Techniques for determining electronic document information for paper documents

• US 7,506,250 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2002
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Graham, Jamey, Hart, Peter E., Hull, Jonathan J., Lee, Dar-Shyang
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong; Stephen S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stork; Kyle R
• Application Number:
  US10/235,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20040078749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,387 Days
• Field of Search: 715/500, 715/513, 715/517, 715/530, 715/523
• US Class Current: 358/1.16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00331 with an apparatus performing optical character recognition character recognition G06V30/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00342 with a radio frequency tag transmitter or receiver storage of additional information in an RFID tag attached to an image bearing paper sheet H04N1/32138
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32133 on the same paper sheet, e.g. a facsimile page header
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3254 Orientation, e.g. landscape or portrait; Location or order of the image data, e.g. in memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 Printing or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information

Abstract

Techniques for determining electronic document information for a paper document. The electronic document information determined for a paper document may include information identifying an electronic document corresponding to the paper document. The electronic document information may also include information identifying a location where the electronic document is stored or a pointer or reference to the electronic document. The electronic document information determined for a paper document may be stored along with identification code information read from an identification tag that is physically associated with the paper document. The electronic document information for a paper document may also be stored in an identification tag that is physically associated with the paper document or physically associated with another paper document generated based upon the paper document.

Claims

1. A method of processing a paper document, the method comprising:

receiving an identification code associated with an identification tag;

determining, from a first database storing information associated with a plurality of feature descriptors, electronic information to be associated with the identification code, the determining comprising;

obtaining an electronic representation of contents printed on a first paper document;

selecting a portion of the obtained electronic representation;

locating one or more zones on the selected portion;

determining a first feature descriptor based upon at least one zone of the one or more zones on the selected portion, the first feature descriptor being distinct from the identification code;

determining a matching feature descriptor from the first database that matches the first feature descriptor; and

determining, from the first database, electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor; and

storing the identification code and the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor in memory, whereby the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor is associated with the identification code and is determinable using the identification code.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor comprises information identifying a storage location of an electronic document corresponding to the first paper document.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor comprises a uniform resource identifier (URI).

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating a second paper document, wherein the second paper document is a copy of the first paper document and the identification tag is attached to the second paper document, embedded in the second paper document, or attached to an object that is attached to the second paper document.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising physically associating the identification tag with the first paper document by attaching the identification tag to the first paper document, embedding the identification tag in the first paper document, or attaching an object to the first paper document wherein the identification tag is attached to the object.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

reading the identification code from the identification tag physically associated with the first paper document;

determining a matching identification code from the memory that matches the identification code;

determining, from the memory, electronic document information associated with the matching identification code; and

performing an operation using the electronic document information associated with the matching identification code.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the electronic document information associated with the matching identification code identifies an electronic document and wherein performing the operation comprises generating a second paper document using the electronic document identified by the electronic document information associated with the matching identification code.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the identification tag is physically associated with the first paper document by being attached to first paper document, by being embedded in the first paper document, or being attached to an object that is attached to the first paper document.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor on the identification tag; and

generating a second paper document, wherein the identification tag is physically associated with the second paper document by being attached to second paper document, by being embedded in the second paper document, or being attached to an object that is attached to the second paper document.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein:

the identification tag is a radio frequency identification device; and

storing the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor on the identification tag comprises storing the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor in a memory of the radio frequency identification device.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

reading the information from the radio frequency identification device; and

generating a third paper document using the information read from the radio frequency identification device, wherein the third paper document is a copy of the second paper document.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein obtaining the electronic representation comprises obtaining a scanned image of the first paper document.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the first feature descriptor comprises:

extracting textual, graphical, or pictorial information from the one or more zones on the selected portion; and

performing a recognition technique on the extracted textual, graphical, or pictorial information.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the first feature descriptor based upon the at least one zone of the one or more zones comprises applying an optical character recognition technique to textual information in the at least one zone.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the location of the one or more zones is the same as selected for extracting feature descriptors stored in the first database.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a matching feature descriptor comprises:

forming one or more search queries from the first feature descriptor; and

searching the first database for a matching feature descriptor using the one or more search queries.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein locating the one or more zones on the selected portion comprises calculating one or more X-coordinates and associated Y-coordinates for the one or more zones.

