Network scanner for global document creation, transmission and management
First Claim
1. A method for use in a network scanner device, wherein the network scanner device comprises a user interface, a scanning surface, an image digitizing subsystem, a processor and a network interface, the method comprising:
- accepting via the user interface a set of authentication data to identify a particular user who is using the network scanner;
receiving, via the user interface, from the particular user an indication of an application layer address associated with a remote computer reachable through a path across the global Internet, wherein the destination of the path is defined by the application layer address;
scanning, via the scanning surface and using the image digitizing subsystem, one or more sheets of paper to create an image file;
the processor applying a digital signature authentication algorithm to the image file to generate an authenticated image file that includes a digital signature, wherein the digital signature positively identifies the particular user as being associated with the authenticated image file; and
transmitting via the network interface the authenticated image file to the remote computer via the path across the global Internet;
wherein the authenticated image file enables the remote computer to verify that the particular user is associated with the authenticated image file.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A network scanner, communication protocols, and client and server programs and are provided which provide an improved way to transmit legally binding documents, obviating the need for outmoded, legacy fax transmissions. Using the network scanner, a document may be scanned and transferred directly into any shared folder inbox residing on any computer attached to the Internet. Enhanced server systems and network communications and messaging protocols are provided that are more practical to use than email for sending documents such as executed legal documents or other documents requiring robust integrity and authenticatability. Similarly, the inventive network scanner, server systems and communication protocols provide improved ways to perform large file transfers and to manage bandwidth to minimize problems associated with uploading/downloading large files as attachments to/from email servers and for enabling user control over VoIP quality during file transmission sessions.
98 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method for use in a network scanner device, wherein the network scanner device comprises a user interface, a scanning surface, an image digitizing subsystem, a processor and a network interface, the method comprising:
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accepting via the user interface a set of authentication data to identify a particular user who is using the network scanner; receiving, via the user interface, from the particular user an indication of an application layer address associated with a remote computer reachable through a path across the global Internet, wherein the destination of the path is defined by the application layer address; scanning, via the scanning surface and using the image digitizing subsystem, one or more sheets of paper to create an image file; the processor applying a digital signature authentication algorithm to the image file to generate an authenticated image file that includes a digital signature, wherein the digital signature positively identifies the particular user as being associated with the authenticated image file; and transmitting via the network interface the authenticated image file to the remote computer via the path across the global Internet; wherein the authenticated image file enables the remote computer to verify that the particular user is associated with the authenticated image file. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for use in a network scanner device, wherein the network scanner device comprises a user interface, a scanning surface, an image digitizing subsystem, a processor and a network interface, the method, comprising:
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accepting via the user interface a set of authentication data to identify a particular user who is using the network scanner; receiving via the user interface from the particular user an application layer address associated with a remote computer reachable through a path across the global Internet, wherein a destination of the path is defined by the application layer address; scanning, via the scanning surface and using the image digitizing subsystem, one or more sheets of paper to create an image file; interacting via the network interface with a remote SIP server to establish a packet data call comprising a point-to-point packet path through the global Internet to the remote computer whose Internet address is derived from the application layer address associated with the remote computer; and transmitting via the network interface the image file to the remote computer via the established packet data call. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A network scanner comprising:
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an optical document scanning arrangement including a scanning surface and a document conveyor which conveys each page of a set of one or more pages to be scanned over the scanning surface; an image digitizing subsystem operative to produce a scanned image file from set of one or more pages passed over the scanning surface; a computerized subsystem including a processor, a memory, and software stored in the memory; a GUI; and a network interface for communicating across a computer network, wherein the software is operative to implement the GUI which is operative to allow a user to specify a destination application layer address to which to send the scanned image file via the network interface, and the software is operative to control the computerized subsystem to apply a cryptographic algorithm to the scanned image file to create a cryptographically altered image file that positively associates the scanned image file with the user, and to transmit the cryptographically altered image file to a destination device associated with the destination application layer address. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for use in a network scanner device, wherein the network scanner device comprises a user interface, a scanning surface, an image digitizing subsystem, a processor and a network interface, the method, comprising:
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accepting via the user interface a set of authentication data to identify a particular user who is using the network scanner; presenting via the user interface a unified messaging GUI including at least one inbox and at least one outbox; providing via the user interface at least two data communications options, accessible via the GUI, including email messaging and file transfer options; receiving via the user interface an input from the particular user indicative of a static application layer address associated with the file transfer option; scanning, via the scanning surface and using the image digitizing subsystem, one or more sheets of paper to create an image file; connecting via the network interface to a remote computer associated with the static application layer address via a communications path through the global Internet, to initiate a file transfer session with the remote computer; and transmitting via the network interface the image file to the remote computer via the file transfer session. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. A method for use in a network scanner, wherein the network scanner device comprises a user interface, a scanning surface, an image digitizing subsystem, a processor and a network interface, the method, comprising:
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accepting via the user interface a set of authentication data to identify a particular user who is using the network scanner; presenting via the user interface a GUI enabling a user to initiate a file transfer session; receiving from a user via the user interface an indication of a static application layer address associated with a remote computer system; interacting via the network interface with a remote control server across the global Internet to obtain remote access to the remote computer system; scanning via the scanning surface and using the image digitizing subsystem one or more sheets of paper to create an image file; and transmitting via the network interface the image file to the remote computer system via the remote control server. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification