Network scanner for global document creation, transmission and management

• US 20060072144A1
• Filed: 09/24/2004
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Properties I KFT
• Original Assignee: Umesh Jani
• Inventors: Dowling, Eric Morgan, Westerlund, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,672,003 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/606 by securing the transmission between two devices or processes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/126 the source of the received data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00217 only involving computer data transmission protocols, e.g. SMTP, WAP or HTTP communication protocol aspects and techniques in packet data networks H04L69/00; network-specific arrangements or communication protocols supporting networked applications H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/44 Secrecy systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4486 using digital data encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3233 of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes

Abstract

A network scanner, communication protocols, and client and server programs and are provided which provide an improved way to transmit legally binding documents, obviating the need for outmoded, legacy fax transmissions. Using the network scanner, a document may be scanned and transferred directly into any shared folder inbox residing on any computer attached to the Internet. Enhanced server systems and network communications and messaging protocols are provided that are more practical to use than email for sending documents such as executed legal documents or other documents requiring robust integrity and authenticatability. Similarly, the inventive network scanner, server systems and communication protocols provide improved ways to perform large file transfers and to manage bandwidth to minimize problems associated with uploading/downloading large files as attachments to/from email servers and for enabling user control over VoIP quality during file transmission sessions.

Claims

1. A method for use in a network scanner, comprising:

accepting a set of authentication data to identify a particular user who is using the network scanner;

receiving from the particular user an application layer address associated with a remote computer reachable through a path across the global Internet, wherein the destination of the path is defined by the application layer address;

scanning one or more sheets of paper to create an image file;

applying a digital signature authentication algorithm to the image file to generate an authenticated image file; and

transmitting the authenticated image file to the remote computer via the path across the global Internet.

2. A method for use in a network scanner, comprising:

accepting a set of authentication data to identify a particular user who is using the network scanner;

receiving from the particular user an application layer address associated with a remote computer reachable through a path across the global Internet, wherein the destination of the path is defined by the application layer address;

scanning one or more sheets of paper to create an image file;

interacting with a remote SIP server to establish a packet data call comprising a point-to-point packet path through the global Internet to the remote computer whose Internet address is derived from the application layer address associated with the remote computer; and

transmitting the image file to the remote computer via the established packet data call.

3. A method for use in a network server, comprising:

receiving via the global Internet a request to set up a point-to-point document call from an originating network scanner device to a destination, wherein the request comprises an application layer address associated with the destination;

performing a database lookup to determine whether the destination address can be associated with an Internet address of a destination device that is presently connected to the global Internet;

if the database lookup is successful, sending the Internet address to the originating network scanner device so that the originating network scanner device can complete a document call to the destination device via a point-to-point packet channel across the global Internet, and

if the database lookup is not successful, routing the document call to a document mail account associated with the user.

4. A network scanner comprising:

an optical document scanning arrangement including a scanning surface and a document conveyor which conveys each page to be scanned over the scanning surface;

an image digitizing subsystem operative to produce a scanned image file from a set of one or more scanned pages passed over the scanning surface;

a computerized subsystem including a processor, a memory, and software stored in the memory;

a GUI; and

a network interface for communicating across a computer network,

wherein the GUI is operative to allow a user to specify a destination application layer Internet address to which to send the scanned image file via the network interface, and wherein under control of the computerized subsystem, a cryptographic algorithm is applied to the scanned image file to positively associate the scanned image file with the user prior to sending the scanned document to the destination application layer Internet address.

5. The network scanner of claim 4, further comprising a smart card interface to accept a smart card that includes user authentication data.

6. The network scanner of claim 4, wherein the application layer Internet address is an email address.

7. The network scanner of claim 4, wherein the application layer Internet address is an FTP address.

8. The network scanner of claim 4, wherein the application layer Internet address is a VPN logon address.

9. The network scanner of claim 4, wherein the application layer Internet address is a DSS server address.

10. The network scanner of claim 4, wherein the application layer Internet address is a SIP server address.

11. The network scanner of claim 4, wherein the application layer Internet address is an MMS address of a wireless subscriber.

12. The network scanner of claim 4, wherein the application layer Internet address is an email address and the document is sent as an email attachment.

13. The network scanner of claim 4, further comprising a smart card interface to accept a smart card that includes user authentication data, and an application program installed on the smart card to cause a digital signature to be associated with each page of the document.

14. The network scanner of claim 4, further comprising a smart card interface to accept a smart card that includes user authentication data, wherein the network scanner uses information from the smart card to gain access to a remote network.

15. The network scanner of claim 4, further comprising a software function that accepts user logon information and that enables the user to direct the scanned document into a personal computer file system associated with the user.

16. For use in a client computer, a method comprising:

presenting a unified messaging GUI providing access to at least one inbox and at least one outbox;

providing at least two data communications options, accessible via the GUI, including email messaging and direct file transfer options;

providing a bandwidth control input, via the GUI, that enables a user to throttle the amount of bandwidth used in at least one of a file upload to an email server, a file download from an email server, a direct point-to-point file transfer to a remote computer, and a direct point-to-point file transfer from a remote computer;

receiving an input from a user indicative of a static application layer address;

interacting with a network server to obtain a dynamic Internet address associated with the static application layer address;

forking a background process, and in the background, causing a file to be transferred via a packet switched data network to a remote computer in accordance with the bandwidth control input;

receiving a verification token from the remote computer indicating that the file has been received by the remote computer; and

indicating in an outbox entry of the unified messaging GUI that the file was successfully received at the remote computer.

17. For use in a client computer, a method comprising:

presenting a GUI enabling a user to initiate a direct file transfer session;

accepting a bandwidth control input from a user indicating an amount of bandwidth to utilize in the direct file transfer session; and

causing a file to be transferred via a packet switched data network with a remote computer using the amount of bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth control input.

18. A method for use in a network scanner, comprising:

accepting a set of authentication data to identify a particular user who is using the network scanner;

presenting a unified messaging GUI including at least one inbox and at least one outbox;

providing at least two data communications options, accessible via the GUI, including email messaging and direct file transfer options;

receiving an input from the particular user indicative of a static application layer address associated with the direct file transfer option;

scanning one or more sheets of paper to create an image file;

connecting to a remote computer associated with the static application layer address via a communications path through the global Internet, to initiate a file transfer session with the remote computer; and

transmitting the image file to the remote computer via the file transfer session.

19. A method for use in a network scanner, comprising:

accepting a set of authentication data to identify a particular user who is using the network scanner;

presenting a unified messaging GUI including at least one inbox and at least one outbox providing at least two data communications options, accessible via the GUI, including email messaging and direct file transfer options;

receiving a VPN logon address input from a user indicative of a static application layer address;

interacting with a VPN logon portal to obtain remote VPN access to one or more resources located on a private network;

establishing a VPN connection tunneled across the global Internet to a remote computer associated with the static application layer address, to initiate a file transfer session with the remote computer;

scanning one or more sheets of paper to create an image file; and

transmitting the image file to the remote computer via the file transfer session.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the resources located on the private network include a particular file folder associated with a recipient inbox.

21. A method for use in a network scanner, comprising:

accepting a set of authentication data to identify a particular user who is using the network scanner;

presenting a GUI enabling a user to initiate a direct file transfer session;

receiving a remote computer system logon address input from a user indicative of a static application layer address;

interacting with a remote control server across the global Internet to obtain remote access to one or more resources located on a private network;

scanning one or more sheets of paper to create an image file; and

transmitting the image file to the remote computer via the remote control server.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the resources located on the private network include a particular file folder associated with a recipient inbox.