Methods and systems for imaging device form field management

• US 7,941,743 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2006
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Reddy, Amarender Reddy Kethi, Yamamura, Shinichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hutton; Doug
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith; Benjamin J
• Application Number:
  US11/465,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20080046806A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,726 Days
• Field of Search: 715221-226, 715764-765
• US Class Current: 715/221
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/502 relating to the structure of the control menu, e.g. pop-up menus, help screens
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5087 for receiving image data
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5091 for user-identification or authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00109 Remote control of apparatus, e.g. by a host
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/41 where a single sign-on provides access to a plurality of computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/84 output devices, e.g. displays or monitors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/005 only locally
• 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 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00352 Input means H04N1/00411 takes precedence; input arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00384 Key input means, e.g. buttons or keypads electromechanical details of key input means in general H01H13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00389 Programmable function keys, e.g. for one-touch operation H04N1/00387 takes precedence; for automation of transmitter jobs H04N1/32058
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00464 using browsers, i.e. interfaces based on mark-up languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00498 Multi-lingual facilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00503 Customising to a particular machine or model, machine function or application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00973 from a remote device, e.g. receiving via the internet instructions input to a computer terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32117 : in a separate transmission or protocol signal prior to or subsequent to the image data transmission, e.g. in digital identification signal [DIS], in non standard setup [NSS] or in non standard field [NSF] for mode signalling H04N1/333
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32561 : using a programmed control device, e.g. a microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 : Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0013 : Arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 : Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 : By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0074 : Arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0075 : by a user operated remote control device, e.g. receiving instructions from a user via a computer terminal or mobile telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 : Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3221 : of a job number or identification, e.g. communication number
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 : of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 : Transmission

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention relate to systems, methods and devices for modifying and managing form documents with an application that receives input from an imaging device user interface and from other sources. Some aspects relate to a input field definition file that is transmitted to the imaging device and which comprises display parameters and UI options for prompting a user for field input and as well as instructions for obtaining field data from other sources.

Claims

1. A method for imaging device remote document modification, said method comprising:

receiving form file menu content and imaging device (IDev) device instructions at a hardware IDev via an IDev device management application programming interface (API), wherein said form file menu content and said IDev device instructions are received from a remote application;

displaying said form file menu content on an IDev user interface (UI) display, wherein said IDev UI display in an integral part of said IDev;

associating an IDev UI input key on said IDev with said form file menu content;

receiving a user input selection from said UI input key, said user input selection identifying a form file request related to said form file menu content;

sending said form file request from said IDev device management API to said remote application;

receiving display content at said IDev device management API from said remote application, said display content comprising a list of available forms;

displaying said list of available forms on said IDev user interface (UI) display;

associating a second IDev UI input key on said IDev UI with a form identified in said list of available forms;

receiving a second user input selection from said second UI input key, said second user input selection identifying said form identified in said list of available forms;

sending said second user input selection from said IDev device management API to said remote application;

receiving an input field definition file (IFDF) associated with said form identified by said second user input selection at said IDev device management API, wherein said IFDF is a markup language file that comprises display parameters, field input menu content for fields in said form and UI options for prompting a user for field input and said IFDF also comprises instructions for obtaining field data from other sources;

prompting a user for field data user input at said IDev UI, said field data user input comprising field data, wherein said prompting comprises using a display prompt configured with said IFDF, and wherein said prompting is effected by said IDev device management API;

obtaining a field data entry in response to said display prompt at said IDev UI;

sending said field data entry in response to said display prompt from said IDev device management API to said remote application;

receiving, at said IDev, a completed form, wherein said completed form is generated, at said remote application, by appending said field data entry to a form file representing said form selection thereby creating said completed form; and

outputting said completed form as hard copy output at said IDev.

2. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising requesting file data from a remote resource where form files are stored using source data in said IFDF.

3. A method as described in claim 1, wherein said display content is formatted in a markup language.

4. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising sending a user identification to said remote application from said IDev for the purpose of filtering said list of available forms based on said user identification.

5. A method as described in claim 1, wherein said form file is a printer-ready file and said field data entry is appended as a markup language tag.

6. A system for imaging device remote document modification, said system comprising:

a hardware imaging device (IDev) comprising an IDev device management application programming interface (API) for receiving form file menu content and IDev device instructions from remote applications, wherein said form file menu content and said IDev device instructions are received from a remote application;

an IDev user interface (UI) comprising a UI display for displaying said form file menu content, wherein said IDev UI display in an integral part of said IDev;

a first IDev UI input key on an IDev UI,

a first input key configurator for associating said first IDev UI input key with said form file menu content such that a user input selection using said UI input key identifies a form file request related to said form file menu content;

a first sender for sending said form file request from said IDev device management API to said remote application;

wherein said IDev device management API receives display content from said remote application in response to said sending, said display content comprising a list of available forms;

said IDev UI display for displaying said list of available forms;

a second IDev UI input key on said IDev UI;

a second IDev UI input key configurator for associating said second IDev UI input key with a form identified in said list of available forms such that a second user input selection from said second IDev UI input key identifies said form identified in said list of available forms;

a second sender for sending said second user input selection from said IDev device management API to said remote application;

wherein said IDev device management API receives an input field definition file (IFDF) associated with said form identified by said second user input selection in response to said sending with said second sender, wherein said IFDF is a markup language file that comprises display parameters, field input menu content for fields in said form and UI options for prompting a user for field input and said IFDF also comprises instructions for obtaining field data from other sources;

said IDev device management API and said IDev UI display for prompting a user for field data user input, said field data user input comprising field data, wherein said prompting comprises using a display prompt configured with said IFDF;

said IDev UI for obtaining a field data entry in response to said display prompt;

said IDev device management API for sending said field data entry to said remote application;

said IDev device management API for receiving a completed form, wherein said completed form is generated, at said remote application, by appending said field data entry to a form file representing said form selection thereby creating said completed form; and

a hard copy output device for outputting said completed form as hard copy output at said IDev.

7. A system as described in claim 6 wherein said IDev device management API requests file data from a remote resource where form files are stored using source data in said IFDF.

8. A system as described in claim 6, wherein said display content is formatted in a markup language.

9. A system as described in claim 6 wherein said IDev device management API sends a user identification to said remote application for the purpose of filtering said list of available forms based on said user identification.

10. A system as described in claim 6, wherein said form file is a printer-ready file and said field data entry is appended as a markup language tag.