Recognition of parameterised shapes from document images

1. A method of creating a document comprising a modifiable shape, the method comprising the steps of:

analysing an image to detect at least a graphical object;

matching the detected graphical object with at least one of a plurality of predetermined modifiable closed-form non-textual template shapes, each said predetermined template shape comprising at least one control parameter for modifying the closed-form non-textual template shape in a non-affine manner, wherein the number of control parameters of the predetermined modifiable closed-form non-textual template shape is less than a number of sections making up the modifiable closed-form non-textual template shape; and

creating a document comprising the at least one modifiable closed-form non-textual template shape.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one of the plurality of template shapes is a set of candidate template shapes selected from a set of template shapes.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the candidate template shapes are selected using a machine learning classifier.

4. The method according to claim 1 , the matching step comprises the sub-steps of:

estimating an optimal set of control parameters;

estimating an optimal set of affine parameters based on said graphical object and said estimated control parameters; and

computing a match score between said graphical object and said template shape wherein said template shape uses said estimated affine parameters and said control parameters.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the image is a bitmap image.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of modifying the at least one modifiable closed-form non-textual template shape to match said graphical object.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein each of the template shapes comprises at most four control parameters.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein each of the template shapes comprises line thickness parameters.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the template shape is one of the Microsoft® AutoShapes.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the template shape is one of the template shapes defined by the OpenOffice™ application.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the template shape is one of the template shapes defined by the VISIO® application.

12. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the template shape is one of the template shapes defined by the SmartDraw® application.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein each of the template shapes further comprises affine parameters.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the affine parameters define modifications to the template shape.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the modifications are described by a linear matrix transform.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the modifications include scaling.

17. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the modifications include rotation.

18. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the modifications include offset.

19. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the modifications include skew.

20. An apparatus for creating a document comprising a modifiable shape, the apparatus comprising:

analysing means for analysing an image to detect at least a graphical object;

matching means for matching the detected graphical object with at least one of a plurality of predetermined modifiable closed-form non-textual template shapes, each said predetermined template shape comprising at least one control parameter for modifying the closed-form non-textual template shape in a non-affine manner, wherein the number of control parameters of the at least one modifiable closed-form non-textual template shape is less than a number of sections making up the at least one modifiable closed-form non-textual template shape; and

creation means for creating a document comprising the at least one modifiable closed-form non-textual template shape.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium, having a program recorded thereon, where the program is configured to make a computer execute a procedure to create a document comprising a modifiable shape, the program comprising:

code for analysing an image to detect at least a graphical object;

code for matching the detected graphical object with at least one of a plurality of predetermined modifiable closed-form non-textual template shape, each said predetermined template shape comprising at least one control parameter for modifying the closed-form non-textual template shape in a non-affine manner, wherein the number of control parameters of the at least one modifiable closed-form non-textual template shape is less than a number of sections making up the at least one modifiable closed-form non-textual template shape; and

code for creating a document comprising the at least one modifiable closed-form non-textual template shape.

22. A system for creating a document comprising a modifiable shape, the system comprising:

a memory for storing data and a computer program;

a processor coupled to said memory for executing said computer program, said computer program comprising instructions for:

analysing an image to detect at least a graphical object;

matching the detected graphical object with at least one of a plurality of predetermined modifiable closed-form non-textual template shapes, each predetermined template shape comprising at least one control parameter for modifying the closed-form non-textual template shape in a non-affine manner, wherein the number of control parameters of the predetermined modifiable closed-form non-textual template shape is less than a number of sections making up the modifiable closed-form nontextual template shape; and

creating a document comprising at least one modifiable closed-form non-textual template shape.