Method and apparatus for tracking documents in a workflow

• US 7,357,300 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2004
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Segawa, Hideki, Graham, Jamey, Hull, Jonathan J., Lee, Dar-Shyang
• Primary Examiner(s): PAIK, STEVEN SANGYUL
• Application Number:
  US10/996,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20050182757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/376, 235/385, 235/451, 340/572.01, 340/10.1
• US Class Current: 235/376
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A workflow system and method include tracking the physical movement of documents. The information of the physical movement is incorporated with the flow graph of a workflow. A display of the workflow can then be enhanced by the information relating to the physical movement of the document.

Claims

1. A copying device to be used in conjunction with a document workflow system, the copying device comprising a sensor, the sensor operable to transmit an interrogation signal to an identification component that is physically associated to a document and operable to receive from the identification component a response signal transmitted from the identification component in response to the identification component receiving the interrogation signal,

wherein the copying device is configured to communicate to a processing component of the document workflow system information indicating that a copy of the document has been made, wherein the document workflow system is configured to display the information as part of a workflow graph, and wherein the workflow graph includes a tracking history, the tracking history providing a visual indication of the movement of the document through the workflow graph.

2. The copying device of claim 1, wherein the document workflow system is configured to display the information as part of a workflow graph in a graphical representation of the workflow.

3. The copying device of claim 1, wherein the document workflow system is configured to display the information as part of a workflow graph in a textual format.

4. The copying device of claim 1, wherein the document workflow system is configured to display the information as part of a workflow graph in a representational form suitable for communication among computing equipment.

5. The copying device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to provide information about the sensor'"'"'s location.

6. The copying device of claim 1, wherein the document workflow system is configured to enhance the display of the workflow graph based upon information received from the sensor.

7. The copying device of claim 1, wherein the document workflow system is configured to enhance the display of the workflow graph based upon location information of the document, the location information received from the sensor.

8. The copying device of claim 1, wherein the document workflow system is configured to enhance the display of the workflow graph based upon an action taken on the document.

9. The copying device of claim 1, wherein the document workflow system is configured to enhance the display of the workflow graph to indicate that the document exists in electronic form.

10. The copying device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to communicate information that indicates an identity of the sensor.

11. A printing device to be used in conjunction with a document workflow system, the printing device comprising a sensor, the sensor operable to transmit an interrogation signal to an identification component that is physically associated to one or more sheets of paper and operable to receive from the identification component a response signal transmitted from the identification component in response to the identification component receiving the interrogation signal,

wherein the printing device is configured to communicate to a processing component of the document workflow system information indicating that a document has been printed on the one or more sheets of paper, wherein the document workflow system is configured to display the information as part of a workflow graph, and wherein the workflow graph includes a tracking history, the tracking history providing a visual indication of the movement of the document through the workflow graph.

12. The printing device of claim 11, wherein the printing device is configured to receive stock paper having one or more tags physically associated with the paper, further wherein the sensor is configured to detect the paper when a print job is processed by the printing device.

13. A scanning device to be used in conjunction with a document workflow system, the scanning device comprising a sensor, the sensor operable to transmit an interrogation signal to an identification component that is physically associated to a document and operable to receive from the identification component a response signal transmitted from the identification component in response to the identification component receiving the interrogation signal,

wherein the scanning device is configured to communicate to a processing component of the document workflow system information indicating that the document has been scanned, wherein the document workflow system is configured to display the information as part of a workflow graph, and wherein the workflow graph includes a tracking history, the tracking history providing a visual indication of the movement of the document through the workflow graph.