Table detection in document images using header and trailer patterns

This paper presents a new approach to detect tabular structures present in document images and in low resolution video images. The algorithm for table detection is based on identifying the unique table start pattern and table trailer pattern. We have formulated perceptual attributes to characterize the patterns. The performance of our table detection system is tested on a set of document images picked from UW-III (University of Washington) dataset, UNLV dataset, video images of NPTEL videos, and our own dataset. Our approach demonstrates improved detection for different types of table layouts, with or without ruling lines. We have obtained correct table localization on pages with multiple tables aligned side-by-side. © 2012 ACM.