Information gathering system and method

• US 20060061806A1
• Filed: 04/01/2005
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Exbiblio BV
• Inventors: Kushler, Clifford A., Stafford-Fraser, James Q., King, Martin T., Grover, Dale L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,606,741 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/316 Indexing structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/332 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/41 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/433 using audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/434 using image data, e.g. images, photos, pictures taken by a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/435 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/00 Pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/117 Tagging; Marking up details of markup languages G06F40/143; Designating a block; Setting of attributes style sheets, e.g. eXtensible Stylesheet Language Transformation [XSLT], G06F40/154
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/14 Tree-structured documents parsing G06F40/205; validation G06F40/226
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/169 Annotation, e.g. comment data or footnotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0016 : Selecting or retrieving of images by means of their associated code-marks, e.g. coded microfilm or microfiche microfilm reading G03B21/11; computers therefor G06F16/00; teaching devices G09B5/02; accessing record carriers G11B27/002; static digital stores using optical elements G11C13/04; intermediate storage of facsimile picture signals H04N1/21
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 : Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 : Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 : Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 : specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4012 : Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 : Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 : Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 : Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 : Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 : Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 : Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 : Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 : Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 : Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 : Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 : Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 : Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 : Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/10 : Character recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/142 : using hand-held instruments; Constructional details of the instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1444 : Selective acquisition, locating or processing of specific regions, e.g. highlighted text, fiducial marks or predetermined fields
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1448 : based on markings or identifiers characterising the document or the area
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/248 : involving plural approaches, e.g. verification by template match; Resolving confusion among similar patterns, e.g. "O" versus "Q" G06V30/242 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/262 : using context analysis, e.g. lexical, syntactic or semantic context
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/40 : Document-oriented image-based pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/40 : for devices for accepting orders, advertisements, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/00 : Cash registers alarm indicators G07G3/00
• 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 1/00326 : with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0036 : Alphanumeric symbols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00363 : Bar codes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00374 : on the same page as at least a part of the image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00381 : Input by recognition or interpretation of visible user gestures manual input means, e.g. digitisers, writing tablets H04N1/00392; gesture input to computers G06F3/017; recognition algorithms G06V40/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/107 : with manual scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2166 : for mass storage, e.g. in document filing systems information retrieval G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2187 : with image input from a plurality of different locations or from a non-central location, e.g. from one or more users
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 : attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/34 : for coin-freed systems ; Pay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 : Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3215 : of a time or duration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3249 : data relating to a linked page or object, e.g. hyperlink
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3253 : Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3263 : of a graphical motif or symbol, e.g. Christmas symbol, logo H04N2201/3211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3266 : of text or character information, e.g. text accompanying an image H04N2201/3226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3277 : The additional information being stored in the same storage device as the image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 : Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 : Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 : Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 : Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 : Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 : Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 : Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A system, apparatus and method for filling forms, including using a graphical capture device, are described herein.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of providing field data related to an electronic instance of a form, the method comprising:

graphically capturing a form identifier corresponding to the form from a representation of the form;

processing said form identifier to identify at least one form field;

obtaining field data corresponding to at least one of said at least one form field; and

generating a representation of said field data for communication to a recipient.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising depicting a representation of the form in conjunction with said field data.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising authorizing said field data for communication to said recipient.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein graphically capturing comprises scanning said representation of said form identifier.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein graphically capturing comprises capturing an image of said representation of said form identifier with a camera.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the form comprises a signature field.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising graphically capturing an image of a signature in said signature field.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said signature field comprises a machine a readable component.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said form identifier comprises a plurality of characters.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said form identifier comprises a computer readable representation of form identifier.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said form identifier comprises an identifying symbol.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a representation of said field data comprises printing said field data.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a representation of said field data comprising generating an electronic message.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said electronic message is a facsimile message.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said electronic message is communicated over a network.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said electronic message is an electronic mail message.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said electronic message is a hypertext form submission.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a representation of said field data comprising generating a rendered form.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said rendered form is a printed paper form.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said rendered form is a postal mailable form.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein processing is asynchronously related to obtaining a form identifier.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining field data is asynchronously related to processing said form identifier.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting one of a plurality of forms corresponding to said form identifier.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein selecting comprises processing an explicit selection.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein selecting comprises processing a disambiguating selection.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein processing a disambiguating selection comprises examining a user context.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising depicting said forms in a ranked order.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said forms are ranked according to a user context.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein said form fields correspond to form field symbols.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein at least one of said form field symbols corresponds to a payment provider.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein at least one of said form field symbols incorporates supplemental information.

32. The methods of claim 1, further comprising obtaining and authenticating form filler information.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said form filler information comprises a persona.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said persona is associated with a set of field data.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said persona is associated with an additional form field in the form.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein said field data comprises one or more classes of field data.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein obtaining and authenticating form filler information permits the release of one or more classes of field data.

38. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating the form to a recipient.

39. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating the form to a form remailer.

40. The method of claim 1, wherein said the form identifier comprises information specific to at least one form.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said information comprises information selected from one or more of:

form origin, form publisher, form filler, form version, form date, form processor, form medium and checksum information.

42. The method of claim 1, further comprising logging a representation of the form and said field data.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein logging comprises communicating the form and said field data to a remote device.

44. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing said field data for approval.

45. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting at least one form field to obtain field data corresponding to said at least one form field.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein selecting comprises graphically capturing said selected at least one form field.

47. The method of claim 1, wherein the form is a catalog.

48. The method of claim 47, further comprising processing a selection of an item from said catalog.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising depicting a tally comprising said selected item.

50. A computer readable medium containing computer executable instructions for performing the method of any of claims 149.

51. A computing apparatus having a processor and a memory containing computer executable instructions, which when executed for perform the method of any of claims 149.

52. A computer implemented method of providing field data related to an electronic instance of a form, the method comprising:

entering, via a user interface, a representation of a form identifier corresponding to the form from a representation of the form;

processing said form identifier to identify at least one form field;

obtaining field data corresponding to at least one of said at least one form field; and

generating a representation of said field data for communication to a recipient.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising depicting a representation of the form in conjunction with said field data.

54. The method of claim 52, further comprising authorizing said field data for communication to said recipient.

55. The method of claim 52, wherein said user interface is a computer interface.

56. The method of claim 52, wherein said user interface is a telephone interface.

57. The method of claim 52, wherein said form identifier comprises a plurality of characters.

58. The method of claim 52, wherein generating a representation of said field data comprises printing said field data.

59. The method of claim 52, wherein generating a representation of said field data comprising generating an electronic message.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein said electronic message is a facsimile message.

61. The method of claim 59, wherein said electronic message is communicated over a network.

62. The method of claim 59, wherein said electronic message is an electronic mail message.

63. The method of claim 59, wherein said electronic message is a hypertext form submission.

64. The method of claim 52, wherein generating a representation of said field data comprising generating a rendered form.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein said rendered form is a printed paper form.

66. The method of claim 64, wherein said rendered form is a postal mailable form.

67. The method of claim 52, wherein processing is asynchronously related to obtaining a form identifier.

68. The method of claim 52, wherein obtaining field data is asynchronously related to processing said form identifier.

69. The method of claim 52, further comprising selecting one of a plurality of forms corresponding to said form identifier.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein selecting comprises processing an explicit selection.

71. The method of claim 69, wherein selecting comprises processing a disambiguating selection.

72. The method of claim 52, wherein said form fields correspond to form field symbols.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein at least one of said form field symbols corresponds to a payment provider.

74. The method of claim 52, wherein said form identifier incorporates supplemental information.

75. The methods of claim 52, further comprising obtaining and authenticating form filler information.

76. The method of claim 75, wherein said form filler information comprises a persona.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein said persona is associated with a set of field data.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein said persona is associated with an additional form field in the form.

79. The method of claim 75, wherein said field data comprises one or more classes of field data.

80. The method of claim 79, wherein obtaining and authenticating form filler information permits the release of one or more classes of field data.

81. The method of claim 52, further comprising communicating the form to a recipient.

82. The method of claim 52, further comprising communicating the form to a form remailer.

83. The method of claim 52, wherein said the form identifier comprises information specific to at least one form.

84. The method of claim 83, wherein said information comprises information selected from one or more of:

form origin, form publisher, form filler, form version, form date, form processor, form medium and checksum information.

85. The method of claim 52, further comprising logging a representation of the form and said field data.

86. The method of claim 85, wherein logging comprises communicating the form and said field data to a remote device.

87. The method of claim 52, further comprising providing said field data for approval.

88. The method of claim 52, further comprising selecting at least one form field to obtain field data.

89. The method of claim 52, wherein the form is a catalog.

90. The method of claim 89, further comprising processing a selection of an item from said catalog.

91. The method of claim 90, further comprising depicting a tally comprising said selected item.

92. A computer readable medium containing computer executable instructions for performing the method of any of claims 52-91.

93. A computing apparatus having a processor and a memory containing computer executable instructions, which when executed for perform the method of any of claims 52-91.

94. A computer implemented method of filling a form comprising:

graphically capturing a plurality of form fields;

processing said the graphically captured form fields to obtain identifiable form field information;

identifying field data corresponding to said identifiable form field information;

generating a representation of said field data for communication to a recipient.

95. The method of claim 94, further comprising graphically capturing an address of said recipient.

96. A computer readable medium containing computer executable instructions for performing the method of any of claims 94-95.

97. A computing apparatus having a processor and a memory containing computer executable instructions, which when executed for perform the method of any of claims 94-95.