Techniques for determining electronic document information for paper documents

• US 20040078749A1
• Filed: 09/03/2002
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Graham, Jamey, Hart, Peter E., Hull, Jonathan J., Lee, Dar-Shyang
• Granted Patent: US 7,506,250 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/500
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00331 with an apparatus performing optical character recognition character recognition G06V30/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00342 with a radio frequency tag transmitter or receiver storage of additional information in an RFID tag attached to an image bearing paper sheet H04N1/32138
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32133 on the same paper sheet, e.g. a facsimile page header
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3254 Orientation, e.g. landscape or portrait; Location or order of the image data, e.g. in memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 Printing or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information

Abstract

Techniques for determining electronic document information for a paper document. The electronic document information determined for a paper document may include information identifying an electronic document corresponding to the paper document. The electronic document information may also include information identifying a location where the electronic document is stored or a pointer or reference to the electronic document. The electronic document information determined for a paper document may be stored along with identification code information read from an identification tag that is physically associated with the paper document. The electronic document information for a paper document may also be stored in an identification tag that is physically associated with the paper document or physically associated with another paper document generated based upon the paper document.

Claims

1. A method of storing information for a paper document, the method comprising:

obtaining an electronic representation of a first paper document;

determining a first file descriptor based upon the electronic representation of the first paper document;

determining a feature descriptor from a first database that matches the first feature descriptor, the first database storing information identifying a plurality of feature descriptors and electronic document information for each feature descriptor in the plurality of feature descriptors, wherein the electronic document information for a feature descriptor comprises information identifying an electronic document;

determining, from the first database, electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor; and

storing an identification code associated with an identification tag and the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor in a second database such that the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor is associated with the identification code.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic document information for a feature descriptor in the plurality of feature descriptors comprises information identifying a storage location of the electronic document identified by the electronic document information for the feature descriptor.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic document information for a feature descriptor in the plurality of feature descriptors comprises a uniform resource identifier (URI).

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a second paper document based upon the electronic representation of the first paper document.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein generating the second paper document comprises physically associating the identification tag with the second paper document.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising physically associating the identification tag with the first paper document.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the identification tag is physically associated with the first paper document.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor on the identification tag; and

generating a second paper document based upon the electronic representation of the first paper document, wherein the identification tag is physically associated with the second paper document.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor on the identification tag; and

physically associating the identification tag with the first paper document.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein obtaining the electronic representation of the first paper document comprises obtaining a scanned image of the first paper document.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the first file descriptor comprises:

selecting a portion of the electronic representation of the first paper document; and

extracting the first feature descriptor from the selected portion of the electronic representation of the first paper document.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein extracting the first feature descriptor from the selected portion of the first paper document comprises:

identifying one or more zones on the selected portion of the electronic representation of the first paper document; and

extracting the first feature descriptor from at least one zone from the one or more zones.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein extracting the first feature descriptor from the at least one zone from the one or more zones comprises applying optical character recognition techniques to the at least one zone to extract the first feature descriptor.

14. A method of performing an operation using a paper document, the method comprising:

reading a first identification code from an identification tag that is physically associated with a first paper document;

determining an identification code from a first database that matches the first identification code, the first database storing information identifying a plurality of identification codes and electronic document information for each identification code in the plurality of identification codes, the electronic document information for each identification code comprising information identifying an electronic document;

determining, from the first database, electronic document information associated with the matching identification code; and

performing the operation using the electronic document identified by the electronic document information associated with the matching identification code.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein performing the operation using comprises generating a second paper document using the electronic document identified by the electronic document information associated with the matching identification code.

16. A system for processing a paper document, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory configured to store a plurality of code modules for execution by the processor, the plurality of code modules comprising;

a code module for obtaining an electronic representation of a first paper document;

a code module for determining a first file descriptor based upon the electronic representation of the first paper document;

a code module for determining a feature descriptor from a first database that matches the first feature descriptor, the first database storing information identifying a plurality of feature descriptors and electronic document information for each feature descriptor in the plurality of feature descriptors, wherein the electronic document information for a feature descriptor comprises information identifying an electronic document;

a code module for determining, from the first database, electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor; and

a code module for storing an identification code associated with an identification tag and the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor in a second database such that the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor is associated with the identification code.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the electronic document information for a feature descriptor in the plurality of feature descriptors comprises information identifying a storage location of the electronic document identified by the electronic document information for the feature descriptor.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the electronic document information for a feature descriptor in the plurality of feature descriptors comprises a uniform resource identifier (URI).

19. The system of claim 16 further comprising a subsystem configured to generate a second paper document based upon the electronic representation of the first paper document.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the subsystem is configured to physically associate the identification tag with the second paper document.

21. The system of claim 16 further comprising a subsystem configured to physically associate the identification tag with the first paper document.

22. The system of claim 16 wherein the identification tag is physically associated with the first paper document.

23. The system of claim 16:

wherein the plurality of code modules further comprises a code module for storing the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor on the identification tag; and

the system further comprises a subsystem configured to generate a second paper document based upon the electronic representation of the first paper document, wherein the identification tag is physically associated with the second paper document.

24. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

wherein the plurality of code modules further comprises a code module for storing the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor on the identification tag; and

the system further comprises a subsystem for physically associating the identification tag with the first paper document.

25. The system of claim 16 wherein the code module for obtaining the electronic representation of the first paper document comprises a code module for obtaining a scanned image of the first paper document.

26. The system of claim 16 wherein the code module for determining the first file descriptor comprises:

a code module for selecting a portion of the electronic representation of the first paper document; and

a code module for extracting the first feature descriptor from the selected portion of the electronic representation of the first paper document.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the code module for extracting the first feature descriptor from the selected portion of the first paper document comprises:

a code module for identifying one or more zones on the selected portion of the electronic representation of the first paper document; and

a code module for extracting the first feature descriptor from at least one zone from the one or more zones.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the code module for extracting the first feature descriptor from the at least one zone from the one or more zones comprises a code module for applying optical character recognition techniques to the at least one zone to extract the first feature descriptor.

29. A system for performing an operation using a paper document, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory configured to store a plurality of code modules for execution by the processor, the plurality of code modules comprising;

a code module for reading a first identification code from an identification tag that is physically associated with a first paper document;

a code module for determining an identification code from a first database that matches the first identification code, the first database storing information identifying a plurality of identification codes and electronic document information for each identification code in the plurality of identification codes, the electronic document information for each identification code comprising information identifying an electronic document;

a code module for determining, from the first database, electronic document information associated with the matching identification code; and

a code module for causing the operation to be performed using the electronic document identified by the electronic document information associated with the matching identification code.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the code module for causing the operation to be performed comprises a code module for causing a first subsystem to generate a second paper document using the electronic document identified by the electronic document information associated with the matching identification code.

31. A computer program product stored on a computer-readable storage medium for processing a paper document, the computer program product comprising:

code for obtaining an electronic representation of a first paper document;

code for determining a first file descriptor based upon the electronic representation of the first paper document;

code for determining a feature descriptor from a first database that matches the first feature descriptor, the first database storing information identifying a plurality of feature descriptors and electronic document information for each feature descriptor in the plurality of feature descriptors, wherein the electronic document information for a feature descriptor comprises information identifying an electronic document;

code for determining, from the first database, electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor; and

code for storing an identification code associated with an identification tag and the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor in a second database such that the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor is associated with the identification code.

32. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein the electronic document information for a feature descriptor in the plurality of feature descriptors comprises information identifying a storage location of the electronic document identified by the electronic document information for the feature descriptor.

33. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein the electronic document information for a feature descriptor in the plurality of feature descriptors comprises a uniform resource identifier (URI).

34. The computer program product of claim 31 further comprising code for causing a second paper document to be generated based upon the electronic representation of the first paper document.

35. The computer program product of claim 34 wherein the code for causing the second paper document to bee generated comprises code for causing the identification tag to be physically associated with the second paper document.

36. The computer program product of claim 31 further comprising code for causing the identification tag to be physically associated with the first paper document.

37. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein the code for storing the identification code comprises code for reading the identification code from the identification tag physically associated with the first paper document.

38. The computer program product of claim 31 further comprising:

code for storing the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor on the identification tag; and

code for causing generation of a second paper document based upon the electronic representation of the first paper document, wherein the identification tag is physically associated with the second paper document.

39. The computer program product of claim 31 further comprising:

code for storing the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor on the identification tag; and

code for causing the identification tag to be physically associated with the first paper document.

40. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein the code for obtaining the electronic representation of the first paper document comprises code for obtaining a scanned image of the first paper document.

41. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein the code for determining the first file descriptor comprises:

code for selecting a portion of the electronic representation of the first paper document; and

code for extracting the first feature descriptor from the selected portion of the electronic representation of the first paper document.

42. The computer program product of claim 41 wherein the code for extracting the first feature descriptor from the selected portion of the first paper document comprises:

code for identifying one or more zones on the selected portion of the electronic representation of the first paper document; and

code for extracting the first feature descriptor from at least one zone from the one or more zones.

43. The computer program product of claim 42 wherein the code for extracting the first feature descriptor from the at least one zone from the one or more zones comprises code for applying optical character recognition techniques to the at least one zone to extract the first feature descriptor.

44. A computer program product stored on a computer-readable storage medium for causing an operation to be performed using a paper document, the computer program product comprising:

code for reading a first identification code from an identification tag that is physically associated with a first paper document;

code for determining an identification code from a first database that matches the first identification code, the first database storing information identifying a plurality of identification codes and electronic document information for each identification code in the plurality of identification codes, the electronic document information for each identification code comprising information identifying an electronic document;

code for determining, from the first database, electronic document information associated with the matching identification code; and

code for causing the operation to be performed using the electronic document identified by the electronic document information associated with the matching identification code.

45. The computer program product of claim 44 wherein the code for causing the operation to be performed using the electronic document comprises code for causing a second paper document to be generated using the electronic document identified by the electronic document information associated with the matching identification code.

46. A system for processing a paper document, the system comprising:

means for obtaining an electronic representation of a first paper document;

means for determining a first file descriptor based upon the electronic representation of the first paper document;

means for determining a feature descriptor from a first database that matches the first feature descriptor, the first database storing information identifying a plurality of feature descriptors and electronic document information for each feature descriptor in the plurality of feature descriptors, wherein the electronic document information for a feature descriptor comprises information identifying an electronic document;

means for determining, from the first database, electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor; and

means for storing an identification code associated with an identification tag and the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor in a second database such that the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor is associated with the identification code.

47. A system for performing an operation using a paper document, the system comprising:

means for reading a first identification code from an identification tag that is physically associated with a first paper document;

means for determining an identification code from a first database that matches the first identification code, the first database storing information identifying a plurality of identification codes and electronic document information for each identification code in the plurality of identification codes, the electronic document information for each identification code comprising information identifying an electronic document;

means for determining, from the first database, electronic document information associated with the matching identification code; and

means for performing the operation using the electronic document identified by the electronic document information associated with the matching identification code.