Distributed Computer Architecture and Process for Document Management

Abstract

A system and/or method enables a typical PC user to add electronic paper processing to their existing business process. The system and/or method extends the notion of copying from a process that involves paper going through a conventional copier device, to a process that involves paper being scanned from a device at one location and copied to a device at another location. In its more sophisticated form, the system and/or method can copy paper from a device at one location directly into a business application residing on a network or on the Internet, or visa versa. The system and/or method is software that manages paper so that it can be electronically and seamlessly copied in and out of devices and business applications (such as Microsoft Office, Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Notes) with an optional single-step operation. The system and/or method can reside on a PC, LAN/WAN server, digital device (such as a digital copier), or on a web server to be accessed over the Internet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for electronic document management, the method comprising in any sequential or non-sequential order:
 storing, in a memory responsively connectable to a computing device, a plurality of protocols as a software application; and
 implementing, in the computing device, the plurality of protocols to communicate over a network with a plurality of external destinations, wherein implementing the plurality of protocols comprises:
 receiving, via an input module associated with the software application, an electronic document from an imaging device, the imaging device being operable to generate the electronic document, the imaging device comprising at least one of a multifunction peripheral, a digital copier, or a scanner; 
 receiving a selection for an output module associated with the software application, the output module being dedicated to an external destination among the plurality of external destinations; 
 generating, by the software application, an application window to present access to a tutorial; and 
 integrating the electronic document into the external destination without the need to modify the external destination. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein implementing the plurality of protocols further comprises transmitting the electronic document to the external application over the network comprises using an Application Programmer Interface (API) of the software application. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the software application comprises a virtual copier operable to seamlessly replicate and transmit the electronic document to the external destination. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the software application generates a user interface that enables the conversion of the paper document into the electronic document between the imaging device and the external destination using a single “GO” operation. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the virtual copier is executed in a server. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the network comprises at least one of the Internet or a local area network (LAN). 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the input module is operable to manage the imaging device to receive the electronic document from the imaging device. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein implementing the plurality of protocols further comprises providing feedback information in response to a user selection of at least one of the input module or the output module. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein providing feedback information comprises providing via a client module, the client module being operable to interface with the external destination via an application programmer interface (API). 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the software application comprises a process module operable to apply a data process to the electronic document, wherein the data process comprises an optical character recognition (OCR) process, an intelligent character recognition (ICR) process, or a barcode recognition process. 
     
     
         11 . A computer data management system capable of transmitting an electronic document to a plurality of external destinations, the system comprising
 at least one memory storing a plurality of protocols for interfacing; and   at least one processor responsively connectable to the at least one memory, the at least one processor being operable to implement the plurality of protocols as a software application to interface with the plurality of external destination over a network, the plurality of external destinations comprising at least one external device and at least one external application, the at least one processor being operable to:
 receive the electronic document from an imaging device, the imaging device comprising at least one of a multifunction peripheral, a digital copier, or a scanner; 
 receive a user selection of an output module from a user, the output module being associated with an external destination among the plurality of external destinations; 
 generate an application window to present access to a tutorial; and 
 transmit the electronic document to the external destination over the network based on the user selection, the electronic document being transmitted in response to an execution of a single “GO” operation by the user, the electronic document being transmitted without the need to modify the external destination. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the electronic document comprises at least one of an electronic image or an electronic graphic. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is operable to transmit the electronic document to the external destination over the network comprises by using an Application Programmer Interface (API) of the software application. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the execution of the single “GO” operation seamlessly replicates and transmits the electronic document to the external destination. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the system comprises a server, the server comprising the at least one memory and the at least one processor, the application comprising a virtual copier operable to be executed in the server. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor receives the electronic document from an imaging device via an input module, wherein the input module is operable to interface with the external destination via an application programmer interface (API). 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is further operable to provide information to the user in response to the user selection of the output module. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the information is provided via a client module, the client module being operable to interface with the external destination via an application programmer interface (API). 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the software application comprises a process module operable to apply a data process to the electronic document, wherein the data process comprises an optical character recognition (OCR) process, an intelligent character recognition (ICR) process, or a barcode recognition process. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the network comprises at least one of the Internet, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN). 
     
     
         21 . A method for computer data management capable of transmitting an electronic document to a plurality of external destinations the method comprising in any sequential or non-sequential order:
 storing, in at least one memory, a plurality of protocols for interfacing;   implementing, in at least one processor responsively connectable to the at least one memory, the plurality of protocols as a software application to interface with the plurality of external destination over a network, the plurality of external destinations comprising at least one external device and at least one external application, the at least one processor being operable to:   receiving the electronic document from an imaging device, the imaging device comprising at least one of a multifunction peripheral, a digital copier, or a scanner;   receiving a user selection of an output module from a user, the output module being associated with an external destination among the plurality of external destinations; and   transmitting the electronic document to the external destination over the network based on the user selection, the electronic document being transmitted without the need to modify the external destination.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the electronic document comprises at least one of an electronic image or an electronic graphic. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the at least one processor is operable to transmit the electronic document to the external destination over the network comprises by using an Application Programmer Interface (API) of the software application. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the electronic document is transmitted in response to an execution of a single “GO” operation by the user, the execution of the single “GO” operation seamlessly replicating and transmitting the electronic document to the external destination. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein a server comprises the at least one memory and the at least one processor, the application comprising a virtual copier operable to be executed in the server. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the at least one processor receives the electronic document from an imaging device via an input module, wherein the input module is operable to interface with the external destination via an application programmer interface (API). 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the at least one processor is further operable to provide information to the user in response to the user selection of the output module. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the information is provided via a client module, the client module being operable to interface with the external destination via an application programmer interface (API). 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the software application comprises a process module operable to apply a data process to the electronic document, wherein the data process comprises an optical character recognition (OCR) process, an intelligent character recognition (ICR) process, or a barcode recognition process. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the network comprises at least one of the Internet, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN).