Information encoding into and decoding from dot texture for active forms

Abstract

We describe here information encoding and decoding methods applied to dot texture for active forms. We employ dot texture made of tiny dots and looking like gray color to print various forms. This facilitates the separation of handwriting from its input frame even under monochrome printing/reading environments. It also makes the forms determine how to process filled-in handwriting according to the information embedded in the dot texture. The embedded information results in an improved recognition rate of handwriting, and allows the form processing to be directed by the form itself rather than by the form reading machine. Thus, the form-reading machine becomes a general-purpose machine allowing different forms inputted into it to be processed differently as specified by each form. We compare various dot shapes and information encoding/decoding methods for those shapes. Then, we present how to locate input frames, separate handwriting from input frames and segment handwriting into characters. We also present preliminary evaluation of the described methods.