US5369508A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Information processing methodology
Assignee: CONTENT EXTRACTION AND TRANSMISSION LLC
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Filing: 1993-10-29
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Granted: 1994-11-29
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Expires: 2013-10-29
Abstract
Abstract An information processing methodology gives rise to an application program interface which includes an automated digitizing unit, such as a scanner, which inputs information from a diversity of hard copy documents and stores information from the hard copy documents into a memory as stored document information. Portions of the stored document information are selected in accordance with content instructions which designate portions of the stored document information required by a particular application program. The selected stored document information is then placed into the transmission format required by a particular application program in accordance with transmission format instructions. After the information has been transmission formatted, the information is transmitted to the application program. In one operational mode, the interface interactively prompts the user to identify, on a display, portions of the hard copy documents containing information used in application programs or for storage.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Lech
- 👤 Mitchell A. Medina
- 👤 Catherine B. Elias
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:54
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q40/00; G06Q40/02; G06V; G06V30/00; G06V30/10; G06V30/14; G06V30/1444; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00127; H04N1/00204; H04N1/00236; H04N1/00241; H04N1/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of processing information from a diversity of hard copy documents, said method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving output representing a diversity of hard copy documents from an automated digitizing unit and storing information from said diversity of hard copy documents into a memory, said information not fixed from one document to the next; (b) identifying portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to a first variable; and (c) storing information from said portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to said first variable into memory locations for said first variable.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of processing information from a diversity of hard copy documents, said method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving output representing a diversity of hard copy documents from an automated digitizing unit and storing information from said diversity of hard copy documents into a memory, said information not fixed from one document to the next; (b) identifying portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to a first variable; and (c) storing information from said portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to said first variable into memory locations for said first variable.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein step (b) includes displaying an image of a hard copy document on a display based on the contents of said memory.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of: identifying portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to a second variable, said portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to said second variable being different from said portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to said first variable; and storing information from said portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to said second variable into memory locations for said second variable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein step (b) includes prompting identification of said portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to said first variable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein step (c) includes storing image information from said portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to said first variable into said memory locations for said first variable.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein step (c) includes storing textual information from said portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to said first variable into said memory locations for said first variable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of detecting and correcting errors resulting from said inputting.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of utilizing a template to associate portions of said hard copy documents with specific variables.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising receiving instructions identifying at least one character or symbol, located on said hard copy documents, which identifies a location on said hard copy documents containing a value of a specific variable.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising receiving instructions identifying at least one character or symbol, located on said hard copy documents, which identifies a relative location on said hard copy documents containing a value of a specific variable.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method as set forth in claim 2, further comprising the steps of: identifying portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to a second variable, said portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to said second variable being different from said portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to said first variable; and storing information from said portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to said second variable into memory locations for said second variable.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as set forth in claim 3, further comprising the step of storing image information from said portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to said second variable into said memory locations for said second variable.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as set forth in claim 3, further comprising the step of storing textual information from said portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to said second variable into said memory locations for said second variable.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as set forth in claim 3, further comprising the step of prompting identification of said portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to said second variable.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of processing information from a diversity of hard copy documents, said method comprising the steps of: (a) scanning a diversity of hard copy documents and storing information from said diversity of hard copy documents into a memory, said information not fixed from one document to the next; (b) identifying portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to a first variable; and (c) storing information from said portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to said first variable into memory locations for said first variable.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of processing information from a diversity of hard copy documents, said method comprising the steps of: (a) scanning a diversity of hard copy documents and storing information from said diversity of hard copy documents into a memory, said information not fixed from one document to the next; (b) identifying portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to a first variable; and (c) storing information from said portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to said first variable into memory locations for said first variable.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein step (b) includes displaying an image of a hard copy document on a display based on the contents of said memory.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method as set forth in claim 15, further comprising the steps of: identifying portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to a second variable, said portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to said second variable being different from said portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to said first variable; and storing information from said portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to said second variable into memory locations for said second variable.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein step (b) includes prompting identification of said portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to said first variable.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein step (c) includes storing image information from said portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to said first variable into said memory locations for said first variable.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein step (c) includes storing textual information from said portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to said first variable into said memory locations for said first variable.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as set forth in claim 15, further comprising the steps of detecting and correcting errors resulting from said scanning.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as set forth in claim 15, further comprising the step of utilizing a template to associate portions of said hard copy documents with specific variables.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as set forth in claim 15, further comprising receiving instructions identifying at least one character or symbol, located on said hard copy documents, which identifies a location on said hard copy documents containing a value of a specific variable.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as set forth in claim 15, further comprising receiving instructions identifying at least one character or symbol, located on said hard copy documents, which identifies a relative location on said hard copy documents containing a value of a specific variable.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method as set forth in claim 16, further comprising the steps of: identifying portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to a second variable, said portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to said second variable being different from said portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to said first variable; and storing information from said portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to said second variable into memory locations for said second variable.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as set forth in claim 17, further comprising the step of storing image information from said portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to said second variable into said memory locations for said second variable.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as set forth in claim 17, further comprising the step of storing textual information from said portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to said second variable into said memory locations for said second variable.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as set forth in claim 17, further comprising the step of prompting identification of said portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to said second variable.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of processing data extracted from a diversity of hard copy documents, said method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving output representing a diversity of hard copy documents from an automated digitizing unit and storing information from said diversity of hard copy documents into a memory as stored document information; (b) selecting portions of said stored document information in accordance with content instructions defining portions of said stored document information required by an application unit; (c) formatting selected stored document information into a transmission format used by said application unit based on transmission format instructions; and (d) transmitting formatted selected stored document information to said application unit.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of processing data extracted from a diversity of hard copy documents, said method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving output representing a diversity of hard copy documents from an automated digitizing unit and storing information from said diversity of hard copy documents into a memory as stored document information; (b) selecting portions of said stored document information in accordance with content instructions defining portions of said stored document information required by an application unit; (c) formatting selected stored document information into a transmission format used by said application unit based on transmission format instructions; and (d) transmitting formatted selected stored document information to said application unit.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as set forth in claim 29, wherein step (a) includes storing textual information representing characters on said hard copy documents.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as set forth in claim 29, wherein step (a) includes storing digitized image information representing the actual appearance of said hard copy documents.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as set forth in claim 29, further comprising detecting and correcting errors in said stored document information resulting from said inputting.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as set forth in claim 29, wherein step (a) includes the step of utilizing a template to associate portions of said hard copy documents with specific variables.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as set forth in claim 29, wherein step (a) includes receiving instructions identifying at least one character or symbol, located on said hard copy documents, which identifies a location on said hard copy documents containing a value of a specific variable.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as set forth in claim 29, wherein step (a) includes receiving instructions identifying at least one character or symbol, located on said hard copy documents, which identifies a relative location on said hard copy documents containing a value of a specific variable.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as set forth in claim 29, further comprising the step of printing textual copies of said hard copy documents based on said stored document information.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as set forth in claim 29, wherein step (a) includes receiving output representing a diversity of hard copy documents from a scanner.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as set forth in claim 31, further comprising the step of printing copies of said hard copy documents based on said digitized image information.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
101 words
An application program interface, comprising: an automated digitizing unit which extracts information from a diversity of hard copy documents and stores said information from said diversity of hard copy documents in a memory as stored document information; a processor selecting portions of said stored document information in accordance with content instructions, said content instructions designating portions of said stored document information required by an application unit; a formatter formatting selected stored document information into a transmission format used by said application unit based on transmission format instructions; and an output unit transmitting formatted selected stored document information to said application unit.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
101 words
An application program interface, comprising: an automated digitizing unit which extracts information from a diversity of hard copy documents and stores said information from said diversity of hard copy documents in a memory as stored document information; a processor selecting portions of said stored document information in accordance with content instructions, said content instructions designating portions of said stored document information required by an application unit; a formatter formatting selected stored document information into a transmission format used by said application unit based on transmission format instructions; and an output unit transmitting formatted selected stored document information to said application unit.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
23 words
An interface as set forth in claim 39, wherein said stored document information includes textual information representing characters on said hard copy documents.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
26 words
An interface as set forth in claim 39, wherein said stored document information includes digitized image information representing the actual appearance of said hard copy documents.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
26 words
An interface as set forth in claim 39, further comprising an error correcting unit detecting and correcting errors resulting from extracting by said automated digitizing unit.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
29 words
An interface as set forth in claim 39, further comprising: a template definition unit for defining a template which associates locations on said hard copy documents with specific variables.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
44 words
An interface as set forth in claim 39, further comprising a search unit for searching for at least one character or symbol, located on said hard copy documents, which identifies a location on said hard copy documents containing a value for a specific variable.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
16 words
An interface as set forth in claim 39, wherein said automated digitizing unit includes a scanner.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
31 words
An interface as set forth in claim 41, further comprising a printer which prints out copies of the actual appearance of said hard copy documents based on said digitized image information.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-11-28 | 1998-05-30 | 1998-11-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-11-28 | 2002-05-30 | 2002-11-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-11-28 | 2006-05-30 | 2006-11-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |