Abstract:
This invention provides systems and methods that use a meta job description that combines a number of scan jobs into a single combined job and use a meta job description that incorporates the scan parameters for a plurality of scan. Scanning documents with a meta job description provides user with the ability to scan any number of different documents with different parameters and combine them into a single combined job before the job is sent to its final destination. This allows the user to compose a single electronic document from any number of documents with different parameters.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The invention is directed to document capture and analysis. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Conventionally, when a page is scanned by a device, the resulting electronic image file is forwarded to its intended destination. The electronic image file can be stored, sent off as email, or stored as a desktop icon on a computer. However, a job can require that one or more additional pages need to be scanned as part of that single job. If any one of these pages has one or more different scanning parameters, such as, for example, a different image resolution, a different page size, and/or a different format, the set of two or more pages to be scanned with two or more different sets of parameters cannot be treated as a single job. 
     In general, these pages cannot be treated as a single job because there is nothing to tie together the two scanned jobs. Users wishing to have the images treated as a single job must either merge the scanned files manually, using third party software, or cannot merge the scanned files at all, making it difficult to have multiple scanned sections concatenated into a single job. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention provides systems and methods that use a meta job description that combines a number of scan jobs into a single combined job. 
     This invention separately provides systems and methods for creating a meta job description that incorporates the scan parameters for a plurality of scan jobs. 
     This invention separately provides systems and methods for scanning a set of documents using a set of parameters specific to that set of documents and appending that set of documents to a file containing scanned documents that have at least one different set of parameters. 
     This invention separately provides systems and methods for scanning a different sections of documents with different parameters and appending them into combined jobs. 
     This invention separately provides systems and methods for creating and changing a meta job description of the job performed. 
     This invention separately provides systems and methods for changing the meta job description as the job is performed. 
     This invention separately provides systems and methods for creating a single combined job that is larger than a capacity of the input device. 
     This invention separately provides systems and methods for directing a single combined job or components to a destination. 
     In various exemplary embodiments, an image is obtained, generated or stored. The image can be from an original physical document or one generated in the past. In various exemplary embodiments, the general data flow between components of the system are controlled. In various exemplary embodiments, data is received, sent or stored. In various exemplary embodiments, data and control commands are inputted into the system. 
     In various exemplary embodiments, a captured image is combined with one or more other scan jobs into a single combined job. In various exemplary embodiments, it is determined whether an image can be combined into an existing image or if several images can be combined. It is also determined whether one or more additional pages needs to be scanned as part of integrating a scan job. Further, it is determined whether any one of the images has one or more different scanning parameters. In various exemplary embodiments, the image is adjusted according to one or more different scanning parameters. In various exemplary embodiments, a properly adjusted image is combined with other scanned images into a single scanning job. 
     In various exemplary embodiments, a desired operation of obtaining, sending or integrating the scan jobs are selected. The selection can be a default operation or a selected operation. In various exemplary embodiments, a desired destination for the images is selected. The destination selected can be a default destination or a desired destination. 
     These and other features and advantages of this invention are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods according to this invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods of this invention will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of one exemplary embodiment of an image scanning system according to this invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing in greater detail one exemplary embodiment of the image scanning system according to this invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates one exemplary embodiment of user interface according to this invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart outlining one exemplary embodiment of a method for building a multi-scan job file according to this invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart outlining in greater detail one exemplary embodiment of the method for scanning a job according to this invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart outlining in greater detail one exemplary embodiment of the method for executing a meta job description. 
         FIG. 7  is a first exemplary embodiment of a meta job description according to this invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a second exemplary embodiment of a meta job description according to this invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating one exemplary embodiment of a scanning system  100  usable with the systems and methods according to this invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the scanning system  100  includes an image scanning system  200 , a job execution system  300 , a data sink  400  and a user interface  500 , all communicating via one or more links  110 . 
     The image scanning system  200  can be any source that can obtain, generate, or store an image, including a digital camera, a scanner, a digital copier, a file system, a Document Management/Content Management system, including those that are Web based, or any other known or later-developed device that is capable of capturing an image. It should also be appreciated that, while the image can be generated at the time of printing an image from an original physical document, the electronic image data could have been generated at any time in the past. 
     The job execution system  300  controls the general data flow between the other components of the system  100 . In this exemplary embodiment, the job execution system  300  is implemented using a programmed general purpose computer. However, the job execution system  300  can also be implemented using a special purpose computer, a programmed microprocessor or microcontroller and peripheral integrated circuit elements, and ASIC or other integrated circuit, a digital signal processor, a hardware electronic or logical circuit, such as a discrete element circuit, a programmable logic device, such as PLD, PLA, FPGA or PAL, or the like. In general, any device capable of implementing a finite state machine that is in turn capable of implementing the flowcharts shown in  FIGS. 4-6  can be used to implement the job execution system  300 . 
