Patent ID: 6993155

Claim:
A method for reading document entries and addresses using the following method steps an image of the surface of documents or dispatches which contains the information to be read is recorded, the information is automatically read in a reading mode in a reader using the following intermediate steps layout analysis with determination of the regions (ROI) which contain the information to be read, segmentation into the areas which are to be classified, classification of the segmented regions, interpretation of the results from the preceding steps, with intermediate results being stored, such that they can be picked off for subsequent intermediate steps, until a new image is read, the image in question is video coded if a clear reading result has not been automatically ascertained within a prescribed time period, the automatic reading steps being optimized in an adaptation phase using a random sample, comprising the images with the information to be read and the associated nominal reading results with their intermediate results, wherein, during the reading mode, when information from selected images has been clearly read automatically, the reading results and intermediate results associated with the image data of the respective image are stored for a current random sample, and/or, when information from the selected images has been clearly ascertained using video coding, the image data are read once again in a second automatic reading process, having the same functionality, and the associated information ascertained by video coding is included, and in the case of a clear reading result, the reading results and intermediate results are likewise stored, assigned to the associated image data, for the current random sample, and in that the current random sample is used to readapt the automatic reader and the images to be included in the random sample are selected such that the random sample contains a stipulated ratio of automatically read images and video coded images.