A facsimile-based graphics editing system by auxiliary mark recognition

This paper describes a facsimile-based graphics editing system using handwritten mark recognition, and presents some experimental results with the system. In a manner different from usual graphics editors based on CRT displays and data tablets, only facsimiles are used as input and output devices in this system. As the first stage in processing, a graphic subject is first given as a set of line drawings and characters handwritten on a sheet of paper, and it is then input into the computer as a binary picture from a facsimile transmitter. Auxiliary editing information is input into the computer as handwritten marks or seal marks prepared on a separate sheet of paper. As the second stage, the marks are recognized and used to create a mark parameter list for the graphics editing. Third, referencing the mark parameter list, the graphics are expressed by using a set of graphic commands, and edited by the computer. Finally, a correct edited copy of the graphics is constructed by picture processing based on graphic commands, and it is output to a facsimile receiver. Very good results have been obtained for various kinds of hand-written graphics by using the system described here.