     In various exemplary embodiment, the data sink  400  can be any known or later-developed device that is capable of receiving, sending and/or storing the image data generated using the systems and methods according to this invention, such as a display device, a printer, a copier or other image forming device, a facsimile device, a modem, a file system, a Document Management/Content Management system, including those that are Web based, a memory and the like. 
     The user interface  500  may be implemented using any combination of one or more user input devices, whether known or later-developed, that are capable of inputting data and/or control commands to the system  100  via the one or more links  110 . The user interface  500  may be one or more of a keyboard, a mouse, a touch pen, a touch pad, a pointing device, or the like. The user interface can also be touch screen or an electronic display system, such as a CRT, LCD, LED, or the like used in conjunction with one or more of a keyboard, a mouse, a touch pen, a touch pad, a pointing device, or the like. 
     The one or more links  110  can be any known or later-developed devices or systems for connecting the image scanning system  200 , the job execution system  300 , the data sink  400  and the user interface  500 , including a direct connection, a connection over a wide area network or a local area network, a connection over an intranet, a connection over the internet, a connection without wires such as infrared or a connection over any other distributed processing network or system. In general, the one or more links  110  can be any known or later-developed connection system or structure usable to connect the image scanning system  200 , the job execution system  300 , the data sink  400  and the user interface  500 . 
     The image captured by the image scanning system  200  may be a scanned image of a physical document or a photograph, a captured frame of a video recording, or the like. 
     In the scanning system  100 , by using the systems and methods according to this invention, an image captured by the image scanning system  200  according to one scan job can be combined with one or more other scan jobs into a single combined job. The job execution system  300  incorporates the scan parameters for a plurality of scan jobs, and takes each set of documents scanned by the image scanning system  200  according to one scan job, using a set of parameters specific to that scan job and thus that set of documents, and appends that set of documents scanned using that set of parameters to a file containing scanned documents that have been scanned using at least one different set of parameters. The scanned image data is sent over the link  110  to the job execution system  300 , data sink  400  and/or user interface  500 . The scanning system  100  can also create a single combined job larger than a capacity of the input device of a scanning device  240 . The scanning system  100  can also direct a single combined job or components to a destination within the data sink  400 . The user interface  500  can be used to input various job choices to the scanning system  100 . 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram outlining in greater detail one exemplary embodiment of the image scanning system  200  shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the image scanning system  200  includes an input/output interface  210 , a controller  220 , a memory  230 , a scanning device  240 , a determining circuit, routine or application  250 , a combining circuit, routine or application  270 , and an image adjusting circuit, routine or application  260 , each interconnected by one or more data and/or control busses and/or one or more application programming interfaces  280 . 
     The input/output interface  210  connects the image scanning system  200  to the outside environment. The controller  220  controls the input/output interface  210 , the memory  230 , the scanning device  240 , the determining circuit, routine or application  250 , the image adjusting circuit, routine or application  260 , and/or the combining circuit, routine or application  270 . 
     The memory  230  can be implemented using any appropriate combination of alterable, volatile or non-volatile memory or non-alterable, or fixed, memory. The alterable memory, whether volatile or non-volatile, can be implemented using any one or more of static or dynamic RAM, a floppy disk and disk drive, a writeable or a re-writeable optical disk and disk drive, a hard drive, flash memory or the like. Similarly, the non-alterable or fixed memory can be implemented using any one or more of ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, an optical ROM disk, such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM disk, and disk drive or the like. 
     The scanning device  240  obtains or captures an image. The scanning device  240  can be a digital camera, a scanner, or any other known or later-developed device that is capable of capturing electronic image data. The scanning device  240  can be integrated with one or more of the controller  220 , the memory  230 , the determining circuit, routine or application  250 , the image adjusting circuit, routine or application  260 , and/or the combining circuit, routine or application  270 , as in a digital copier having an integrated scanner. Alternatively, the scanning device  240  can be connected to the input/output interface  210  of the image scanning system  200  using a connection, such as a direct connection, a connection over a wide area network or a local area network, a connection over an intranet, a connection over the internet, a wireless connection such as an infrared connection, or a connection over any other distributed processing network or system. 
     The determining circuit, routine or application  250  determines whether an image can be combined into an existing image or if several images can be combined. The determining circuit, routine or application  250  also determines whether one or more additional pages need to be scanned as part of integrating a scan job. If the determining circuit, routine or application  250  determines that any one of the images has one or more different scanning parameters, such as, for example, a different image resolution, a different page size, and/or a different format, the image adjusting circuit, routine or application  260  allows adjusting of the image to be combined into a single combine job. 
     The image adjusting circuit, routine or application  260  adjusts the image according to one or more different scanning parameters, such as, for example, an image resolution, a page size, and/or a format. When the image has been properly adjusted, the combining circuit, routine or application  270  combines the image with other previously scanned images into a single scanning job. The combined job can then be further processed by the controller  220 , the determining circuit, routine or application  250 , the image adjusting circuit, routine or application  260  and/or the combining circuit, routine or application  270 , or can be output through the input/output interface  210  and sent over the one or more links  110 , and/or held in the memory  230 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates one exemplary embodiment of the user interface  500  of the scanning system  100  according to this invention. The user interface  500  may include elements such as a job selection widget  520 , a parameter selection widget  530 , a destination selection widget  540 , a quality selection widget  550 , and a deletion selection widget  560  within a display area  570 . The job selection widget  520  is used to select a desired operation of obtaining, sending, or integrating of the scan jobs. The desired operation includes selecting from one or more default operations or creating a desired operation from available options in conjunction with the parameter selection widget  530 , the destination selection widget  540 , the quality selection widget  550 , the deletion selection widget  560  and/or the like. 
     The parameter selection widget  530  is used to select a desired combined job parameter. The selected desired operation includes selecting the type, size, resolution, color, and/or the like, and selecting from one or more default values and/or creating a desired operation from available options. The destination selection widget  540  is used to select a desired destination for the one or more images and/or for a final combined job. The selected destination can include a default destination, can be the memory  230 , or can be any other desired destination. The quality selection widget  550  is used to select a desired quality of the image and the deletion selection widget  560  is used to delete a selection. Although described as separate elements, the user interface  500  may be a template, a flowchart, a touch screen and/or any other form of graphic user interface that presents optional choices. 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart outlining one exemplary embodiment of a method for building a multi-scan job file according to this invention. Beginning in step S 100 , operation continues to step S 200 , where a job is accessed by opening and readying a job for user input, user modification, and just simple user verification, i.e. user does not change any of the parameters. Then, in step S 300 , first or next a scan job is created. Next, in step S 400 , the created scan job is sent to a destination, which may include a storage location or a remote location. Operation then continues to step S 500 , where a determination is made whether any more operations are desired. If so, operation returns to step S 200 . Otherwise, operation continues to step S 600 , where the operation of the method ends. 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart outlining in greater detail one exemplary embodiment of the method of creating a job of step S 300  according to this invention. Beginning in step S 300 , operation continues to step  5310 , where a desired job is selected based on the selection made in step S 200 . Next, in step S 320 , the parameters for a combined job are selected based on the desired selection made in step S 200 . Then, in step S 330 , the desired job is created. The operation then continues to step S 340 . 
     In step S 340 , a determination is made whether the job is complete based on the selection made in step S 200 . If the current job is not completed, operation returns to step S 310 . Otherwise, an indication that the current job is completed is generated in step S 350 . Operation then continues to step S 360 , where operation of the method returns to step S 400 . 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart outlining in greater detail one exemplary embodiment of the method for performing the job of step S 330  according to this invention. Beginning in step S 330 , operation continues to step S 331 , where a meta job description is created or received that contains the selection made in step S 320 . Then in step S 332 , scanning and integrating the jobs according to the meta job description is performed. Then, in step S 333 , information about the scanning and combining job having been performed and any changes occurring because of the scanning and combining job performance are recorded on the meta job description and the original meta job description is appended to the combined job. Then, in step S 334 , a determination is made whether the job is completed based on the selection made in step S 320 . If not, operation returns to step S 331 . Otherwise, operation continues to step S 335 , where operation of the method continues to step S 340 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a first exemplary embodiment of a meta job description according to this invention. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the exemplary meta job description may be a default operation for scanning a single document into a single scanned job titled “my_doc”. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of a meta job description. In particular, the meta job description shown in  FIG. 8  is obtained as a resulting meta job description after incorporating a change according to this invention. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the exemplary meta job description scans a first document titled “partial_doc1” then scans a second document titled “partial_doc2” then combines these first and second documents to create a single scanned job titled “my_doc”. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the documents “partial_doc1” and “partial_doc2” have different scanning parameters, namely, different resolutions. Consequently, the meta job description functions both as instructions for scanning these two jobs, for combining these two jobs into a single combined job, and as a record of the resulting combined job. 
     While particular embodiments have been described, alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and substantial equivalents that are or may be presently unforeseen may arise to applicants or others skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims as filed and as they may be amended are intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications variations, improvements, and substantial equivalents.