Common method for communicating area information

Abstract

Method for communicating area information in a common framework implemented on hardware, including the steps of providing to the hardware a first set of instructions which generates an area of interest (AOI) defined by a first geometric shape, defining with the hardware the first geometric shape by one or more coordinates, and converting with the hardware the one or more coordinates to a second set of coordinates for use with a second set of instructions different than the first set of instructions, wherein the second set of coordinates is defined by a new AOI which includes information associated with the first set of instructions and which is interpreted by the second set of instructions, and wherein the common framework provides that different recognition AOI systems, each using its own set of conventions for describing area information, are compatible with one another.

1 . A method for communicating area information in a common framework implemented on hardware, comprising the steps of: 
 providing to the hardware a first set of instructions which generates an area of interest (AOI) defined by a first geometric shape;    defining with the hardware the first geometric shape by one or more coordinates; and    converting with the hardware the one or more coordinates to a second set of coordinates for use with a second set of instructions different than the first set of instructions,    wherein the second set of coordinates is defined by a new AOI which includes information associated with the first set of instructions and which is interpreted by the second set of instructions, and    wherein the common framework provides that different recognition AOI systems, each using its own set of conventions for describing area information, are compatible with one another.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the new AOI associated with second set of instructions define a second geometric shape.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first geometric shape is a same shape as the second geometric shape.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first geometric shape is different than the second geometric shape.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first geometric shape is more constrained than the second geometric shape.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first and the second geometric shape is one of a bounding box, a parallelogram, a rectangle and a polygon.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the bounding box is more constrained than the parallelogram, the rectangle and the polygon.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more coordinates and the second set of coordinates are at least one point which defines the first geometric shape and the second geometric shape, respectively.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of rotating the second geometric shape by a predetermined amount compared to the first geometric shape.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of rotating is performed about an origin (0,0).  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of translating the second geometric shape by a predetermined amount compared to the first geometric shape.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of scaling the second geometric shape by a predetermined amount compared to the first geometric shape.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of scaling is performed in at least one of a vertical (Y) and horizontal direction (X).  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of mirroring points of the second geometric shape by a predetermined amount compared to the first geometric shape about one of a horizontal and vertical axis.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of orienting the second geometric shape differently than the first geometric shape.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of defining the first geometric shape includes the steps of determining whether the first geometric shape includes one of: 
 (i) at least three points;    (ii) a distinct starting point, fast end point and a slow end point;    (iii) a non-zero distance between a starting point and a fast end point; and    (iv) a non zero area.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method utilizes a routine which sets a polygon, a routine which sets a parallelogram, a routine which sets a rectangle, and a routine which sets a bounding box.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the new AOI defines a bounded area shape and wherein, after the converting, the first geometric shape is bounded or constrained by the bounded area shape.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is utilized in a mail sorting system.  
   
   
       20 . A method for communicating area information in a common framework implemented on hardware, comprising the steps of: 
 filling a handle with an initial area of interest (AOI) space associated with a first set of instructions using the hardware;    defining a geometric shape associated with the initial AOI using the hardware;    converting the initial AOI space to a second AOI space associated with a second set of instructions using the hardware; and    accessing the second AOI space with the second set of instructions,    wherein the common framework provides that different recognition AOI systems, each using its own set of conventions for describing area information, are compatible with one another.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the second AOI space has the same shape or is more constrained than the initial AOI space.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the second AOI space defines a bounded area shape and wherein, after the converting, the geometric shape is bounded or constrained by the bounded area shape.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the method utilizes a routine which sets a polygon, a routine which sets a parallelogram, a routine which sets a rectangle, and a routine which sets a bounding box.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the method is utilized in a mail sorting system.  
   
   
       25 . A system for communicating area information in a common framework, comprising: 
 means for providing a first set of instructions which generate an area of information (AOI) and which is defined by a first geometric shape;    means for defining the first geometric shape by one or more coordinates; and    means for converting the one or more coordinates associated with the first geometric shape to a second set of coordinates for use with a second set of instructions,    wherein the second set of instructions are different than the first set of instructions, and the second set of coordinates further generate the AOI which includes information associated with the first set of instructions capable of being interpreted by the second set of instructions,    wherein the common framework provides that different recognition AOI systems, each using its own set of conventions for describing area information, are compatible with one another.    
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the system utilizes a routine which sets a polygon, a routine which sets a parallelogram, a routine which sets a rectangle, and a routine which sets a bounding box.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the system is utilized in a mail sorting system.  
   
   
       28 . A machine readable medium containing code which causes hardware to perform a method for communicating area information in a common framework, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first set of instructions which generate an area of information (AOI) and which is defined by a first geometric shape;    defining the first geometric shape by one or more coordinates; and    converting the one or more coordinates associated with the first geometric shape to a second set of coordinates for use with a second set of instructions,    wherein the second set of instructions are different than the first set of instructions, and the second set of coordinates further generate the AOI which includes information associated with the first set of instructions capable of being interpreted by the second set of instructions,    wherein the common framework provides that different recognition AOI systems, each using its own set of conventions for describing area information, are compatible with one another.    
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 28 , further comprising means for generating a bounded area shape, wherein the first geometric shape is bounded or constrained by the bounded area shape.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising generating a bounded area shape and wherein, after the converting, the first geometric shape is bounded or constrained by the bounded area shape.  
   
   
       31 . The machine readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein the machine readable medium utilizes a routine which sets a polygon, a routine which sets a parallelogram, a routine which sets a rectangle, and a routine which sets a bounding box.  
   
   
       32 . The machine readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein the machine readable medium is utilized in a mail sorting system.