The primary objective of this project is to develop a robust OCR solution that leverages Azure Virtual Machines (VMs), Azure Storage, and Virtual Network capabilities. The system is designed to process images, extract text content, and store the results in a secure and scalable manner. Chapter 1
1.1 Project Overview The project, titled "OCR using ASP.NET C# and Azure Services," aims to develop a robust Optical Character Recognition (OCR) system leveraging the capabilities of ASP.NET C# and various Azure services. This system is designed to efficiently extract text information from images, enabling businesses and users to digitize and process documents seamlessly. Key Points: • Introduction to the OCR project • Brief description of the core functionalities • Importance of implementing OCR in business processes 1.2 Objectives The primary objectives of the OCR project are outlined to guide the development team and stakeholders toward achieving specific goals. These objectives are crafted to ensure the successful implementation of the OCR system with optimal performance and reliability. Key Objectives: • Develop a scalable and reliable OCR solution • Integrate ASP.NET C# for efficient web-based application development • Utilize Azure services for enhanced functionality and cloud-based capabilities • Ensure accurate and fast text extraction from images • Implement best practices for security, performance, and maintainability 1.3 Scope The scope of the OCR project defines the boundaries and limitations within which the development team will operate. It outlines the features, functionalities, and components that will be included in the initial release of the OCR system. Scope Highlights: • Image-to-text conversion using OCR techniques • Integration with Azure services like Availability Set, Virtual Network, Storage Account, Document Intelligence, and Recovery Services Vault • Implementation of a user-friendly Desktop interface using ASP.NET C# • Support for a predefined set of document types and formats • Testing and validation of OCR accuracy under various scenarios These sections provide an initial understanding of the project, its objectives, and the defined scope. Feel free to further customize and elaborate on each point based on the specific details and goals of your OCR project. Chapter 2
2.1 Software Requirements: • Operating system: Windows 10/11 or MAC OS. • Platform: Microsoft Azure • Microsoft azure subscription (Free Trial or Azure for student or Pay-as-you-go) • Visual Studio 2022 (For coding in C# and designing GUI) • Virtual machine OS: Windows 11 version 22H2
2.2 Hardware Requirements: • Processor: Intel core i3 and above • Hard disk: 256 GB or above • RAM: 8GB or above • Internet: 1 Mbps or above • Virtual machine ram: 8GB • Virtual machine storage: 30Gb First Create a Resource Group. Created one Subnet. Next Created 1 VM size D2as_v4 Created 1 Availability set for fault Tolerance Created 1 Storage Account Created 1 File Share Account for Mounting inside VM Created 1 Document Intelligence . Copied Both Key1 & Endpoints . Created 1 Recovery Service Vault. Now Taking VM access via Public IP address Successfully Mounted Storage Account Open Visual Studio 2022 for creating OCR Project Now Create an GUI Design for User Interface Write the Coding’s on C# and add Endpoint & Key Value Install .Net Runtime to run the application on VM Now Download a Sample Image to Test Copy the OCR Folder on VM from Local Machine Execute the OCR-Project file setup Testing on Sample Image 1 Testing on Sample Image 2 and now we can copy the contents from the Rich_Text_Format BOX Created a Recovery Vault for Backup the File Backup is working on Daily regular basis Chapter 5: Benefits
Scalability and Availability: • By leveraging Azure services like Availability Sets and Virtual Network, your OCR application can achieve high scalability and availability. Availability Sets ensure that your application remains accessible even if one of the virtual machines fails, providing enhanced fault tolerance. Additionally, Virtual Network facilitates secure communication between components, creating a robust and scalable infrastructure. Cost-Effective Storage: • The integration of Azure Storage Account allows you to efficiently manage and store large volumes of data generated by OCR processing. Azure Storage provides scalable and cost-effective storage options, ensuring that you only pay for the storage you use. This can lead to significant cost savings over traditional storage solutions. Document Processing with AI: • Utilizing Azure Document Intelligence services enhances your OCR capabilities by incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) for document understanding. This can result in improved accuracy and efficiency in extracting information from documents. Azure Document Intelligence provides features like entity recognition, key phrase extraction, and language detection, contributing to more sophisticated document processing. Data Backup and Recovery: • The integration of Recovery Services Vault ensures the safety and availability of your critical data. This Azure service provides automated backup and recovery options, enabling you to easily recover from data loss or system failures. This enhances the overall reliability of your OCR application and safeguards against potential data disasters. Secure Communication and Compliance: • Leveraging Virtual Network not only aids in scalability but also enhances the security of your OCR application. With Virtual Network, you can create isolated and secure communication channels between different components of your application. This helps in maintaining data privacy and can contribute to compliance with industry-specific regulations regarding data protection and security. Chapter 6: Conclusion
OCR project leverages ASP.NET C# and Azure services, including Availability Sets and Virtual Networks for robust infrastructure. Storage Accounts ensure efficient data management, while Document Intelligence facilitates accurate optical character recognition. The inclusion of a Recovery Services Vault ensures data backup and disaster recovery capabilities. The project demonstrates a comprehensive solution for document processing, benefiting from Azure's scalability and reliability. Overall, your implementation seamlessly integrates key Azure services to deliver a powerful OCR system with enhanced security and resilience.