METHOD OF JUDGING EQUIVALENCE OF PLURAL SYMBOL STRINGS

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow both use of basic characteristics of words and a text array and solution of problems inherent to an OCR method. SOLUTION: The method settles the relative value or coincidence between two or more character arrays in the arrangement of image data, and it determines the page direction, separates a character array from neighboring character arrays, provides a set of boundary lines or reference lines with the character array at the center. The boundary line is used as a word shape outline or signal generated from the image data within the boundary line to represent the character array. The word shape outline is compared by using one of comparing methods, and the relative value or similarity of the outline is settled.