Methods and systems for imaging device document management

• US 8,125,666 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2004
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• 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: Mathieson, Rono, Schacht, Bryan K., Chrisop, Roy, Richardson, Tanna, Plewnia, Bogdan, Sojian, Lena, Lum, Joey, Stevens, Mark, Nguyen, Uoc, Yamamura, Shinichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, James A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yip, Kent
• Application Number:
  US10/961,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20060077464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,699 Days
• Field of Search: 358/400, 358/471, 358/474, 358/494, 358/496, 358/500, 358/1.13, 358/1.15, 358/1.16
• 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 comprise systems, methods and devices for providing document management through the use of an imaging device. Some aspects relate to transmission and receipt of imaging device user interface menu content from a remote computing device to an imaging device and document management functions performed on documents received through the imaging device. In some embodiments, document management functions are provided through a remote computing device in communication with an imaging device.

Claims

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

registering an imaging device (IDev) user input hardware key to a remote computing device (RCD) document management application, such that use of the hardware key instructs said RCD document management application (DMA) to send document management menu content to said IDev for display to a user, wherein said IDev comprises a device control application programming interface (API) for communication with said RCD DMA, wherein said device control API allows said RCD to control IDev functions and utilize an IDev UI for menu display and user input;

receiving a user credential at said IDev UI wherein said user credential provides access to said IDev;

authenticating said user credential from said IDev using a common user database related to said IDev and said RCD thereby creating authentication results;

providing access to said IDev when said user credential is properly authenticated,

wherein said user access comprises access to a document filing API on said IDev,

wherein said document filing API provides said RCD with functions consisting of;

import and export of document filing batch files for password-protected files;

download of files to a document filing system (DFS) with specified folder, filename, username and password;

creation, retrieval and modification of a user list for DFS access;

retrieval of storage device status including percent allocated to a main folder and custom folders;

retrieval and modification of document filing parameters including exposure, resolution, size, username, filename, folder, confidential status and special erasures;

file print initiation including designation of print parameters consisting of paper size and source, output tray, staple, punch and offset, simplex/duplex, copy quantity and file deletion after printing; and

file send initiation including designation of parameters consisting of resolution, file format, destination, timer, sender, filename, subject and message;

receiving user input at said hardware key;

sending said authentication results and an indication of said user input to said RCD DMA;

receiving IDev user interface (UI) menu content for said DMA at said IDev API, said menu content being sent from said RCD in response to said indication;

displaying said UI menu content for said RCD DMA on said IDev UI;

receiving UI input at said IDev UI in response to said displaying, wherein said UI input describes a document and indexing data related to document characteristics and document content and said UI input enables indexing said document;

receiving said document at said IDev;

automatically retrieving indexing data from said document;

composing a data package using a markup language and simple object access protocol (SOAP), wherein said data package comprises said UI input and said indexing data;

sending said data package and said document to said remote computing device (RCD) using a Web Service;

indexing said document at said RCD with said indexing data related to document characteristics and document content and said automatically-retrieved indexing data from said data package, wherein said indexing enables document search and retrieval based on said document content and said document characteristics; and

storing said document.

2. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said receiving said document is accomplished by scanning said document on said imaging device.

3. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said receiving said document is accomplished by receiving an imaging job at said imaging device.

4. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said receiving said document is accomplished by receiving a print job at said imaging device.

5. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said receiving said document is accomplished by receiving a facsimile transmission at said imaging device.

6. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said receiving said document is accomplished by receiving a file transfer at said imaging device.

7. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said sending said document is performed using Extensible Markup Language (XML).

8. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said sending said document is performed using Simple Object Access Protocol. (SOAP).

9. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said sending said document is performed using Web Services Definition Language (WSDL).

10. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said sending said document is performed using a Web Service.

11. A method for imaging device document management, said method comprising:

registering an imaging device (IDev) user input hardware key to a remote computing device (RCD) document management application (DMA), such that use of the hardware key instructs said RCD DMA to send document management menu content to said IDev for display to a user, wherein said IDev comprises a device control application programming interface (API) for communication with said RCD DMA, wherein said device control API allows said RCD to control IDev functions and utilize an IDev UI for menu display and user input;

receiving a user credential at said IDev UI wherein said user credential provides access to said IDev;

authenticating said user credential from said IDev using a common user database related to said IDev and said RCD thereby creating authentication results;

providing access to said IDev when said user credential is properly authenticated,

wherein said user access comprises access to a document filing API on said IDev,

wherein said document filing API provides said RCD with functions consisting of;

import and export of document filing batch files for password-protected files;

download of files to a document filing system (DFS) with specified folder, filename, username and password;

creation, retrieval and modification of a user list for DFS access;

retrieval of storage device status including percent allocated to a main folder and custom folders;

retrieval and modification of document filing parameters including exposure, resolution, size, username, filename, folder, confidential status and special erasures;

file print initiation including designation of print parameters consisting of paper size and source, output tray, staple, punch and offset, simplex/duplex, copy quantity and file deletion after printing; and

file send initiation including designation of parameters consisting of resolution, file format, destination, timer, sender, filename, subject and message;

receiving user input at said hardware key;

sending said authentication results and an indication of said user input to said RCD DMA;

receiving imaging device (IDev) user interface (UI) menu content for said RCD DMA at said IDev, said menu content being sent from said remote computing device (RCD), wherein said menu content comprises a prompt to solicit user input related to indexing data related to document characteristics, document content and automatically retrieved indexing data from a document that has been indexed on said RCD;

displaying said UI menu content on a UI of said IDev;

receiving user input, comprising indexing data related to document characteristics, document content and automatically retrieved indexing data from said document, at said UI of said IDev in response to said displaying;

identifying any indexed documents that are related to said indexing data related to document characteristics, document content and automatically retrieved indexing data from said document with said RCD;

sending at least one of said identified indexed documents to a destination.

12. A method for imaging device document management, said method comprising:

registering an imaging device (IDev) user input hardware key to a remote computing device (RCD) document management application (DMA), such that use of the hardware key instructs said RCD DMA to send document management menu content to said IDev for display to a user, wherein said IDev comprises a device control application programming interface (API) for communication with said RCD DMA, wherein said device control API allows said RCD to control IDev functions and utilize an IDev UI for menu display and user input;

receiving a user credential at said IDev UI wherein said user credential provides access to said IDev;

authenticating said user credential from said IDev using a common user database related to said IDev and said RCD thereby creating authentication results, wherein said authenticating is performed by a remote validation device;

providing access to said IDev when said user credential is properly authenticated,

wherein said user access comprises access to a document filing API on said IDev,

wherein said document filing API provides said RCD with functions consisting of;

import and export of document filing batch files for password-protected files;

download of files to a document filing system (DFS) with specified folder, filename, username and password;

creation, retrieval and modification of a user list for DFS access;

retrieval of storage device status including percent allocated to a main folder and custom folders;

retrieval and modification of document filing parameters including exposure, resolution, size, username, filename, folder, confidential status and special erasures;

file print initiation including designation of print parameters consisting of paper size and source, output tray, staple, punch and offset, simplex/duplex, copy quantity and file deletion after printing; and

file send initiation including designation of parameters consisting of resolution, file format, destination, timer, sender, filename, subject and message;

receiving user input at said hardware key;

sending said authentication results and an indication of said user input to said RCD DMA;

receiving imaging device (IDev) user interface (UI) menu content at said IDev, said menu content being sent from said RCD;

passing control of said IDev UI to said DMA on said RCD via said API;

displaying said UI menu content on a UI of said IDev;

when said authentication results are properly validated, providing access to document management functions through said IDev UI with said DMA on said RCD, by sending IDev UI DMA menu content from said DMA to said IDev;

receiving user input comprising document content data and indexing data related to document characteristics and document content at said IDev UI, in response to displaying said IDev UI DMA menu content at said IDev;

composing a data package, at said IDev, using a markup language and simple object access protocol (SOAP), wherein said data package comprises said user input and said indexing data;

sending said data package to said RCD;

receiving a document at said IDev;

automatically retrieving supplemental indexing data from said document;

sending said document and a supplemental data package comprising said supplemental indexing data to said RCD, wherein said supplemental data package is a markup language file in a simple object access protocol (SOAP) format;

indexing said document with said DMA on said RCD, wherein said indexing is relative to said document content data and said indexing data received at said IDev UI as well as said supplemental indexing data and wherein said indexing enables document search and retrieval based on said document data; and

storing said document.

