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System and method for generating database input forms

  • US 5,619,708 A
  • Filed: 10/25/1994
  • Issued: 04/08/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A system for facilitating the conversion of paper based data entry forms to fully reusable electronic computer based data entry forms to specifying data to be stored in a database, said database storing data in records each having a plurality of fields, said system comprising:

  • a scanner for scanning an existing data entry form and for generating a digitized representation of said data entry form;

    said digitized representation including color information;

    a display for displaying images;

    a form definition data structure for storing data representing said scanned data entry form;

    a memory for storing a set of form definition procedures for defining an electronic computer-based data entry form, responsive to user commands, said form definition procedures includingan imaging procedure for displaying on said display at least a portion of said scanned data entry form;

    a region definition procedure for enabling a user to indicate regions of said displayed data entry form; and

    object definition procedures for enabling said user to define a multiplicity of objects, said objects corresponding to ones of said regions and including form sections, text boxes, and checkbox buttons, and for specifying properties of said defined objects;

    said specified properties including (A) links for linking selected ones of said defined objects to respective specified fields in said database, and (B) exclusionary relationships for specifying which of said objects cannot be selected by end users when specified others of said objects have previously been selected by said end users; and

    said object definition procedures storing in said definition data structure form definition data corresponding to said user defined objects and user specified object properties; and

    a data processing unit for executing said stored form definition procedures;

    wherein said electronic computer based data entry form is suitable for repeated use for specifying data to be stored in said database;

    said form definition procedures including;

    color recognition procedures for utilizing said color information, said color recognition procedures automatically defining ones of said objects and specifying ones of said properties of said objects based on said color information, including;

    for each region of said digitized representation of said data entry form enclosed by a colored border of a first predefined color, automatically defining a form section having physical dimensions corresponding to the position of said color border in said digitized representation of said data entry form;

    for each region of said digitized representation of said data entry form highlighted with a second predefined color, automatically defining a checkbox button object having physical dimensions corresponding to the extent of said highlighted region in said digitized representation of said data entry form; and

    for each region of said digitized representation of said data entry form highlighted with a third predefined color, automatically defining a text box object having physical dimensions corresponding to the extent of said highlighted region in said digitized representation of said data entry form;

    said color recognition procedures storing in said definition data structure form definition data corresponding to said automatically defined objects.

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