Action stickers for nested collections

• US 7,509,569 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2004
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Barrus, John, Piersol, Kurt Wesley
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong; Stephen S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel; Manglesh M
• Application Number:
  US10/894,653
• Publication Number:
  US 20060294450A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,709 Days
• Field of Search: 715/500, 715/200, 715/255, 715/243, 715/277, 358/403, 358/400
• US Class Current: 715/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/34 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/38 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually

Abstract

A user affixes one or more action stickers to a collection coversheet to identify, by location on the coversheet, target documents within a previously stored collection of documents. The action stickers also specify actions to be performed on the target documents. The coversheet is scanned and the affixed stickers are located and read. The specified actions are then performed on the target documents. If the specified actions change the organization or architecture of the document collection, an updated version of the collection may be generated and stored, and a new coversheet may be printed. If a collection contains one or more subcollections, the user can apply an action sticker to the collection coversheet so as to cause an action to be performed on a document or item within one of the subcollections. The action stickers may be removable, self-adhesive labels.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for processing a stored document, comprising:

receiving a single image of a document index, the single image of the document index comprising a plurality of thumbnail representations of items, wherein each thumbnail representation is a reduced image of a respective target;

determining, from the image of the document index, an image of an action sticker specifying an action that is based on access permission level information included in the action sticker, a location of the image of the action sticker from within the single image of the document index, and locations of the plurality of thumbnail representations of items from within the single image of the document index;

identifying a first target based on the location of the image of the action sticker and the location of a thumbnail representation closest to the location of the image of the action sticker on the image of the document index;

determining that the first target is a subcollection;

identifying a second target based on the location of the image of the action sticker, the second target being a document within the subcollection; and

performing the action on the second target, wherein the action comprises automatically modifying access permission levels for the document within the subcollection.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to the first target being a document, performing the action on the first target.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the action sticker comprises a removable self-adhesive sticker.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the action sticker comprises an action point; and

identifying the first target based on the location of the action sticker comprises;

determining a coordinate location for the action point;

determining a coordinate location for at least one of the item representations; and

identifying the first target by comparing the coordinate location for the action point with the coordinate location for the at least one item representation.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein identifying the second target comprises:

determining a coordinate location for the action point with respect to a coordinate system associated with the subcollection;

determining a coordinate location for at least one document representation within the subcollection; and

identifying the second target by comparing the coordinate location for the action point with the coordinate location for the at least one document representation within the subcollection.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the coordinate location for the action point with respect to the coordinate system associated with the subcollection comprises:

mapping the action point to the coordinate system associated with the subcollection.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the document index comprises a representation of the subcollection, and wherein determining the coordinate location for the action point with respect to the coordinate system associated with the subcollection comprises:

determining a relative location of the action point with respect to the representation of the subcollection.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the document index comprises a representation of the subcollection, and wherein identifying the second target comprises:

determining a relative location of the action point with respect to the representation of the subcollection.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the representation of the subcollection comprises a thumbnail representation.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the document index comprises a plurality of thumbnail depictions.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the document index comprises a plurality of icons.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the action comprises one selected from the group consisting of:

printing;

e-mailing;

faxing;

grouping;

reordering;

playing;

ungrouping; and

deleting.

13. A computer-implemented method for processing a stored document, comprising:

receiving single image of a document index, the single image of the document index comprising a plurality of thumbnail representations of items, wherein each thumbnail representation is a reduced image of a respective target;

determining, from the image of the document index, an image of an action sticker specifying an action that is based on access permission level information included in the action sticker, the action sticker comprising an action point, a location of the image of the sticker from within the single image of the document index, and locations of the plurality of thumbnail representations of items from within the single image of the document index;

normalizing an action point location with respect to the single image of the document index;

retrieving a map describing target locations within the single image of the document index;

responsive to the action point being within one of the target locations;

determining that the action point is within a target location for a subcollection;

retrieving a map describing target locations within the subcollection;

mapping the action point to a coordinate system corresponding to the subcollection;

responsive to the action point being within one of the target locations for the subcollection, and responsive to the target location corresponding to the document, identifying the document as the target;

responsive to the action point not being within one of the target locations for the subcollection, identifying the subcollection as the target; and

responsive to the target being identified, performing the action on the identified target, wherein the action comprises automatically modifying access permission levels for the identified target.

