Method and system for improved data transfer

• US 6,464,140 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2000
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Weigel, Douglas Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US09/722,276
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.07, 235/462.13, 235/462.25
• US Class Current: 235/462.07
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations

Abstract

A computer system and a method used by the system are disclosed for processing data received by a network input device, such as a scanner or digital camera, that is available to multiple terminals or users. Profiles are created representing different preferences for data processing. Different profiles are associated with different identification codes. The identification codes are read, the data is received by the input device, and the data is then processed according to the preferences in the profile that corresponds to the identification code. The profile may set such preferences as the format of the data, the terminal to which it is sent, the directory to which it is saved, the manner in which it is delivered, and any other attributes that are helpful to processing the data. In one use, a user may have a unique user identification code and profile that instruct the system where, when, and how to send the input data. The system recognizes the user'"'"'s identifier when the data is input and processes the data according to the user'"'"'s profile.

Claims

1. An automated data processing system comprising:

an identification code reader;

a memory that correlates an identification code with a profile, wherein the profile specifies user-selected parameters for processing data, the parameters being related to;

a data format preference;

a file directory preference; and

a delivery preference; and

an input device electronically connected to the identification code reader, which input device receives data and processes the data according to the profile associated with the identification code, wherein the input device formats the data according to the data format preference and delivers the data to a data destination specified by the delivery preference.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device is a scanner or a camera.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the identification code is a bar code printed onto a bar code sheet separate from the data, when the profile is created, and wherein the identification code reader reads the bar code before the input device receives the data.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the identification code reader is part of the input device and wherein the identification code is read while data is received by the input device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the profile further specifies parameters related to a terminal, and wherein the input device sends the data to the terminal, based on the delivery preference.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein, based on the delivery preference and data format preference, the input device launches an application to view the data using the terminal.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein, based on the delivery preference and data format preference, the input device saves the data to the file directory.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein, based on the delivery preference and data format preference specified in the profile, the input device creates a new file, stores the data in the new file, and saves the file in the file directory.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein, based on the delivery preference, the input device sends the data to an email address identified in the profile.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the identification code reader reads the identification code from a tuned electronic circuit.

5. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method for processing data received by an input device comprising:

reading an identification code;

receiving data from an input device;

retrieving from memory a profile associated with the identification code, wherein the profile specifies parameters for processing data, the parameters being related to;

a data format preference;

a file directory preference; and

a delivery preference;

formatting the data according to the data format preference; and

sending the data to a data destination specified in the delivery preference.

13. The medium of claim 5, wherein the step of sending the data comprises sending the data to an electronic mail address.

14. The medium of claim 5, wherein the step of sending the data comprises sending the data to a network address.

15. The medium of claim 5, wherein the step of reading comprises reading the identification code from a document that contains the data, whereby the identification code is part of the document.

16. The medium of claim 5, wherein the step of reading comprises reading the identification code before reading the data, from a source separate from the data.

17. The medium of claim 5,

wherein the step of retrieving the profile comprises retrieving a profile that further specifies parameters related to a terminal;

wherein the step of sending comprises sending the data to the terminal, based on the delivery preference; and

wherein the method further comprises opening the data in an application displayed on the terminal, based on the data format preference.

6. A method for processing data received by an input device comprising:

reading an identification code;

receiving data from a source separate from the identification code;

formatting the data based on a data format preference specified in a profile associated with the identification code; and

sending the data to a data destination specified as a delivery preference in the profile.

18. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of formatting comprises formatting based on a data format preference specified in the profile, the profile being unique to a particular user or to a particular project, and wherein the step of receiving comprises receiving data from a scanner.

19. The method of claim 6, further comprising adding the data to an existing electronic file, based on t he delivery preference and data format preference.

20. The method of claim 6,

wherein the step of sending comprises sending the data to a terminal specified in the profile, based on the delivery preference; and

further comprising opening the data in an application displayed on the terminal, based on the data format preference.