Methods and systems for imaging device remote form management

• US 8,035,831 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2004
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• 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: Yamamura, Shinichi, Sojian, Lena, Chrisop, Roy, Nguyen, Uoc, Stevens, Mark, Richardson, Tanna, Plewnia, Bogdan, Lum, Joey, Schacht, Bryan K., Mathieson, Rono
• Primary Examiner(s): Haskins; Twyler
• Assistant Examiner(s): RODRIGUEZ, LENNIN R
• Application Number:
  US10/961,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20060077422A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,559 Days
• Field of Search: 719/328, 358 11- 19, 358 111- 118, 340/988, 709/230, 709/219, 709/229, 715/211
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• 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 1/0035 User-machine interface; Control console input or output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention relate to management and modification of documents stored on a remote computing device via a user interface on a local imaging device. Some aspects relate to the use of user input at an imaging device to modify document content. User input at the imaging device may include identification of a user characteristic and selection of a document stored on the remote computing device. After modification, the document may be sent to the imaging device or another destination.

Claims

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

receiving menu content at an imaging device (IDev) from a remote computing device (RCD), wherein said menu content comprises a prompt for obtaining user input data comprising document modification instructions and document content from a user at said IDev, wherein said menu content is in the form of a markup language message using a simple object access protocol (SOAP), wherein said IDev comprises a device management application programming interface (API) that allows said RCD to obtain an IDev device status report, obtain IDev device configuration data, configure IDev embedded web pages, configure IDev hardware and software keys, retrieve an IDev job queue and history data, retrieve IDev process click counts by function and account code, initiate IDev data clear functions and initiate a reboot of the IDev;

displaying said menu content at an IDev user interface (IDev UI) on said IDev;

receiving user input data on said IDev UI, wherein said user input data comprises modification instructions for an automated modification application residing solely on a remote computing device (RCD) and said user input data also comprises document content;

sending said user input data to said RCD;

automatically modifying a document stored on said RCD with said automated modification application according to said document modification instructions, thereby creating a modified document comprising said document content, wherein said automatically modifying is performed solely by executing code on said RCD and without executing code on said IDev; and

sending said modified document from said RCD to a destination.

2. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said destination is said IDev.

3. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said destination is a device other than said IDev.

4. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said imaging device has no significant memory for on-board applications.

5. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said sending said user input data is at least partially achieved by transport of data commands with a markup language.

6. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said sending said user input data is at least partially achieved by transport of data commands with an object access protocol.

7. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said sending said user input data is at least partially achieved by transport of data commands with a markup language and an object access protocol.

8. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said sending said user input data is at least partially achieved by transport of data commands with a language selected from the set consisting of HTML, XML, WML and XHTML.

9. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said sending said user input data is at least partially achieved by transport of data commands with SOAP.

10. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said sending said user input data is at least partially achieved by transport of data commands with XML and SOAP.

11. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said sending said user input data is at least partially achieved by exposing imaging device function and data interfaces defined by Web Services Definition Language (WSDL).

12. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said sending said user input data is at least partially achieved by exposing imaging device function and data interfaces using Web Services.

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

receiving menu content at an imaging device (IDev) from a remote computing device (RCD), wherein said menu content comprises a prompt for obtaining user input data comprising document modification instructions and a user characteristic from a user at said IDev, wherein said menu content is in the form of a markup language message using a simple object access protocol (SOAP), wherein said IDev comprises a device management application programming interface (API) that allows said RCD to obtain an IDev device status report, obtain IDev device configuration data, configure IDev embedded web pages, configure IDev hardware and software keys, retrieve an IDev job queue and history data, retrieve IDev process click counts by function and account code, initiate IDev data clear functions and initiate a reboot of the IDev;

displaying said menu content at an IDev user interface (IDev UI) on said IDev;

receiving a user characteristic and a document modification instruction at said IDev UI in response to said displaying;

sending said user characteristic and said document modification instruction to said RCD;

automatically modifying document content of a document on said RCD, using an automated application residing solely on said RCD, in response to receiving said user characteristic and said document modification instruction at said RCD, thereby creating a modified document, wherein said automated application is performed solely by executing code on said RCD and without executing code on said IDev; and

sending said modified document to said IDev;

sending said modified document from said IDev to a destination using an IDev image send API, wherein said sending is performed with an initiate send procedure defining send parameters consisting of resolution, file format, destination, time, sender, filename, subject and a message.

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

receiving menu content at an imaging device (IDev) from a remote computing device (RCD), wherein said menu content comprises a prompt for obtaining user input data comprising user characteristic data, document modification instructions and document content from a user at said IDev, wherein said menu content is in the form of a markup language message using a simple object access protocol (SOAP), wherein said IDev comprises a device management application programming interface (API) that allows said RCD to obtain an IDev device status report, obtain IDev device configuration data, configure IDev embedded web pages, configure IDev hardware and software keys, retrieve an IDev job queue and history data, retrieve IDev process click counts by function and account code, initiate IDev data clear functions and initiate a reboot of the IDev;

displaying said menu content at an IDev user interface (IDev UI) on said IDev;

receiving, at said IDev UI in response to said displaying, an identification of a user characteristic, thereby creating user characteristic data;

receiving, at said IDev UI, a selection of a document stored on said RCD, a document modification instruction and document content, thereby creating document data;

sending said user characteristic data and said document data to said RCD;

automatically retrieving and modifying said document selected at said IDev UI according to said document modification instruction using said document content and said user characteristic data on said RCD, with an automated application residing solely on said RCD, wherein said automated application is performed solely by executing code on said RCD and without executing code on said IDev; and

sending said modified document to a destination.

15. A method as described in claim 14 further wherein said sending comprises sending said modified document to said IDev and sending said modified document from said IDev to another destination using an IDev image send API, wherein said sending is performed with an initiate send procedure defining send parameters consisting of resolution file format destination time sender filename subject and a message.

16. A method as described in claim 14 wherein said destination is specified in said user characteristic data.

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

receiving menu content at an imaging device (IDev) from a remote computing device (RCD), wherein said menu content comprises a prompt for obtaining user input data comprising document modification instructions and document content from a user at said IDev, wherein said menu content is in the form of a markup language message using a simple object access protocol (SOAP), wherein said IDev comprises a device management application programming interface (API) that allows said RCD to obtain an IDev device status report, obtain IDev device configuration data, configure IDev embedded web pages, configure IDev hardware and software keys, retrieve an IDev job queue and history data, retrieve IDev process click counts by function and account code, initiate IDev data clear functions and initiate a reboot of the IDev;

displaying said menu content at an IDev user interface (IDev UI) on said IDev;

receiving a selection of a document stored on a remote computing device (RCD) and a selection of a user characteristic from said IDev UI, thereby creating document selection and user characteristic data;

sending said document selection and user characteristic data to said RCD;

sending a user data query from said RCD to said IDev wherein said data query is based on said document selection and said data query comprises data query menu content comprising a prompt for obtaining user input data related to said document selection from a user at said IDev, wherein said menu content is in the form of a markup language message using a simple object access protocol (SOAP);

accepting a user data query response on said IDev UI;

sending said user data query response to said RCD;

automatically modifying document content of said document with an automated application residing solely on said RCD in response to receiving said user data query response at said RCD, thereby creating a modified document, wherein said automated application is performed solely by executing code on said RCD and without executing code on said IDev; and

sending said modified document to a said IDev;

sending said modified document form said IDev to a destination using an IDev image send API, wherein said sending is performed with an initiate send procedure defining send parameters consisting of resolution, file format, destination, time, sender, filename, subject and a message.

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

receiving a form and form menu content at an imaging device (IDev) from a remote computing device (RCD), wherein said form menu content comprises a prompt for obtaining user input data related to said form from a user at said IDev, wherein said menu content is in the form of a markup language message using a simple object access protocol (SOAP), wherein said IDev comprises a device management application programming interface API that allows said RCD to obtain an IDev device status report, obtain IDev device configuration data, configure retrieve an IDev job queue and history data, retrieve IDev process click counts by function and account code, initiate IDev data clear functions and initiate a reboot of the IDev;

displaying said form and said form menu content at an IDev user interface (IDev UI) on said IDev;

accepting user input data on said IDev user interface in response to said displaying;

sending said user input data to said RCD; and

automatically modifying form content of said form on said RCD with an application residing solely on said RCD, in response to receiving said user input data at said RCD, wherein said automatically modifying is performed solely by executing code on said RCD and without executing code on said IDev, wherein said modifying results in a modified form;

sending said modified form to said IDev; and

sending said modified form from said IDev to a destination using an IDev image send API, wherein said sending is performed with an initiate send procedure defining send parameters consisting of resolution, file format, destination, time, sender, filename, subject and a message.

19. An imaging system comprising:

a) an imaging device (IDev), said IDev comprising;

i. a user interface on said imaging device;

(1) said user interface comprising a display;

(2) said user interface further comprising an input device;

(3) a receiver for receiving menu content, wherein said menu content comprises a prompt for obtaining user input data comprising document modification instructions and document content from a user at said IDev, wherein said menu content is in the form of a markup language message using a simple object access protocol (SOAP);

ii. a device management application programming interface (API) that allows said RCD to obtain an IDev device status report, obtain IDev device configuration data, configure IDev embedded web pages, configure IDev hardware and software keys, retrieve an IDev job queue and history data, retrieve IDev process click counts by function and account code, initiate IDev data clear functions and initiate a reboot of the IDev; and

iii. an IDev image send API comprising an initiate send procedure defining send parameters consisting of resolution, file format, destination, time, sender, filename, subject and a message;

b) a remote computing device (RCD);

i. said RCD comprising;

(1) an application that resides solely on said RCD and can be automatically executed with code that resides solely on said RCD in response to receiving data from said IDev, wherein said application modifies a document stored on said RCD according to document modification instructions received from said IDev and wherein said application adds document content received from said IDev to said document;

(2) a sender for sending menu content to said IDev, wherein said menu content comprises a prompt for obtaining user input data comprising document modification instructions and document content from a user at said IDev, wherein said menu content is in the form of a markup language message using a simple object access protocol (SOAP);

c) a network connecting said IDev to said RCD; and

d) wherein data entered on said user interface on said IDev may be transmitted to said RCD such that said application located solely on said RCD may use data entered on said IDev user interface to modify document content of said document.

20. An imaging device with remote document access, said imaging device comprising:

a) a display device;

b) a user input device;

c) an imaging function;

d) a connection on said imaging device to allow communication with a remote computing device (RCD);

e) a sender for sending user data received from said user input device to a said RCD;

f) a receiver for receiving a document that has been automatically modified by said RCD in response to receiving said user data, wherein said automatically modified is performed solely by executing code on said RCD and without executing code on said IDev, said receiver also for receiving menu content at said imaging device from said RCD, wherein said menu content comprises a prompt for obtaining user input data comprising document modification instructions and document content from a user at said IDev and wherein said menu content is in the form of a markup language message using a simple object access protocol (SOAP)

g) a device management application programming interface (API) that allows said RCD to obtain an IDev device status report, obtain IDev device configuration data, configure IDev embedded web pages, configure IDev hardware and software keys, retrieve an IDev job queue and history data, retrieve IDev process click counts by function and account code, initiate IDev data clear functions and initiate a reboot of the IDev; and

h) an IDev image send API comprising an initiate send procedure defining send parameters consisting of resolution file format destination time sender filename subject and a message.

21. A remote computing device for interacting with an imaging device, said remote computing device (RCD) comprising:

a) a document;

b) an application located solely on said RCD configured to execute upon receipt of input from an imaging device wherein said application, upon execution, modifies a portion of content of said document with said input, wherein said modifies is performed solely by executing code on said RCD and without executing code on said IDev;

c) a connection on said remote computing device to allow communication with said imaging device;

d) a sender for sending menu content to said imaging device wherein said menu content comprises a prompt for obtaining user input data comprising document modification instructions and document content from a user at said imaging device, wherein said menu content is in the form of a markup language message using a simple object access protocol (SOAP);

e) a receiver for receiving said document modification instructions and document content from said imaging device;

f) a command sender for sending command messages to a device management application programming interface (API) that allows said RCD to obtain an IDev device status report, obtain IDev device configuration data, configure IDev embedded web pages, configure IDev hardware and software keys, retrieve an IDev job queue and history data, retrieve IDev process click counts by function and account code, initiate IDev data clear functions and initiate a reboot of the IDev;

g) said command sender also for sending command messages to an IDev image send API allowing said RCD to operate an initiate send procedure defining send parameters consisting of resolution, file format, destination, time, sender, filename, subject and a message.

22. A tangible computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions for modifying a document on a remote computing device (RCD) with input received from a user input device on an imaging device, said instructions comprising:

sending menu content to said imaging device (IDev) from said RCD, wherein said menu content comprises a prompt for obtaining user input data comprising document modification instructions and document content from a user at said IDev, wherein said menu content is in the form of a markup language message using a simple object access protocol (SOAP), wherein said IDev comprises a device management application programming interface API that allows said RCD to obtain an IDev device status report, obtain IDev device configuration data, configure IDev embedded web pages configure IDev hardware and software keys, retrieve an IDev job queue and history data, retrieve IDev process click counts by function and account code, initiate IDev data clear functions and initiate a reboot of the IDev;

receiving user input at said RCD, wherein said user input has been received from a user input device on said IDev in response to displaying said menu content and said user input has been sent to said RCD; and

automatically modifying said document according to said document modification instructions with said document content in response to receiving said user input, wherein said automatically modifying is performed solely by executing code on said RCD and without executing code on said IDev.

23. An imaging device with remote document processing capability, said imaging device comprising:

a receiver for receiving menu content at said imaging device (IDev) from a remote computing device (RCD), wherein said menu content comprises a prompt for obtaining user input data comprising document selection, document modification instructions and document content from a user at said IDev, wherein said menu content is in the form of a markup language message using a simple object access protocol (SOAP);

a display for displaying said menu content to a user;

a user input device for obtaining user input data comprising document selection, document modification instructions and document content from a user at said IDev;

a sender for sending said user input data to said RCD;

said receiver also for receiving said document that has been automatically modified by said RCD by executing code on said RCD and without executing code on said IDev, wherein said automatic modification is performed on a document identified in said document selection using said document content according to said document modification instructions;

an imaging function;

a device management application programming interface (API) that allows said RCD to obtain an IDev device status report, obtain IDev device configuration data, configure IDev embedded web pages, configure IDev hardware and software keys, retrieve an IDev job queue and history data, retrieve IDev process click counts by function and account code, initiate IDev data clear functions and initiate a reboot of the IDev; and

an IDev image send API comprising an initiate send procedure defining send parameters consisting of resolution file format destination time, sender, filename, subject and a message.