Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The pre~ent inverition relates -to a Method of using
a facsimile machine as an optical character scanner to
produce computer text files.
BACXGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An Optical Character Scanning Apparatus is u~ed to
"scan" a document and place it into a computer file
format. The technology was developed for the purpose of
permitting a person to edit on a computer documents
10 received in hard copy format, without having to retype
the entire document into a computer for the purpose of
word processing. When a document is scanned, the
subject matter is encoded as special characters (such as
commas, periods, brackets) or alpha-numeric characters
15 (such as "l's, "2's", "3's", "A's", "B's", "C's"). The
result of the scanning is then stored as a set of text
characters.
There are a number of problems with this
20 technology. One problem is in having a sranner
sophisticated enough to identify a particular alpha-
numeric character (such as an "A") regardless of the
type style used. Another problem is in identifying
characters when the original hard copy is blurred and
25 generally not of good quality. In order to resolve
the e problems sophisticated technology is used which is
typically expensive.
On the other hand, the use of facsimile machines
30 has become widespread and such machines are
comparatively inexpen~ive.
SUMMARY OF TH~ INVENTION
What is required i~ a method of using a facsimile
machine as an optical character scanner to produce
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computer text files.
According -to this aspect of the invention there is
provided a method of using a facsimile machine as an
optical character scanner to produce computer text files
which is comprised of the following described teps.
Firstly, establish a communication link between a
facsimile machine and a computer equipped with a fax
board. Secondly, transmit the image of a document from
10 the facsimile machine to the computer in the form of a
Graphic file. Thirdly, convert the Graphic files
generated by the facsimile machine into text files.
Prior to the present invention, fax boards and fax
15 machines were considered to be mutually exclusive
entities. A fax board is used to send and receive
textual messages composed at a computer. A fax machine
has a built in "scanning" capability that permits it to
send copies of text or graphic images taken from books
20 and other sources. When a fax machine "scans" a
document it stores the information as a dense set of
"dots" or pixels. A character, such as an "A" is not a
unit in and of itself, but merely a pattern of "dots" in
the shape of an "A". The information is stored in
25 graphic files, referred to as PCX files. This is to be
contrasted with conventional Optical Character Scanners
which operate on the basis of character recognition and
store the resulting document as a text file. By
e-~tablishing a communication link between the fax board
33 of the computer and the fax machine, and using software
capable of converting the graphic files into text files,
the Applicant has created a form of Optical Character
Scanner which uses proven exiYting technology at
35 comparatively low cost. Most businesses already are
using fax machines and computers. It is therefore
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possible by following the teachillys of the Appli~ant's
method to obtain optical scanning capability at minimal
co~t.
Another advantage provided by this method is
greater flexibility in editing; as editing can occur in
the Graphic file format if desired. With conventional
Optical Character Scanning technology the rtsulting
document i5 stored as a text file. In a text file it is
10 impossible to delete a portion of a character. Either
the character is deleted in its entirety or it iB not
deleted. In contra~t, a character in a Graphic file i8
merely a plurality of "dot~" in the shape of that
character, and a selected portion of those dots can be
15 deleted, as desired.
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According to another aspect of the invention there
is provided an Optical Character Scanning Apparatus
which is comprised of a facsimile machine and a computer
20 equipped with a fax board. A communication link is used
to couple the facsimile machine with the computer Yuch
that documents are scanned by the facsimile machine and
communicated through the communication link to the
computer as a Graphic file. Conversion ~oftware is used
25 by the computer to convert the Graphic files into text
files.
BRI~F D~SCRIPTION OF THE DRAoINGS
These and other features of the invention will
30 become more apparent from the following description in
which reference is made to the appended drawings,
wherein:
FIGURe I is a block diagram of an Optical Character
35 Scanning Apparatus assembled according to the teachings
of the present invention.
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DETAILED D~SCRIPTION OF TEE PREFERRED EMBODI~ENT
The present invention, an Optical Character
Scanning Apparatus generally referred to by reference
numeral 10, will now be described with reference to
FIGURE 1. The primary component of Optical Character
Scanning Apparatus 10 are a facsimile machine 12, a
computer 14, a fax board 16, a communication link 18,
and conversion software. All of these components are
well known and proven technology. The invention lies in
10 the inter-relationship of the components and the method
of use.
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Referring to FIGUR~ 1, computer 14 is equipped with
a fax board 16. In the prototype developed by the
1~ Applicants a fax board manufactured by Intel Corporation
was used. Communication link la is used to link
computer 14 with facsimile machine 12. In the prototype
the Applicants links computer 14 and facsimile machine
12 by means of a standard telephone line. In addition
20 to the normal operating and wordprocessing software,
computer 14 is preprogrammed with conversion software;
capable of converting the Graphic files into text files.
There are a number of brands of conversion software
which are suitable for the purpose such as software
2~ produced by OCR Systems Inc. and sold under the
Trademark Readright 2.01.
The method of using a facsimile machine as an
optical character scanner to produce computer text files
30 will now be described with reference to FIGURE 1. The
method of using Optical Character Scanning Apparatus 10
consi~ts of the following steps. Firstly, communication
link 18 is established between facsimile machine 12 and
35 computer 14 as previously described. Computer 14 must
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be equipped with fax board 16. Secondly, the image of a
document is taken by facsimile machine and transmitted
to computer 14 in the form of a Graphic f ile. The
document can be edited in Graphic format if this
s provides an advantage. Thirdly, the Graphic files are
converted into text files using conversion software.
When the described invention i9 used with image
enhancing software, beneficial results are obtainable
10 with documents which are beyond the capability of most
Optical Character Readers. Optical character readers
are incapable of performing where characters are
illegible. Image enhancement may be performed either
before the image i8 stored as a graphic file or when in
15 the graphic file format. The enhanced graphic file is
then translated into a text f ile.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art the
tremendous cost savings that can be realized in
20 utilizing this proven and readily available technology
as an Optical Character Scanning Apparatus. It will
also be apparent to one skilled in the art the enhanced
editing capabilities the preferred embodiment has over - -~
existing commercially available Optical Character -
25 Scanning technology. It will finally be apparent to one
skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the
illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
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