14. A computer-implemented method for processing a stored document, comprising:

receiving a single image of a document index, the single image of the document index comprising a plurality of thumbnail representations of items, wherein each thumbnail representation is a reduced image of a respective target;

determining, from the image of the document index, an image of an action sticker specifying an action that is based on access permission level information included in the action sticker, a location of the image of the sticker from within the single image of the document index, and locations of the plurality of thumbnail representations of items from within the single image of the document index

identifying a first target based on the location of the image of the action sticker and the location of a thumbnail representation closest to the location of the image of the action sticker on the image of the document index;

determining that the first target is a subcollection;

responsive to the location of the image of the action sticker indicating a document within the subcollection, identifying the document as a second target;

responsive to the location of the image of the action sticker not indicating the document within the subcollection, identifying the subcollection as the second target; and

performing the action on the second target, wherein the action comprises automatically modifying access permission levels for the second target.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the action comprises adding an item to the subcollection.

16. A computer-implemented method for processing a stored document, comprising:

receiving a single image of a document index, the single image of the document index comprising a plurality of thumbnail representations of items, wherein each thumbnail representation is a reduced image of a respective target;

determining from the image of the document index, an image of an action specifier specifying an action that is based on access permission level information included in the action specifier, a location of the image of the action specifier from within the single image of the document index, and locations of the plurality of thumbnail representations of items from within the single image of the document index;

identifying a first target based on the location of the image of the action specifier and the location of a thumbnail representation closest to the location of the image of the action specifier on the image of the document index;

determining that the first target is a subcollection;

identifying a second target based on the location of the image of the action specifier, the second target being a document within the subcollection; and

performing the action on the second target, wherein the action comprises automatically modifying access permission levels for the document within the subcollection.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the action specifier comprises an indication area having a mark therein.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the indication area comprises a check box.

19. A computer program product for processing a stored document, comprising:

a computer-readable medium; and

computer program code, encoded on the medium, for;

receiving a single image of a document index, the single image of the document index comprising a plurality of thumbnail representations of items, wherein each thumbnail representation is a reduced image of a respective target;

determining, from the image of the document index, an image of an action sticker specifying an action that is based on access permission level information included in the action sticker, a location of the image of the sticker from within the single image of the document index, and locations of the plurality of thumbnail representations of items from within the single image of the document index;

identifying a first target based on the location of the image of the action sticker and the location of a thumbnail representation closest to the location of the image of the action sticker on the image of the document index;

determining that the first target is a subcollection;

identifying a second target based on the location of the image of the action sticker, the second target being a document within the subcollection; and

performing the action on the second target, wherein the action comprises automatically modifying access permission levels for the document within the subcollection.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising computer program code for:

responsive to the first target being the document, performing the action on the first target.

21. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the action sticker comprises a removable self-adhesive sticker.

22. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein:

the action sticker comprises an action point; and

the computer program code for identifying the first target based on the location of the action sticker comprises computer program code for;

determining a coordinate location for the action point;

determining a coordinate location for at least one of the item representations; and

identifying the first target by comparing the coordinate location for the action point with the coordinate location for the at least one item representation.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the computer program code for identifying the second target comprises computer program code for:

determining a coordinate location for the action point with respect to a coordinate system associated with the subcollection;

determining a coordinate location for at least one document representation within the subcollection; and

identifying the second target by comparing the coordinate location for the action point with the coordinate location for the at least one document representation within the subcollection.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the computer program code for determining the coordinate location for the action point with respect to the coordinate system associated with the subcollection comprises computer program code for:

mapping the action point to the coordinate system associated with the subcollection.

25. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the document index comprises a representation of the subcollection, and wherein the computer program code for determining the coordinate location for the action point with respect to the coordinate system associated with the subcollection comprises computer program code for:

determining the relative location of the action point with respect to the representation of the subcollection.

26. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the document index comprises a representation of the subcollection, and wherein the computer program code for identifying the second target comprises computer program code for:

determining the relative location of the action point with respect to the representation of the subcollection.

27. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the representation of the subcollection comprises a thumbnail representation.

28. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the document index comprises a plurality of thumbnail depictions.

29. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the document index comprises a plurality of icons.

30. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the action comprises one selected from the group consisting of:

printing;

e-mailing;

faxing;

grouping;

reordering;

playing;

ungrouping; and

deleting.

31. A computer program product for processing a stored document, comprising:

a computer-readable medium; and

computer program code, encoded on the medium, for;

receiving single image of a document index, the single image of the document index comprising a plurality of thumbnail representations of items, wherein each thumbnail representation is a reduced image of a respective target;

determining, from the image of the document index, an image of an action sticker specifying an action that is based on access permission level information included in the action sticker, the action sticker comprising an action point, a location of the image of the sticker from within the single image of the document index, and locations of the plurality of thumbnail representations of items from within the single image of the document index;

normalizing an action point location with respect to the document index image;

retrieving a map describing target locations within the single image of the document index;

responsive to the action point being within one of the target locations;

determining that the action point is within a target location for a subcollection;

retrieving a map describing target locations within the subcollection;

mapping the action point to a coordinate system corresponding to the subcollection;

responsive to the action point being within one of the target locations for the subcollection, and responsive to the target location corresponding to the document, identifying the document as the target;

responsive to the action point not being within one of the target locations for the subcollection, identifying the subcollection as the target; and

responsive to the target being identified, performing the action on the identified target, wherein the action comprises automatically modifying access permission levels for the identified target.

32. A computer program product for processing a stored document, comprising:

a computer-readable medium; and

computer program code, encoded on the medium, for;

receiving a single image of a document index, the single image of the document index comprising a plurality of thumbnail representations of items, wherein each thumbnail representation is a reduced image of a respective target;

determining, from the image of the document index, an image of an action sticker specifying an action that is based on access permission level information included in the action sticker, a location of the image of the sticker from within the single image of the document index, and locations of the plurality of thumbnail representations of items from within the single image of the document index;

identifying a first target based on the location of the image of the action sticker and the location of a thumbnail representation closest to the location of the image of the action sticker on the image of the document index;

determining that the first target is a subcollection;

responsive to the location of the image of the action sticker indicating a document within the subcollection, identifying the document as a second target;

responsive to the location of the image of the action sticker not indicating the document within the subcollection, identifying the subcollection as the second target; and

performing the action on the second target, wherein the action comprises automatically modifying access permission levels for the second target.

33. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the action comprises adding an item to the subcollection.

34. A computer program product for processing a stored document, comprising:

a computer-readable medium; and

computer program code, encoded on the medium, for;

receiving a single image of a document index, the single image of the document index comprising a plurality of thumbnail representations of items, wherein each thumbnail representation is a reduced image of a respective target;

determining, from the image of the document index, an image of an action specifier specifying an action that is based on access permission level information included in the action specifier, a location of the image of the specifier from within the single image of the document index, and locations of the plurality of thumbnail representations of items from within the single image of the document index;

identifying a first target based on the location of the image of the action specifier and the location of a thumbnail representation closest to the location of the image of the action sticker on the image of the document index;

determining that the first target is a subcollection;

identifying a second target based on the location of the image of the action specifier, the second target being a document within the subcollection; and

performing the action on the second target, wherein the action comprises automatically modifying access permission levels for the document within the subcollection.

35. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the action specifier comprises an indication area having a mark therein.

36. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the indication area comprises a check box.

37. A system for processing a stored document, comprising:

a document index input device, for receiving a single image of a document index, the single image of the document index comprising a plurality of thumbnail representations of items, wherein each thumbnail representation is a reduced image of a respective target;

a sticker locator, coupled to the document input index device, for determining, from the image of the document index, an image of an action sticker specifying an action that is based on access permission level information included in the action sticker, a location of the image of the sticker from within the single image of the document index, and locations of the plurality of thumbnail representations of items from within the single image of the document index;

a document identifier, coupled to the sticker locator, for identifying a first target based on the location of the image of the action sticker and the location of a thumbnail representation closest to the location of the image of the action sticker on the image of the document index, for determining that the first target is a subcollection and for, identifying a second target based on the location of the action sticker, the second target being a document within the subcollection; and

a document processor, coupled to the document identifier, for performing the action on the second target, wherein the action comprises automatically modifying access permission levels for the document within the subcollection.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the document index input device comprises a scanner.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein, responsive to the first target being a document, the document processor performs the action on the first target.

40. The system of claim 37, wherein the action sticker comprises a removable self-adhesive sticker.

41. The system of claim 37, wherein:

the action sticker comprises an action point; and

the document identifier identifies the first target based on the location of the action sticker by;

determining a coordinate location for the action point;

determining a coordinate location for at least one of the item representations; and

identifying the first target by comparing the coordinate location for the action point with the coordinate location for the at least one item representation.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the document identifier identifies the second target by:

determining a coordinate location for the action point with respect to a coordinate system associated with the subcollection;

determining a coordinate location for at least one document representation within the subcollection; and

identifying the second target by comparing the coordinate location for the action point with the coordinate location for the at least one document representation within the subcollection.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the document identifier determines the coordinate location for the action point with respect to a coordinate system associated with the subcollection by:

mapping the action point to the coordinate system associated with the subcollection.

44. The system of claim 42, wherein the document index comprises a representation of the subcollection, and wherein the document identifier determines a coordinate location for the action point with respect to a coordinate system associated with the subcollection by:

determining the relative location of the action point with respect to the representation of the subcollection.

45. The system of claim 37, wherein the document index comprises a representation of the subcollection, and wherein the document identifier identifies the second target by:

determining the relative location of the action point with respect to the representation of the subcollection.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the representation of the subcollection comprises a thumbnail representation.

47. The system of claim 37, wherein the document index comprises a plurality of thumbnail depictions.

48. The system of claim 37, wherein the document index comprises a plurality of icons.

49. The system of claim 37, wherein the action comprises one selected from the group consisting of:

printing;

e-mailing;

faxing;

grouping;

reordering;

playing;

ungrouping; and

deleting.

50. A system for processing a stored document, comprising:

a document index input device, for receiving a single image of a document index, the single image of the document index comprising a plurality of thumbnail representations of items, wherein each thumbnail representation is a reduced image of a respective target;

a sticker locator, coupled to the document input index device, for determining, from the image of the document index, an image of an action sticker specifying an action that is based on access permission level information included in the action sticker, the sticker comprising an action point, a location of the image of the sticker from within the single image of the document index, and locations of the plurality of thumbnail representations of items from within the single image of the document index;

a location normalizer, coupled to the sticker locator, for normalizing the action point location with respect to the single image of the document index;

a document identifier, coupled to the sticker locator, the location normalizer, and the map, for, retrieving a map describing target locations within the image of the document index, for determining that the action point is within a target location for a subcollection, and for, responsive to the action point being within one of the target locations;

responsive to the action point being within a target location for a subcollection;

retrieving a map describing target locations within the subcollection;

mapping the action point to a coordinate system corresponding to the subcollection;

responsive to the action point being within one of the target locations for the subcollection, and responsive to the target location corresponding to a document, identifying the document as the target;

responsive to the action point not being within one of the target locations for the subcollection, identifying the subcollection as the target; and

a document processor, coupled to the document identifier, for, responsive to a target being identified, performing the action on the identified target, wherein the action comprises automatically modifying access permission levels for the identified target.

51. A system for processing a stored document, comprising:

a document index input device, receiving a single image of a document index, the single image of the document index comprising a plurality of thumbnail representations of items, wherein each thumbnail representation is a reduced image of a respective target;

a sticker locator, coupled to the document input index device, for determining, from the image of the document index, an image of an action sticker specifying an action that is based on access permission level information included in the action sticker, a location of the image of the sticker from within the single image of the document index, and locations of the plurality of thumbnail representations of items from within the single image of the document index;

a document identifier, coupled to the sticker locator, for identifying a first target based on a location of the action sticker on the image of the document index, for determining that the first target is a subcollection, and for, responsive to the first target being a subcollection;

responsive to the location of the action sticker indicating a document within the subcollection, identifying the document as a second target; and

responsive to the location of the action sticker not indicating a document within the subcollection, identifying the subcollection as a second target; and

a document processor, coupled to the document identifier, for performing the action on the second target, wherein the action comprises automatically modifying access permission levels for the second target.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the action comprises adding an item to the subcollection.

53. A system for processing a stored document, comprising:

a document index input device, for receiving a single image of a document index, the image of the document index comprises a plurality of thumbnail representations of items, wherein the thumbnail representation is a reduced image of the item and corresponds to a respective target;

a sticker locator, coupled to the document input index device, for locating, determining, from the image of the document index, an image of an action specifier specifying an action that is based on access permission level information included in the action specifier, a location of the image of the specifier from within the single image of the document index, and locations of the plurality of thumbnail representations of items from within the single image of the document index;

a document identifier, coupled to the sticker locator, for identifying a first target based on the location of the action specifier and the location of a thumbnail representation closest to the location of the image of the action sticker on the image of the document index, for determining that the first target is a subcollection, and for, responsive to the first target being a subcollection, identifying a second target based on the location of the image in the action specifier, the second target being a document within the subcollection; and

a document processor, coupled to the document identifier, for performing the action on the second target, wherein the action comprises automatically identifying access permission levels for the document within the subcollection.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the action specifier comprises an indication area having a mark therein.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein the indication area comprises a check box.