JPH11235556A - Video coding system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide a system for efficiently coding a delivery item in which a correct delivery item code is not described. A coding device is provided with a control device for distributing an image, and an image recognized as not describing a correct delivery code and a code coded as a description of a correct delivery code are provided. An image determined to be incorrect as a delivery code is transmitted to a coding terminal having a function of generating a delivery code from destination information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for reading an image of a destination of a delivery using a scanner or the like, an operator inputting a code corresponding to the destination based on the read image, and a delivery based on the input code. To a video coding device that processes

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When delivering a delivery such as a postal matter, a postal code for indicating a destination of the delivery destination is described. Then, the postal code written on the mail is read by the sorting machine, and the result is converted into a barcode that can be read at high speed and reliably by the machine.
The barcode is printed on mail and classified. still,
Mail items on which bar codes are printed in advance are sorted by reading the bar codes.

[0003] However, the postal code is not always written on the postal matter, and even if it is written, the postal code often has an unclear description that cannot be read by a reading device such as an OCR. In order to solve such a problem, there has been proposed a method of specifying a postal code from an address or the like and assigning the postal code to a delivery for which the postal code could not be read.

[0004] By the way, in these mails, identification numbers such as a postal code and an address display number assigned for specifying a delivery destination are described in the mail, but they can be read by a reading device such as an OCR. There are two types: those that did not exist, and those that did not include an identification number such as a zip code but only address such as an address or name.

[0005] A process in which an operator reads a postal code described in a postal matter in which an identification number is described but cannot be recognized by the reader, and creates a delivery code by inputting the postal code. In the processing time for creating the delivery code by searching from the description of the address and the like of the delivery because the identification number is not described, mail items without the identification number are searched based on the destination information. The processing time is lengthened by the processing for generating the delivery code. The process of creating the delivery code is called coding.

[0006] Therefore, VCDs to be coded are distinguished from each other depending on whether or not an identification number is described.
It may be desirable to process on a CD. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-24797 discloses a "distribution control unit" for determining a video coding terminal (hereinafter referred to as VCD) to be distributed according to the attribute (writing direction, handwriting / inscription, etc.) of a mail. A technique for distributing a postal matter image having the same attribute to each VCD by having "" is known.

[0007]

On the basis of such a conventional technique, whether or not an identification number is described as one piece of attribute information is used as one piece of mail image in which the identification number is described. It is conceivable to transmit an image of a mail item in which an identification number is not described on the VCD to another VCD to perform coding.

[0008] However, if the recognition of the attribute of the postal matter (whether or not the identification number is described in this case) is incorrect, the postal image is not transmitted to the appropriate VCD, and It is determined that the identification number is described, and even if the image of the postal matter transmitted to the VCD1, the description content of the identification number may be incorrect.
In such a mail image, it is necessary to regenerate a delivery code from destination information such as an address character string.

According to the present invention, a correct delivery code is described (attached) to a postal matter in which an identification number such as a postal code is not described and the identification number is described but the identification number is not recognized correctly. ) To provide an efficient video coding system for performing processing.

[0010]

To solve the above-mentioned problems, the following means are used.

[0011] Based on the information described on the delivery, the delivery is connected to a sorting machine for sorting the delivery at a predetermined place through a line so that the delivery can be sorted into the delivery that could not be sorted by the sorting machine. A video coding system for providing information, an image storage device for storing image information and recognition information of a delivery that could not be sorted by the sorting machine;
A first coding device that displays image information and prompts for input of delivery code information described on the delivery, and displays delivery information code information based on the destination information described on the delivery displaying image information. Generating a second coding device, distributing delivery image information and recognition information from the image storage device to the first and second coding devices, receiving delivery code information from the first and second coding devices,
The video coding system includes an image distribution control device for transmitting to the sorting device. A delivery code is created by inputting an identification number in VCD1, a delivery code is generated by inputting destination information in VCD2, and a storage means for storing a delivery image and its attributes. Distribution control means for distributing to the VCDs;
Connect.

The distribution control means determines the VCD to which the delivery image is to be transmitted, using the attributes of the stored delivery image and the result once coded by the VCD.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall system configuration diagram according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a sorting machine (11) reads an address while transporting a delivery such as a mail, and sorts into delivery units according to the read address. Sorting machine (1
1) a sorting machine control unit (115) for controlling the entire processing of the sorting machine (11); and a delivery code reading unit (11) for reading a delivery code printed as a barcode on the delivery.
0), image I for reading the image ID printed on each delivery
A scanner (112) for generating image data by scanning an address entry surface of a delivery and scanning the generated image data to an image storage device (113);
OCR (1) for character recognition of the data in the address entry portion of the image data and sending the recognition result to the delivery sorting machine control unit (115)
14) an image ID writing unit (116) for newly generating an image ID and printing the generated image ID on a delivery, a delivery code writing unit (117) for writing a delivery code on a delivery,
And a bus (118) for connecting each device.

