Data sheet and information management system using data sheet

• US 6,948,654 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2003
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Kubota, Tomio, Shioda, Reiju, Hattori, Hitoshi, Morikawa, Minoru, Takahashi, Sadao, Furuta, Toshiyuki, Kozuka, Naoki, Ejiri, Koichi
• Primary Examiner(s): St. Cyr, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US10/651,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20040035921A1
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/487, 235/491, 235/488, 235/469, 235/462.01, 235/462.09, 235/492, 235/468
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding

Abstract

A data sheet is composed of an upper part and a lower part. The upper part is used as a user interface including a reduced image of contents of a document. The lower part is an interface for a reading device such as a copy machine, including a code obtained by encoding the document. By use of the data sheet, the user can easily distribute or carry an electronic document data with the user. In addition, the user can recognize contents of the electronic document data by looking at the reduced image printed on the data sheet.

Claims

1. A method of reading a data sheet with a reading device, comprising:

storing in a first area of the data sheet entire data obtained by encoding all information included in a document; and

storing in a second area of the data sheet a reduced image of at least a part of the document configured to allow a user to preview the document,

wherein encoding comprises encoding all the information included in the document to an encoded form that is different than an initial form.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least the first area is printed in color.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing in a storing area of the data sheet information about printing/erasing characteristics of the data sheet.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

recording in a storing area of the data sheet manufacturer identification and a lot number of the data sheet.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the encoded form is indecipherable through direct observation by an observer.

6. A method of reading a data sheet with a reading device, comprising:

storing in a first area of the data sheet entire data obtained by encoding all information included in a document;

storing in a second area of the data sheet a reduced image of at least a part of the document configured to allow a user to preview the document; and

storing in a third area of the data sheet a check box configured to be used by the user to notify the reading device regarding contents of a process to be performed by the reading device.

7. A method of reading a data sheet with a reading device, comprising:

storing in a first area of the data sheet entire data obtained by encoding all information included in a document;

storing in a second area of the data sheet a reduced image of at least a part of the document configured to allow a user to preview the document; and

storing in a third area of the data sheet a control code configured to instruct the reading device to carry out a fixed process.

8. A method of reading a data sheet with a reading device, comprising:

storing in a first area of the data sheet entire data obtained by encoding all information included in a document;

storing in a second area of the data sheet a reduced image of at least a part of the document configured to allow a user to preview the document; and

storing in a third area of the data sheet a password encoded to a code configured to be read by the reading device.

9. A method of reading a data sheet with a reading device, comprising:

storing in a first area of the data sheet entire data obtained by encoding all information included in a document; and

storing in a second area of the data sheet a reduced image of at least a part of the document configured to allow a user to preview the document,

wherein the first area is provided on one surface of the data sheet, and the second area is provided on another surface of the data sheet.

10. A method of reading a data sheet with a reading device, comprising:

storing in a first area of the data sheet entire data obtained by encoding all information included in a document;

storing in a second area of the data sheet a reduced image of at least a part of the document configured to allow a user to preview the document;

providing a supporting layer as a basis of the data sheet; and

providing a reversible recording layer on the supporting layer.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the reversible recording layer comprises a reversible optical characteristic configured to respond to thermal energy.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the reversible recording layer comprises leuco dye and a developing agent.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the reversible recording layer comprises a resin layer including a grain of a low molecular organic compound.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the reversible recording layer comprises one of a low molecular and a high molecular liquid crystal compound.

15. A method of creating a data sheet configured to have data recorded thereon, the data sheet including a first area and a second area, the method comprising:

encoding an entire document with a data recording unit to a code configured to be read by a reading device;

recording the code in the first area; and

recording a reduced image of at least a part of the document in the second area with the data recording unit for a user to preview the document,

wherein encoding comprises encoding the entire document with the data recording unit to the code that is different than an initial form of the document.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the code is indecipherable through direct observation by an observer.

17. A method of creating a data sheet configured to have data recorded thereon, the sheet including a first area and a second area, the method comprising:

encoding an entire document with a data recording unit to a code configured to be read by a reading device;

recording the code in the first area;

recording a reduced image of at least a part of the document in the second area with the data recording unit for a user to preview the document; and

recording a check box in a third area of the data sheet with the data recording unit, the check box configured to be used by the user to notify the reading device regarding contents of a process to be performed by the reading device.

18. A method of creating a data sheet configured to have data recorded thereon, the data sheet including a first area and a second area, the method comprising:

encoding an entire document with a data recording unit to a code configured to be read by a reading device;

recording the code in the first area;

recording a reduced image of at least a part of the document in the second area with the data recording unit for a user to preview the document; and

recording a control code in a third area of the data sheet with the data recording unit, the control code configured to instruct the reading device to carry out a fixed process.

