Form identification and processing system using hierarchical form

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for identifying completed forms includes scanning a plurality of different blank forms, and creating hierarchical profiles of each scanned blank form. Each hierarchical form profile is stored in a dictionary. Once the form dictionary is created, a completed form is scanned. A hierarchical profile of the completed form is created, and the hierarchical profile of the completed form is compared with stored hierarchical form profiles. In accordance with the result of comparison, one of the stored hierarchical form profiles is identified as corresponding to the completed form hierarchical profile. Based on the identity of the corresponding hierarchical form profile, the completed form can be routed for further processing. A further aspect of the invention makes it possible to extract data from predesignated fields which may be unique to that particular form within a completed form based on the form's identity. Furthermore, by using the form dictionary, it is possible to identify a completed form, extract data from the completed form, store the data with the form's identity, and display the completed form by drawing the identified form using the vectorized data from the form dictionary and superimposing the extracted data from the completed form into respective data fields.