Computer system for intelligent document management
First Claim
1. A document processing system, comprising:
- a plurality of different document input media;
a plurality of different document output media;
a processing system, including a database, a database engine and a workflow manager;
an input component being adapted to receive communications transmitted from each of the plurality of document input media, the input component including a generalized API being communicatively coupled with the processing system, wherein each received communication includes a request for producing and transmitting at least one communication over a selected one of the plurality of document output media, the input component being adapted to convert the request in each received communication into a service item and to communicate the service items to the processing system, each service item being comprised of a stack of tasks necessary for completing the corresponding request; and
an output component, including the generalized API, the output component being adapted to receive service items from the processing system, and to direct communications to selected ones of the plurality of document output media in response to the service items.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer system includes several inputs for receiving documents being transmitted via different media, and several outputs for transmitting outgoing documents via different media. An input component is coupled to each of the inputs and an output component is coupled to each of the outputs. The input component and the output component each communicate with a processing system providing database services. The input component converts requests communicated through inputs into service items that typically include at least one document production item. Service items are communicated to the processing system, which tracks them. The processing system passes the service items on to the output component, which instructs appropriate ones of the outputs to produce output documents. Each of the input manager and output manage communicate with the processing system via a generalized API, and communicates with respective inputs and outputs via API'"'"'s specific to those machines. The input manager and the output manager thereby serve as functional abstraction layers between the processing system and the document inputs and outputs.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A document processing system, comprising:
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a plurality of different document input media; a plurality of different document output media; a processing system, including a database, a database engine and a workflow manager; an input component being adapted to receive communications transmitted from each of the plurality of document input media, the input component including a generalized API being communicatively coupled with the processing system, wherein each received communication includes a request for producing and transmitting at least one communication over a selected one of the plurality of document output media, the input component being adapted to convert the request in each received communication into a service item and to communicate the service items to the processing system, each service item being comprised of a stack of tasks necessary for completing the corresponding request; and an output component, including the generalized API, the output component being adapted to receive service items from the processing system, and to direct communications to selected ones of the plurality of document output media in response to the service items. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of managing documents being input and output via different media, the method comprising:
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receiving a service order that comprises a request to produce at least one document; converting the service order into a service item comprising a group of canonical fields in which information representing different tasks necessary for completing of the service order are placed; communicating the service item to a processing system having an associated data base, and storing the service item in the data base; communicating the service item to a output component; converting at least one task of the service item into instructions for an output component and transmitting the instructions to the output component; and producing the requested document with the output component.
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Specification