A video coding system (hereinafter referred to as VCS)
(12) is the OCR in the sorting machine (11).
This is for performing a manual coding operation on the delivery of the image data determined to have the address reading failure by (114). Sorting machine (11) and VCS
(12) is connected by a communication path (119), and image data and coding results are mutually transferred.

The VCS (12) is a VCS that controls the entire system.
A control unit (122), an image storage device (121) for storing images, a video coding desk (hereinafter referred to as VCD) (124, 125), and a bus (126) for connecting these. I have.

In this embodiment, there are two VCDs,
D1 is a video coding terminal in which an identification number such as a postal code is described in the delivery but is not recognized by OCR, and an operator directly inputs the identification number to create a delivery code, and VCD2 is A video coding terminal that creates a delivery code from information such as an address on a delivery without an identification number. That is, an appropriate delivery code is generated based on destination information such as an address described in the delivery.

First, the overall flow of processing according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

For the delivery sent to the sorting machine (11), it is first determined whether or not the delivery code, which is the result of video coding by the delivery code reader (110), is described on the delivery (610). If the delivery code is described, the delivery is classified by the described delivery code (611).

When the delivery code is not described (6
(No in 10), then the image ID reading unit (111)
It is determined whether or not the image ID is described in the delivery (620). If the image ID is described, the image ID is read by the scanner (112) (621) and the delivery code is written (620). 622).

If the image ID is not described in the delivery (No in 620), the identification number of the delivery is read by the scanner (630), and the read image is subjected to character recognition by a character recognition device such as OCR. (631).

At step 631, it is determined whether or not character recognition is possible (632). If possible, a delivery code is created based on the recognition result and described on the delivery (633).
It is classified according to the described delivery code (61
1).

If it is determined in step 630 that character recognition is not possible, an image ID is written on the delivery (6).
40), coding is performed by the video coding system (641), a delivery code is written in the delivery according to the coding result (642), and classification is performed according to the delivery code (611).

The above processing will be described in more detail as to how it is processed by each unit in FIG.

First, the OC of the sorting machine (11) will be described with reference to FIG.
Processing for transmitting a record and image data whose recognition of the delivery code image (23) is bad by R (114) to the VCS (12) and storing the data in the image storage device (121) of the VCS (12) explain.

The delivery is sorted by the sorting machine (11), and the delivery passing through the sorting machine (11) for the first time is sent to the postal code printed on the delivery by the delivery code reading unit (110). Read the delivery code, represented by a bar code, which can be read quickly and reliably by the corresponding machine. The delivery code on which the delivery code is printed in advance can be read and sorted by the delivery code reading unit (110). The delivery code reading unit (110) cannot read the delivery code of a delivery product on which the delivery product code is not printed in advance, and then sends the delivery product code to the image ID reading unit (111).
The reading unit (111) determines whether an image ID (bar code) corresponding to the image of the delivery is described.

If the image ID given to the delivered item is not printed as a barcode,
The image ID reading section (111) does not read the barcode of this image ID. The image ID reading unit (111) recognizes that no image ID has been assigned to the delivery, and
D Transmits that reading is impossible to the sorting machine control unit (115). The sorter control unit (115) controls the image ID writing unit (1).
16), a new image ID generation request is issued, and the ID writing unit (1
16) assigns the generated new image ID to the sorter control unit (11).
Return to 5). At the same time, the scanner (112) scans the address entry surface of the delivery to generate image data, and stores the image data in the image storage unit (113) and the OCR (11).
Transfer to 4). OCR from which image data was sent
(114) Recognizes the address information of the image data and transmits the recognition result to the sorter control unit (115).

The sorter control unit (115) includes a scanner (1).
12) image data generated by scanning
The image ID and OCR (11
The result of the image data recognized in 4) is stored as a pair in the image storage device (113).

When the delivery is transported, the image ID writing section (116) prints the generated new image ID on the transport.

The sorter control unit (115) extracts from the image storage unit (113) records and image data determined to be badly recognized after performing image data storage processing for a certain time or a certain number. The communication path (118)
Through the VCS controller (12) in the VCS (12)
Transfer to 2). The determination of whether the recognition is bad will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.

The image storage device (121) stores the received record and image data.

Next, the VCS (12) will be described with reference to FIGS.
A processing operation for performing a coding process on a record stored in the image storage device will be described.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of records and image data stored in the image storage device (121) in the VCS (12).

Image storage device (121) of VCS (12)
Records and image data stored in the
The record and the image data stored in the image storage device (113) of 1) relate to a delivery requiring a video coding process that is determined to be defective in reading by the OCR (114). .

The image data (221 to 224) is image information read by the scanner (112), and includes a delivery code image (23) and a destination image (24).

