Method and system for sending material

• US 20060245003A1
• Filed: 04/28/2005
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Martin, Nathaniel G., Tilley, David, Stumbo, William Kenneth
• Granted Patent: US 7,483,179 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/402
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A method for distributing a document by email. The method includes scanning a business document, extracting an email address from the business document, scanning a document and automatically emailing the scanned document to the email address extracted from the business document.

Claims

1. A method for distributing a document by email, comprising:

scanning a business document;

extracting an email address from the business document;

scanning a document; and

automatically emailing the scanned document to the email address extracted from the business document.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of extracting an email address from the business document further comprises utilizing optical character recognition technology to obtain the email address.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein multiple business documents are scanned to form a distribution list comprising a plurality of email addresses.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the scanned document is distributed to the distribution list.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a user is not required to input an email address.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of emailing the scanned document to the email address extracted from the business document occurs from a multifunction device.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the business document is scanned in a scanner in communication with a multifunction device.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of inserting the business document in a scanner to initiate scanning of the business document.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of removing the business document from a scanner to initiate emailing of the scanned document.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the business document comprises a business card, a resume, an application form, or any document containing contact information.

11. A system for transferring information, the system comprising:

at least one scanner;

a processor;

a storage medium in communication with the processor and the at least one scanner; and

a communication interface in communication with the processor and storage medium for transferring the scanned information;

wherein the processor is programmed to extract contact information from a business document or business card, scan a document and deliver an image of the document to the contact information from the business document or business card.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the contact information comprises at least one of an email address, a fax number or a postal address.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein least one scanner scans a business document or business card and scans the information to be transferred.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein the communication interface in communication with the processor and storage medium comprises emailing the information.

15. A method for sending material to a recipient identified by a business document, comprising:

scanning a business document;

parsing contact information of a recipient from the business document;

providing material to be transferred; and

transferring the material to the recipient.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the business document comprises a business card, a resume, an application form, or any document containing contact information.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the contact information comprises at least one of an email address, a fax number or a postal address.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the step of transferring the material to the recipient occurs when the business document or business card is removed from a scanner.

19. The method according to claim 15, further comprises transferring the material by email to an email address parsed from the business document or business card.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein the material transferred to the recipient'"'"'s email address is from a multifunction device.