Document reader and reading processing method therefor

Claim 2

A document reading apparatus for reading document data without using format data, comprising: means for reading a document image recorded on a recording sheet; means for analyzing a layout based on the read image; means for dividing the read document image into plural blocks in accordance with the analyzed layout; means for setting a set order of character reading processing for the divided blocks; means for inputting data to change the set order in which said blocks are to undergo character reading processing to a changed order in which one of said blocks is processed by said character reading processing before at least one other of said blocks from the set order of the character reading processing; means for changing the order of the character reading processing set by said setting means in accordance with the data input by said input means; and means for performing the character reading processing of the portions of the document included in the respective blocks in accordance with the changed order of character reading processing.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for ceasing the changing processing by said changing means.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying the layout.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for displaying the layout, as the necessity requires, when the changing processing by said changing means is performed.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said display means includes means for displaying the frames of the divided blocks and the input document image, superimposed one upon the other.

Claim 7

The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said changing means includes means for designating a block from which characters are to be read in a changed order, and said display means includes display modifying means for distinguishing the designated block from the other block.

Claim 8

The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said display-modifying means includes means for displaying the designated block in a color.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said display-modifying means includes means for reverse-displaying the designated block.

Claim 10

The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said display-modifying means includes means for displaying the designated block in shade.

Claim 11

The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for ceasing the character reading processing.

Claim 12

A document reading apparatus without using format data, comprising: means for reading a document image recorded on a recording sheet; means for analyzing a layout based on the read image; means for dividing the read document image into plural blocks in accordance with the analyzed layout; means for setting a set order of character reading processing for the divided blocks; means for selecting a first mode in which the designated order of the character reading processing is changed, or a second mode in which the designated order of the character reading processing is canceled and a new order of the character reading processing is arbitrarily set; means for inputting data to change the set order in which said blocks are to undergo character reading processing to a changed order in which one of said blocks is processed by said character reading processing before at least one other of said blocks from the set order of the character reading processing; means for changing the set character reading processing in accordance with the data input by said input means when the first mode is selected by said mode selecting means; means for setting the character reading processing in the designated order when the second mode is selected; and means for performing the character reading processing of the portions of the document included in the respective blocks in accordance with the order of character reading processing set by said changing means or said setting means.

Claim 13

A document reading apparatus without using format data, comprising: means for reading a document image recorded on a recording sheet; means for analyzing a layout based on the read image; means for dividing the read document image into plural blocks in accordance with the analyzed layout; means for setting a set order of character reading processing for the divided blocks; means for selecting a first mode in which the designated order of the character reading processing is changed, or a second mode in which the designated order of the character reading processing is canceled and a new order of the character reading processing is arbitrarily set; means for inputting data to change the set order in which said blocks are to undergo character reading processing to a changed order in which one of said blocks is processed by said character reading processing before at least one other of said blocks from the set order of the character reading processing; means for changing the set character reading processing in accordance with the data input by said input means when the first mode is selected by said mode selecting means; means for setting the character reading processing in the designated order when the second mode is selected; and means for performing the character reading processing of the portions of the document included in the respective blocks in accordance with the order of character reading processing set by said changing means or said setting means.

Claim 14

The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising means for ceasing the changing processing by said changing means.

Claim 15

The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising display means for displaying the layout.

Claim 16

The apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising means for displaying the layout, as the necessity requires, when the changing processing by said changing means is performed.

Claim 17

The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said display means includes means for displaying the frames of the divided blocks and the input document image, superimposed one upon the other.

Claim 18

The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said changing means includes means for designating a block to be changed, and said displaying means includes display-modifying means for distinguishing the designated block from the other blocks.

Claim 19

The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said display-modifying means includes means for displaying the designated block in a color.

Claim 20

The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said display-modifying means includes means for reverse-displaying the designated block.

Claim 21

The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said display-modifying means includes means for displaying the designated block in shade.

Claim 22

The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising means for ceasing the character reading processing.

Claim 23

A reading processing method for a document reader provided with a scanner for reading a document image recorded on a recording sheet without using format data, a display unit for displaying the read image, and a control section for analyzing a layout based on the read images, dividing the read document image into plural blocks, and setting a set order of character reading processing of the divided blocks, said method comprising the steps of: (a) displaying the layout on said display unit; (b) inputting data to change the set order in which the divided blocks are to undergo character reading processing from the set order to a changed order in which one of said blocks is processed by said character reading processing before at least one other of said blocks from the set order of the character reading processing; (c) changing the order of the character reading processing set by said control section to said changed order; and (d) performing the character reading processings of the portions of the document image included in the respective blocks in accordance with the changed order of character signal processing.

Claim 24

A reading processing method for a document reader provided with a scanner for reading a document image recorded on a recording sheet without using format data, a display unit for displaying the read image, and a control section for analyzing a layout based on the read images, dividing the read document image into plural blocks, and setting a set order of character reading processing of the divided blocks, said method comprising the steps of: (a) displaying the layout on said display unit; (b) inputting data to change the set order in which the divided blocks are to undergo character reading processing from the set order to a changed order in which one of said blocks is processed by said character reading processing before at least one other of said blocks from the set order of the character reading processing; (c) changing the order of the character reading processing set by said control section to said changed order; and (d) performing the character reading processings of the portions of the document image included in the respective blocks in accordance with the changed order of character signal processing.

Claim 25

The method according to claim 21, further comprising a step of ceasing the changing of the order of the character reading processing.

Claim 26

The method according to claim 21, further comprising a step of displaying the layout, as the necessity requires, when the changing processing is performed.

Claim 27

The method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of ceasing the character reading processing.

Claim 28

A document reading apparatus for reading document data without using format data, comprising: means for reading a document image recorded on a recording sheet; means for analyzing a layout based on the read image; means for dividing the read document image into at least one block in accordance with the analyzed layout; means for setting an order of character reading processing for the divided blocks; means for inputting data for changing the order of the character reading processing, the data including data for designating a block to be excluded from the character reading processing; means for changing the order of the character reading processing set by said setting means in accordance with the data input by said input means, including, means for excluding the block designated from the character reading processing, and means for changing the reading order of one block designated, before or after an other block designated; and means for performing the character reading processing of the document included in the respective blocks in accordance with the changed processing order.

Claim 29

A document reading apparatus for reading document data without using format data, comprising: means for reading a document image recorded on a recording sheet; means for analyzing a layout based on the read image; means for dividing the read document image into at least one block in accordance with the analyzed layout; means for setting an order of character reading processing for the divided blocks; means for inputting data for changing the order of the character reading processing, the data including data for designating a block to be excluded from the character reading processing; means for changing the order of the character reading processing set by said setting means in accordance with the data input by said input means, including, means for excluding the block designated from the character reading processing, and means for changing the reading order of one block designated, before or after an other block designated; and means for performing the character reading processing of the document included in the respective blocks in accordance with the changed processing order.

Claim 30

A document reading apparatus without using format data, comprising: means for reading a document image recorded on a recording sheet; means for analyzing a layout based on the read image; means for dividing the read document image into at least one block in accordance with the analyzed layout; means for designating an order of character reading processing for the divided blocks; means for arbitrarily designating the divided blocks; means for selecting a first mode in which the designated order of the character reading processing is changed, or a second mode in which the designated order of the character reading processing is canceled and a new order of the character reading processing is arbitrarily set; means for inputting data for changing the set order of the character reading processing, the data including data for designating a block to be excluded from the character reading processing; means for changing the set character reading processing in accordance with the data input by said input means when the first mode is selected by said mode selecting means, including, means for excluding the block designated from the character reading processing, and means for changing the reading order of one block designated, before or after an other block designated; means for setting the character reading processing in the designated order when the second mode is selected; and means for performing the character reading processing of the documents included in the respective blocks in accordance with the processing order set by said changing means or said setting means.

Claim 31

A document reading apparatus without using format data, comprising: means for reading a document image recorded on a recording sheet; means for analyzing a layout based on the read image; means for dividing the read document image into at least one block in accordance with the analyzed layout; means for designating an order of character reading processing for the divided blocks; means for arbitrarily designating the divided blocks; means for selecting a first mode in which the designated order of the character reading processing is changed, or a second mode in which the designated order of the character reading processing is canceled and a new order of the character reading processing is arbitrarily set; means for inputting data for changing the set order of the character reading processing, the data including data for designating a block to be excluded from the character reading processing; means for changing the set character reading processing in accordance with the data input by said input means when the first mode is selected by said mode selecting means, including, means for excluding the block designated from the character reading processing, and means for changing the reading order of one block designated, before or after an other block designated; means for setting the character reading processing in the designated order when the second mode is selected; and means for performing the character reading processing of the documents included in the respective blocks in accordance with the processing order set by said changing means or said setting means.

Claim 32

A reading processing method for a document reader provided with a scanner for reading a document image recorded on a recording sheet without using format data, a display unit for displaying the read image, and a control section for analyzing a layout based on the read image, dividing the read document image into at least one block, and setting an order of character reading processings of the divided blocks, said method comprising the steps of: (a) displaying the layout on said display unit; (b) inputting data for changing the order of the character reading processings, the data including data for designating a block to be excluded from the character reading processing; (c) changing the order of the character reading processings set by said control section including excluding the block designated from the character reading processing; and (d) performing the character reading processings of the documents included in the respective blocks in accordance with the changed processing order.

Claim 33

A reading processing method for a document reader provided with a scanner for reading a document image recorded on a recording sheet without using format data, a display unit for displaying the read image, and a control section for analyzing a layout based on the read image, dividing the read document image into at least one block, and setting an order of character reading processings of the divided blocks, said method comprising the steps of: (a) displaying the layout on said display unit; (b) inputting data for changing the order of the character reading processings, the data including data for designating a block to be excluded from the character reading processing; (c) changing the order of the character reading processings set by said control section including excluding the block designated from the character reading processing; and (d) performing the character reading processings of the documents included in the respective blocks in accordance with the changed processing order.

Claim 34

A document reading apparatus for reading document data without using format data, comprising: means for reading a document image recorded on a recording sheet; means for analyzing a layout based on the read image; means for automatically dividing the document image into a plurality of blocks in accordance with the layout; means for automatically creating a first set order of the divided blocks; means for displaying a copy of the image including displaying the first set order to an operator; means for changing the first set order of the divided blocks to a second set order by manipulation o the display by the operator; and character reading processing means commenced by the operator for processing each divided block in the second set order according to the means for manually changing the first set order, wherein a plurality of images are processed by the character reading processing means and the reset order of processing of the blocks for each of said plurality of images is determined by the operator.

Claim 35

A document reading apparatus for reading document data without using format data, comprising: means for reading a document image recorded on a recording sheet; means for analyzing a layout based on the read image; means for automatically dividing the document image into a plurality of blocks in accordance with the layout; means for automatically creating a first set order of the divided blocks; means for displaying a copy of the image including displaying the first set order to an operator; means for changing the first set order of the divided blocks to a second set order by manipulation o the display by the operator; and character reading processing means commenced by the operator for processing each divided block in the second set order according to the means for manually changing the first set order, wherein a plurality of images are processed by the character reading processing means and the reset order of processing of the blocks for each of said plurality of images is determined by the operator.