Automatic extraction of filled-in information from bankchecks based on prior knowledge about layout structure

Automatic extraction of filled-in information from bankchecks based on prior knowledge about layout structure

Koerich, Alessandro L. and Lee, Luan Ling

Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics) 1997

Abstract : This paper presents a technique for extracting the filledin information from bankchecks based on prior knowledge about their layout structure. We have analyzed the bankcheck characteristics and proposed a model that can be used to locate and extract the filled-in information applicable to any bankcheck. The model is based on prior knowledge about the check layout structure and on the identification of the check by reading the information stored in the MICR line. To eliminate the redundant information from a bankcheck image, such as the background pattern, the printed lines and the printed characters, we perform as follows. First of all we subtract the digitized check image from the check’s background pattern image which is previously stored in the recognition system. Then the areas where the filled-in information is supposed to appear are extracted through a template. The elimination of the baselines in the image is based on projection profiles, while the printed characters are eliminated through a subtraction operation. Experimental results from testing Brazilian bankchecks show that the proposed method is capable of extracting the filled-in items from bankchecks achieving accuracy rates varying from 88.7% to 98.3%.