System and method for automatically selecting a digital sending functionality
First Claim
1. A method for automatically selecting a digital sending functionality of a digital sending device, the digital sending functionality comprising e-mailing and faxing, said method comprising:
- receiving, at the device, a hardcopy document for scanning by the device;
displaying, at the device, a default screen operative to display characters input by an operator;
receiving, at the device, input of a character;
displaying the character with the default screen;
determining, at the device, the nature of the character;
determining whether a digital sending trigger of the device has been satisfied based on the nature of the character such that, if it is determined that the character is a letter, a digital sending e-mail trigger has been satisfied; and
where a digital sending trigger of the device has been satisfied, automatically selecting a digital sending functionality of the device based upon the type of the trigger such that, if the digital sending e-mail trigger has been satisfied, e-mailing functionality of the device is automatically selected with a “
to”
text field for e-mailing information corresponding to the hardcopy document being automatically populated with the character.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for automatically selecting digital sending functionality are provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving input of a character, determining the nature of the character, determining whether a digital sending trigger has been satisfied, and where a digital sending trigger has been satisfied, automatically selecting a digital sending functionality based upon the type of the trigger. In a preferred embodiment, the invention comprises a multi-function peripheral device capable of photocopying, e-mailing, and faxing documents. The device comprises a device operation module adapted to: evaluate characters received via the control panel, determine whether the user desires to photocopy, e-mail, or fax based upon the received characters, and automatically enable and initiate the desired functionality.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for automatically selecting a digital sending functionality of a digital sending device, the digital sending functionality comprising e-mailing and faxing, said method comprising:
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receiving, at the device, a hardcopy document for scanning by the device;
displaying, at the device, a default screen operative to display characters input by an operator;
receiving, at the device, input of a character;
displaying the character with the default screen;
determining, at the device, the nature of the character;
determining whether a digital sending trigger of the device has been satisfied based on the nature of the character such that, if it is determined that the character is a letter, a digital sending e-mail trigger has been satisfied; and
where a digital sending trigger of the device has been satisfied, automatically selecting a digital sending functionality of the device based upon the type of the trigger such that, if the digital sending e-mail trigger has been satisfied, e-mailing functionality of the device is automatically selected with a “
to”
text field for e-mailing information corresponding to the hardcopy document being automatically populated with the character.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for automatically selecting a functionality of a digital sending device, the functionality comprising copying, e-mailing and faxing, said method comprising:
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receiving, at the device, a hardcopy document for scanning by the device;
in response to receiving the hardcopy document, displaying, at the device, a default screen operative to display characters input by an operator;
receiving, at the device, manual input of a character by the operator;
in response to receiving the manual input of the character by the operator, displaying the character with the default screen;
determining, at the device, the nature of the character input by the operator; and
determining whether a trigger of the device has been satisfied based on the nature of the character such that;
if it is determined that the character is not associated with a destination address to which information corresponding to the hardcopy document is to be sent, copying functionality of the device is automatically selected, and a number of copies of the hardcopy document corresponding to the character is printed by the device;
if it is determined that the character is associated with a destination address to which information corresponding to the hardcopy document is to be sent and;
an e-mail trigger has been satisfied, emailing functionality of the device is automatically selected, and a “
to”
text field of the device operative to display a destination address is automatically populated with the character for e-mailing the information corresponding to the hardcopy document; and
a facsimile trigger has been satisfied, faxing functionality of the device is automatically selected, and a “
to”
text field of the device operative to display a destination address is automatically populated with the character for faxing the information corresponding to the hardcopy document.- View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system on a computer-readable medium for automatically selecting functionality of a digital sending device, the digital sending device being operative to receive a hardcopy document for scanning, the functionality comprising copying, e-mailing and faxing, said system comprising:
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logic configured to display a default screen operative to display characters input by an operator;
logic configured to receive input of a character by the operator;
logic configured to displaying the character with the default screen in response to receiving the input of the character by the operator;
logic configured to determine the nature of the character input by the operator; and
logic configured to determine whether a trigger of the device has been satisfied based on the nature of the character such that;
if it is determined that the character is not associated with a destination address to which information corresponding to a hardcopy document is to be sent, copying functionality of the device is automatically selected, and a number of copies of the hardcopy document corresponding to the character is printed by the device;
if it is determined that the character is associated with a destination address to which information corresponding to the hardcopy document is to be sent and;
an e-mail trigger has been satisfied, emailing functionality of the device is automatically selected, and a “
to”
text field of the device operative to display a destination address is automatically populated with the character for e-mailing the information corresponding to the hardcopy document; and
a facsimile trigger has been satisfied, faxing functionality of the device is automatically selected, and a “
to”
text field of the device operative to display a destination address is automatically populated with the character for faxing the information corresponding to the hardcopy document.- View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification