Using a form to request automatic creation of form with fields for requesting operations in relation to items

• US 5,267,303 A
• Filed: 03/20/1992
• Issued: 11/30/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Faieta, Baldo A., Jellinek, Herbert D., Johnson, Walter A. L., Smith, Z. Erol III, Cooper, Martin F. N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F.
• Application Number:
  US07/854,520
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 379/100, 379/96-98, 379/93, 358/434, 358/438, 358/439, 358/468, 358/402, 358/403
• US Class Current: 379/100.07
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32771 in response to a request, e.g. for a particular document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32778 using a mark-sheet or machine-readable code request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/42 Systems for two-way working , e.g. conference systems H04N1/32 takes precedence

Abstract

An automatically created form includes a list of items in relation to which an operation can be performed. A processor creates the form in response to facsimile transmission of another form that includes a field requesting automatic creation of a form. The data defining the image of the requesting form also includes information indicating an image destination, and the automatically created form is transmitted to the indicated destination. The requesting form can be a previously created starter form that is automatically transmitted back to a fax machine in response to an image of a blank sheet or a sheet with simple marks received from the fax machine. The starter form can include a security code as well as fields with check boxes for indicating a set of items to be listed, such as recipients of facsimile transmissions or documents or forms that could be transmitted. The user can mark a check box on the starter form indicating a set of items to request an automatically created form for requesting an operation on one of the set of items. In response, the processor automatically creates a form with a field for each item in the indicated set. When an item'"'"' s field is marked on the automatically created form, the processor responds by performing the operation in relation to the indicated item.

Claims

1. A method of operating a system that includes:

image input circuitry for obtaining data defining images as input;

image output circuitry for providing data defining images as output;

memory storing data;

a processor connected for receiving data defining images from the image input circuitry and for providing data defining images to the image output circuitry;

the processor further being connected for accessing the stored data in the memory;

the stored data including item data indicating a number of items in relation to which the processor can perform an operation;

the items including a first item;

the method comprising;

operating the processor to receive first input image data from the image input circuitry;

the first input image data defining a first image set that shows a first form;

the first form including a form request field that is marked to indicate a request for automatic creation of a form;

the first input image data further including destination information indicating an image destination;

in response to the form request field in the first input image data, operating the processor to use the item data to automatically produce created form data and to provide the created form data to the image output circuitry for transmission to the image destination;

the created form data defining a second image set, the second image set showing a second form;

the second form including, for each of the items, a respective request field for indicating a request for performance of the operation in relation to the item;

operating the processor to receive second input image data from the image input circuitry;

the second input image data defining a third image set, the third image set showing the second form with the first item'"'"'s request field being marked to indicate a request for performance of the operation in relation to the first item; and

in response to the first item'"'"'s request field in the second image data, operating the processor to perform the operation in relation to the first item.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the image output circuitry is connected to provide a facsimile transmission;

the destination information including a telephone number field in the first form, the telephone number field being marked to indicate a telephone number of a fax machine;

the act of operating the processor to use the item data comprising using the indicated telephone number to transmit the created form data to the fax machine.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the image input circuitry is connected to receive a facsimile transmission and the image output circuitry is connected to provide a facsimile transmission;

the first input image data being received by the image input circuitry from a fax machine, the destination information including telephone number data indicating a telephone number of the fax machine, the telephone number data not being part of the first form;

the act of operating the processor to use the item data comprising using the indicated telephone number to transmit the created form data to the fax machine.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the operation is facsimile transmission, each item being a recipient to which a facsimile transmission can be made.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the operation is an operation that can be performed on data defining image sets, each item being an item of data defining an image set.

6. A method of operating a system that includes:

image input circuitry for obtaining data defining images as input;

image output circuitry for providing data defining images as output;

memory storing data; and

a processor connected for receiving data defining images from the image input circuitry and for providing data defining images to the image output circuitry;

the processor further being connected for accessing the stored data in the memory;

the stored data including item data indicating a number of items in relation to which the processor can perform an operation;

the items including a first item;

the stored data further including initial form data, the initial form data defining an initial form that includes a form request field for indicating a request for an automatically created form;

the method comprising;

operating the processor to receive first input image data from the image input circuitry;

the first input image data defining a first image set that does not show a form;

the first input image data further including first destination information indicating an image destination;

in response to the first input image data, operating the processor to use the initial form data to automatically produce first created form data and to provide the first created form data to the image output circuitry for transmission to the image destination indicated by the first destination information;

the first created form data defining a second image set that shows the initial form;

operating the processor to receive second input image data from the image input circuitry;

the second input image data defining a third image set that shows the initial form with the form request field being marked to indicate a request for an automatically created form;

the second input image data further including second destination information indicating an image destination;

in response to the form request field in the second input image data, operating the processor to use the item data to automatically produce second created form data and to provide the second created form data to the image output circuitry for transmission to the image destination indicated by the second destination information;

the second created form data defining a fourth image set, the fourth image set showing a second form;

the second form including, for each of the items, a respective request field for indicating a request for performance of the operation in relation to the item;

operating the processor to receive third input image data from the image input circuitry;

the third input image data defining a fifth image set, the fifth image set showing the second form with the first item'"'"'s request field being marked to indicate a request for performance of the operation in relation to the first item; and

in response to the first item'"'"'s request field in the third input image data, operating the processor to perform the operation in relation to the first item.

7. The method of claim 6 in which the image input circuitry is connected to receive a facsimile transmission and the image output circuitry is connected to provide a facsimile transmission;

the first image set showing a blank sheet;

the first input image data being received by the image input circuitry from a fax machine, the first destination information including telephone number data indicating a telephone number of the fax machine;

the act of operating the processor to use the initial form data comprising using the indicated telephone number to transmit the first created form data to the fax machine.

8. The method of claim 6 in which the image input circuitry is connected to receive a facsimile transmission and the image output circuitry is connected to provide a facsimile transmission;

the first image set showing a sheet with simple marks;

the first input image data being received by the image input circuitry from a fax machine, the first destination information including telephone number data indicating a telephone number of the fax machine;

the act of operating the processor to use the initial form data comprising using the indicated telephone number to transmit the first created form data to the fax machine.

9. A system comprising:

image input circuitry for obtaining data defining images as input;

image output circuitry for providing data defining images as output;

memory storing data; and

a processor connected for receiving data defining images from the image input circuitry and for providing data defining images to the image output circuitry;

the processor further being connected for accessing the stored data in the memory;

the data stored in the memory comprising;

item data indicating a number of items in relation to which the processor can perform an operation;

the items including a first item;

image receiving instruction data indicating input instructions the processor can execute to receive input image data from the image input circuitry;

the input image data defining an image set; and

operation performing instruction data indicating response instructions the processor can execute to perform operations in response to input image data;

when the input image data define a first image set that shows a first form including a form request field that is marked to indicate a request from a user for an automatically created form and the input image data also include information indicating an image destination, execution of the response instructions causing the processor to use the item data to automatically produce created form data and to provide the created form data to the image output circuitry for transmission to the image destination;

the created form data defining a second image set, the second image set showing a second form;

the second form including, for each of the items, a respective request field for indicating a request for performance of the operation in relation to the item;

when the input image data define a third image set that shows the second form with the first item'"'"'s request field being marked to indicate a request for performance of the operation in relation to the first item, execution of the response instructions causing the processor to perform the operation in relation to the first item.

10. The system of claim 9 in which the input image circuitry is connected for receiving facsimile transmissions.

11. The system of claim 9 in which the output image circuitry is connected for providing facsimile transmissions.

12. An article of manufacture for use in a system that includes:

image input circuitry for obtaining data defining images as input;

image output circuitry for providing data defining images as output;

memory storing data;

a storage medium access device for accessing a medium that stores data; and

a processor connected for receiving data defining images from the image input circuitry and for providing data defining images to the image output circuitry;

the processor further being connected for accessing the data stored in the memory;

the processor further being connected for receiving data from the storage medium access device;

the data stored in the memory comprising;

item data indicating a number of items in relation to which the processor can perform an operation;

the items including a first item;

the article comprising;

a data storage medium that can be accessed by the storage medium access device when the article is used in the system; and

data stored by the data storage medium so that the storage medium access device can provide the stored data to the processor when the article is used in the system;

the stored data comprising;

image receiving instruction data indicating input instructions the processor can execute to receive input image data from the image input circuitry;

the input image data defining an image set; and

operation performing instruction data indicating response instructions the processor can execute to perform operations in response to input image data;

when the input image data define a first image set that shows a first form including a form request field that is marked to indicate a request from a user for an automatically created form and the input image data also include information indicating an image destination, execution of the response instructions causing the processor to use the item data to automatically produce created form data and to provide the created form data to the image output circuitry for transmission to the image destination;

the created form data defining a second image set, the second image set showing a second form;

the second form including, for each of the items, a respective request field for indicating a request for performance of the operation in relation to the item;

when the input image data define a third image set that shows the second form with the first item'"'"'s request field being marked to indicate a request for performance of the operation in relation to the first item, execution of the response instructions causing the processor to perform the operation in relation to the first item.

