Document management system and document management method

• US 20070198487A1
• Filed: 07/26/2006
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Business Innovation Corp. (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation), Perceptronics Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Masuda, Yoshihiro, Ando, Kazuhisa
• Granted Patent: US 8,266,526 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems

Abstract

A document management system includes a memory portion that stores an original document identifier and a first derived document identifier in association with a second apparatus identifier, the original document identifier being provided to an original document, the first derived document identifier being provided to a first derived document created when the original document is copied, printed, edited, or sent by a first apparatus, the second apparatus identifier being provided to a second apparatus that further copies, prints, edits, or sends the first derived document; and a search portion that searches for a distribution path of the original document with the use of the association of the original document identifier, the first derived document identifier, and the second apparatus identifier.

Claims

1. A document management system comprising:

a memory portion that stores an original document identifier and a first derived document identifier in association with a second apparatus identifier, the original document identifier being provided to an original document, the first derived document identifier being provided to a first derived document created when the original document is copied, printed, edited, or sent by a first apparatus, the second apparatus identifier being provided to a second apparatus that further copies, prints, edits, or sends the first derived document; and

a search portion that searches for a distribution path of the original document with the use of the association of the original document identifier, the first derived document identifier, and the second apparatus identifier.

2. The document management system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a recognition portion that recognizes the original document identifier and a third apparatus identifier of a third apparatus which outputs or sends the original document from the original document; and

a notification portion that notifies the original document identifier and the first apparatus identifier to the apparatus identified by the third apparatus identifier.

3. The document management system according to claim 1 further comprising a memory portion that receives the first derived document identifier and the first apparatus identifier and stores the first derived document identifier and the first apparatus identifier in association with the original document identifier, when the first apparatus copies, prints, edits, or transmits the original document.

4. The document management system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a creation portion that creates the first derived document identifier when the original document is copied, printed, edited, or sent; and

a provision portion that provides the first derived document identifier and the first apparatus identifier to the first derived document.

5. The document management system according to claim 1 further comprising a notification portion that notifies a user that the original document is copied, printed, edited, or sent when the original document is copied, printed, edited, or sent.

6. The document management system according to claim 1, wherein the memory portion stores at least one of information composed of date and time when the original document is copied, printed, edited, or sent, an identifier of a person who copies, prints, edits, or sends the original document, and an operation type executed by the person who copies, prints, edits, or sends the original document, as an operation history.

7. The document management system according to claim 1 further comprising a notification portion that notifies information in the memory portion to a search requester when a search is conducted by the search portion.

8. The document management system according to claim 1 further comprising a display portion that displays a search result obtained by the search portion.

9. The document management system according to claim 1 further comprising a scanner portion that scans the original document when the original document is copied, printed, edited, or sent.

10. The document management system according to claim 1, wherein the search portion issues a search request for the original document to an apparatus identified by the second apparatus identifier.

11. The document management system according to claim 1, wherein the search portion searches for the distribution path of the original document by tracing an apparatus identified by the second apparatus identifier.

12. The document management system according to claim 1, wherein the search portion searches for the distribution path of the original document by tracing the first derived document identifier and the second apparatus identifier from the original document identifier.

13. The document management system according to claim 1, wherein the document is one of a paper document and an electronic document.

14. A document management method comprising:

storing an original document identifier and a first derived document identifier in association with a second apparatus identifier, the original document identifier being provided to an original document, the first derived document identifier being provided to a first derived document created when the original document is copied, printed, edited, or sent by a first apparatus, the second apparatus identifier being provided to a second apparatus that further copies, prints, edits, or sends the first derived document; and

searching for a distribution path of the original document with the use of the association of the original document identifier, the first derived document identifier, and the second apparatus identifier.

15. The document management method according to claim 14, further comprising:

recognizing the original document identifier and a third apparatus identifier of a third apparatus which outputs or sends the original document from the original document; and

notifying the original document identifier and the first apparatus identifier to the apparatus identified by the third apparatus identifier.

16. The document management method according to claim 14, further comprising:

creating the first derived document identifier when the original document is copied, printed, edited, or sent; and

providing the first derived document identifier and the first apparatus identifier to the first derived document

17. The document management method according to claim 14, further comprising notifying a user that the original document is copied, printed, edited, or sent when the original document is copied, printed, edited, or sent.

18. The document management method according to claim 14, further comprising notifying information in the memory portion to a search requester when a search is conducted by the search portion.

19. The document management method according to claim 14, further comprising displaying a search result obtained by the search portion.

20. The document management method according to claim 14, further comprising issuing a search request for the original document to an apparatus identified by the second apparatus identifier.