Method and System for Transferring Data From a Scanned Document Into a Spreadsheet

• US 20090119574A1
• Filed: 11/05/2008
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEAT Company Incorporated Doing Business As Neatreceipts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Digital Businesses Processess, Inc.
• Inventors: Enny, Philip, Gitlin, David A., Romanoff, Harris
• Granted Patent: US 9,753,908 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/209
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/18 of spreadsheets form-filling G06F40/174

Abstract

A system and method that transfers data from scanned documents and document images directly into a spreadsheet. The user can construct a map that associates data types in the input scanned document with an area in the spreadsheet. The user can also use pre-stored maps that have previously been constructed by the user or by someone else. The map may be stored as an XML file in a hidden sheet of the spreadsheet or in a separate file. During use, the user selects a map, scans the document, parses the document to extract the data types and associated data, and transfers the parsed data to the spreadsheet in accordance with the selected mapping.

Claims

1. A method for transferring data from a document image directly into a spreadsheet, comprising:

selecting a map that maps data types and associated data from the document to one or more cells in the spreadsheet;

scanning the document and storing the scanned document as textual data;

parsing the textual data to extract the data types and associated data from the textual data; and

using the selected map to transfer the associated data to the cells in the spreadsheet designated for the data types of said associated data by the selected map.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of enabling the user to create a custom map by associating data types of a scanned document to desired cells in the spreadsheet.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising associating the data types with addresses of the desired cells by dragging and dropping the data types into the desired cells.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of using a wizard to guide the user through the creation of a custom map that maps data types of the scanned document to desired cells in the spreadsheet.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the map selecting step comprises selecting an XML map stored in a hidden sheet of the spreadsheet.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the map selecting step comprises selecting an XML map from a file that is linked to the spreadsheet.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected map comprises orientation and aggregation information.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the document comprises a receipt and the spreadsheet comprises an expense report.

9. A system for transferring data from a document image directly into a spreadsheet, comprising:

a scanner that scans the document and stores the scanned document in a document memory as textual data; and

a processor programmed to;

enable a user to select a map that maps data types and associated data from the document to one or more cells in the spreadsheet;

parse the textual data to extract the data types and associated data from the textual data; and

transfer the associated data to the cells in the spreadsheet designated for the data types of said associated data by the selected map.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the processor is further programmed to enable the user to create a custom map by associating data types of a scanned document to desired cells in the spreadsheet.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the processor is further programmed to associate the data types with addresses of the desired cells by dragging and dropping the data types into the desired cells.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the processor is further programmed to implement a wizard to guide the user through the creation of a custom map that maps data types of the scanned document to desired cells in the spreadsheet.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the map selected by the user comprises an XML map stored in a hidden sheet of the spreadsheet.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the map selected by the user comprises an XML map of a file that is linked to the spreadsheet.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the map selected by the user comprises orientation and aggregation information.

16. The system of claim 9 wherein the document comprises a receipt and the spreadsheet comprises an expense report.

17. A computer readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that when used to instruct a processor cause the processor to implement a method for transferring data from a document image directly into a spreadsheet, the instructions causing the processor to perform the steps of:

selecting a map that maps data types and associated data from the document to one or more cells in the spreadsheet;

receiving a scanned representation of the document and storing the scanned representation of the document as textual data;

parsing the textual data to extract the data types and associated data from the textual data; and

using the selected map to transfer the associated data to the cells in the spreadsheet designated for the data types of said associated data by the selected map.

18. The medium of claim 17 wherein said instructions further cause the processor to perform the step of enabling the user to create a custom map by associating data types of a scanned document to desired cells in the spreadsheet.

19. The medium of claim 18 wherein said instructions further cause the processor to associate the data types with addresses of the desired cells by dragging and dropping the data types into the desired cells.

20. The medium of claim 17 wherein said instructions further cause the processor to implement a wizard to guide the user through the creation of a custom map that maps data types of the scanned document to desired cells in the spreadsheet.

21. The medium of claim 17 wherein the document comprises a receipt and the spreadsheet comprises an expense report.