Generating passive metadata from user interface selections at an imaging device

• US 20050086240A1
• Filed: 08/20/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Shibata, Tetsuya, Tohki, Shinsaku, Ishihara, Masaya, Richardson, Tanna Marie
• Granted Patent: US 8,174,712 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32112 in a separate computer file, document page or paper sheet, e.g. a fax cover sheet H04N1/32122 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32793 Controlling a receiver or transmitter non-communication function in response to a communication control signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/34 for coin-freed systems ; Pay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3204 of data relating to a user, sender, addressee, machine or electronic recording medium H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3222 of processing required or performed, e.g. forwarding, urgent or confidential handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33378 Type or format of data, e.g. colour or B/W, halftone or binary, computer image file or facsimile data

Abstract

A system and method for generating passive metadata from user interface selections at an imaging device includes an imaging device and at least one destination having at least one controllable setting. The imaging device preferably includes a document imaging system for capturing an image file, a user interface system for accepting passive data user input pertaining to the image file, a data conversion system for converting the passive data into a metadata file, and a transmission system for transmitting the image file and an associated metadata file through a network to at least one destination. The passive data affects at least one controllable setting of the destination. Passive data may be, for example, routing information, user information, file formatting instructions, and/or billing information. The present invention may also include a method for delivering documents that includes the steps of capturing an image file, accepting user input as passive data using a user interface system, converting the passive data into a metadata file, transmitting the image file and an associated metadata file through a data transmission network to a destination, and effecting at least one controllable setting of the destination according to the passive data in the metadata file.

Claims

1. A system for delivering documents, said system comprising:

(a) a network for data transmission;

(b) an imaging device connected to said network, said imaging device comprising;

(i) a document imaging system for capturing an image file;

(ii) a user interface system for accepting user input pertaining to said image file, at least one user input being passive data;

(iii) a data conversion system for converting said passive data into a metadata file; and

(iv) a transmission system for transmitting said image file and an associated metadata file through said network;

(c) at least one destination connected to said network, said destination having at least one controllable setting; and

(d) said passive data effecting at least one controllable setting of said destination when said destination receives said metadata file.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said imaging device is a MFP.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said passive data is routing information.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said passive data is user information.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said passive data is file formatting instructions.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said passive data is billing information.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said user interface system accepts user input as passive data upon activation of a passive switch.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said user interface system accepts user input as passive data upon selection of a specific destination.

9. A method for delivering documents, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) capturing an image file using a document imaging system;

(b) accepting user input as passive data using a user interface system;

(c) converting said passive data into a metadata file;

(d) transmitting said image file and an associated metadata file through a data transmission network to a destination having at least one controllable setting; and

(e) effecting at least one controllable setting of said destination according to said passive data in said metadata file.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of activating a passive mode by activating a passive switch.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of activating a passive mode by selecting a specific destination.

12. A system for delivering documents, said system comprising the steps of:

(a) means for capturing an image file;

(b) user interface means for accepting user input as passive data;

(c) means for converting said passive data into a metadata file;

(d) means for associating one said image file to at least one said metadata file;

(e) means for transmitting said image file and at least one associated metadata file through a data transmission network to a destination having at least one controllable setting; and

(f) said at least one controllable setting of said destination being effected according to said passive data in said metadata file.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising means for activating a passive mode during which said user interface means accepts user input as passive data.