Information processing methodology

Claim 2

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in at least one of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; wherein the display projects an image showing at least a portion of said document information and at least one field of information required by said at least one application program during the interactive mode.

Claim 3

A multimode information processing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said system further comprises: a memory for storing a defined set of symbols which designate fields of information required by said at least one application program; and a symbol detection means for detecting the presence of a particular one of said defined set of symbols within said document information and for extracting a field of information required by said at least one application program based on said detecting.

Claim 4

A multimode information processing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said system is operative in said interactive mode for locating said at least one field of information required by said at least one application program by blocking portions of said at least a portion of said document information displayed on the display using the input device.

Claim 5

A multimode information processing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said system is operative in said interactive template creation mode for creating a template by blocking portions of said at least a portion of said document information displayed on the display using the input device.

Claim 6

A multimode information processing system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: a memory for storing digitized image information representative of the actual appearance of at least a portion of said hard copy document.

Claim 7

A multimode information processing system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: a memory for storing at least a portion of said textual data.

Claim 8

A multimode information processing system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: a memory for storing digitized image information representative of the actual appearance of at least a portion of said hard copy document; and a memory for storing at least a portion of said textual data.

Claim 9

A multimode information processing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said character recognition capabilities are included in the automated digitizing unit.

Claim 10

A multimode information processing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein in said interactive template creation mode, said template identifies a plurality of locations within said document information of a plurality of fields of information required by an application program.

Claim 11

A multimode information processing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one application program is a plurality of application programs.

Claim 12

A multimode information processing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein in said interactive template creation mode, said template identifies a plurality of locations within said document information of a plurality of fields of information required by a plurality of application programs.

Claim 13

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in at least one of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein the display projects an image showing at least a portion of said document information and at least one field of information required by said at least one application program during said interactive template creation mode.

Claim 14

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in at least one of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein the display projects an image showing at least a portion of said document information and at least one field of information required by said at least one application program during said interactive template creation mode.

Claim 15

A multimode information processing system as set forth in claim 12 wherein said system is operative in said interactive template creation mode for creating a template by blocking portions of said at least a portion of said document information displayed on the display using the input device.

Claim 16

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in at least one of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein, in said interactive mode, said located information is located for and transferred to at least two fields.

Claim 17

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in at least one of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein, in said interactive mode, said located information is located for and transferred to at least two fields.

Claim 18

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by said at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in at least two of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein the display projects an image showing at least a portion of said document information and at least one field of information required by said at least one application program during the interactive mode.

Claim 19

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by said at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in at least two of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein the display projects an image showing at least a portion of said document information and at least one field of information required by said at least one application program during the interactive mode.

Claim 20

A multimode information processing system as set forth in claim 15 wherein said system further comprises: a memory for storing a defined set of symbols which designate fields of information required by said at least one application program; and a symbol detection means for detecting the presence of a particular one of said defined set of symbols within said document information and for extracting a field of information required by said at least one application program based on said detecting.

Claim 21

A multimode information processing system as set forth in claim 15 wherein said computer is operative in said interactive mode for locating said at least one field of information required by said at least one application program by blocking portions of said at least a portion of said document information displayed on the display using the input device.

Claim 22

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by said at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in at least two of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein said computer is operative in said interactive mode for locating said at least one field of information required by said at least one application program by blocking portions of said at least a portion of said document information displayed on the display using the input device.

Claim 23

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by said at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in at least two of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein said computer is operative in said interactive mode for locating said at least one field of information required by said at least one application program by blocking portions of said at least a portion of said document information displayed on the display using the input device.

Claim 24

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by said at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in at least two of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein the display projects an image showing at least a portion of said document information and at least one field of information required by said at least one application program during said interactive template creation mode.

Claim 25

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by said at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in at least two of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein the display projects an image showing at least a portion of said document information and at least one field of information required by said at least one application program during said interactive template creation mode.

Claim 26

A multimode information processing system as set forth in claim 19 wherein said computer is operative in said interactive template creation mode for creating a template by blocking portions of said at least a portion of said document information displayed on the display using the input device.

Claim 27

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by said at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in at least two of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein said computer is operative in said interactive template creation mode for creating a template by blocking portions of said at least a portion of said document information displayed on the display using the input device.

Claim 28

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by said at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in at least two of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein said computer is operative in said interactive template creation mode for creating a template by blocking portions of said at least a portion of said document information displayed on the display using the input device.

Claim 29

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by said at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in at least two of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and further comprising a memory for storing digitized image information representative of the actual appearance of at least a portion of said hard copy document.

Claim 30

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by said at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in at least two of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and further comprising a memory for storing digitized image information representative of the actual appearance of at least a portion of said hard copy document.

Claim 31

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by said at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in at least two of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and further comprising a memory for storing at least a portion of said textual data.

Claim 32

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by said at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in at least two of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and further comprising a memory for storing at least a portion of said textual data.

Claim 33

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by said at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in at least two of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and further comprising: a memory for storing digitized image information representative of the actual appearance of at least a portion of said hard copy document; and a memory for storing at least a portion of said textual data.

Claim 34

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by said at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in at least two of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and further comprising: a memory for storing digitized image information representative of the actual appearance of at least a portion of said hard copy document; and a memory for storing at least a portion of said textual data.

Claim 35

A multimode information processing system as set forth in claim 24 wherein said character recognition capabilities are included in the automated digitizing unit.

Claim 36

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by said at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in at least two of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein, in said interactive mode, said located information is located for and transferred to at least two fields.

Claim 37

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by said at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in at least two of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein, in said interactive mode, said located information is located for and transferred to at least two fields.

Claim 38

A multimode information processing system as set forth in claim 26 wherein in said interactive template creation mode, said template identifies a plurality of locations within said document information of a plurality of fields of information required by an application program.

Claim 39

A multimode information processing system as set forth in claim 26 wherein said at least one application program is a plurality of application programs.

Claim 40

A multimode information processing system as set forth in claim 26 wherein in said interactive template creation mode, said template identifies a plurality of locations within said document information of a plurality of fields of information required by a plurality of application programs.

Claim 41

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in each of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein the display projects an image showing at least a portion of said document information and at least one field of information required by said at least one application program during the interactive mode.

Claim 42

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in each of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein the display projects an image showing at least a portion of said document information and at least one field of information required by said at least one application program during the interactive mode.

Claim 43

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in each of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein the display projects an image showing at least a portion of said document information and at least one field of information required by said at least one application program during the interactive mode.

Claim 44

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in each of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein the display projects an image showing at least a portion of said document information and at least one field of information required by said at least one application program during the interactive mode.

Claim 45

A multimode information processing system as set forth in claim 30 or claim 31, wherein said system further comprises: a memory for storing a defined set of symbols which designate fields of information required by said at least one application program; and a symbol detection means for detecting the presence of a particular one of said defined set of symbols within said document information and for extracting a field of information required by said at least one application program based on said detecting.

Claim 46

A multimode information processing system as set forth in claim 30 or claim 31, further comprising: a memory for storing digitized image information representative of the actual appearance of at least a portion of said hard copy document.

Claim 47

A multimode information processing system as set forth in claim 30 or claim 31, further comprising: a memory for storing at least a portion of said textual data.

Claim 48

A multimode information processing system as set forth in claim 30 or claim 31, wherein said character recognition capabilities are included in the automated digitizing unit.

Claim 49

A multimode information processing system as set forth in claim 30 or claim 31, wherein in said interactive template creation mode, said template identifies a plurality of locations within said document information of a plurality of fields of information required by an application program.

Claim 50

A multimode information processing system as set forth in claim 30 or claim 31, wherein said at least one application program is a plurality of application programs.

Claim 51

A multimode information processing system as set forth in claim 30 or claim 31, wherein in said interactive template creation mode, said template identifies a plurality of locations within said document information of a plurality of fields of information required by a plurality of application programs.

Claim 52

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in each of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein said computer is operative in said interactive mode for locating said at least one field of information required by said at least one application program by blocking portions of said at least a portion of said document information displayed on the display using the input device.

Claim 53

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in each of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein said computer is operative in said interactive mode for locating said at least one field of information required by said at least one application program by blocking portions of said at least a portion of said document information displayed on the display using the input device.

Claim 54

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in each of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein said computer is operative in said interactive mode for locating said at least one field of information required by said at least one application program by blocking portions of said at least a portion of said document information displayed on the display using the input device.

Claim 55

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in each of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein said computer is operative in said interactive mode for locating said at least one field of information required by said at least one application program by blocking portions of said at least a portion of said document information displayed on the display using the input device.

Claim 56

A multimode information processing system as set forth in claim 30 or claim 31, further comprising: a memory for storing digitized image information representative of the actual appearance of at least a portion of said hard copy document; and a memory for storing at least a portion of said textual data.

Claim 57

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in each of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein the display projects an image showing at least a portion of said document information and at least one field of information required by said at least one application program during said interactive template creation mode.

Claim 58

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in each of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein the display projects an image showing at least a portion of said document information and at least one field of information required by said at least one application program during said interactive template creation mode.

Claim 59

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in each of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein the display projects an image showing at least a portion of said document information and at least one field of information required by said at least one application program during said interactive template creation mode.

Claim 60

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in each of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein the display projects an image showing at least a portion of said document information and at least one field of information required by said at least one application program during said interactive template creation mode.

Claim 61

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in each of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein said system is operative in said interactive template creation mode for creating a template by blocking portions of said at least a portion of said document information displayed on the display using the input device.

Claim 62

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in each of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein said system is operative in said interactive template creation mode for creating a template by blocking portions of said at least a portion of said document information displayed on the display using the input device.

Claim 63

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in each of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein said system is operative in said interactive template creation mode for creating a template by blocking portions of said at least a portion of said document information displayed on the display using the input device.

Claim 64

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in each of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein said system is operative in said interactive template creation mode for creating a template by blocking portions of said at least a portion of said document information displayed on the display using the input device.

Claim 65

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in each of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein, in said interactive mode, said located information is located for and transferred to at least two fields.

Claim 66

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in each of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein, in said interactive mode, said located information is located for and transferred to at least two fields.

Claim 67

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in each of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein, in said interactive mode, said located information is located for and transferred to at least two fields.

Claim 68

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in each of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein, in said interactive mode, said located information is located for and transferred to at least two fields.

Claim 69

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in at least one of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein the display projects an image showing at least a portion of said document information and at least one field of information required by said at least one application program during said automatic mode.

Claim 70

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in at least one of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein the display projects an image showing at least a portion of said document information and at least one field of information required by said at least one application program during said automatic mode.

Claim 71

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by said at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in at least two of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein the display projects an image showing at least a portion of said document information and at least one field of information required by said at least one application program during at least said automatic mode.

Claim 72

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by said at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in at least two of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein the display projects an image showing at least a portion of said document information and at least one field of information required by said at least one application program during at least said automatic mode.

Claim 73

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in each of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein the display projects an image showing at least a portion of said document information and at least one field of information required by said at least one application program during at least said automatic mode.

Claim 74

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in each of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein the display projects an image showing at least a portion of said document information and at least one field of information required by said at least one application program during at least said automatic mode.

Claim 75

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in each of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein the display projects an image showing at least a portion of said document information and at least one field of information required by said at least one application program during said automatic mode.

Claim 76

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in each of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein the display projects an image showing at least a portion of said document information and at least one field of information required by said at least one application program during said automatic mode.

Claim 77

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in at least one of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein said system is operative in said interactive mode for locating said at least one field of information required by said at least one application program by blocking portions of said at least a portion of said document information displayed on the display using the input device.

Claim 78

A multimode information processing system for inputting information from a hard copy document into at least one application program, comprising: (a) an automated digitizing unit providing digitized image information representative of an image of at least a portion of said document; (b) a display to display information; (c) an input device to receive user instructions from a user; and (d) a computer, operable with at least one of the automated digitizing unit, the display, and the input device; said system having character recognition capabilities for recognizing at least a portion of alpha/numeric characters appearing on said document for providing textual data, said digitized image information and said textual data collectively comprising document information, and said system configured to route at least a portion of said document information as input data to be processed by at least one application program to said at least one application program, and to operate in at least one of: (1) an interactive mode wherein at least a portion of said document information is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user for locating information required by the application program within said document information and for transferring said located information to at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; (2) an interactive template creation mode wherein an image representative of at least a portion of said document is displayed on the display and the input device conveys instructions from the user to create and store in said system a template which identifies a location within said document information of at least one field of information required by said at least one application program; and (3) an automatic mode to match at least a portion of said document information with a template created or compatible with said interactive template creation mode stored in said system to extract fields of information required by the application program and to transfer said fields of information to said at least one application program; and wherein said system is operative in said interactive mode for locating said at least one field of information required by said at least one application program by blocking portions of said at least a portion of said document information displayed on the display using the input device.

Claim 79

A multimode information processing system as set forth in claim 30 or claim 31, wherein said computer is operative in said interactive mode for locating said at least one field of information required by said at least one application program by blocking portions of said at least a portion of said document information displayed on the display using the input device.