IP Library Granted Patent US 12,437,568
Granted Patent B2
US 12,437,568 · App. 18/069,872 · Granted Oct 7, 2025

Search device, search system, search method, and storage medium

Inventor: Hirotomo Oshima (Yokohama Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
G06V30/19173G06T5/50G06V10/82G06T2207/20221
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,437,568
App. No.
18/069,872
Granted
Oct 7, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A search device generates a character string image of a first character string by using the first character string. The search device inputs the character string image to a classifier. The classifier outputs a classification of a character string according to an input of an image. The search device outputs another character string based on a classification result of the classifier. The other character string is different from the first character string.

Claims (32)

1. A search device, the search device comprising:

a hardware processor configured to execute one or more operations comprising:

accessing a first character string;

generating a character string image of the first character string by applying the first character string to an image generator, wherein content of the character string image matches content of the first character string,

inputting the character string image to a classifier, the classifier trained to output a classification of a character string according to an input of an image, and

outputting a target character string based on a classification result of the classifier, the first character string being one of a plurality of character strings that have a portion in common with the target character string, and the target character string being different from the first character string.

2. The search device according to claim 1 , wherein the generating of the character string image includes also using a second character string, and generating the character string image of the first and second character strings.

3. The search device according to claim 2 , wherein:

the first character string is a character string for identifying an article, and

the second character string indicates an attribute of the article.

4. The search device according to claim 2 , wherein the character string image is generated by overlaying the second character string and the first character string so that the second character string has a different color from the first character string.

5. The search device according to claim 2 , wherein the character string image is generated by arranging the second character string with the first character string.

6. The search device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the classification result includes a plurality of character strings including the target character string,

the classification result includes a plurality of certainties respectively of the plurality of character strings, and

the classification result is output.

7. The search device according to claim 1 , wherein the classifier includes a convolutional neural network.

8. A search system, comprising:

the search device according to claim 1 ;

an input device receiving an input of the first character string; and

a display device displaying the target character string.

9. A search method, comprising:

causing a processing device to;

access an input character string;

generate a character string image of the input character string by applying the input character string to an image generator, wherein content of the character string image matches content of the input character string,

input the character string image to a classifier, the classifier trained to output a classification of character string data according to an input of an image, and

output an output character string based on a classification result of the classifier, the input character string being one of a plurality of character strings that have a portion in common with the output character string, and the output character string being different from the input character string.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program, the program comprising computer-executable instructions that cause a processing device to:

access an input character string;

generate a character string image of the input character string by applying the input character string to an image generator, wherein content of the character string image matches content of the input character string,

input the character string image to a classifier, the classifier trained to output a classification of character string data according to an input of an image, and

output an output character string based on a classification result of the classifier, the input character string being one of a plurality of character strings that have a portion in common with the output character string, and the output character string being different from the input character string.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2023
From: OSHIMA, HIROTOMO
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Reel/Frame 062466/0349 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-000051 · Jan 4, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230215204A1 · Jul 6, 2023
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