13. A method of operating a system that includes:

image input circuitry for receiving transmissions of data defining images as input;

image output circuitry for providing data defining images as output for transmission;

memory storing data;

a processor connected for receiving data defining images from the image input circuitry and for providing data defining images to the image output circuitry;

the processor further being connected for accessing the stored data in the memory;

the stored data including recipient data indicating a plurality of recipients to which the processor can make a transmission through the image output circuitry;

the recipients including a first recipient;

the method comprising;

operating the processor to receive first input image data from the image input circuitry;

the first input image data defining a first image set that shows a first form;

the first form including a form request field that is marked to indicate a request for automatic creation of a form;

the first input image data further including destination information indicating an image destination;

in response to the form request field in the first input image data, operating the processor to use the recipient data to automatically produce created form data and to provide the created form data to the image output circuitry for transmission to the image destination;

the created form data defining a second image set, the second image set showing a second form;

the second form including, for each of the recipients, a respective request field for indicating a request for transmission of data defining an image set to the recipient;

operating the processor to receive second input image data from the image input circuitry;

the second input image data defining a third image set, the third image set showing the second form with the first recipient'"'"'s request field being marked to indicate a request for transmission of data defining an image set to the first recipient; and

in response to the first recipient'"'"'s request field in the second image data, operating the processor to provide data defining an image set to the image output circuitry for transmission to the first recipient.

14. A method of operating a system that includes:

image input circuitry for receiving transmissions of data defining images as input;

image output circuitry for providing data defining images as output for transmission;

memory storing data;

a processor connected for receiving data defining images from the image input circuitry and for providing data defining images to the image output circuitry;

the processor further being connected for accessing the stored data in the memory;

the stored data including document data indicating a plurality of document image sets that the processor can provide to the image output circuitry for transmission;

the document image sets including a first document image set;

the method comprising;

operating the processor to receive first input image data from the image input circuitry;

the first input image data defining a first form image set that shows a first form;

the first form including a form request field that is marked to indicate a request for automatic creation of a form;

the first input image data further including destination information indicating an image destination;

in response to the form request field in the first input image data, operating the processor to use the document data to automatically produce created form data and to provide the created form data to the image output circuitry for transmission to the image destination;

the created form data defining a second form image set, the second form image set showing a second form;

the second form including, for each of the document image sets, a respective request field for indicating a request to provide data defining the document image set to the image output circuitry for transmission;

operating the processor to receive second input image data from the image input circuitry;

the second input image data defining a third form image set, the third form image set showing the second form with the first document image set'"'"'s request field being marked to indicate a request to provide data defining the first document image set to the image output circuitry for transmission; and

in response to the first document image set'"'"'s request field in the second image data, operating the processor to provide data defining the first document image set to the image output circuitry for transmission.

15. A method of operating a system that includes:

image input circuitry for receiving transmissions of data defining images as input;

image output circuitry for providing data defining images as output for transmission;

memory storing data;

a processor connected for receiving data defining images from the image input circuitry and for providing data defining images to the image output circuitry;

the processor further being connected for accessing the stored data in the memory;

the stored data including item data indicating a number of items in relation to which the processor can provide data defining image sets to the image output circuitry for transmission;

the items including a first item;

the method comprising;

operating the processor to receive first input image data from the image input circuitry;

the first input image data defining a first image set that shows a first form;

the first form including a form request field that is marked to indicate a request for automatic creation of a form;

the first input image data further including destination information indicating an image destination;

in response to the form request field in the first input image data, operating the processor to use the item data to automatically produce created form data and to provide the created form data to the image output circuitry for transmission to the image destination;

the created form data defining a second image set, the second image set showing a second form;

the second form including, for each of the items, a respective request field for indicating a request in relation to the item, the request being a request to provide data defining image sets to the image output circuitry for transmission;

operating the processor to receive second input image data from the image input circuitry;

the second input image data defining a third image set, the third image set showing the second form with the first item'"'"'s request field being marked to indicate a request in relation to the first item, the request being a request to provide data defining image sets to the image output circuitry for transmission; and

in response to the first item'"'"'s request field in the second image data, operating the processor to provide data defining image sets to the image output circuitry for transmission, the processor providing the data for transmission in relation to the first item.