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GoogleGranted patentAI & softwareInterest 6/10

Google patents method to figure out how to read a document image

Patent drawing
Patent drawing from the official filing.

This patent describes a technique for determining the correct sequence in which to read parts of a scanned document. It combines text and visual details from the image and uses a specific type of computer model to predict the logical reading order.

Why it mattersThis helps software understand complex layouts, making it easier for computers to accurately transcribe or summarize messy documents like invoices or forms.

In the filing’s own words

A method including receiving an image representing a document including a plurality of layout components, identifying textual information associated with the plurality of layout components, identifying visual information associated with the plurality of layout components, combining the textual information with the visual information, and predicting a reading order of the plurality of layout components based on the combined textual information and visual information using a self-attention encoder/decoder.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A method comprising: receiving an image representing a document including a plurality of layout components; identifying textual information associated with the plurality of layout components; identifying visual information associated with the plurality of layout components; combining the textual information with the visual information; and predicting a reading order of the plurality of layout components based on the combined textual information and visual information using: a self-attention encoder configured to generate an embedding based on a first sequence associated with the plurality of layout components; and a self-attention decoder configured to generate a second sequence based on the embedding.

Facts

Company
Google (Google LLC)
Official title
Reading order with pointer transformer networks
Patent number
US12762882B2
Application number
18686233
Filed
Aug 25, 2022
Granted
Oct 13, 2026
Inventors
3
Claims
20

Classified under

G06V 30/416 Physics & computingG06V 10/44 Physics & computingG06V 10/82 Physics & computingG06V 30/412 Physics & computing

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.