way as to allow a further level of selecting the information which is displayed.

In order to further improve the legibility of the variety of information which can be obtained by the method according to the invention, there is also a step of generating a graphical interface for showing the augmented reality document20in such a way that the text component11is shown in a first window21whilst the graphical component12is shown in a second window22.

The first and the second window21,22may be placed side by side and displayed simultaneously.

According to this specific displaying method it is possible to provide a very clear display of the existing the relation between an alphanumeric indicator13and the respective text indicator14, for example when a user superposes a pointer18on an alphanumeric indicator13the text indicator14to which it is uniquely associated is highlighted in the text component11.

Preferably, this highlighting is obtained by colouring or underlining the text indicator14.

In the same way, superposing a point18on a text indicator14may generate a highlighting of a corresponding alphanumeric indicator13inside the graphical component12.

For example, it is possible to scroll the text component11of the digital document10in the first window21and, when required, activate a text indicator mentioned therein and see it highlighted in the graphical component12shown in second window22.

The method according to the invention thus makes it possible to move interactively between the graphical component12and the text component11of the digital document10.

The interactivity is also achieved by using the table17containing the list of all the alphanumeric indicators13combined with the respective text indicators14.

For example, it is possible to interact with the table17in such a way that an input, such as the superposing of the pointer18, applied to a component of the table17, whether it is an alphanumeric indicator13or a text indicator14, generates a highlighting of the component inside, respectively, the graphical component12and/or text component11.

Vice versa, if an alphanumeric indicator13is activated in the graphical component12, the corresponding element may be highlighted in the table17.

In the case of a portion of graphical component12present in several different points of the graphical component, it is possible to display starting from the respective component in the table17all the parts of the graphical component12inside of which the portion appears.

In the same way, the user can select a portion of the text component11which is larger, such as, for example, a paragraph or a entire section, inside of which there are several text indicators14.

In this case, the method comprises a step of identifying all the text indicators14contained in the portion of the text component11selected and displaying the portion of the graphical component12, for example the single image, most pertinent with the paragraph selected.

The expression “most pertinent” means the portion of the graphical component12which is most significant and representative of the portion of text component11according to criteria which can be selected by the user, for example the one which contains inside it the greater number of text indicators14identified inside the portion of text component11selected by the user.

The advantage for the user is to be able to display the image more significant for example for a paragraph, or, if the portion is a general introduction of the contents of the digital document10, the drawing which best summarises the contents of the digital document10.

Advantageously, the analysis method may also be applied to a draft during preparation; in this way, by the completion in real time of the table17which associates to each portion of the graphical component12a reference alphanumeric indicator13and a text indicator14of the text component11an immediate check is obtained of the unique associations between elements of the two components11,12.

The user can thus check whether inconsistencies appear, such as, for example, the same text indicator14referred by error to two different and distinct alphanumeric indicators13, or vice versa, and correct the draft accordingly.

Is also possible to implement an automatic corrector which signals these inconsistencies, as well as a standardisation function which, once activated, shows to the user all the different expressions referred to the same portion of the graphical component12and automatically or when instructed by the user replaces in the digital document10a single standard version in place of the various variants.

In other words, the method comprises an automatic correction step wherein an audio-visual signal is activated if the same text indicator14is associated with more than one alphanumeric indicator13.

In the same way, the audio-visual signal is activated when an alphanumeric indicator13is associated with a plurality of text indicators which do not represent the same element.

Obviously, any occurrence is not signalled as an error wherein the same alphanumeric indicator13is associated with a plurality of text indicators14of different type (name, synonym, description, translation or others) but all referred to and representing the same element and/or technical function.

More specifically, it is possible to decide that the correction step is performed by controlling the uniqueness of the combinations only on one information category which is available in the text indicators; preferably, the information is the name of the portion of the graphical component12to which are associated the respective alphanumeric indicators13and text indicators14, in such a way that the audio-visual signal is activated if the same alphanumeric indicator13corresponds to different names.

More specifically, the audio-visual signal may be, for example, an acoustic signal, or a highlighting, by means of colouring or underlining, of the elements having the inconsistency or a suitable combination of both.

The final and correct table17which associates alphanumeric indicators13and text indicators14may be saved and shared with third parties as a legend of the graphical component12of the digital document10.

It is also possible to determine by the analysis of the text component a series of relations between elements described in the text component11and/or shown in the graphical component12, such as, for example, relations of vicinity, connection or of action of one element relative to another.

The term “vicinity relations” means that two elements are positioned adjacent to each other, preferably in reciprocal contact with each other.

The term “connection relation” is used to mean that two or more elements are connected, preferably connected to each other.

The term “action relation” means that a first element is configured to perform an action on a second element.

These relations can be displayed in various ways on the graphical component12, for example by means of connectors or by means of connectors and tags which show the above-mentioned relation between the alphanumeric indicators13of the graphical component or by suitable relational graphics and/or tables17ato be displayed separately. The method according to the invention therefore comprises a step of generating a relational table17acomprising each alphanumeric indicator13and/or text indicator14associated with each alphanumeric indicator13and/or text indicator14with which it shares a relationship.

The indicators of the presence of a relation can be activated on command, for example by clicking on an element one can choose to display all the components which interact with it.

The user may the leave activated the connections considered significant, modify the existing associations or create new associations to improve the information content.

The relation between two elements may be highlighted with distinctive graphic signs for each type of interaction, or by presenting windows16containing portions of the text component11representing both the elements, or with a synthetic and standardised reprocessing of the portions.

More specifically, the relations which have a direction (a first element performs an action on a second element) have suitable graphical elements which make it possible to visually highlight the direction of the relation, the graphical elements may be, for example, arrows which extend from the first element and point to the second element, both inside of the graphical component12and, if necessary, inside the table17.

Moreover, especially if the digital document10to be analysed is a patent document, it may be particularly useful to have information available relative to the existing relations between various elements described inside it and on the presence of some limiting expressions which give information relating to the number or to the special positioning of some elements such as, for example: at least, a plurality, solely, only, included between.

These limiting expressions can be integrated inside the corresponding text15and displayed in the augmented reality document20.

In the same way, it is possible to display the corresponding text16by means of different graphics as a function of certain parameters, such as, for example, the portion of the text component11inside of which there is the text indicator14to which the corresponding text15refers. For example, it is possible to display in a different manner the corresponding text16generated by text indicators present either only in the description or only in the claims or in both.

The invention also relates to an augmented reality document20which can be obtained by a method as described above.

The augmented reality document20comprises a graphical component12which has at least one alphanumeric indicator13and is configured for displaying at least one text indicator14of a digital document10.

The text indicator14represents at least an alphanumeric indicator13to which is associated, since it contains information connected to it and is preferably displayed at it, still more preferably inside a window16which may be moved inside the space defined by the augmented reality document.

The invention also relates to a hypertext30which comprises a plurality of augmented reality documents20obtained by means of the method described above, wherein the alphanumeric indicator13of an augmented reality document20may be associated with a text indicator14of a different augmented realty document20of the hypertext30.

In other words, the hypertext30comprises a plurality of augmented reality documents20which are to form a database inside of which it is possible to search for and obtain information relative to elements of the graphical component12of each augmented reality document20which are functionally similar, in particular which can be associated with the same text indicator.

However, it is possible that the same elements are indicated inside different documents by text indicators14which are different to each other; to overcome this drawback the search inside the hypertext30occurs not only by searching for the perfect identity between text indicators14, but also with the aid, for example, of suitable lists, for example of synonyms, similarities or periphrases, which make it possible to identify, given a search inside the hypertext30, all the elements which satisfy the search criteria, irrespective of the specific text indicator14with which they have been indicated in the single digital document10.

It is possible, for example, to activate, both acting on an alphanumeric indicator13an on a text indicator14, a search of all the augmented reality documents20which contain a predetermined graphical portion to which the indicators13,14refer.