13. An imaging device (IDev), said device comprising:

an IDev user input hardware key;

a device control application programming interface (API) for communication between said IDev and a remote computing device (RCD) document management application (DMA), wherein said device control API allows said RCD to control IDev functions and utilize an IDev UI for menu display and user input

a register for registering said IDev user input hardware key to said RCD DMA, such that use of the hardware key triggers a message from said IDev to said RCD DMA, said message instructing said DMA to send document management menu content via said device control API to said IDev for display to a user;

a user interface (UI) menu content receiver for receiving UI menu content from said RCD;

an imaging device (IDev) user interface (UI), said UI comprising a display and an input device, wherein UI menu content received from said RCD can be displayed on said UI;

a document data receiver for receiving document content data and indexing data related to document characteristics and document content through said IDev UI in response to display of said UI menu content;

a user credential receiver for receiving a user credential from said IDev UI;

a user credential sender for sending said user credential to a remote validation device, wherein said remote validation device uses a common user database for access to said IDev and said RCD;

an authentication result receiver for receiving a user credential authentication result from said remote validation device;

an authentication result sender for sending said authentication result to said RCD;

a document filing API on said IDev, wherein said document filing API provides said RCD with functions consisting of;

import and export of document filing batch files for password-protected files;

download of files to a document filing system (DFS) with specified folder, filename, username and password;

creation, retrieval and modification of a user list for DFS access;

retrieval of storage device status including percent allocated to a main folder and custom folders;

retrieval and modification of document filing parameters including exposure, resolution, size, username, filename, folder, confidential status and special erasures;

file print initiation including designation of print parameters consisting of paper size and source, output tray, staple, punch and offset, simplex/duplex, copy quantity and file deletion after printing; and

file send initiation including designation of parameters consisting of resolution, file format, destination, timer, sender, filename, subject and message;

a document receiver;

a retriever for automatically retrieving supplemental indexing data from said document;

a document data transmitter for transmitting said document content data, said indexing data and said supplemental indexing data to said RCD, wherein said document content data and said indexing data are assembled in a data package using a markup language using a simple object access protocol (SOAP) format; and

a document transmitter for transmitting said document to said RCD.

14. An imaging device (IDev), said device comprising:

an IDev user input hardware key;

a device control application programming interface (API) for communication between said IDev and a remote computing device (RCD) document management application (DMA), wherein said device control API allows said RCD to control IDev functions and utilize an IDev UI for menu display and user input

a register for registering said IDev user input hardware key to said RCD DMA, such that use of the hardware key triggers a message from said IDev to said RCD DMA, said message instructing said DMA to send document management menu content via said API to said IDev for display to a user;

a user interface (UI) menu content receiver for receiving UI menu content from a remote computing device (RCD), wherein said menu content receiver is a web service configured to receive messages formatted in a markup language and said menu content is formatted as a markup language message, and wherein said menu content comprises prompts for user input of indexing data related to document characteristics and document content;

an imaging device (IDev) user interface (UI), said UI comprising a display and an input device, wherein said UI menu content received from said RCD can be displayed on said UI display and wherein said input device receives user input defining document content data and indexing data related to document characteristics and document content in response to display of said menu content;

a user credential receiver for receiving a user credential from said IDev UI;

a user credential sender for sending said user credential to a remote validation device, wherein said remote validation device uses a common user database for shared access to said IDev and said RCD;

an authentication result receiver for receiving a user credential authentication result from said remote validation device;

an authentication result sender for sending said authentication result to said RCD;

a document filing API on said IDev, wherein said document filing API provides said RCD with control of IDev functions consisting of;

import and export of document filing batch files for password-protected files;

download of files to a document filing system (DFS) with specified folder, filename, username and password;

creation, retrieval and modification of a user list for DFS access;

retrieval of storage device status including percent allocated to a main folder and custom folders;

retrieval and modification of document filing parameters including exposure, resolution, size, username, filename, folder, confidential status and special erasures;

file print initiation including designation of print parameters consisting of paper size and source, output tray, staple, punch and offset, simplex/duplex, copy quantity and file deletion after printing; and

file send initiation including designation of parameters consisting of resolution, file format, destination, timer, sender, filename, subject and message;

a document receiver for receiving a document;

an indexing data retriever for automatically retrieving supplemental indexing data from said document;

a document storage resource for storing indexed documents; and

a document retriever for searching and retrieving indexed documents based on said document content data, said indexing data and said supplemental indexing data.

