Segmentation of the digital image of a postal item by Hough transform, partitions image into equal size blocks and applies Hough transform to identify preferred direction in each block as basis to identify preferred direction of address

摘要

In order to segment a digital image of a postal packet in order to read a postal address (AP) automatically on said packet, the method consists: in subdividing ( 20 ) the image into image blocks of identical size; in applying ( 30 ) processing based on a Hough transform to each image block in order to identify in the image block in question a privileged direction for the distribution of image points in the block under consideration; in grouping together ( 40 ) contiguous image blocks within the image having a common privileged direction in order to define ( 50 ) a rectangular zone of interest (ZI) containing the group of said contiguous blocks having a common privileged direction in such a manner that said rectangular zone of interest has a longitudinal edge parallel to said common privileged direction; and in applying the automatic address-recognition algorithm to said zone of interest in the image in order to read a postal address automatically.