System and method for name grabbing via optical character reading
A system and method for generating text data from graphical image information of a first data form and passing the generated text data to another data form is disclosed. The system comprises a computer-based platform configured to obtain search criteria data from a current data form of interest and search an operating system of the computer-based platform for at least one other data form having first data that match the search criteria data to identify any matching data forms. The computer-based platform is further configured to perform an image capture operation on at least one predefined area of any matching data forms to form at least one captured image. An optical character reading operation is performed on the at least one captured image to generate at least one instance of second data and the at least one instance of second data is passed to the current data form of interest.
1. A computer-implemented method for automatically generating and bridging data to a current data form of interest in response to searching an operating system, said method comprising:
a computer-based platform automatically obtaining search criteria data from a current data form of interest;
said computer-based platform automatically searching an operating system for at least one other data form having first data that match said search criteria data to identify any matching data forms;
said computer-based platform automatically performing an image capture operation on at least one predefined area of said any matching data forms to form at least one captured image, wherein said at least one predefined area is a subset of an entire area of said any matching data forms that is predefined in at least one of a definition file stored in memory on said computer-based platform and an operating system of said computer-based platform before performing said method step of obtaining search criteria;
said computer-based platform automatically performing an optical character reading operation on said at least one captured image to generate at least one instance of second data, wherein associated information to be obtained from and a location of said at least one instance of said second data within said predefined area are also predefined in said at least one of a definition file and an operating system; and
said computer-based platform automatically passing said at least one instance of second data to said current data form of interest, wherein said current data form of interest is capable of being presented in a window by said operating system.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said search criteria data comprises a string of characters.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said search criteria data comprises at least one of name data, window class data, and control identifier data.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein said second data comprises alphabetic text data.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein said second data comprises numeric text data.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein said second data comprises alpha-numeric text data.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein said current data form of interest comprises a window.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one other data form comprises a window.
9. The method of claim 1 further comprising said computer-based platform automatically activating said at least one other data form.
10. The method of claim 1 further comprising said computer-based platform automatically launching and activating said at least one other data form.
11. The method of claim 1 further comprising said computer-based platform automatically displaying an image of said at least one other data form.
12. The method of claim 1 further comprising said computer-based platform automatically displaying a message when there is not at least one other data form having first data that match said search criteria data.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of performing an image capture operation comprises performing a print screen operation.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein said passing said at least one instance of second data to said current data form of interest includes populating said current data form of interest with said second data for display.
15. A system for automatically generating and bridging data to a current data form of interest in response to searching an operating system of said system, said system comprising a computer-based platform, having at least one hardware-based processor capable of running at least one functional software module, configured for:
automatically obtaining search criteria data from a current data form of interest;
automatically searching an operating system for other data forms having first data that match said search criteria data to identify any matching data forms;
automatically performing an image capture operation on at least one predefined area of said any matching data forms to form at least one captured image, wherein said at least one predefined area is a subset of an entire area of said any matching data forms that is predefined in at least one of a definition file stored in memory on said computer-based platform and an operating system of said computer-based platform before obtaining said search criteria;
automatically performing an optical character reading operation on said at least one captured image to generate at least one instance of second data, wherein associated information to be obtained from and a location of said at least one instance of said second data within said predefined area are also predefined in said at least one of a definition file and an operating system; and
automatically passing said at least one instance of second data to said current data form of interest, wherein said current data form of interest is capable of being presented in a window by said operating system.
16. The system of claim 15 wherein said search criteria data comprises a string of characters.
17. The system of claim 15 wherein said search criteria data comprises at least one of name data, window class data, and control identifier data.
18. The system of claim 15 wherein said second data comprises alphabetic text data.
19. The system of claim 15 wherein said second data comprises numeric text data.
20. The system of claim 15 wherein said second data comprises alpha-numeric text data.
21. The system of claim 15 wherein said current data form of interest comprises a window.
22. The system of claim 15 wherein said at least one other data form comprises a window.
23. The system of claim 15 wherein said computer-based platform is further configured for activating said at least one other data form.
24. The system of claim 15 wherein said computer-based platform is further configured for launching and activating said at least one other data form.
25. The system of claim 15 wherein said computer-based platform is further configured for displaying an image of said at least one other data form.
26. The system of claim 15 wherein said computer-based platform is further configured for displaying a message when there is not at least one other data form having first data that match said search criteria data.
27. The system of claim 15 wherein said performing an image capture operation comprises performing a print screen operation.
28. The system of claim 15 wherein said passing said at least one instance of second data to said current data form of interest includes populating said current data form of interest with said second data for display.