Using labels in a document processing system

Abstract

A document processing system uses a label on a document that includes a machine-readable portion that identifies a document, a first defined region corresponding to a system-defined function, and a second defined region corresponding to a user-defined function. When a user hand-writes a mark in the first defined region of the label, when the document is scanned, the mark is detected, and the system-defined function corresponding to the first defined function is performed for the document. When a user hand-writes a mark in the second defined region of the label, when the document is scanned, the mark is detected, and the user-defined function corresponding to the second defined region is performed for the document. The hand-written mark can include a character, with multiple system-defined functions corresponding to different characters in the first defined region, and multiple user-defined functions corresponding to different characters in the second defined region.

1 . An article of manufacture comprising a printed label for a paper document, the printed label comprising:
 a machine-readable portion that identifies the document to a document processing system that manages the document;   a first defined region corresponding to a system-defined function in the document processing system, wherein the document processing system performs the system-defined function when the document that includes the printed label is scanned and the document processing system detects a hand-written mark in the first defined region; and   a second defined region corresponding to a user-defined function in the document processing system, wherein the document processing system performs the user-defined function when the document that includes the printed label is scanned and the document processing system detects a hand-written mark in the second defined region.   
     
     
         2 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  wherein the system-defined function comprises a computer-implemented function. 
     
     
         3 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  wherein the system-defined function comprises a user-implemented function. 
     
     
         4 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  wherein the user-defined function comprises a computer-implemented function.