385 research outputs found

    FINN: A Framework for Fast, Scalable Binarized Neural Network Inference

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    Research has shown that convolutional neural networks contain significant redundancy, and high classification accuracy can be obtained even when weights and activations are reduced from floating point to binary values. In this paper, we present FINN, a framework for building fast and flexible FPGA accelerators using a flexible heterogeneous streaming architecture. By utilizing a novel set of optimizations that enable efficient mapping of binarized neural networks to hardware, we implement fully connected, convolutional and pooling layers, with per-layer compute resources being tailored to user-provided throughput requirements. On a ZC706 embedded FPGA platform drawing less than 25 W total system power, we demonstrate up to 12.3 million image classifications per second with 0.31 {\mu}s latency on the MNIST dataset with 95.8% accuracy, and 21906 image classifications per second with 283 {\mu}s latency on the CIFAR-10 and SVHN datasets with respectively 80.1% and 94.9% accuracy. To the best of our knowledge, ours are the fastest classification rates reported to date on these benchmarks.Comment: To appear in the 25th International Symposium on Field-Programmable Gate Arrays, February 201

    Learning Surrogate Models of Document Image Quality Metrics for Automated Document Image Processing

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    Computation of document image quality metrics often depends upon the availability of a ground truth image corresponding to the document. This limits the applicability of quality metrics in applications such as hyperparameter optimization of image processing algorithms that operate on-the-fly on unseen documents. This work proposes the use of surrogate models to learn the behavior of a given document quality metric on existing datasets where ground truth images are available. The trained surrogate model can later be used to predict the metric value on previously unseen document images without requiring access to ground truth images. The surrogate model is empirically evaluated on the Document Image Binarization Competition (DIBCO) and the Handwritten Document Image Binarization Competition (H-DIBCO) datasets

    A selectional auto-encoder approach for document image binarization

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    Binarization plays a key role in the automatic information retrieval from document images. This process is usually performed in the first stages of document analysis systems, and serves as a basis for subsequent steps. Hence it has to be robust in order to allow the full analysis workflow to be successful. Several methods for document image binarization have been proposed so far, most of which are based on hand-crafted image processing strategies. Recently, Convolutional Neural Networks have shown an amazing performance in many disparate duties related to computer vision. In this paper we discuss the use of convolutional auto-encoders devoted to learning an end-to-end map from an input image to its selectional output, in which activations indicate the likelihood of pixels to be either foreground or background. Once trained, documents can therefore be binarized by parsing them through the model and applying a global threshold. This approach has proven to outperform existing binarization strategies in a number of document types.This work was partially supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades through Juan de la Cierva - Formación grant (Ref. FJCI-2016-27873), and the Universidad de Alicante through grant GRE-16-04

    Deep Neural Networks for Document Processing of Music Score Images

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    [EN] There is an increasing interest in the automatic digitization of medieval music documents. Despite efforts in this field, the detection of the different layers of information on these documents still poses difficulties. The use of Deep Neural Networks techniques has reported outstanding results in many areas related to computer vision. Consequently, in this paper, we study the so-called Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) for performing the automatic document processing of music score images. This process is focused on layering the image into its constituent parts (namely, background, staff lines, music notes, and text) by training a classifier with examples of these parts. A comprehensive experimentation in terms of the configuration of the networks was carried out, which illustrates interesting results as regards to both the efficiency and effectiveness of these models. In addition, a cross-manuscript adaptation experiment was presented in which the networks are evaluated on a different manuscript from the one they were trained. The results suggest that the CNN is capable of adapting its knowledge, and so starting from a pre-trained CNN reduces (or eliminates) the need for new labeled data.This work was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, and Universidad de Alicante through grant GRE-16-04.Calvo-Zaragoza, J.; Castellanos, F.; Vigliensoni, G.; Fujinaga, I. (2018). Deep Neural Networks for Document Processing of Music Score Images. Applied Sciences. 8(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/app8050654S85Bainbridge, D., & Bell, T. (2001). Computers and the Humanities, 35(2), 95-121. doi:10.1023/a:1002485918032Byrd, D., & Simonsen, J. G. (2015). Towards a Standard Testbed for Optical Music Recognition: Definitions, Metrics, and Page Images. Journal of New Music Research, 44(3), 169-195. doi:10.1080/09298215.2015.1045424LeCun, Y., Bengio, Y., & Hinton, G. (2015). Deep learning. Nature, 521(7553), 436-444. doi:10.1038/nature14539Rebelo, A., Fujinaga, I., Paszkiewicz, F., Marcal, A. R. S., Guedes, C., & Cardoso, J. S. (2012). Optical music recognition: state-of-the-art and open issues. International Journal of Multimedia Information Retrieval, 1(3), 173-190. doi:10.1007/s13735-012-0004-6Louloudis, G., Gatos, B., Pratikakis, I., & Halatsis, C. (2008). Text line detection in handwritten documents. Pattern Recognition, 41(12), 3758-3772. doi:10.1016/j.patcog.2008.05.011Montagner, I. S., Hirata, N. S. T., & Hirata, R. (2017). Staff removal using image operator learning. Pattern Recognition, 63, 310-320. doi:10.1016/j.patcog.2016.10.002Calvo-Zaragoza, J., Micó, L., & Oncina, J. (2016). Music staff removal with supervised pixel classification. International Journal on Document Analysis and Recognition (IJDAR), 19(3), 211-219. doi:10.1007/s10032-016-0266-2Calvo-Zaragoza, J., Pertusa, A., & Oncina, J. (2017). Staff-line detection and removal using a convolutional neural network. Machine Vision and Applications, 28(5-6), 665-674. doi:10.1007/s00138-017-0844-4Shelhamer, E., Long, J., & Darrell, T. (2017). Fully Convolutional Networks for Semantic Segmentation. IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, 39(4), 640-651. doi:10.1109/tpami.2016.2572683Kato, Z. (2011). Markov Random Fields in Image Segmentation. Foundations and Trends® in Signal Processing, 5(1-2), 1-155. doi:10.1561/2000000035Lecun, Y., Bottou, L., Bengio, Y., & Haffner, P. (1998). Gradient-based learning applied to document recognition. Proceedings of the IEEE, 86(11), 2278-2324. doi:10.1109/5.72679

    Deep Adaptive Learning for Writer Identification based on Single Handwritten Word Images

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    There are two types of information in each handwritten word image: explicit information which can be easily read or derived directly, such as lexical content or word length, and implicit attributes such as the author's identity. Whether features learned by a neural network for one task can be used for another task remains an open question. In this paper, we present a deep adaptive learning method for writer identification based on single-word images using multi-task learning. An auxiliary task is added to the training process to enforce the emergence of reusable features. Our proposed method transfers the benefits of the learned features of a convolutional neural network from an auxiliary task such as explicit content recognition to the main task of writer identification in a single procedure. Specifically, we propose a new adaptive convolutional layer to exploit the learned deep features. A multi-task neural network with one or several adaptive convolutional layers is trained end-to-end, to exploit robust generic features for a specific main task, i.e., writer identification. Three auxiliary tasks, corresponding to three explicit attributes of handwritten word images (lexical content, word length and character attributes), are evaluated. Experimental results on two benchmark datasets show that the proposed deep adaptive learning method can improve the performance of writer identification based on single-word images, compared to non-adaptive and simple linear-adaptive approaches.Comment: Under view of Pattern Recognitio

    Neural Networks for Document Image and Text Processing

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    Nowadays, the main libraries and document archives are investing a considerable effort on digitizing their collections. Indeed, most of them are scanning the documents and publishing the resulting images without their corresponding transcriptions. This seriously limits the document exploitation possibilities. When the transcription is necessary, it is manually performed by human experts, which is a very expensive and error-prone task. Obtaining transcriptions to the level of required quality demands the intervention of human experts to review and correct the resulting output of the recognition engines. To this end, it is extremely useful to provide interactive tools to obtain and edit the transcription. Although text recognition is the final goal, several previous steps (known as preprocessing) are necessary in order to get a fine transcription from a digitized image. Document cleaning, enhancement, and binarization (if they are needed) are the first stages of the recognition pipeline. Historical Handwritten Documents, in addition, show several degradations, stains, ink-trough and other artifacts. Therefore, more sophisticated and elaborate methods are required when dealing with these kind of documents, even expert supervision in some cases is needed. Once images have been cleaned, main zones of the image have to be detected: those that contain text and other parts such as images, decorations, versal letters. Moreover, the relations among them and the final text have to be detected. Those preprocessing steps are critical for the final performance of the system since an error at this point will be propagated during the rest of the transcription process. The ultimate goal of the Document Image Analysis pipeline is to receive the transcription of the text (Optical Character Recognition and Handwritten Text Recognition). During this thesis we aimed to improve the main stages of the recognition pipeline, from the scanned documents as input to the final transcription. We focused our effort on applying Neural Networks and deep learning techniques directly on the document images to extract suitable features that will be used by the different tasks dealt during the following work: Image Cleaning and Enhancement (Document Image Binarization), Layout Extraction, Text Line Extraction, Text Line Normalization and finally decoding (or text line recognition). As one can see, the following work focuses on small improvements through the several Document Image Analysis stages, but also deals with some of the real challenges: historical manuscripts and documents without clear layouts or very degraded documents. Neural Networks are a central topic for the whole work collected in this document. Different convolutional models have been applied for document image cleaning and enhancement. Connectionist models have been used, as well, for text line extraction: first, for detecting interest points and combining them in text segments and, finally, extracting the lines by means of aggregation techniques; and second, for pixel labeling to extract the main body area of the text and then the limits of the lines. For text line preprocessing, i.e., to normalize the text lines before recognizing them, similar models have been used to detect the main body area and then to height-normalize the images giving more importance to the central area of the text. Finally, Convolutional Neural Networks and deep multilayer perceptrons have been combined with hidden Markov models to improve our transcription engine significantly. The suitability of all these approaches has been tested with different corpora for any of the stages dealt, giving competitive results for most of the methodologies presented.Hoy en día, las principales librerías y archivos está invirtiendo un esfuerzo considerable en la digitalización de sus colecciones. De hecho, la mayoría están escaneando estos documentos y publicando únicamente las imágenes sin transcripciones, limitando seriamente la posibilidad de explotar estos documentos. Cuando la transcripción es necesaria, esta se realiza normalmente por expertos de forma manual, lo cual es una tarea costosa y propensa a errores. Si se utilizan sistemas de reconocimiento automático se necesita la intervención de expertos humanos para revisar y corregir la salida de estos motores de reconocimiento. Por ello, es extremadamente útil para proporcionar herramientas interactivas con el fin de generar y corregir la transcripciones. Aunque el reconocimiento de texto es el objetivo final del Análisis de Documentos, varios pasos previos (preprocesamiento) son necesarios para conseguir una buena transcripción a partir de una imagen digitalizada. La limpieza, mejora y binarización de las imágenes son las primeras etapas del proceso de reconocimiento. Además, los manuscritos históricos tienen una mayor dificultad en el preprocesamiento, puesto que pueden mostrar varios tipos de degradaciones, manchas, tinta a través del papel y demás dificultades. Por lo tanto, este tipo de documentos requiere métodos de preprocesamiento más sofisticados. En algunos casos, incluso, se precisa de la supervisión de expertos para garantizar buenos resultados en esta etapa. Una vez que las imágenes han sido limpiadas, las diferentes zonas de la imagen deben de ser localizadas: texto, gráficos, dibujos, decoraciones, letras versales, etc. Por otra parte, también es importante conocer las relaciones entre estas entidades. Estas etapas del pre-procesamiento son críticas para el rendimiento final del sistema, ya que los errores cometidos en aquí se propagarán al resto del proceso de transcripción. El objetivo principal del trabajo presentado en este documento es mejorar las principales etapas del proceso de reconocimiento completo: desde las imágenes escaneadas hasta la transcripción final. Nuestros esfuerzos se centran en aplicar técnicas de Redes Neuronales (ANNs) y aprendizaje profundo directamente sobre las imágenes de los documentos, con la intención de extraer características adecuadas para las diferentes tareas: Limpieza y Mejora de Documentos, Extracción de Líneas, Normalización de Líneas de Texto y, finalmente, transcripción del texto. Como se puede apreciar, el trabajo se centra en pequeñas mejoras en diferentes etapas del Análisis y Procesamiento de Documentos, pero también trata de abordar tareas más complejas: manuscritos históricos, o documentos que presentan degradaciones. Las ANNs y el aprendizaje profundo son uno de los temas centrales de esta tesis. Diferentes modelos neuronales convolucionales se han desarrollado para la limpieza y mejora de imágenes de documentos. También se han utilizado modelos conexionistas para la extracción de líneas: primero, para detectar puntos de interés y segmentos de texto y, agregarlos para extraer las líneas del documento; y en segundo lugar, etiquetando directamente los píxeles de la imagen para extraer la zona central del texto y así definir los límites de las líneas. Para el preproceso de las líneas de texto, es decir, la normalización del texto antes del reconocimiento final, se han utilizado modelos similares a los mencionados para detectar la zona central del texto. Las imagenes se rescalan a una altura fija dando más importancia a esta zona central. Por último, en cuanto a reconocimiento de escritura manuscrita, se han combinado técnicas de ANNs y aprendizaje profundo con Modelos Ocultos de Markov, mejorando significativamente los resultados obtenidos previamente por nuestro motor de reconocimiento. La idoneidad de todos estos enfoques han sido testeados con diferentes corpus en cada una de las tareas tratadas., obtenieAvui en dia, les principals llibreries i arxius històrics estan invertint un esforç considerable en la digitalització de les seues col·leccions de documents. De fet, la majoria estan escanejant aquests documents i publicant únicament les imatges sense les seues transcripcions, fet que limita seriosament la possibilitat d'explotació d'aquests documents. Quan la transcripció del text és necessària, normalment aquesta és realitzada per experts de forma manual, la qual cosa és una tasca costosa i pot provocar errors. Si s'utilitzen sistemes de reconeixement automàtic es necessita la intervenció d'experts humans per a revisar i corregir l'eixida d'aquests motors de reconeixement. Per aquest motiu, és extremadament útil proporcionar eines interactives amb la finalitat de generar i corregir les transcripcions generades pels motors de reconeixement. Tot i que el reconeixement del text és l'objectiu final de l'Anàlisi de Documents, diversos passos previs (coneguts com preprocessament) són necessaris per a l'obtenció de transcripcions acurades a partir d'imatges digitalitzades. La neteja, millora i binarització de les imatges (si calen) són les primeres etapes prèvies al reconeixement. A més a més, els manuscrits històrics presenten una major dificultat d'analisi i preprocessament, perquè poden mostrar diversos tipus de degradacions, taques, tinta a través del paper i altres peculiaritats. Per tant, aquest tipus de documents requereixen mètodes de preprocessament més sofisticats. En alguns casos, fins i tot, es precisa de la supervisió d'experts per a garantir bons resultats en aquesta etapa. Una vegada que les imatges han sigut netejades, les diferents zones de la imatge han de ser localitzades: text, gràfics, dibuixos, decoracions, versals, etc. D'altra banda, també és important conéixer les relacions entre aquestes entitats i el text que contenen. Aquestes etapes del preprocessament són crítiques per al rendiment final del sistema, ja que els errors comesos en aquest moment es propagaran a la resta del procés de transcripció. L'objectiu principal del treball que estem presentant és millorar les principals etapes del procés de reconeixement, és a dir, des de les imatges escanejades fins a l'obtenció final de la transcripció del text. Els nostres esforços se centren en aplicar tècniques de Xarxes Neuronals (ANNs) i aprenentatge profund directament sobre les imatges de documents, amb la intenció d'extraure característiques adequades per a les diferents tasques analitzades: neteja i millora de documents, extracció de línies, normalització de línies de text i, finalment, transcripció. Com es pot apreciar, el treball realitzat aplica xicotetes millores en diferents etapes de l'Anàlisi de Documents, però també tracta d'abordar tasques més complexes: manuscrits històrics, o documents que presenten degradacions. Les ANNs i l'aprenentatge profund són un dels temes centrals d'aquesta tesi. Diferents models neuronals convolucionals s'han desenvolupat per a la neteja i millora de les dels documents. També s'han utilitzat models connexionistes per a la tasca d'extracció de línies: primer, per a detectar punts d'interés i segments de text i, agregar-los per a extraure les línies del document; i en segon lloc, etiquetant directament els pixels de la imatge per a extraure la zona central del text i així definir els límits de les línies. Per al preprocés de les línies de text, és a dir, la normalització del text abans del reconeixement final, s'han utilitzat models similars als utilitzats per a l'extracció de línies. Finalment, quant al reconeixement d'escriptura manuscrita, s'han combinat tècniques de ANNs i aprenentatge profund amb Models Ocults de Markov, que han millorat significativament els resultats obtinguts prèviament pel nostre motor de reconeixement. La idoneïtat de tots aquests enfocaments han sigut testejats amb diferents corpus en cadascuna de les tasques tractadPastor Pellicer, J. (2017). Neural Networks for Document Image and Text Processing [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/90443TESI

    Claims processing automation - Modernization of an insurance company internal process

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    Internship Report presented as the partial requirement for obtaining a Master's degree in Data Science and Advanced Analytics, specialization in Data ScienceDeep learning and text mining are involved in the research. This work includes the project I developed together with my colleagues at SAS Institute during my internship experience. In this project we had to support an Insurance company for the automation of their existing claim processing system. In fact, as of today, the procedure of reading the incoming claim requests, selecting the useful information and extracting it to a data management software, is done manually for hundreds of claims every day. The job required by the insurance company is to substitute the existing procedure with an automated one, by implementing an OCR system to read the raw data contained in the documents sent by the customers and transform it into clean and useful information to be inserted into the data management software. This research will show the investigation on how to deal with this problem and the objective is to automate the classification of the documents for the company, to provide them a system to prioritize the most urgent documents and to execute some technical and administrative checks on the extracted information. The automation is shown to be feasible; the completeness and accuracy of the information extracted are solid, proving that this specific task in the insurance company sector can be realized and help to reduce costs while improving time performance
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