Document management system for searching scanned documents
First Claim
1. A method in a computing system of creating a searchable collection of paper documents, wherein the paper documents are separately characterized by document characterization parameters, the method comprising:
- receiving document characterization parameters associated with a plurality of paper documents;
optically scanning the plurality of paper documents to generate a plurality of digitally-encoded images of the paper documents;
performing optical character recognition on the plurality of digitally-encoded images of the paper documents to generate searchable text corresponding to the plurality of paper documents;
associating the document characterization parameters with the plurality of digitally-encoded images of the paper documents;
storing the document characterization parameters, the plurality of digitally-encoded images, and the searchable text in association with each other as a plurality of digital documents that are organized by a relational database, wherein the plurality of digital documents may be searched by applying a search query against the searchable text or the document characterization parameters in order to identify one or more of the plurality of digitally-encoded images corresponding to paper documents responsive to the search query;
generating a graphical interface to permit a user to search for a digital document and to select a particular digital document; and
generating a graphical document summary page for the selected digital document that displays two or more of the received document characterization parameters associated with the selected digital document and allows a user to;
edit the selected digital document;
edit the received document characterization parameters associated with the selected digital document;
add one or more links to notes, wherein the notes are attached to the selected digital document, and wherein each link is displayed in conjunction with a date on which a note was created; and
identify other related digital documents that are associated with a common document characterization parameter,wherein the common document characterization parameter is one of the two or more characterization parameters displayed on the graphical document summary page for the selected digital document,wherein the user initiates the identification of the other related digital documents by selecting the displayed common document characterization parameter, and,wherein the other related digital documents are identified by utilizing the relational database.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for storing, organizing and providing remote electronic access to documents. A cover sheet including a standard set of identification data characterizing each document is developed and stored. A digital version of each document is created and stored by scanning each contract. Each digital version includes a scanned image and a searchable text file, wherein the text is overlaid with the image. An index of bookmarks identifying sections of the digital version of each document is generated. Selected fields of information are captured from the digital version of the document. The documents are organized and cross-referenced in a database that includes the captured information and additional information related to each document. Designated parties are alerted of critical dates associated with each document. Remote electronic access to the documents is provided over the internet.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method in a computing system of creating a searchable collection of paper documents, wherein the paper documents are separately characterized by document characterization parameters, the method comprising:
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receiving document characterization parameters associated with a plurality of paper documents; optically scanning the plurality of paper documents to generate a plurality of digitally-encoded images of the paper documents; performing optical character recognition on the plurality of digitally-encoded images of the paper documents to generate searchable text corresponding to the plurality of paper documents; associating the document characterization parameters with the plurality of digitally-encoded images of the paper documents; storing the document characterization parameters, the plurality of digitally-encoded images, and the searchable text in association with each other as a plurality of digital documents that are organized by a relational database, wherein the plurality of digital documents may be searched by applying a search query against the searchable text or the document characterization parameters in order to identify one or more of the plurality of digitally-encoded images corresponding to paper documents responsive to the search query; generating a graphical interface to permit a user to search for a digital document and to select a particular digital document; and generating a graphical document summary page for the selected digital document that displays two or more of the received document characterization parameters associated with the selected digital document and allows a user to; edit the selected digital document; edit the received document characterization parameters associated with the selected digital document; add one or more links to notes, wherein the notes are attached to the selected digital document, and wherein each link is displayed in conjunction with a date on which a note was created; and identify other related digital documents that are associated with a common document characterization parameter, wherein the common document characterization parameter is one of the two or more characterization parameters displayed on the graphical document summary page for the selected digital document, wherein the user initiates the identification of the other related digital documents by selecting the displayed common document characterization parameter, and, wherein the other related digital documents are identified by utilizing the relational database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 33)
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15. A system for creating a searchable collection of paper documents, wherein the paper documents are separately characterized by document characterization parameters, the system comprising:
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a receiver for receiving document characterization parameters associated with a plurality of paper documents and a plurality of digitally-encoded images of the plurality of paper documents; an optical character recognition (OCR) component for performing OCR on the received plurality of digitally-encoded images to generate searchable text corresponding to the plurality of paper documents; a storage component for storing the received document characterization parameters, the received plurality of digitally-encoded images, and the generated searchable text in association with each other as a plurality of digital documents that are organized by a relational database; a search component for receiving a search query and applying the search query against the stored searchable text or the stored document characterization parameters in order to identify one or more of the plurality of digitally-encoded images corresponding to paper documents responsive to the search query; and a graphical interface component for; generating a graphical interface to permit a user to search for a digital document and to select a particular digital document; and edit the selected digital document; edit the received document characterization parameters associated with the selected digital document; add one or more links to notes, wherein the notes are attached to the selected digital document, and wherein each link is displayed in conjunction with a date on which a note was created; and identify other related digital documents that are associated with a common document characterization parameter, wherein the common document characterization parameter is one of two or more displayed characterization parameters that are associated with the selected digital document, wherein the user initiates the identification of the other related digital documents by selecting the displayed common document characterization parameter, and, wherein the other related digital documents are idnetified by utilizing the relational database. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 34)
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29. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for execution on a computer to create a searchable collection of paper documents, wherein the paper documents are separately characterized by document characterization parameters, by:
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receiving document characterization parameters associated with a plurality of paper documents; optically scanning the plurality of paper documents to generate a plurality of digitally-encoded images of the paper documents; performing optical character recognition on the plurality of digitally-encoded images of the paper documents to generate searchable text corresponding to the plurality of paper documents; associating the document characterization parameters with the plurality of digitally-encoded images of the paper documents; storing the document characterization parameters, the plurality of digitally-encoded images, and the searchable text in association with each other as a plurality of digital documents that are organized by a relational database, wherein the plurality of digital documents may be searched by applying a search query against the searchable text or the document characterization parameters in order to identify one or more of the plurality of digitally-encoded images corresponding to paper documents responsive to the search query; generating a graphical interface to permit a user to search for a digital document and to select a particular digital document; and generating a graphical document summary page for the selected digital document that displays two or more of the received document characterization parameters associated with the selected digital document and allows a user to; edit the selected digital document; edit the received document characterization parameters associated with the selected digital document; add one or more links to notes, wherein the notes are attached to the selected digital document, and wherein each link is displayed in conjunction with a date on which a note was created; and identify other related digital documents that are associated with a common document characterization parameter, wherein the common document characterization parameter is one of the two or more characterization parameters displayed on the graphical document summary page for the selected digital document, wherein the user initiates the identification of the other related digital documents by selecting the displayed common document characterization parameter, and, wherein the other related digital documents are identified by utilizing the relational database. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 35)
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Specification