Information research initiated from a scanned image media

• US 7,151,864 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2002
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Henry, Steven G., Wolf, John P., Smith, Kristin M.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, KANJIBHAI B
• Application Number:
  US10/247,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20040052433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,553 Days
• Field of Search: 382/305, 382/312, 382/306, 382/229, 382/231, 704/1, 704/2, 704/9, 704/257, 707/2, 707/3, 707/5, 707/6, 707/10, 358/505
• US Class Current: 382/305
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3334 Selection or weighting of terms from queries, including natural language queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

A device scans text of an image media and generates text data corresponding to the scanned text. A research component of the device generates a phrase list from the text data and initiates research for information corresponding to the phrase list.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a scan unit configured to scan text of an image media;

a scan component configured to generate text data corresponding to the text;

a research component configured to;

generate one or more phrase lists from the text data; and

initiate research using Internet resources for information corresponding to the one or more phrase lists.

2. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein the scan component is further configured to recognize a phrase identifier, and generate selected text data corresponding to text designated with the phrase identifier.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the phrase identifier identifies a selected portion of the text of the image media and wherein other portions of the text are not identified by any phrase identifier.

4. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the scan component is further configured to recognize a phrase identifier, and generate selected text data corresponding to text designated with the phrase identifier; and

the research component is further configured to receive one or more input phrases, and generate a selected phrase list from the selected text data and from the one or more input phrases.

5. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the scan component is further configured to;

recognize a phrase identifier;

generate selected text data corresponding to text designated with the phrase identifier;

the research component is further configured to;

receive one or more input phrases;

generate a selected phrase list from the selected text data and from the one or more input phrases; and

initiate research for information corresponding to the selected phrase list.

6. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the scan component is further configured to;

recognize a first phrase identifier;

recognize at least a second phrase identifier;

generate selected text data corresponding to text designated with the first phrase identifier and with the second phrase identifier;

the research component is further configured to;

generate a selected phrase list from the selected text data; and

initiate research for information corresponding to the selected phrase list.

7. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the scan component is further configured to;

recognize a first phrase identifier;

recognize at least a second phrase identifier;

generate selected text data corresponding to text designated with the first phrase identifier and with the second phrase identifier;

the research component is further configured to;

receive one or more input phrases;

generate a selected phrase list from the selected text data and from the one or more input phrases; and

research for information corresponding to the one or more phrase lists and corresponding to the selected phrase list, wherein the research is directed first to information corresponding to the selected phrase list.

8. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein the scan component is further configured to recognize one or more written marks as a phrase identifier.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the scan component is configured to recognize one or more marks that have been written upon the image media prior to scanning by the scan unit as the phrase identifier.

10. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein the scan component is further configured to recognize one or more electronic marks as a phrase identifier.

11. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the scan component is further configured to;

recognize one or more written marks as a phrase identifier;

generate selected text data corresponding to text designated with the one or more written marks;

the research component is further configured to;

generate a selected phrase list from the selected text data; and

research for information corresponding to the one or more phrase lists and corresponding to the selected phrase list, wherein the research is directed first to information corresponding to the selected phrase list.

12. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein the research component is further configured to initiate the research in a document database.

13. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein the research component is further configured to initiate the research with a document management system.

14. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein the research component is further configured to communicate the one or more phrase lists to a search engine that performs the research.

15. A device as recited in claim 1. wherein the research component is further configured to communicate the one or more phrase lists to a document search service provider that performs the research.

16. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein the research component is further configured to receive research results corresponding to the one or more phrase lists.

17. A device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a print unit. wherein the research component is further configured to receive research results corresponding to the one or more phrase lists, and wherein the print unit is configured to print the research results.

18. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the scan component is further configured to generate an electronic document of the image media; and

the research component is further configured to communicate the electronic document and the one or more phrase lists to a document database where the one or more phrase lists are maintained as an index of the electronic document.

19. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the scan component is further configured to generate an electronic document of the image media;

the research component is further configured to;

receive research results corresponding to the one or more phrase lists; and

communicate the electronic document, the one or more phrase lists, and the research results to a document database where the one or more phrase lists are maintained as an index of the electronic document and of the research results.

20. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the scan component is further configured to generate an electronic document of the image media;

the research component is further configured to;

receive research results corresponding to the one or more phrase lists; and

email the electronic document, the one or more phrase lists, and the research results to a computing device.

21. A system, comprising:

a scan unit configured to scan text of an image media;

a scan component configured to;

recognize a phrase identifier;

generate text data corresponding to the text;

generate selected text data corresponding to text designated with the phrase identifier;

a research component configured to;

generate a phrase list from the text data and from the selected text data; and

initiate research of Internet resources for information corresponding to the phrase list.

22. A system as recited in claim 21, wherein the research component is further configured to:

receive one or more input phrases; and

generate the phrase list from the text data, the selected text data, and from the one or more input phrases.

23. A system as recited in claim 21, wherein the scan component is further configured to:

recognize at least one other phrase identifier; and

generate the selected text data corresponding to text designated with the phrase identifier and with the at least one other phrase identifier.

24. A system as recited in claim 21, wherein the scan component is further configured to recognize one or more written marks as the phrase identifier.

25. A system as recited in claim 21, wherein the scan component is further configured to recognize one or more electronic marks as the phrase identifier.

26. A system as recited in claim 21, wherein the research component is further configured to initiate the research in a document database.

27. A system as recited in claim 21, wherein the research component is further configured to initiate the research with a document management system.

28. A system as recited in claim 21, wherein the research component is further configured to communicate the phrase list to a search engine that performs the research.

29. A system as recited in claim 21, wherein the research component is further configured to communicate the phrase list to a document search service provider that performs the research.

30. A system as recited in claim 21, wherein the research component is further configured to receive research results corresponding to the phrase list, the research results including electronic documents.

31. A system as recited in claim 21, wherein the research component is further configured to receive research results corresponding to the phrase list, the research results including World Wide Web pages.

32. A system as recited in claim 21, wherein the research component is further configured to receive research results corresponding to the phrase list, the research results including a list of World Wide Web links.

33. A system as recited in claim 21, further comprising a print unit, wherein the research component is further configured to receive research results corresponding to the phrase list, and wherein the print unit is configured to print at least a portion of the research results.

34. A system as recited in claim 21, further comprising a display device, wherein the research component is further configured to receive research results corresponding to the phrase list, and wherein the display device is configured to display at least a portion of the research results.

35. A system as recited in claim 21, further comprising a multifunction device comprising the scan unit, the scan component, and the research component.

36. A system as recited in claim 21, further comprising:

a computing device comprising the scan component and the research component; and

a multifunction device comprising the scan unit, the multifunction device configured to communicate the scanned text of the image media to the computing device.

37. A method, comprising:

generating text data corresponding to text of an image media;

generating at least one phrase list from the text data; and

initiating research using Internet resources for information corresponding to the at least one phrase list.

38. A method as recited in claim 37, further comprising scanning the text of the image media.

39. A method as recited in claim 37, further comprising receiving the text of the image media from a computing device via a communication link.

40. A method as recited in claim 37, further comprising:

recognizing a phrase identifier; and

generating selected text data corresponding to text designated with the phrase identifier.

41. A method as recited in claim 37, further comprising:

recognizing a phrase identifier;

generating selected text data corresponding to text designated with the phrase identifier; and

wherein generating the at least one phrase list includes generating a selected phrase list from the selected text data.

42. A method as recited in claim 37, further comprising:

recognizing a phrase identifier;

generating selected text data corresponding to text designated with the phrase identifier;

receiving one or more input phrases; and

generating a selected phrase list from the selected text data and from the one or more input phrases.

43. A method as recited in claim 37, further comprising:

recognizing a phrase identifier;

generating selected text data corresponding to text designated with the phrase identifier;

receiving one or more input phrases;

generating a selected phrase list from the selected text data and from the one or more input phrases; and

initiating research for information corresponding to the selected phrase list.

44. A method as recited in claim 37, further comprising recognizing one or more written marks as a phrase identifier.

45. A method as recited in claim 37, further comprising recognizing one or more electronic marks as a phrase identifier.

46. A method as recited in claim 37, further comprising:

recognizing one or more written marks as a phrase identifier;

generating selected text data corresponding to text designated with the one or more written marks;

generating a selected phrase list from the selected text data; and

researching for information corresponding to the at least one phrase list and corresponding to the selected phrase list, the researching being directed first to information corresponding to the selected phrase list.

47. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein initiating the research includes initiating the research in a document database.

48. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein initiating the research includes initiating the research with a document management system.

49. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein initiating the research includes communicating the at least one phrase list to a search engine that performs the research.

50. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein initiating the research includes communicating the at least one phrase list to a document search service provider that performs the research.

51. A method as recited in claim 37, further comprising:

receiving research results corresponding to the at least one phrase list.

52. A method as recited in claim 37, further comprising receiving research results corresponding to the at least one phrase list, the research results including electronic documents.

53. A method as recited in claim 37, further comprising:

receiving research results corresponding to the at least one phrase list, the research results including World Wide Web pages.

54. A method as recited in claim 37, further comprising:

receiving research results corresponding to the at least one phrase list, the research results including a list of World Wide Web links.

55. A method as recited in claim 37, further comprising:

receiving research results corresponding to the at least one phrase list; and

printing at least a portion of the research results.

56. A method as recited in claim 37, further comprising:

receiving research results corresponding to the at least one phrase list; and

displaying at least a portion of the research results.

57. A method as recited in claim 37, further comprising:

generating an electronic document of the image media; and

communicating the electronic document and the at least one phrase list to a document database where the at least one phrase list is maintained as an index of the electronic document.

58. A method as recited in claim 37, further comprising:

generating an electronic document of the image media;

receiving research results corresponding to the at least one phrase list; and

communicating the electronic document, the at least one phrase list, and the research results to a document database where the at least one phrase list is maintained as an index of the electronic document and of the research results.

59. A method as recited in claim 37, further comprising:

generating an electronic document of the image media;

receiving research results corresponding to the at least one phrase list; and

emailing the electronic document, the at least one phrase list, and the research results to a computing device.

60. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a device to:

generate text data corresponding to text of an image media;

recognize a phrase identifier;

generate selected text data corresponding to text of the image media designated with the phrase identifier;

generate a phrase list from the text data and from the selected text data; and

initiate research using Internet resources for information corresponding to the phrase list.

61. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 60, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the device to scan the text of the image media.

62. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 60, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the device to receive the text of the image media from a computing device via a communication link.

63. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 60, wherein the computer executable instructions further direct the device to recognize one or more written marks as the phrase identifier.

64. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 60, wherein the computer executable instructions further direct the device to recognize one or more electronic marks as the phrase identifier.

65. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 60, wherein the computer executable instructions further direct the device to communicate the phrase list to a document search service provider that performs the research when the device initiates research for the information.

66. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 60, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the device to research for information corresponding to the phrase list.

67. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 60, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the device to receive research results corresponding to the phrase list.