Printing control interface system and method with handwriting discrimination capability

Abstract

A system and method for identifying and separating handwritten text from machine printed text in a document having a combination of handwritten text and machine printed text. In one embodiment, the present invention is installed as an intelligent printing control interface in a conventional computer and allows any document generated by any application to be selectively processed to remove any handwritten text prior to printing of the document, under the control of the user. In an alternative embodiment, the present invention is installed as an intelligent printing control interface in a conventional digital copy machine, which allows any document being copied to be selectively processed to remove any handwritten text prior to printing of the document, under the control of the user. The present invention employs a handwriting separation method which uses Hidden Markov Models to identify regions as either handwritten text or machine printed text.

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       16 . In a system for printing documents comprising means for generating a request to print a digitized version of a document that includes handwritten text and machine printed text and means for printing said request, the improvement comprising: 
 an intelligent printing control interface coupled between said means for generating and said means for printing which receives said request, selectively processes said request to remove said handwritten text, and transmits said processed request to said means for printing.    
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said intelligent printing control interface further comprises: 
 a virtual printer driver for receiving said request;    a printing control panel having settings for specifying whether to process said request to print to remove said handwritten text; and    a handwriting separation module for selectively processing said request, under control of said printing control panel, to remove said handwritten text.    
   
   
       18 . In a system for copying documents comprising a scanner for generating a digitized version of a document including handwritten text and machine printed text, means for generating a request to print said digitized document, and a printer, the improvement comprising: 
 an intelligent printing control interface coupled between said means for generating and said printer which receives said request and selectively processes said request to remove said handwritten text.    
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said intelligent printing control interface further comprises: 
 a virtual printer driver for receiving said request;    a printing control panel having settings for specifying whether to process said request; and    a handwriting separation module for selectively processing said request, under control of said printing control panel, to remove said handwritten text.    
   
   
       20 . A method for copying and printing documents, comprising the steps of: 
 generating a digitized image of a document having both handwritten text and machine printed text;    generating a print request to print said digitized image;    processing said print request to selectively remove said handwritten text; and    transmitting said selectively processed request to a printer for printing thereof.    
   
   
       21 . An intelligent printing control interface for coupling between a means for generating a print request of a digitized document including handwritten text and machine text and a printer, comprising: 
 a handwriting separation module coupled to receive said print request and which, in response thereto, selectively processes said print request to remove said handwritten text to create a modified version of said print request including only machine text, and thereafter couples said modified version of said print request to said printer.    
   
   
       22 . The interface of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 a printing control panel having settings for specifying whether to process said print request to remove said handwritten text.    
   
   
       23 . The interface of  claim 21 , in which said handwriting separation module loads a third party printer driver and obtains information about said third party printer driver during said selective processing of said print request.  
   
   
       24 . The interface of  claim 21 , in which said handwriting separation module obtains said print request from a graphics device interface and then applies a handwriting separation algorithm to said print request to identify portions of said print request that include handwriting during said selective processing of said print request.  
   
   
       25 . The interface of  claim 24 , in which said handwriting separation module, after identifying said portions of said print request that include handwriting, passes said print request in unmodified form to a printer driver and generates and passes a mask image to said third party printer driver that allows said printer driver to print said print request without said portions of said print request that include handwriting.  
   
   
       26 . The interface of  claim 22 , in which said printing control panel allows a user to configure said intelligent printing control interface to operate as a separate dedicated printer.  
   
   
       27 . The interface of  claim 22 , in which said printing control panel allows a user to configure said intelligent printing control interface to intercept print requests intended for an existing printer.