A novel free format Persian/Arabic handwritten zip code recognition system

A sample Iranian postal envelope, contains free format Persian handwritten zip code. [Display omitted] •We introduce a system for free format Persian handwritten zip code detection and recognition on the postal envelopes.•For the zip code localization, a novel algorithm with a high localization rate...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Computers & electrical engineering 2013-10, Vol.39 (7), p.1970-1979
Main Authors: Kamranian, Zahra, Monadjemi, S. Amirhassan, Nematbakhsh, Naser
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algorithms
Automated
Electrical engineering
Envelopes
Errors
Format
Handwriting recognition
Post offices
Recognition
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Summary:A sample Iranian postal envelope, contains free format Persian handwritten zip code. [Display omitted] •We introduce a system for free format Persian handwritten zip code detection and recognition on the postal envelopes.•For the zip code localization, a novel algorithm with a high localization rate of 96% is proposed.•Evaluating the system, the overall rate of 92.9% for zip code string localization and its digits recognition is achieved. In Iran like many other countries, the categorization of postal envelopes is executed manually, mostly based on the handwritten addresses and zip codes. That process is still slow and prone to man-made errors. Therefore, having an automated, accurate and efficient system to recognize handwritten zip codes is of high necessity for a faster and easier arrangement of postal envelopes, and consequently, enhanced performance of the post office. A complete system for Persian (Farsi) handwritten zip code detection and recognition is introduced in this paper. The proposed system consists of two phases; with zip code localization being the first and the main contribution of the study, and zip code digits recognition as the second. The first phase, proposes a state-of-the-art algorithm which localizes the zip code on the envelope. Subsequent to digit segmentation, handwriting zip code digits are recognized in the second phase, which includes feature extraction and classification sub-steps. The results obtained from the 50 test samples show an overall recognition rate of 92.9% in localization and recognition of handwritten zip codes.
ISSN:0045-7906
1879-0755
DOI:10.1016/j.compeleceng.2013.04.012