Document Management System
First Claim
1. A document management method implemented in a network environment containing a document management system, at least one multi-function device (MFD) and a network connecting the document management system to the at least one MFD, the method comprising:
- (a) a user issuing a command to an MFD to create a new electronic or physical instance of a document from an existing physical instance of the document;
(b) providing the existing physical instance of the document to the MFD;
(c) the MFD determining a signature from the existing physical instance of the document based upon an intrinsic natural characteristic thereof; and
(d) logging the command by associating the signature with an electronic instance of the document stored in a document management system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A document management method and apparatus implemented in a network environment containing a document management system (DMS), at least one multi-function device (MFD) and a network connecting the document management system to the MFDs. The MFD activities of scan, fax, copy and print are integrated with a DMS using signatures obtained from an intrinsic natural characteristic of hard copies of documents, such as optical speckle from paper, as the hard copies are processed by the MFD. In this way the lifecycle of hard copies within an office can be automatically logged on the DMS, and optionally also the processes can be controlled according to rights over the documents held by different users.
59 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A document management method implemented in a network environment containing a document management system, at least one multi-function device (MFD) and a network connecting the document management system to the at least one MFD, the method comprising:
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(a) a user issuing a command to an MFD to create a new electronic or physical instance of a document from an existing physical instance of the document;
(b) providing the existing physical instance of the document to the MFD;
(c) the MFD determining a signature from the existing physical instance of the document based upon an intrinsic natural characteristic thereof; and
(d) logging the command by associating the signature with an electronic instance of the document stored in a document management system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 40, 41)
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15. A document management method implemented in a network environment containing a document management system, at least one multi-function device (MFD) and a network connecting the document management system to the at least one MFD, the method comprising:
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(a) a user issuing a command over the network to an MFD to create a new physical instance of a document from an existing electronic instance of the document;
(b) providing the existing electronic instance of the document to the MFD over the network;
(c) the MFD creating the new physical instance of the document;
(d) the MFD determining a signature from the new physical instance of the document based upon an intrinsic natural characteristic thereof; and
(e) logging the command by associating the signature with the electronic instance of the document stored in the document management system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 39)
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23. A document management method implemented in a network environment containing a document management system, at least one multi-function device (MFD) and a network connecting the document management system to the at least one MFD, the method comprising:
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(a) a user issuing a command to an MFD to dispose of an existing physical instance of a document;
(b) providing the existing physical instance of the document to the MFD;
(c) the MFD determining a signature from the existing physical instance of the document based upon an intrinsic natural characteristic thereof; and
(d) logging the command by associating the signature with an electronic instance of the document stored in a document management system. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification