US5495581A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for linking a document with associated reference information using pattern matching
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1993-10-15
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Granted: 1996-02-27
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Expires: 2013-10-15
Abstract
Abstract The present invention comprises an apparatus for linking a document with reference information associated therewith comprising a device for receiving an electronic representation of a document image, the document having a portion to be linked to electronic reference information, wherein the portion is designated by a predetermined attribute of the received document image; a device for electronically scanning the electronic representation of the document image to locate said predetermined attribute of the document image; a device for identifying the linked portion of the document based on the location of the predetermined attribute; a device for acquiring the electronic reference information associated with the linked portion; a device for correlating the linked portion of the document with the associated electronic reference information; and a device for providing a pointer from the linked portion in the document to each piece of electronic reference information associated therewith. In one embodiment of the invention, the received document image may be transmitted using standard facsimile protocols and the electronic reference information may be acquired as audio information transmitted using standard voice channel telephony.
Inventors
- 👤 Irving Tsai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:01
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/32; H04N1/32101; H04N1/32128; H04N1/32133; G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/40; G06K; G06K15/00; H04N1/00127; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0082; H04N1/00204; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/32; H04N2201/3201; H04N2201/3225; H04N2201/3261; H04N2201/3271; H04N2201/3274
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
An apparatus for linking a document with reference information associated therewith comprising: means for receiving an electronic graphical representation of a document image, said document having a portion to be linked to electronic reference information, wherein said portion is designated by a predetermined attribute of the received document image; means for electronically scanning and performing pattern matching on the electronic graphical representation of the document image to locate said predetermined attribute of the document image; means for identifying the linked portion of the document based on the location of said predetermined attribute; means for acquiring the electronic reference information associated with the linked portion; means for correlating the linked portion of the document with the associated electronic reference information; and means for providing a pointer from the linked portion in the document to each piece of electronic reference information associated therewith.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
141 words
An apparatus for linking a document with reference information associated therewith comprising: means for receiving an electronic graphical representation of a document image, said document having a portion to be linked to electronic reference information, wherein said portion is designated by a predetermined attribute of the received document image; means for electronically scanning and performing pattern matching on the electronic graphical representation of the document image to locate said predetermined attribute of the document image; means for identifying the linked portion of the document based on the location of said predetermined attribute; means for acquiring the electronic reference information associated with the linked portion; means for correlating the linked portion of the document with the associated electronic reference information; and means for providing a pointer from the linked portion in the document to each piece of electronic reference information associated therewith.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means for electronically scanning the electronic graphical representation of the document image comprises means for locating identifiers graphically added to the document image.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the document comprises a paper document.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the added identifiers are manually inscribed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the added identifiers are mechanically imprinted.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said acquiring means comprises means for acquiring audio information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said receiving means comprises means for receiving a document image transmitted over telephone lines.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said receiving means comprise means for receiving a document using a first communications method and said acquiring means comprise means for acquiring the reference information using a second communications method.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said acquiring means comprises means for acquiring the electronic reference information using voice-channel telephony.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said receiving means comprises means for receiving a document transmitted according to a conventional facsimile protocol.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for linking a document with reference information associated therewith comprising: receiving an electronic graphical representation of a document image, said document having a portion to be linked to electronic reference information, wherein said portion is designated by a predetermined attribute of the received document image; electronically scanning and performing pattern matching on the electronic graphical representation of the document image to locate said predetermined attribute of the document image; identifying the linked portion of the document based on the location of said predetermined attribute; acquiring the electronic reference information associated with the linked portion; correlating the linked portion of the document with the associated electronic reference information; and providing a pointer from the linked portion in the document to each piece of electronic reference information associated therewith.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for linking a document with reference information associated therewith comprising: receiving an electronic graphical representation of a document image, said document having a portion to be linked to electronic reference information, wherein said portion is designated by a predetermined attribute of the received document image; electronically scanning and performing pattern matching on the electronic graphical representation of the document image to locate said predetermined attribute of the document image; identifying the linked portion of the document based on the location of said predetermined attribute; acquiring the electronic reference information associated with the linked portion; correlating the linked portion of the document with the associated electronic reference information; and providing a pointer from the linked portion in the document to each piece of electronic reference information associated therewith.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein said scanning and pattern matching step comprises locating identifiers graphically added to the document image.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as in claim 12 wherein the document comprises a paper document.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as in claim 12 wherein the locating step comprises locating manually inscribed identifiers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as in claim 12 wherein the locating step comprises locating mechanically imprinted identifiers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 11 wherein said acquiring step comprises acquiring audio information.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 11 wherein the receiving step comprises receiving a document image transmitted over telephone lines.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 11 wherein the electronic reference information comprises audio information.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
148 words
An apparatus for linking a document with associated reference information comprising: means for receiving, in a first telecommunications session, an electronic graphical representation of a document image, said document having a portion to be linked with electronic reference information, wherein said portion is designated by markers added to the document image; means for acquiring, in a second telecommunications session, electronic reference information associated with the linked portion of the document; means for electronically scanning and performing pattern matching on the electronic graphical representation of the document image to determine the locations of the markers added to the document image; means for identifying the linked portion in response to the locations of the markers; means for correlating each linked portion of the document with the associated reference information; means for providing a pointer from the linked portion of the document to each piece of electronic reference information associated therewith.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
148 words
An apparatus for linking a document with associated reference information comprising: means for receiving, in a first telecommunications session, an electronic graphical representation of a document image, said document having a portion to be linked with electronic reference information, wherein said portion is designated by markers added to the document image; means for acquiring, in a second telecommunications session, electronic reference information associated with the linked portion of the document; means for electronically scanning and performing pattern matching on the electronic graphical representation of the document image to determine the locations of the markers added to the document image; means for identifying the linked portion in response to the locations of the markers; means for correlating each linked portion of the document with the associated reference information; means for providing a pointer from the linked portion of the document to each piece of electronic reference information associated therewith.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as in claim 19 wherein the second telecommunications session comprises voice-channel telephony.
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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) | 1999-02-26 | 1999-08-28 | 2000-02-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-02-26 | 2003-08-28 | 2004-02-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-02-26 | 2007-08-28 | 2008-02-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |