Iconic access to remote electronic monochrome raster data format document repository

• US 5,713,019 A
• Filed: 10/26/1995
• Issued: 01/27/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Timothy M. Keaten
• Original Assignee: Timothy M. Keaten
• Inventors: Keaten, Timothy M.
• Primary Examiner(s): AMSBURY, WAYNE P
• Application Number:
  US08/548,901
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 395/610, 395/612, 395/615
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A method and apparatus for storage and retrieval of electronic documents is disclosed. A central document repository and one or more remote access sites are interconnected via a general purpose data network. Documents are stored within the system using a monochrome, raster format. Documents are transmitted from the repository to the remote access sites for display to the user. Additional capability is provided to search the stored documents; generate on-demand user interface screens containing the search results; insert documents into the repository via transmission by facsimile machine; and to interactively communicate between users of the system. The electronic documents can be either conventional text and graphics; or multi-media documents containing text, video, and audio material. A single physical document repository can be logically segmented into multiple virtual repositories supporting diverse groups of users.

Claims

1. An apparatus for storing and retrieving electronic documents, comprising:

(a) a document repository comprising a first programmable computer, a non-volatile storage device accessible by said programmable computer, a storage program executing on said first computer which stores said documents on, and retrieves said documents from said non-volatile storage device;

(b) a plurality of remote access systems, each comprising a second programmable computer and an access and display program executing on said second computer for displaying said documents to the user of said remote system;

(c) a general purpose, wide area data network connecting said first computer and said second computer, whereby said documents can be transferred from said storage program to said display program;

(d) means for remote data entry which accepts control and document data from plural facsimile machines connected to said first programmable computer by a data link, wherein said control information specifies where said document data is to be stored within said document repository;

(e) means for transmitting interactive communication between said users over said general purpose data network.

2. The document storage and retrieval apparatus of claim 1 wherein said interactive communication comprises transmission of visual material.

3. The document storage and retrieval apparatus of claim 1 wherein said interactive communications comprises transmission of audio material.

4. An apparatus for storing and retrieving electronic documents, comprising:

(a) a document repository comprising a first programmable computer, a non-volatile storage device accessible by said programmable computer, a storage program executing on said first computer which stores said documents on, and retrieves said documents from said non-volatile storage device;

(b) a plurality of remote access systems, each comprising a second programmable computer and an access and display program executing on said second computer for displaying said documents to the user of said remote system;

(c) a general purpose, wide area data network connecting said first computer and said second computer, whereby said documents can be transferred from said storage program to said display program;

(d) means for searching said stored electronic documents for documents which match criteria specified by said remote system user;

(e) means for on-demand generation of user interface screens containing plural user selectable elements linked to said documents located by said query, said screens displayed by said remote access systems;

(f) means for remote data entry which accepts control and document data from plural facsimile machines connected to said document repository by a data link, wherein said control information specifies where said document data is to be stored within said document repository;

(g) means for transmitting interactive communication between said users over said general purpose data network;

wherein said electronic documents are encoded in a monochrome, raster data format selected from the Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) family of formats.

5. The document storage and retrieval apparatus of claim 4 wherein said interactive communication comprises transmission of visual material.

6. The document storage and retrieval apparatus of claim 4 wherein said interactive communications comprises transmission of audio material.

8. The document storage and retrieval apparatus of claim 6 wherein said user selectable elements are text fields.

7. An apparatus for storing and retrieving electronic documents, comprising:

(a) a document repository comprising a first programmable computer, a non-volatile storage device accessible by said programmable computer, and a storage program executing on said first computer which stores said documents on and retrieves said documents from said non-volatile storage device;

(b) a plurality of remote access systems, each comprising a second programmable computer and an access and display program executing on said second computer for displaying said documents to the user of said remote system;

(c) a general purpose, wide area data network connecting said first computer and said second computer, whereby said documents can be transferred from said storage program to said display program;

(d) means for searching said stored electronic documents for documents which match criteria specified by said remote system user;

(e) means for on-demand generation of user interface screens containing plural user selectable graphic icons linked to said documents located by said means for searching, said screens displayed by said remote access systems;

wherein said electronic documents are encoded in a monochrome, raster data format.

9. An apparatus for storing and retrieving electronic documents, comprising:

(a) a document repository comprising a first programmable computer, a non-volatile storage device accessible by said programmable computer, and a storage program executing on said first computer which stores said documents on and retrieves said documents from said non-volatile storage device;

(b) a plurality of remote access systems, each comprising a second programmable computer and an access and display program executing on said second computer for displaying said documents to the user of said remote system;

(c) a general purpose, wide area data network connecting said first computer and said second computer, whereby said documents can be transferred from said storage program to said display program; and

(d) means for remote data entry which accepts control and document data from plural facsimile machines connected to said first programmable computer by a data link;

wherein said control information specifies where said document data is to be stored within said document repository,

wherein said electronic documents are encoded in a monochrome, raster data format.

10. An apparatus for storing and retrieving electronic documents, comprising:

(a) a document repository comprising a first programmable computer, a non-volatile storage device accessible by said programmable computer, and a storage program executing on said first computer which stores said documents on and retrieves said documents from said non-volatile storage device;

(b) a plurality of remote access systems, each comprising a second programmable computer and an access and display program executing on said second computer for displaying said documents to the user of said remote system;

(c) a general purpose, wide area data network connecting said first computer and said second computer, whereby said documents can be transferred from said storage program to said display program; and

(d) means for transmitting interactive audio communication between said users over said general purpose data network;

wherein said electronic documents are encoded in a monochrome, raster data format.

11. An apparatus for storing and retrieving electronic documents, comprising:

(a) a document repository comprising a first programmable computer, a non-volatile storage device accessible by said programmable computer, and a storage program executing on said first computer which stores said documents on and retrieves said documents from said non-volatile storage device, said document repository being segmented into plural virtual repositories;

(b) a plurality of remote access systems, each comprising a second programmable computer and an access and display program executing on said second computer for displaying said documents to the user of said remote system;

(c) a general purpose, wide area data network connecting said first computer and said second computer, whereby said documents can be transferred from said storage program to said display program;

wherein said electronic documents are encoded in a monochrome, raster data format.