One record of the file (21) is an image ID
(211), reading result (212), image attribute (213)
It is composed of The image ID (211) is image data (221 to 224) read by the scanner (112).
And the reading result (212) received from the OCR (114). In the read result (212), the portion of the character which failed to read the data of the read result obtained by reading the delivery code image by the OCR (114) is replaced with "#", and the character is not described on the delivery. The determined character portion is stored in the form of data that has been subjected to a process of replacing it with “*”. In the case of the present embodiment, a reading result (212) which is a result of reading by the OCR (114) has "#" or "*" and is determined to be defective, and the image attribute is set to "1" or "1". As "2", the data is transmitted to the VCS (12). Note that the image attribute “1” is an attribute that is determined when an unrecognizable result is included as a result of reading by the OCR (114), and the coding operation is performed by the VCD1, and the image attribute “2” is an OCR (114). 114), the attribute is determined when a character determined not to be described is included, and indicates that the coding operation is to be performed by VCD2.

For example, in the case of image data (221), the file (21) has the image ID "970102001" of this image data (221) and the read result "********".
And the image attribute “2” determined based on the reading result is configured as one record. Similarly, the image data (22
In the case of 2), the image ID is “970102002”, and the read result is the delivery code image (2) of the image data (222).
Since 3) is not described in the frame, "########" indicating that data reading has failed is configured as one record, and "1" is configured as an image attribute as one record. The image data (223) is an image ID "970102003", and the read result is a delivery code image (23) of the image data (223).
Is "345 #### 9", which indicates that some of which have succeeded in reading and some of which have failed in reading. In this case, the image attribute is “1”. The image data (224) has an image ID “970102004”, and the reading result indicates that both the successfully read data and the data determined to have no characters are “567 ***”.
* ”And the image attribute is“ 2 ”. Thus, one record corresponds to one image data.

Referring to FIG. 3, a description will be given of a coding process performed by each VCD by extracting a record stored in the image storage device (121) of the VCS (12) and distributing the record to an appropriate VCD.

The VCS control unit (122) reads one record of the file (21) stored in the image storage device (121), ie, the image ID (211), the read result (212), and the image processing attribute (213). (Step 3
11).

The image attribute determining section (123) specifies VCDs (124, 125) to be coded based on the image attributes (213) of the read record,
The record and the corresponding image data are transmitted to the specified VCD (step 312). For example, in the case of the image (221), since the image attribute (213) is “2”, the record and the image data (221) are transmitted to the VCD2 (125).

When the record and the image data (221) are transmitted, the VCD2 (125) receives the image data (22).
1) is displayed on the VCD screen of the VCD 2 (125) (step 341), and an input of a part of the address character by the operator is accepted (step 342). That is, from the viewpoint of the operator, a process for inputting a part of the address character is performed based on the destination information (24) in the image (221).

The VCD 2 (125) is connected to an address dictionary DB (35) in which an address kanji (351) and a zip code (352) corresponding to the address are stored as shown in FIG. Using the character string input in step (3) as a key, the address dictionary DB (35) searches the address dictionary and a postal code corresponding to the address, and displays candidate postal codes on the screen (step 343).

A specific search method in step 343 is, for example, when the character string “new” is input in step 342, in step 343, the address kanji (351)
(353, 3
54), and as a search result, "Shinsuna, Koto-ku, Tokyo:
1366666 "and" Shinkiba, Koto-ku, Tokyo: 13600
82 "is displayed. It is assumed that small-letter information is also included in the address kanji (351), and even if a kanji corresponding to the small-letter is input in step 342, the search process in step 343 can be performed.

The VCD 2 (125) receives an input of address information from the operator, displays a candidate zip code (352) based on the input address, and further receives an input of a zip code corresponding to the displayed image. (Step 34
4) Then, the postal code (352) is specified, and the coding ends.

Next, the processing of the image data (222) will be described.

The VCS control unit (122) extracts one record from the file (21) stored in the image storage device (121) (step 311). The extracted record is the record (2102). In this case, the image attribute (213) in the record (2102) is “1”.
Therefore, the image attribute determining unit (123) sets the delivery destination to VC
D1 (124), the VCS controller (12
2) records the corresponding record (2101) to VCD1 (124)
And image data (222). The VCD1 (124) receiving these outputs the image data (22
2) is displayed on the VCD screen of VCD1 (124) (step 321), and an input of a delivery code is accepted (step 322). That is, from the operator's point of view, VCD1
The delivery code is input based on the delivery code image (23) in the image data (222) displayed on the VCD screen (124).

VCD1 (124) is a small code information (3) indicating whether a small code exists in a zip code (351) as shown in FIG. 5 and an area indicated by the zip code (351).
52) is connected to the area code DB (33). It is assumed that information on all existing postal codes is registered in the area code DB (33).

The VCD1 (124) uses the area code DB (33) based on the delivery code received at step 322.
And a matching process (step 323), and if the results match (step 324),
The delivery code input in step 2 is transferred to the VCS control unit (122).
Reply to. If the matching process (step 323) does not match, the number of times of coding is counted (step 325), and the input of the delivery code again from the operator is received (step 322). If the number of times of coding is equal to or more than a predetermined number (for example, three times) (step 325), the image attribute (213) is rewritten to “2” (step 326), and the image data (222) and the corresponding record (2102) are changed. Is returned to the VCS control device (122).

If it is determined in step 324 that they match, the image attribute determining unit (123) in the VCS control unit (122) determines whether or not a small letter exists in the postal code corresponding to the coding result. A determination is made (step 313). If it is determined that there is no subscript, the coding process ends. Step 3
If it is determined in step 13 that a small code exists, the image data (222) is transmitted to the VCD 2 (125), and the same processing is performed as in the image (221). In this embodiment,
The small code is a code set in the post office, and is not assigned to a normal postal code. For a delivery to an address where the small code exists, the delivery code image (23) indicates the postal code. (224) in which is described
However, it is assumed that a delivery code including a small code needs to be generated by the VCD2 (125).

When the coding operation on the VCD (124, 125) is completed, the coding result and the image ID are sent to the VCS control unit (122). VCS controller (1
22) stores the received coding result in the image storage device (1).
Write to the corresponding record in 21). The VCS control unit (122) stores the coding result in the image storage device (12
When the process of writing to 1) is executed for a certain time or a predetermined number of times, a coded record is extracted from the image storage device (121), and the extracted record is extracted via the communication path (118). (115) and delete this record from the image storage device (121).

The sorter control unit (115) specifies the corresponding record in the image storage unit (113) using the image ID as a key, and writes the coding result.

As described above, the address information necessary for classifying the delivery is completed by either the character recognition by the OCR (112) or the coding result received from the VCS (12).

Therefore, when the delivery passes through the sorting machine (11) for the second time, it can be sorted as follows.

That is, the image ID reading section (111) transmits the read image ID to the sorting machine control section (115). The sorter control unit (115) refers to the address information from the image storage device (113) using the image ID as a key.
Since a plurality of sorting boxes are prepared in the sorting machine (11), and address information is assigned to each sorting box, the sorting machine control unit (115) uses the acquired address information to sort corresponding sorting boxes. Instructions can be given to sort the deliveries into boxes.

According to the present invention, the image attribute determining unit (123) is provided in the VCS (12) so that the VCD1 (124) for inputting the delivery code and the VCD2 (125) for generating the delivery code are provided with the image. At the same time as determining the image that needs to be searched by the address dictionary DB (35) from the coding result input by the VCD1 (124), and retransmitting the image to the VCD2 (125). , It is possible to correct erroneously entered information.

According to the present invention, a VC for inputting a delivery code image (23) according to an image attribute by the process of 312 is used.
Images can be distributed to VCD2 (125), which generates a delivery code from D1 (124) and destination image (24). The processes 324 to 326 make it possible to resend to the VCD2 (125) if the entered zip code is wrong or the input result is wrong.

[0058]

According to the present invention, a delivery image recognized as having no delivery code information and a delivery image having the wrong delivery code described can be obtained from destination information such as an address. The delivery code can be transmitted to a video coding terminal that generates the delivery code, and the correct delivery code can be efficiently coded.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a file and image data stored in an image storage device 121.

FIG. 3 is a processing flow related to a VCS control unit and a VCD.

FIG. 4 is a configuration example of an address dictionary DB35.

FIG. 5 is a configuration example of an area code DB33.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an overall processing procedure according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 312: Distribution destination VCD determination process based on image attributes 313; Coding result validity determination process 314; Coding result small-letter information existence determination process

Claims (2)

[Claims] An information processing apparatus is connected to a sorting machine that divides a delivery item into a predetermined place on the basis of information described on the delivery item, and is connected to a delivery device that cannot be sorted by the sorting device. A video coding system for providing information so as to be able to store the image information and recognition information of a delivery that could not be sorted by the sorting machine, and a display that displays the image information and describes the delivery information. A first coding device for prompting the input of the delivery code information, and a second coding device for displaying the image information and generating the delivery code information based on the destination information described in the delivery. Distributing delivery image information and recognition information from the image storage device to the first and second coding devices; and delivering delivery code from the first and second coding devices. A video coding system comprising an image distribution control device for receiving information and transmitting the information to the sorting device. 2. The image distribution control device, when distributing delivery image information and recognition information to the first and second coding devices, based on the recognition information and the delivery code information received from the coding device. 2. The video coding system according to claim 1, wherein a destination coding device is specified.