System and method for completing forms

• US 7,185,273 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2001
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Thomason, Tamra L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Herndon; Heather R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sain; Gautam
• Application Number:
  US09/916,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20030023625A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,041 Days
• Field of Search: 715/505, 715/507, 707/9, 707/10, 235/380, 713/201, 713/155, 709/227, 395/202, 395/146
• US Class Current: 715/225
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method for completing forms. In one arrangement, the method comprises the steps of receiving location information for user information to be added to a form, retrieving the user information, configuring the user information for merging with the form, and printing a form that contains at least a portion of the user information. This method can be practice, for example, through use of a printing device comprising printing hardware with which hardcopy documents can be generated, a card reader that is adapted to read data from a user data card, a network interface device that is adapted to transmit and receive data via a network, and device memory that stores forms data.

Claims

1. A method for completing forms, comprising:

reading a user data card to determine a network location at which user information to be added to a form is stored;

retrieving the user information from the network location;

configuring the user information for merging with the form;

merging the user information into the form by populating form data fields with pieces of the user information; and

printing a hard copy form that contains at least a portion of the user information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data card is read by a card reader of a printer that prints the hard copy form such that no separate computer is needed to generate the hard copy form.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information comprises a universal resource locator (URL).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the network comprises the Internet.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising confirming authorization to access the user information.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein confirming authorization comprises receiving a correct passcode.

7. A system for completing forms, comprising:

means for reading location information from a user data card;

means for retrieving user information from a network location identified in the location information;

means for merging the user information with a form; and

means for printing a hard copy form that contains at least a portion of the user information.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the means for receiving location information comprises a card reader of a printing device, the card reader being adapted to read data from the user data card.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the means for retrieving the user information comprises a network interface device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the network interface device is adapted to transmit and receive data via the Internet.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the means for printing a hard copy form comprises a printer.

12. A printing device, comprising:

printing hardware included within the printing device with which hard copy documents can be generated;

a card reader provided on the printing device that is adapted to read location information from a user data card;

a network interface device that is adapted to retrieve user information from a network location identified in the location information;

printing device memory that stores forms; and

a form generation module stored in the printing device memory that merges the user information with a form stored in the device memory for the purpose of printing a hard copy form that is at least partially completed.

13. The printing device of claim 12, wherein the card reader is adapted to read information from a magnetic strip of the user data card.

14. The printing device of claim 12, further comprising a network browser.

15. The printing device of claim 14, wherein the network browser is an Internet browser.

16. The printing device of claim 12, wherein the printing device comprises a printer.

17. The printing device of claim 12, wherein the printing device comprises a multifunction peripheral (MFP) device.