IP Library Granted Patent US 9,679,217
Granted Patent B2
US 9,679,217 · App. 14/834,792 · Granted Jun 13, 2017

Information processing apparatus, information processing system, information processing method and storage medium

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,679,217
App. No.
14/834,792
Granted
Jun 13, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes an image acquisition module, an elevation-angle acquisition module, a character deformation specification module, a character detection dictionary storage, a character detection dictionary selector and a character detector. The elevation-angle acquisition module is configured to acquire an elevation angle of a photographic device assumed when the photographic device has obtained an acquired image. The character deformation specification module is configured to specify how an appearance of the character in the acquired image is deformed, based on the acquired elevation angle.

Claims (24)

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a hardware processor programmed to:

acquire an image obtained by photographing a sheet surface printed with a character;

acquire an elevation angle of a photographic device assumed when the photographic device has obtained the acquired image;

specify how an appearance of the character in the acquired image is deformed, based on the acquired elevation angle;

store a plurality of character detection dictionaries associated with variously deformed appearances of the character;

select one of the character detection dictionaries after it is specified how the appearance of the character is deformed, the one character detection dictionary being associated with the specified appearance of the character; and

execute character detection processing on the acquired image to detect an area of the character in the acquired image, using the selected character detection dictionary.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is programmed to specify how the appearance of the character is deformed, by specifying which one of a plurality of pre-defined elevation-angle zones includes the acquired elevation angle.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of pre-defined elevation-angle zones include a first elevation-angle zone corresponding to a sheet surface positioned just above the photographic device, a second elevation-angle zone corresponding to a sheet surface positioned obliquely above the photographic device, a third elevation-angle zone corresponding to a sheet surface positioned in front of the photographic device, a fourth elevation-angle zone corresponding to a sheet surface positioned obliquely below the photographic device, and a fifth elevation-angle zone corresponding to a sheet surface positioned just below the photographic device.

4. An information processing system comprising a client apparatus and a server apparatus,

wherein the server apparatus comprises a hardware processor programmed to:

acquire an image obtained by photographing a sheet surface printed with a character;

acquire an elevation angle of the client apparatus assumed when the client apparatus has obtained the acquired image;

specify how an appearance of the character in the acquired image is deformed, based on the acquired elevation angle;

store a plurality of character detection dictionaries associated with variously deformed appearances of the character;

select one of the character detection dictionaries after it is specified how the appearance of the character is deformed, the one character detection dictionary being associated with the specified appearance of the character; and

execute character detection processing on the acquired image to detect an area of the character in the acquired image, using the selected character detection dictionary.

5. An information processing method executed by an information processing apparatus provided with a character detection dictionary storage configured to store a plurality of character detection dictionaries associated with variously deformed appearances of a character, the method comprising:

acquiring an image obtained by photographing a sheet surface printed with a character;

acquiring an elevation angle of a photographic device assumed when the photographic device has obtained the acquired image;

specifying how an appearance of the character in the acquired image is deformed, based on the acquired elevation angle;

selecting, after it is specified how the appearance of the character is deformed, one of the character detection dictionaries from the character detection dictionary storage, the one character detection dictionary being associated with the specified appearance of the character; and

executing character detection processing on the acquired image to detect an area of the character in the acquired image, using the selected character detection dictionary.

Assignments (4)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY'S ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 048547 FRAME 0187. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Recorded May 6, 2020
From: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
To: TOSHIBA DIGITAL SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 052595/0307 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ADD SECOND RECEIVING PARTY PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 48547 FRAME: 187. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Aug 13, 2019
From: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA; TOSHIBA DIGITAL SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 050041/0054 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 8, 2019
From: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
To: TOSHIBA DIGITAL SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 048547/0187 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2015
From: SUZUKI, KAORU; TONOUCHI, YOJIRO; SHIBATA, TOMOYUKI; MIHARA, ISAO
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Reel/Frame 036962/0919 →