Automatic and transparent document archiving

• US 20040080786A1
• Filed: 06/02/2003
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited, Ricoh Corporation (Ricoh Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited, Ricoh Corporation (Ricoh Company Limited)
• Inventors: Hull, Jonathan J., Baxter, Michael, Peairs, Mark, Cullen, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,170,629 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00413 using menus, i.e. presenting the user with a plurality of selectable options H04N1/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00472 using a pop-up window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00474 outputting a plurality of functional options, e.g. scan, copy or print
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00482 outputting a plurality of job set-up options, e.g. number of copies, paper size or resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00957 Compiling jobs, e.g. for batch processing H04N1/3208 takes precedence; program code compilation G06F8/41
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2179 Interfaces allowing access to a plurality of users, e.g. connection to electronic image libraries
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2187 with image input from a plurality of different locations or from a non-central location, e.g. from one or more users
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

An automatic archiving system that makes document archiving largely transparent to the user. In one embodiment, documents scanned in or printed during the course of office equipment operation are automatically archived. For example, an office local area network (LAN) may interconnect a copier, a printer, a fax machine, and a document management workstation. Whenever, a document is copied, printed, or faxed, a document image is archived by the document management workstation without further user intervention. A single user command results in the document being copied and archived, printed and archived, or faxed and archived.

Claims

1. A method for processing document images comprising the steps of:

receiving a single user input command; and

responsive to said single user input command, performing the following steps;

scanning a document image to collect image data;

printing said document image based on said image data; and

sending said image data to an archiving system for storage.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

image processing said image data, wherein both said printing step and said sending step operate on image processed image data.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

image processing said image data, wherein said printing step operates on said image processed image data.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

receiving user input data identifying a user;

sending said user input data to said archiving system along with said image data.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said image data comprises signals feeding a laser diode of a laser print engine wherein said printing step employs said laser print engine.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

providing a user interface for browsing stored document images in said archiving system.

7. A computer-implemented method for printing and archiving documents comprising the steps of:

receiving a single user command requesting that a document be printed;

printing said document in response to said single user command; and

archiving image data representing said document in response to said single user command.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said image data is Postscript data.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said image data is in TIFF format.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said image data is text data.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of:

providing a user interface for browsing previously archived documents.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein said archiving step comprises encrypting said image data.

13. A method for archiving documents to be faxed comprising the steps of:

receiving a single user command indicating that a document is to be faxed;

scanning said document to be faxed in response to said single user command;

transmitting first image data representing said document as scanned via a telephone line; and

archiving, in response to said single user command, second image data representing said document as scanned in said scanning step.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said first image data and said second image data are substantially the same.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said first image data and said second image data are different.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:

providing a user interface for browsing previously archived documents.

17. A computer installation comprising:

a digital copier that scans in documents to be copied;

a printer that prints documents;

a computer system controlling a long-term storage medium; and

a network interconnecting said digital copier, said printer, and said computer system, wherein said digital copier relays image data representing said documents to be copied to said computer system for storage on said long-term storage medium, and said printer relays image data representing printed documents to said computer system for storage on said long-term storage medium.

18. The computer installation of claim 17 further comprising:

a facsimile machine that scans in documents to be faxed to a remote location, said network also connecting to said facsimile machine, and said facsimile machine relaying image data of faxed documents to said computer system for storage on said long-term storage medium.

19. A digital copier comprising:

a scanner that generates image data representing a document to be copied;

an image processing unit that processes said image data to correct imaging errors introduced by said scanner;

a printer that copies said document responsive to said image data as processed by said image processing unit; and

an image data tap that relays said image data to a storage system for archiving.

20. The digital copier of claim 19 comprising said storage system.

21. The digital copier of claim 19 wherein said image data sent to said storage system has already been processed by said image processing unit.

22. The digital copier of claim 19 wherein said image data includes a horizontal synchronization signal.

23. The digital copier of claim 19 wherein said printer comprises a laser printing engine.

24. The digital copier of claim 19 wherein said laser printer comprises a laser diode for generating an image signal, wherein illumination by said laser diode is controlled by said image data as represented by successive digital words, said digital words being relayed by said image data tap.

25. The digital copier of claim 24 wherein each of said digital words comprises at least one bit modulating an intensity of illumination of said laser diode and at least one bit modulating a pulse width of illumination of said laser diode.