18. A system for processing a paper document, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory configured to store a plurality of code modules for execution by the processor, the plurality of code modules comprising;

a code module for receiving an identification code associated with an identification tag;

a code module for determining, from a first database storing information associated with a plurality of feature descriptors, electronic information to be associated with the identification code, the code module for determining comprising;

a code module for obtaining an electronic representation of contents printed on a first paper document;

a code module for selecting a portion of the obtained electronic representation;

a code module for locating one or more zones on the selected portion;

a code module for determining a first feature descriptor based upon at least one zone of the one or more zones on the selected portion, the first feature descriptor being distinct from the identification code;

a code module for determining a matching feature descriptor from the first database that matches the first feature descriptor; and

a code module for determining, from the first database, electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor; and

a code module for storing the identification code and the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor in the memory, whereby the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor is associated with the identification code and is determinable using the identification code.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor comprises information identifying a storage location of an electronic document corresponding to the first paper document.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor comprises a uniform resource identifier (URI).

21. The system of claim 18 further comprising:

a subsystem configured to generate a second paper document, wherein the second paper document is a copy of the first paper document and the identification tag is attached to the second paper document, embedded in the second paper document, or attached to an object that is attached to the second paper document.

22. The system of claim 18 further comprising a subsystem configured to physically associate the identification tag with the first paper document by attaching the identification tag to the first paper document, embedding the identification tag in the first paper document, or attaching an object to the first paper document wherein the identification tag is attached to the object.

23. The system of claim 22 further comprising:

a reader,

wherein the reader is configured to read the identification code from the identification tag physically associated with the first paper document;

wherein the processor is configured to determine a matching identification code from the memory that matches the identification code;

wherein the processor is configured to determine, from the memory, electronic document information associated with the matching identification code; and

wherein the processor is configured to cause performance of an operation using the electronic document information associated with the matching identification code.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the electronic document information associated with the matching identification code identifies an electronic document and wherein the processor is configured to cause generation of a second paper document using the electronic document identified by the electronic document information associated with the matching identification code.

25. The system of claim 18 wherein the identification tag is physically associated with the first paper document by being attached to first paper document, by being embedded in the first paper document, or being attached to an object that is attached to the first paper document.

26. The system of claim 18:

wherein the plurality of code modules further comprises a code module for storing the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor on the identification tag; and

the system further comprises a subsystem configured to generate a second paper document, wherein the identification tag is physically associated with the second paper document by being attached to second paper document, by being embedded in the second paper document, or being attached to an object that is attached to the second paper document.

27. The system of claim 26:

wherein the identification tag is a radio frequency identification device; and

wherein the plurality of code modules further comprises a code module for storing the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor in a memory of the radio frequency identification device.

28. The system of claim 27 further comprising:

a reader configured to read the information from the radio frequency identification device; and

a printer configured to generate a third paper document using the information read from the radio frequency identification device, wherein the third paper document is a copy of the second paper document.

29. The system of claim 18 wherein the code module for obtaining the electronic representation comprises a code module for obtaining a scanned image of the first paper document.

30. The system of claim 18 wherein the code module for determining the first feature descriptor comprises:

a code module for extracting textual, graphical, or pictorial information from the one or more zones on the selected portion; and

a code module for performing a recognition technique on the extracted textual, graphical, or pictorial information.

31. The system of claim 18 wherein the code module for determining the first feature descriptor based upon the at least one zone of the one or more zones comprises a code module for applying an optical character recognition technique to textual information in the at least one zone.

32. A computer program product stored on a computer-readable storage medium for processing a paper document, the computer program product comprising:

code for receiving an identification code associated with an identification tag;

code for determining, from a first database storing information associated with a plurality of feature descriptors, electronic information to be associated with the identification code, the code for determining comprising;

code for obtaining an electronic representation of contents printed on a first paper document;

code for selecting a portion of the obtained electronic representation;

code for locating one or more zones on the selected portion;

code for determining a first feature descriptor based upon at least one zone of the one or more zones on the selected portion, the first feature descriptor being distinct from the identification code;

code for determining a matching feature descriptor from the first database that matches the first feature descriptor; and

code for determining, from the first database, electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor; and

code for storing the identification code and the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor in memory, whereby the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor is associated with the identification code and is determinable using the identification code.

33. The computer program product of claim 32 wherein the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor comprises information identifying a storage location of an electronic document corresponding to the first paper document.

34. The computer program product of claim 32 wherein the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor comprises a uniform resource identifier (URI).

35. The computer program product of claim 32 further comprising code for causing a second paper document to be generated, wherein the second paper document is a copy of the first document and the identification tag is attached to the second paper document, embedded in the second paper document, or attached to an object that is attached to the second paper document.

36. The computer program product of claim 32 further comprising code for causing the identification tag to be physically associated with the first paper document by being attached to first paper document, by being embedded in the first paper document, or being attached to an object that is attached to the first paper document.

37. The computer program product of claim 36 further comprising:

code for reading the identification code from the identification tag physically associated with the first paper document;

code for determining a matching identification code from the memory that matches the identification code;

code for determining, from the memory, electronic document information associated with the matching identification code; and

code for causing an operation to be performed using the electronic document information associated with the matching identification code.

38. The computer program product of claim 37 wherein the electronic document information associated with the matching identification code identifies an electronic document and wherein the code for causing the operation to be performed comprises code for causing a second paper document to be generated using the electronic document identified by the electronic document information associated with the matching identification code.

39. The computer program product of claim 32 wherein the code for storing the identification code comprises code for reading the identification code from the identification tag physically associated with the first paper document by being attached to first paper document, by being embedded in the first paper document, or being attached to an object that is attached to the first paper document.

40. The computer program product of claim 32 further comprising:

code for storing the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor on the identification tag; and

code for causing generation of a second paper document, wherein the identification tag is physically associated with the second paper document by being attached to second paper document, by being embedded in the second paper document, or being attached to an object that is attached to the second paper document.

41. The computer program product of claim 40 wherein:

the identification tag is a radio frequency identification device; and

the code for storing the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor on the identification tag comprises code for storing the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor in a memory of the radio frequency identification device.

42. The computer program product of claim 41 further comprising:

code for reading the information from the radio frequency identification device; and

code for generating a third paper document using the information read from the radio frequency identification device, wherein the third paper document is a copy of the second paper document.

43. The computer program product of claim 32 wherein the code for obtaining the electronic representation comprises code for obtaining a scanned image of the first paper document.

44. The computer program product of claim 32 wherein the code for determining the first feature descriptor comprises:

code for extracting textual, graphical, or pictorial information from the one or more zones on the selected portion; and

code for performing a recognition technique on the extracted textual, graphical, or pictorial information.

45. The computer program product of claim 32 wherein the code for determining the first feature descriptor based upon the at least one zone of the one or more zones comprises code for applying an optical character recognition technique to textual information in the at least one zone.

46. A system for processing a paper document, the system comprising:

means for receiving an identification code associated with an identification tag;

means for determining, from a first database storing information associated with a plurality of feature descriptors, electronic information to be associated with the identification code, the means for determining comprising;

means for obtaining an electronic representation of contents printed on a first paper document;

means for selecting a portion of the obtained electronic representation;

means for locating one or more zones on the selected portion;

means for determining a first feature descriptor based upon at least one zone of the one or more zones on the selected portion, the first feature descriptor being distinct from the identification code;

means for determining a matching feature descriptor from the first database that matches the first feature descriptor; and

means for determining, from the first database, electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor; and

means for storing the identification code and the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor in a memory, whereby the electronic document information associated with the matching feature descriptor is associated with the identification code and is determinable using the identification code.

47. The system of claim 46 further comprising:

means for reading the identification code from the identification tag, the identification tag being physically associated to the first paper document;

means for determining a matching identification code from the memory that matches the identification code;

means for determining, from the memory, electronic document information associated with the matching identification code; and

means for performing the operation using the electronic document information associated with the matching identification code.