Consequently, the graphical components12of the various augmented reality documents20containing the graphical portion in question are shown in a suitable composition alongside the starting graphical component12.

In order to increase the precision of the search it is possible to apply filters relative to the type of elements to be searched for, the type of view of the graphical component13to be shown or other criteria suitable for limiting the field of search inside the hypertext30.

More specifically, as shown inFIG. 4, given two or more augmented reality documents20of the hypertext30for which a comparative inspection is to be made it is possible to show the graphical components12of each augmented reality document20simultaneously.

The selection of the portion of the graphical component12to be shown between the various ones may be made directly by the user or it may be performed by a series of algorithms/filters, such as, for example, with the possibility of highlighting only the portions of the graphical component12relative to predetermined portions of the text component11suitably selected, or only those relative to portions which have a similar content.

The comparison process can be even activated starting from a portion of the text component11of an augmented reality document20thereby searching inside the hypertext30all the augmented reality documents20which contain graphical components12having a graphical portion corresponding to the portion of the text component11of interest.

It is evident that the same elements contained in the text components11of different documents can be associated with different alphanumeric indicators13.

For this reason, it is also possible to provide an equivalence matrix of the hypertext30which associates with each alphanumeric indicator13each text indicator14with which it is represented in the various documents which make up the hypertext30, the equivalence matrix can be modified by the user if the user detects the presence of two similar elements which have not been detected automatically in the conversion of the digital documents10into components of hypertext30.

In other words, the user can manually associate a numeral indicator13to a predetermined text indicator14; the forced association, as well as influencing directly the hypertext30, can be further stored in a database inside the computer performing the method in such a way that it can be automatically acknowledged in a subsequent use of the method and, if necessary, shared also with other users.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a computer program configured, when in use, to perform the steps of the method described above.

Moreover, the invention relates to a system for analysing digital documents10which comprises a computer and a processing unit.

The processing unit is configured to perform the following steps:selecting a digital document10comprising a text component11and a graphical component12;analysing the graphical component12identifying alphanumeric indicators13associated with respective portions of the graphical component12;searching inside the text component11of the digital document10for the alphanumeric indicators13identified inside the graphical component12and associating them uniquely with a text indicator14of the text component11representing the respective portions of the graphical component12;converting the digital document10into an augmented reality document20configured for displaying on the graphical component12a corresponding text15of the text indicator14at the respective alphanumeric indicator13associated with the text indicator14.

More specifically, the digital document10may be selected and acquired by the processing unit from different sources: it is possible to request the document to be displayed simply by means of an identification code and the document is acquired on the spot from an internal source, an internal memory of the computer, or externally, such as a database present, for example, on the Internet.

The selection of the digital documents10to be analysed can be made by the user both from the inside of a suitable interface of the computer program and from the interface of a third party document control software: in this second case, the document of interest can be selected from the starting program in various ways: actuating a pointer, suitable combination of keys or other method and a suitable software routine will open the document selected in the computer program according to the invention.

Since several versions of the document may exist, it is also possible to set up the version which the user wants to select.

It is also possible to save only a part of the information contained in the augmented reality document20in special use configurations storing the augmented reality document20in the computer.

For example, it is possible to store a predetermined positioning and/or content of the corresponding text15; or it is possible to save individually the table17of the digital document10.

It is possible to save/print/share both the individual graphical components12of a single digital document10and groups of graphical components12coming from different digital documents10.

Advantageously, the invention also provides a method for the analysis of digital documents10, in particular patent documents, which makes it possible to provide a large range of different information in a direct and immediate manner, without a user having to continuously search for the information by means of a laborious comparison between the graphical component12and the text11of the digital document10.

Moreover, the method according to the invention allows the user to have access in a dynamic and selective manner to a plurality of information which can come from different sources, even outside the digital document10, but in any case useful for improving the understanding.

In the same way, the possibility of performing searches between several digital documents10and performing comparisons between their components, graphic12and/or text11, provides an instrument which is extremely efficient to search for information inside database and archives.