Methods and systems for imaging-device-based form field management

• US 8,006,176 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2005
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• 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: Yamamura, Shinichi, Reddy, Amarender Reddy Kethi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hutton; Doug
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith; Benjamin J
• Application Number:
  US11/256,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20060095542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,132 Days
• Field of Search: 715221-226
• 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 arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus H04N2201/0074; control of image communication with the connected apparatus H04N2201/0015
• 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 arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus H04N2201/0013; control of image communication with the connected apparatus H04N2201/0015
• 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:

sending remote form file menu data and imaging device (IDev) instructions from a remote computing device (RCD) to an IDev via an IDev device management application programming interface (API) residing on said IDev, wherein said remote file menu data and IDev instructions comprise display parameters for displaying said remote form file menu data on an IDev user interface (UI) display, wherein said IDev UI display is an integral part of said IDev;

receiving services from said device management API at said RCD, said services consisting of a device status message, a device configuration message comprising a list of installed options supported by said IDev, a web page setting function for retrieving and setting configurable values on web pages embedded on said IDev, a key operator program allowing said RCD to retrieve and set configurable values in hardware and software keys on said IDev, a job status function allowing said RCD to retrieve and reprioritize a current job queue, a click count function allowing said RCD to retrieve device counts and clicks for each function by account code and a data security setting function allowing said RCD to retrieve storage data information and initiate data clear functions;

receiving a form file request from said IDev device management API, wherein said form file request comprises user input received at said IDev UI in response to displaying said remote file menu data;

sending display content to said IDev device management API, said display content comprising a list of available forms;

receiving a form selection from said IDev device management API, wherein said form selection identifies a form and wherein said form selection is received in response to displaying said display content on said IDev UI display;

determining an input field definition file (IFDF) identified from said form selection, wherein said IFDF is a markup language file that comprises display parameters, field input menu content for obtaining user input for fields in said form and UI options for prompting a user for field input and wherein said IFDF also comprises instructions for obtaining field data from other sources;

sending field input menu data contained in said IFDF to said IDev device management API;

receiving a field data entry from said IDev device management API, wherein said field data entry comprises user input data received at said IDev UI in response to displaying said field input menu data from said IFDF;

appending said field data entry to a form file representing said form thereby creating a completed form; and

wherein said receiving, said sending, said determining and said appending are performed by an application residing on said IDev.

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

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 wherein said form field prompt is formatted in a markup language.

5. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising receiving a user identification and filtering said list of available forms based on said user identification.

6. 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.

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

sending remote form file menu data and imaging device (IDev) instructions to an IDev via an IDev device management application programming interface (API), wherein said remote form file menu data and IDev instructions comprise display parameters for displaying said remote form file menu data on an IDev user interface (UI) display, wherein said IDev UI display is an integral part of said IDev;

receiving services from said device management API at said RCD, said services consisting of a device status message, a device configuration message comprising a list of installed options supported by said IDev, a web page setting function for retrieving and setting configurable values on web pages embedded on said IDev, a key operator program allowing said RCD to retrieve and set configurable values in hardware and software keys on said IDev, a job status function allowing said RCD to retrieve and reprioritize a current job queue, a click count function allowing said RCD to retrieve device counts and clicks for each function by account code and a data security setting function allowing said RCD to retrieve storage data information and initiate data clear functions;

receiving a form request from said IDev device management API, wherein said form request comprises user input received at said IDev UI in response to displaying said remote file menu data;

requesting available form data from a remote resource;

receiving available form data from said remote resource;

formatting said available form data into a form selection prompt;

sending said form selection prompt to said IDev UI device management API;

receiving a form selection from said IDev device management API, wherein said form selection identifies a form;

requesting, from said remote resource, an input field definition file (IFDF) associated with said form designated in said form selection, wherein said IFDF is a markup language file that comprises display parameters, field input menu data for fields in said form and UI options for prompting a user for field input and wherein said IFDF also comprises instructions for obtaining field data from other sources;

receiving, from said remote resource, said IFDF associated with said form;

sending said IFDF to said IDev device management API;

receiving a field data entry in response to said IFDF from said IDev device management API, wherein said field data entry comprises user input data received at said IDev UI in response to displaying said field input menu data in said IFDF;

appending said field data entry to a form file representing said form thereby creating a completed form;

sending said completed form to a printing device; and

wherein said receiving, said requesting, said sending, said formatting and said appending are performed by an application residing on said IDev.

8. A method as described in claim 7 wherein said form selection prompt is formatted in a markup language.

9. A method as described in claim 7 wherein said data entry prompt is formatted in a markup language.

10. A method as described in claim 7 further comprising receiving a user identification and filtering said available form data based on said user identification.

11. A method as described in claim 7 wherein said form file is a printer-ready file and said field data entry is appended as a markup language tag.

12. A method as described in claim 7 wherein said sending said completed form to a printing device comprises sending said completed form to a direct print utility.