15. A remote computing device (RCD) for providing document management functions to an imaging device, said remote computing device comprising:

a registration application for registering an imaging device (IDev) user input hardware key to a RCD document management application (DMA), such that use of the hardware key instructs said RCD DMA to send document management menu content to said IDev for display to a user;

an authentication result receiver for receiving an authentication result from said IDev, wherein said authentication result relates to a common user database of users of both said IDev and said RCD;

a UI menu content transmitter for transmitting menu content to said imaging device, said menu content comprising a prompt for document content data, a prompt for a document and a prompt for indexing data related to document characteristics and document content, wherein said menu content is configured as a markup language message that will cause a device control application programming interface (API) on said imaging device to allow control of imaging device functions and allow control of an imaging device user interface (UI) such that responses to said menu content may be sent, via said device control API, to said remote computing device;

an RCD interface for communicating with a document filing API on said IDev, wherein said document filing API provides said RCD with control of IDev functions consisting of;

import and export of document filing batch files for password-protected files;

download of files to a document filing system (DFS) with specified folder, filename, username and password;

creation, retrieval and modification of a user list for DFS access;

retrieval of storage device status including percent allocated to a main folder and custom folders;

retrieval and modification of document filing parameters including exposure, resolution, size, username, filename, folder, confidential status and special erasures;

file print initiation including designation of print parameters consisting of paper size and source, output tray, staple, punch and offset, simplex/duplex, copy quantity and file deletion after printing; and

file send initiation including designation of parameters consisting of resolution, file format, destination, timer, sender, filename, subject and message;

a document data receiver for receiving document content data generated from user input, which was originally received at said imaging device in response to display of said menu content, wherein said document content data is formatted as a markup language message by said API;

a document receiver;

a document indexer, wherein said indexer provides a document index that enables automated document search and retrieval based on said document content data and said indexing data;

a document storage resource; and

a communication link for communication between said imaging device and said remote computing device.

16. An imaging system comprising:

an imaging device (IDev);

a remote computing device (RCD);

a communication link between said IDev and said RCD;

an IDev user input hardware key;

a device control application programming interface (API) for communication between said IDev and a remote computing device (RCD) document management application (DMA), wherein said device control API allows said RCD to control IDev functions and utilize an IDev UI for menu display and user input

a register for registering said IDev user input hardware key to said RCD DMA, such that use of the hardware key triggers a message from said IDev to said RCD DMA, said message instructing said DMA to send document management menu content via said device control API to said IDev for display to a user;

a document filing API on said IDev, wherein said document filing API provides said RCD with functions consisting of;

import and export of document filing batch files for password-protected files;

download of files to a document filing system (DFS) with specified folder, filename, username and password;

creation, retrieval and modification of a user list for DFS access;

retrieval of storage device status including percent allocated to a main folder and custom folders;

retrieval and modification of document filing parameters including exposure, resolution, size, username, filename, folder, confidential status and special erasures;

file print initiation including designation of print parameters consisting of paper size and source, output tray, staple, punch and offset, simplex/duplex, copy quantity and file deletion after printing; and

file send initiation including designation of parameters consisting of resolution, file format, destination, timer, sender, filename, subject and message;

a user credential receiver for receiving a user credential from said IDev UI at said RCD;

a user credential sender for sending said user credential from said IDev to a remote validation device, wherein said remote validation device uses a common user database for access to said IDev and said RCD;

an authentication result receiver for receiving a user credential authentication result from said remote validation device at said IDev;

an authentication result sender for sending said authentication result from said IDev to said RCD;

a user interface (UI) menu content transmitter for transmitting menu content to said IDev from said RCD upon receipt of said authentication result, said menu content comprising a prompt for document content data, a prompt for a document and a prompt for indexing data related to document characteristics and document content, wherein said menu content is configured as a markup language message that will cause an application programming interface (API) on said IDev to allow control of imaging device functions and allow control of an imaging device user interface (UI) such that responses to said menu content may be sent, via said API, to said RCD;

an IDev UI for displaying said menu content and for receiving user input defining document content data;

a document data receiver on said IDev;

a data package composer for composing said document data and into a data package comprising a markup language message using a simple object access protocol (SOAP) format;

a document receiver on said IDev for receiving a document;

a data package sender for sending said data package from said IDev to said RCD;

a document sender for sending said document from said IDev to said RCD;

a document indexer on said RCD, said indexer for indexing documents received over said communication link from said IDev, wherein said indexing relates a document to corresponding document content data and indexing data received over said communication link from said IDev; and

a document storage resource connected to said RCD;

wherein said IDev and said RCD communicate using a Web Service.