19. A method of creating a data sheet configured to have data recorded thereon, the data sheet including a first area and a second area, the method comprising:

encoding an entire document with a data recording unit to a code configured to be read by a reading device;

recording the code in the first area;

recording a reduced image of at least a part of the document in the second area with the data recording unit for a user to preview the document; and

recording a password encoded in a third area of the data sheet with the data recording unit to a code readable by the reading device.

20. A method of creating a data sheet configured to have data recorded thereon, the data sheet including a first area and a second area, the method comprising:

encoding an entire document with a data recording unit to a code configured to be read by a reading device;

recording the code in the first area;

recording a reduced image of at least a part of the document in the second area with the data recording unit for a user to preview the document; and

selecting at least the part of the document recorded in the second area by an instruction from the user with a selecting unit.

21. A method of creating a data sheet configured to have data recorded thereon, the data sheet including a first area and a second area, the method comprising:

encoding an entire document with a data recording unit to a code configured to be read by a reading device;

recording the code in the first area;

recording a reduced image of at least a part of the document in the second area with the data recording unit for a user to preview the document;

reading characteristic information indicating printing/erasing characteristics of the data sheet with the data recording unit; and

printing information to or erasing information from the data sheet in accordance with the characteristic information.

22. A method of printing an electronic document based on a data sheet, the data sheet including a first area configured to store encoded information obtained by encoding an entire document to an encoded form that is different than an initial form and a second area configured to store a reduced image of at least a part of the document for a user to preview the document, the method comprising:

reading the encoded information from the data sheet with a data reading unit;

decoding the encoded information to obtain decoded information with a decoding unit; and

printing information corresponding to at least the part of the document included in the reduced image among the decoded information with a printing unit.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

obtaining an application program with a processing unit corresponding to a file format of the decoded information.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising:

transferring the decoded information to an external device with the processing unit.

25. A method of printing an electronic document based on a data sheet, the data sheet including a first area configured to store encoded information obtained by encoding an entire document and a second area configured to store a reduced image of at least a part of the document for a user to preview the document, the method comprising:

reading the encoded information from the data sheet with a data reading unit;

decoding the encoded information to obtain decoded information with a decoding unit;

printing information corresponding to at least the part of the document included in the reduced image among the decoded information with a printing unit; and

processing the document with a document processing unit in accordance with a check box included in a third area of the data sheet.

26. A method of printing an electronic document based on a data sheet, the data sheet including a first area configured to store encoded information obtained by encoding an entire document and a second area configured to store a reduced image of at least a part of the document for a user to preview the document, the method comprising:

reading the encoded information from the data sheet with a data reading unit;

decoding the encoded information to obtain decoded information with a decoding unit;

printing information corresponding to at least the part of the document included in the reduced image among the decoded information with a printing unit;

storing a control code in a third area of the data sheet;

decoding the control code with a decoding unit; and

processing the document in accordance with the control code decoded by the decoding unit.

27. A method of printing an electronic document based on a data sheet, the data sheet including a first area configured to store encoded information obtained by encoding an entire document and a second area configured to store a reduced image of at least a part of the document for a user to preview the document, the method comprising:

reading the encoded information from the data sheet with a data reading unit;

decoding the encoded information to obtain decoded information with a decoding unit;

printing information corresponding to at least the part of the document included in the reduced image among the decoded information with a printing unit;

decoding with the decoding unit an encoded first password in a third area of the data sheet that stores the encoded first password;

accepting a second password inputted by the user with a password inputting unit; and

collating the first password and the second password with a document processing unit to perform a process to the decoded information when the first password matches the second password.

28. A method of printing an electronic document based on a data sheet, the data sheet including a first area configured to store encoded information obtained by encoding an entire document and a second area configured to store a reduced image of at least a part of the document for a user to preview the document, the method comprising:

reading the encoded information from the data sheet with a data reading unit;

decoding the encoded information to obtain decoded information with a decoding unit;

printing information corresponding to at least the part of the document included in the reduced image among the decoded information with a printing unit; and

printing the information corresponding to at least the part of the document with the printing unit by following a file format of the decoded information.

29. A method of managing document information by use of a data sheet including a first area and a second area, the method comprising:

recording an entire document with a data recording unit in the first area by encoding the entire document to a code readable that is readable by a computer and which is different than an initial form;

recording a reduced image of at least a part of the document in the second area for a user to preview the document;

reading the code from the data sheet with a data reading unit;

decoding the code with a decoding unit to obtain a decoded document; and

printing at least a part of the document included in the reduced image and the decoded document with a printing unit.