Classification of document image blocks using MCR stroke index

In this paper we introduce a new feature called stroke index for document image analysis. It is based on the minimum covering run expression method (MCR). This stroke index is a function of the number of horizontal and vertical runs in the original image and of number of runs by the MCR expression. As document images may present a variety of patterns such as graph, text or picture, it is necessary for image understanding to classify these different patterns into categories beforehand. Here we show how one could use this stroke index for such applications as classification or segmentation. It also gives an insight on the possibility of stroke extraction from document images in addition to classifying different patterns in a compound image.