Patent Document ID: 7602972
Application ID: 11114698
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A method for detecting white space tables within a document, wherein a white space table is comprised of text arranged in rows and columns, wherein at least some of the rows and columns are separated by bands of white space, the method comprising: using a computer to perform: identifying an area that includes consecutive lines of text objects with an amount of white space between text objects on each line greater than a specified value; in response to determining that the text objects on the consecutive lines in the area have widths that are within a specified tolerance of each other: checking spaces in the area between the consecutive lines of text objects to determine if the consecutive lines belong to a single white space table or multiple white space tables, checking if the consecutive lines of text objects in the area form a true table by determining if the consecutive lines of text objects can be organized in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, and dependent upon results of said checking spaces and said checking if the consecutive lines of text objects form a true table, creating at least one new white space table for the area.