Patent ID: 6970601

Claim:
A method of classifying forms, comprising the steps of; inputting image data representative of an input form; extracting features from the image data of the input form; setting a comparison reference value which determines the degree of approximation used in an approximate matching step wherein a set of candidate template forms are preselected; comparing the extracted features with stored features of the set of candidate template forms corresponding to a plurality of known classifications of forms; selecting one of the set of candidate template forms matching the input form using the results of the comparing step; and outputting an output corresponding to the classification of the selected template form characterized in that the comparing step compares extracted features which comprise attributes of tables contained in the candidate template forms and the input form respectively, wherein, in said setting step, a respective comparison reference value is set for each template form based on characteristics of the tables of the template form and a first comparison reference value is set if the number of tables in the template form is less than or equal to a threshold value and if any one of the tables has a number of cells which is smaller than a threshold value, and wherein, if this condition is not met, a second comparison reference value is set.