Patent ID: 6628412
Filing Date: 2003-09-30
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A method of automated document tracking, comprising:generating a primary image on a document with either a printer or a first copying machine; printing a machine-readable code on the document as it is generated; the machine-readable code containing information, the printing device being in data communication with a database so that the information printed in machine readable code on the document is also recorded in the database; scanning the document with a scanning machine configured to determine if the machine readable code is present on the document and further configured to extract at least some of the information from the machine-readable code; comparing the information extracted from the machine-readable code by the scanning machine with the information in the database to track the document; and wherein the scanning machine is linked with a processor that is in data communication with the database and in data communication with a second printer, wherein the information contained in the machine-readable code defines a version of the document, wherein a digital representation of the scanned version of the document is stored on the database together with digital representations of other versions of the document, and wherein the processor is configured to determine that digital representations of said other versions of the document are in the database, the processor being configured to enable either the scanned version of the document or at least one of said other versions of the document stored in the database as digital representations to be printed by the second printer.