System and method of adding messages to a scanned image

• US 7,586,654 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2002
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Hoberock, Tim Mitchell
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Cheukfan
• Application Number:
  US10/269,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20040070614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,524 Days
• Field of Search: 358/474, 358/497, 358/494, 358/442, 358/450, 358/403, 358/404, 358/444, 358/505, 358/524, 382/305, 382/306, 382/312, 382/318, 382/319, 382/314, 382/315
• US Class Current: 358/474
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3871 the composed originals being of different kinds, e.g. low- and high-resolution originals

Abstract

A method of annotating a document on a scanner while generating an electronic representation of that document preferably includes: receiving an electronic representation of a hardcopy document from a scanner bed of the scanner, receiving material to be added to a scanned document from a user interface integrated with the scanner, and adding the material from the user interface to the electronic representation of the hardcopy document to produce an annotated electronic document.

Claims

1. A scanner for generating an electronic representation of a hardcopy document, said scanner comprising:

a scanner bed including a flat scanner with a lid;

a user interface for inputting material to be added to a scanned document, wherein said user interface comprises a touch screen disposed on said lid of the flat scanner; and

a processor for receiving an electronic representation of a hardcopy document from said scanner bed and said material to be added to a scanned document from said user interface;

wherein said processor adds said material from said user interface to said electronic representation of the hardcopy document to produce an annotated electronic document;

wherein said processor displays an image of the hardcopy document on said touch screen using said electronic representation of the hardcopy document from the scanner bed; and

wherein a user selectively adds said material at any point of said displayed image of said hardcopy document and said processor adds that material at a corresponding location within said annotated electronic document.

2. The scanner of claim 1, further comprising a connection to a printer for outputting said annotated electronic document for printing.

3. The scanner of claim 1, wherein said processor adds said material from said user interface to a designated field within said annotated electronic document.

4. The scanner of claim 1, further comprising a menu displayed on said user interface from which a user selects pre-established messages or graphics to be added to said scanned document.

5. A scanner for generating an electronic representation of a hardcopy document, said scanner comprising:

a scanner bed;

a user interface for inputting material to be added to a scanned document comprising an electronic touch-sensitive screen for displaying an image of said scanned document and accepting said user input material relative to said displayed image to be added to said scanned document; and

a processor for receiving an electronic representation of a hardcopy document from said scanner bed and said material to be added to a scanned document from said user interface; and

wherein said processor adds said material from said user interface to said electronic representation of the hardcopy document to produce an annotated electronic document.

6. The scanner of claim 5, wherein said user interface further comprises a stylus.

7. The scanner of claim 5, wherein said scanner bed is a flat scanner.

8. The scanner of claim 7, wherein said touch screen of said user interface is disposed on a lid of the flat scanner.

9. The scanner of claim 5, wherein said scanner bed is a rotary scanner.

10. The scanner of claim 5, further comprising a menu displayed on said user interface from which a user selects pre-established messages or graphics to be added to said scanned document.

11. A method of annotating a document on a scanner while generating an electronic representation of that document, said method comprising:

receiving an electronic representation of a hardcopy document from a scanner bed of said scanner;

receiving material to be added to a scanned document from a user interface integrated with said scanner;

selecting said material from a menu of pre-established messages or graphics using the user interface;

adding said material from said user interface to said electronic representation of the hardcopy document to produce an annotated electronic document;

displaying an image of the hardcopy document on a display device of said user interface;

displaying said image on a touch screen of said user interface;

entering said material to be added with a stylus at any point on the displayed image of the hardcopy document; and

adding said material to a corresponding location within said annotated electronic document.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising printing said annotated electronic document with a printer connected to said scanner.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein entering said material further comprises writing or drawings on said touch screen with a stylus.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said scanner is incorporated into a facsimile machine, said method further comprising transmitting said annotated electronic document as a facsimile.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising adding said material from said user interface to a designated field within said annotated electronic document.

16. A facsimile machine including a device for annotating a document on a scanner while generating an electronic representation of that document, said device comprising:

means for generating an electronic representation of a hardcopy document;

means for receiving material to be added to a scanned document from a user;

means for adding said material to said electronic representation of the hardcopy document to produce an annotated electronic document;

means for transmitting by facsimile said annotated electronic document;

means for printing a hardcopy of said annotated electronic document;

a single device housing for containing and supporting all of said means;

means for displaying an image of the hardcopy document while said means for receiving material to be added are being operated;

means for entering said material at any particular point on the displayed image of the hardcopy document; and

means for adding said material to a corresponding location within said annotated electronic document.

17. The machine of claim 16, said device further comprising means for printing said annotated electronic document.

18. The machine of claim 16, wherein said means for receiving material to be added to the scanned document comprise a touch screen.

19. The machine of claim 16, said device further comprising means for adding said material from said user interface to a designated field within said annotated electronic document.

20. The machine of claim 16, wherein said means for receiving material to be added to the scanned document comprise any of a display device, a keyboard, a keypad, a trackpad, a trackball, an electronic pen, and a mouse.

21. A set of computer-readable instructions stored on a medium for storing computer readable instructions, said instructions, when executed by a processor of a scanner, causing the processor to:

receive an electronic representation of a hardcopy document from a scanner bed of the scanner;

present a menu of pre-established messages or graphics using a user interface;

receive a selection from said menu indicating material to be added to a scanned document; and

add said material to said electronic representation of the hardcopy document to produce an annotated electronic document;

display an image of the hardcopy document on a display device of the user interface; and

add said material to said annotated electronic document at a location corresponding to a location on the displayed image of the hardcopy document referenced during input of said material.

22. The instructions of claim 21, further causing the processor to output said annotated electronic document to a printer connected to the scanner.

23. The instructions of claim 21, further causing the processor to transmit said annotated electronic document as a facsimile.

24. The instructions of claim 21, further causing the processor to add said material from said user interface to a designated field within said annotated electronic document.