Method for automatically tagging documents with matrix barcodes and providing access to a plurality of said document versions

Abstract

A method of tagging a document for future access, the method comprising the steps of: (a) Saving a document on a server, (b) Accessing said document by a tagging process program, (c) Having said tagging process program: (i) generate a tag referring to the location of said document on said server; and (ii) add said tag to said document, while said tag being visible on the printed version of the document, wherein, said tag can be scanned by a device equipped with an optical scanner and as a result said document would be accessible to said device.

1 . A method of tagging a document for future access, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) Saving a document on a storage server,   (b) Having a process server which hosts a tagging progress program,   (c) Uploading said document from said storage server to said process server,   (d) Accessing said document stored on said storage server by said tagging process program,   (e) Having said tagging process program:
 (i) generate a tag referring to the location of said document on said storage server; and 
 (ii) add said tag to said document, while said tag being visible on the digital form and on the printed form of said document, 
   
       wherein, said tag can be scanned from any said form of said document by a device equipped with an optical scanner and as a result said document would be accessible to said device. 
     
     
         2 . A method of tagging a document for future access, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) hosting a file containing said document using an internet hosting platform;   (b) associating tagging parameters to said file;   (c) transferring said file and said associated tagging parameters from the said hosting platform to a storage server;   (d) creating an entry in a database on said hosting platform identifying the location of said file on said storage server; and   (e) monitoring said file and said tagging parameters by a process monitor,   
       wherein said process monitor continuously searches in said database to identify said file to be tagged, and once the process monitor identifies said file to be tagged, the process monitor transfers said file to be tagged from said storage server to a process server;
 (f) generating an access path to said file on said storage server using a web link; 
 (g) creating a barcode tag referring to said access path; 
 (h) inserting the barcode tag into the said file according with said tagging parameters, wherein said barcode will appear on said document; and 
 (i) transferring said file with inserted barcode tag to said storage server at the location corresponding to said access path. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein tagging parameters include access restriction parameters. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the steps (e), (f), (g), (h), and (i) are performed by an automated software application which operates on a process server. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said access restriction parameters include a user-defined password; and said method further comprising the step of providing access to said file located on said access path only to third party users providing said password. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , comprising subsequent steps of:
 creating one or a plurality of different versions of said documents which include said barcode;   hosting said versions of said document on said internet hosting platform;   transferring said further versions from said hosting platform to said storage server; and   having a selection webpage at said access path for users accessing said access path to select which version of said document to transfer.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said barcode is a matrix barcode representing the hyperlink location of said document on said storage server. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the steps of:
 reading said matrix barcode with an application for reading barcode on a viewing device;   said viewing device transferring said document from said access path; and   displaying said document on said viewing device.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said barcode is a matrix barcode representing the hyperlink location of said document on said storage server. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said access restriction parameters include a user-defined password; and further comprising the steps of:
 reading said matrix barcode with an application for reading barcode on a viewing device;   said viewing device requesting access to said document at said access path;   said storage server requesting said password from the viewing device;   said viewing device providing said password to said storage server;   said viewing device transferring said document from said access path; and   displaying said document on said viewing device.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said barcode refers to document location on said storage server; said storage server being associated with a hyperlink address and further comprising the steps of:
 reading said barcode with an application for reading barcode on a viewing device:   said application concatenating said document location on said storage server from said barcode;   said application constructing said access path from said document location and said hyperlink address;   said viewing device transferring said document from said access path; and   displaying said document on said viewing device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said barcode refers to a reference in a database on said internet hosting platform; said reference in said database corresponds to said access path of said document; and further comprising the steps of:
 reading said barcode with an application for reading barcode on a viewing device;   said application querying said internet hosting platform to obtain said access path of said document from said database;   said viewing device transferring said document from said access path; and   displaying said document on said viewing device.   
     
     
         13 . A method of tagging a plurality of documents for future access, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) hosting a plurality of files each containing one of said document using an internet hosting platform;   (b) associating tagging parameters to said files;   (c) transferring said files and said associated tagging parameters from the said hosting platform to a storage server;   (d) creating an entry in a database on said hosting platform identifying the location of said files on said storage server;   (e) monitoring said files and said tagging parameters by a process monitor, wherein said process monitor continuously searches in said database to identify said files to be tagged, and once the process monitor identifies said files to be tagged, the process monitor transfers said files to be tagged from said storage server to a process server;   (f) generating an access path for a selection webpage on said storage server using a web link;   (g) creating a barcode tag referring to selection webpage;   (h) inserting the barcode tag into each said file according with said tagging parameters, wherein said barcode will appear on each said document; and   (i) transferring said files with inserted barcode tag to said storage server at the location corresponding to web links of said selection webpage.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said barcode is selected from a group comprising matrix barcodes and single dimension barcodes.