Abstract:
A method, and a system using the method, of managing a scanned document. The method includes identifying information of a profile for the scanned document and generating a virtual coversheet based on the identified information of the profile. The method also includes associating the virtual coversheet with the scanned document.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This patent application is related to the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/055,875, filed Feb. 11, 2005, entitled “System and Method of Importing Documents into Document Management System” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed MONTH DAY, 2005, entitled “Coversheet Manager Application,” both of which are assigned to the assignee of the present application. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Embodiments of the invention relate to a method and system for managing scanned documents.  
         [0003]     In order to save a scanned document on a network, a user generally has to provide a profile of information relating to the scanned document. The profile is essentially a set of information relating to the document and can include the name of the profile, the author of the scanned document, a library to which the scanned document belongs, a client number, a matter number, the name of the scanned document, the type of the scanned document, and a file format of the scanned document. To enter all the profile information, the user generally logs in to the computer network and enters the profile information through the computer or through a multi-function device (“MFD”) or other device on the network. Entering the information can be time consuming. Furthermore, entering profile information for repetitive batch jobs where the same profile is used for multiple documents can be tedious.  
         [0004]     After the scanned document has been profiled, the user can save the scanned document based on information provided in the profile. In this way, the user can associate the information in the profile with the scanned document and be able to retrieve the scanned document using the information in the profile. The user can link the document to email, fax, and other functions that a corresponding database or document management system offers. Typically, additional thick or fat client software applications have to be installed on the computer. However, the additional thick or fat client software applications, depending on functions and capability offered, can require a lot of overhead, exhaust computer memory, and consume large amounts of processing time.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     Some existing software applications allow the user to enter the profile on a computer. However, these software applications often require a large amount of memory and entering the information can be tedious and time consuming. Embodiments of the present invention can simplify the process of manipulating information in a profile of a document to be scanned at an MFD in a network setting. For example, a user can generate at a computer a physical coversheet with the profile information, load the coversheet and the document to be scanned at the MFD, and scan the document together with the coversheet at the MFD. The scanned document is subsequently exported from the MFD to a database according to the profile information provided on the coversheet. In another example, the user can generate a virtual coversheet, load the document to be scanned at the MFD, select the virtual coversheet to be used and scan the document at the MFD. The virtual coversheet is then associated with the scanned document. The scanned document is subsequently exported from the MFD to the database or document management system according to the information on the coversheet.  
         [0006]     In one form, the present invention provides a method of managing a scanned document. The method includes identifying profile information for the scanned document and generating a virtual coversheet based on the identified profile information. The method also includes associating the virtual coversheet with the scanned document.  
         [0007]     In another form, the present invention provides a method of managing a document. The method includes accessing a profile that can be a combination of an existing profile and a new profile. The method also includes scanning the document and associating the accessed profile with the scanned document.  
         [0008]     In yet another form, the present invention provides a system for managing a document. The system includes a first application configured to access a profile for the document. The system also includes scanning device configured to retrieve the accessed profile and to scan the document and a second application configured to associate the accessed profile with the scanned document.  
         [0009]     Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of electronic data management system.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart that illustrates system processes of the system of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart that illustrates an exemplary coversheet application process.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a first web browser screen display of the coversheet application of  FIG. 3  showing a login page.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a second browser screen display of the coversheet application of  FIG. 3  showing a blank home page for a new user.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is third web browser screen display of the coversheet application of  FIG. 3  showing a plurality of profile fields.  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a pop-up window displayed on the third web browser screen of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a fourth web browser screen display of the coversheet application of  FIG. 3  showing an edit-profile page.  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is a fifth browser screen display of the coversheet application of  FIG. 3  showing a second home page populated with a profile.  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  is a sixth browser screen display of the coversheet application of  FIG. 3  showing a copy-profile page.  
         [0020]      FIG. 11  is an seventh web browser screen display of the coversheet application of  FIG. 3  showing a third home page populated with the profile of  FIG. 8  and a copy of the profile.  
         [0021]      FIG. 12  is an exemplary coversheet generated by the coversheet application of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 13  is a touch screen display of the MFD of the electronic data management system of  FIG. 1  showing a plurality of touch-screen options.  
         [0023]      FIG. 14  is a second touch screen display of the MFD of the electronic data management system of  FIG. 1  showing the profiles stored.  
         [0024]      FIG. 15  is a third touch screen display of the MFD of the electronic data management system of  FIG. 1  showing a plurality of screen options. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0025]     Before any embodiments of the present invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The present invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.  
         [0026]     As should also be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, the systems shown in the figures are models of what actual systems might be like. Many of the modules, applications, and logical structures described are capable of being implemented in software executed by a microprocessor or a similar device or of being implemented in hardware using a variety of components including, for example, application specific integrated circuits (“ASICs”). Terms like “processor” may include or refer to hardware, software or a combination thereof. Furthermore, throughout the specification capitalized terms are used. Such terms are used to conform to common practices and to help correlate the description with the coding examples, equations and/or drawings. However, no specific meaning is implied or should be inferred simply due to the use of capitalization. Thus, unless specifically indicated otherwise, the claims should not be limited to the specific examples or terminology or to any specific hardware or software implementation or combination of software or hardware.  
         [0027]     Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and system for managing a scanned document or scanned images acquired or generated using a conventional scanner or a multi-function device (“MFD”) capable of any combination of scanning, faxing, copying, or printing functions. In one embodiment, the system includes a web browser that is accessible at a desktop computer and that is integrated with a database or document management system such as Hummingbird Document Management or Worldox. The web browser includes a login screen that prompts a user to login to the database or document management system. In one specific embodiment, the user generates or prints a barcode coversheet. The user then places the barcode coversheet on top of a document to be scanned, and places the barcode coversheet and the document to be scanned at the MFD. Once the MFD has scanned in the barcode coversheet and the document, the scanned document can be directed within the database management system.  
         [0028]      FIG. 1  shows a digital destination system, such as an electronic database management system  100  that includes a server  104 , a scanning device, such as MFD  108 , and a computer  112  all coupled together via a network  116 . In the embodiment shown, the server  104  includes a coversheet application  120 , a server database application  124 , and a memory  128 , among other things. The MFD  108  includes a touch screen application or a touch screen  132  that communicates with the network  116  through an interface application  136  in the MFD  108 . The computer  112  includes a browser application  140 , a local coversheet application or plug-in  144 , and a local database application  148  that accesses information in the server database application  124 . Operations of the electronic data management system  100  are discussed in detail below. Although the system  100  shows only one computer  112 , one server  104  and one MFD  108 , the system  100  can have any number of computers and MFDs on the system. The MFD can be capable of performing any combination of scanning, faxing, copying, or printing functions. Furthermore, although the MFD  108  is shown using the touch screen application or the touch screen  132 , the MFD  108  can also use a keypad mouse, or other input device and a display to accomplish similar functions through graphical user interfaces displayed on the display. In alternate embodiments, the digital destination system may be an electronic document system, and the scanning device may be a conventional stand-alone scanner.  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  includes a flow chart  200  that further illustrates processes that occur in some embodiments including processes that may be carried out by software, firmware, hardware or any combination thereof. Particularly, a user can use the browser application  140  through the Internet or any other network to access or process information from remote locations such as the computer  112 . At block  204 , the user opens the web browser application  140 . At block  208 , the user enters or provides the Internet address or uniform resource locator (“URL”) of the coversheet application  120 . A processor or a controller either at the computer  112  or at the server  104  determines if the user is a new user at block  212 . If it is determined that the user is a new user, the process  200  remotely installs the coversheet application plug-in  144  at block  216 . After the process  200  has determined that the user is not a new user or after the plug-in  144  is installed at block  216 , a log-in process is performed at block  220 . In some embodiments, the log-in process at block  220  includes entering a user ID of the user. In other embodiments, the log-in process at block  220  may include prompting the user for a password or some other security identification for access to the server database application  124  or the local database application  148 . Although it is not explicitly discussed herein, it should be understood that the log-in process at block  220  can include other processes or routines. Furthermore, although not shown in the log-in process at block  220 , it should also be understood that if a password or other security identification is required, such password or other security identification can also be communicated to the server  104 . In this way, the server  104  can verify the password or other security identification, if desired.  
         [0030]     Once the user has successfully logged in at block  220 , a home page of the coversheet application is shown or displayed at block  224 . At block  228 , both the local database application  148  and server database application  124  may also be launched or started in a known manner. At block  230 , the coversheet application determines whether a profile is already saved on the system  100 . If it is determined that there are no currently saved profiles, a profile may be created at block  236 .  
         [0031]     Once at least one profile exists, a user may elect to create another profile. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the coversheet application determines if the user desires to create a new profile at block  232 . If it is determined that a new profile is to be created, the create profile application is started or launched at block  236 .  
         [0032]     Once at least one profile exists, a user may elect to perform one or more functions on an existing profile. For example, at block  240 , the coversheet application determines whether the user selection received is to copy a profile. If it is determined that a profile is to be copied, the copy-profile application is executed at block  244 . At block  248 , the coversheet application determines whether the user selection received is to edit a profile. If it is determined that a profile is to be edited, the edit-profile application is executed at block  252 . The coversheet application may also determine whether a profile is to be deleted (block  256 ). If it is determined that a profile is to be deleted, a delete-profile application is executed at block  260 . At block  264 , the coversheet application determines whether the user selection received is to generate a coversheet. If it is determined that a coversheet is to be generated, the generate coversheet application is executed at block  268 . The determination of what function the user wants to perform may occur in any order and may occur simultaneously or sequentially.  
         [0033]     The profile information or metadata may be stored in any computer readable format. In some embodiments, the information of the profile may be encoded and/or stored in a database.  
         [0034]      FIG. 3  includes a flow chart that illustrates an exemplary coversheet process  300  as described in connection with block  268  of  FIG. 2 . The coversheet process  300  starts at block  304 , and determines whether a virtual coversheet is needed at block  308 . In some embodiments, the determination of whether a virtual coversheet is needed at block  308  includes determining whether selected hardware such as a specific model of MFD, a selected brand of MFD, an MFD that offers a specific function, an MFD that meets a specific specification, and the like, is being used in association with the system  100  (of  FIG. 1 ). For example, if the selected hardware is used with the system  100 , the coversheet process  300  can be configured to generate a virtual coversheet at block  308 . However, if the selected hardware is not being used with the system  100 , the coversheet process  300  can be configured to generate a physical coversheet instead.  
         [0035]     If it is determined at block  308  that the coversheet process  300  is to generate a physical coversheet, aa coversheet is printed at block  312 . The user can then stack the printed coversheet on a document to be scanned at block  320 . Although the printed coversheet is described as being stacked on top of the document to be scanned at block  320 , the printed coversheet can also be placed in any other position in the document. In such cases, the coversheet is formatted such that when the document is scanned, the MFD  108  can read and recognize the coversheet regardless of the coversheet position.  
         [0036]     If it is determined at block  308  that a virtual coversheet can be generated, a virtual coversheet is created at block  340 . In some embodiments, the virtual coversheet can be an electronic image, electronic data, or an electronic hook that includes the metadata of the document to be scanned. At block  344 , the virtual coversheet generated at block  340  is stored or saved on the server  104  and may be accessible from other locations. At block  348 , the coversheet process  300  prompts the user for a selection of a server database application to be used with the virtual coversheet. At block  352 , another log-in process is performed at the MFD  108  to validate or authenticate the user&#39;s identity. After a successful log-in, the user selects a profile with which the document to be scanned is associated (block  356 ). It should be noted that the log-in process at block  352  can be similar to the log-in process at block  220  of  FIG. 2 . However, other log-in processes can also be used. Furthermore, it should also be noted that in addition to the log-in process at  352 , other verification processes may be performed simultaneously with the log-in process at block  352 . In some embodiments, selecting a profile at block  356  can be skipped. For example, if the coversheet process  300  allows only a particular type of profile, selecting a profile at block  356  may not be necessary.  
         [0037]     Thereafter, the document to be scanned is scanned by the MFD  108  at block  360 . In a case where a virtual coversheet has been generated, only the document to be scanned is scanned in at block  360 . In a case where a physical coversheet has been generated, scanning the document at block  360  includes scanning in the printed coversheet and the document to be scanned. Once the document has been scanned at block  360 , the coversheet process  300  links the scanned document to the information provided in the coversheet or the metadata at block  364 . In some embodiments, the information on the coversheets, whether virtual or physical, includes the information of the profile selected by the user. The information may include a client number, client name, matter number, matter name, folder name, folder number, description, file format, and name of the profile. Other information may also be included with the profile information depending upon the desires of the user or needs of system  100 .  
         [0038]     To access information from locations and devices such as the computer  112 , the user can use the web browser application  140  and the plug-in  144  to access the information and data stored in the memory  128  that is organized and managed by the database application  124  via the coversheet application  120 . For example, the user may be authenticated by the server  104  via the browser application  140  to access information on a server  104  in a known manner.  FIG. 4  is a first web browser screen display  400  of the coversheet application  120  of  FIG. 1 . The first web browser screen display  400  particularly shows a login page  404  that can include a user identification entry  408  and a login button  412 . In other embodiments, the login page  404  can also include other information entries such as a password entry.  
         [0039]      FIG. 5  is second browser screen display  500  of the coversheet application  120 . Once the user has successfully logged in at the login page  404 , the plug-in  144  starts to interact with the coversheet application  120 , and a home page  504  may be displayed at the second web browser screen display  500 . The home page  504  may include a plurality of options or links that can be configured or preprogrammed. In the embodiment shown, the options, which are depicted as links, include creating a new profile  508 , copying a profile  512 , editing a profile  516 , deleting a profile  520 , and creating a coversheet  524 . Operations of the option links  508 ,  512 ,  516 ,  520 ,  524 , are discussed below.  
         [0040]     The home page  504  includes a profile area  522 . As shown, the profile area  522  does not include any profile in order to show that it is the first time a particular user has successfully logged into the coversheet application  120  with the plug-in  144 . However, in other embodiments, the home page  504  can include a number of default profiles predetermined or offered by the coversheet application  120  or the server database application  124 . The home page may also include profiles or previously created by the user. In some embodiments, a maximum number of profiles can be displayed with the home page  504 . Generally, the maximum number of profiles that can be displayed on the home page  504  is configurable by the user or system administrator. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the maximum number of profiles allowed is five. In such cases, if a user decides to create a sixth profile, an error pop up window may be displayed to alert the user that the maximum number of profiles allowed has been reached. In some embodiments, the user may be allowed to delete a profile using the link  520  before adding a new profile with the link  508 .  
         [0041]     If the user decides to create a new profile from the home page  504 , the user can select or click the new profile link  508  to create a new profile.  FIG. 6  is a third web browser screen display  600  that includes a new profile page or screen  604 . In the embodiment shown, the new profile screen  604  includes a plurality of profile fields. The profile fields include a profile name  608  that the user may select from the local database application  148  or server database application  124  (of  FIG. 1 ). The user may also be prompted to manually enter a profile name at profile name field  608 . The user may also have to enter other information for other fields. Such other information fields may include, for example, a client information field  612 , a matter field  616 , a folder field  620 , a description field  624 , and a file format field  628 . The system administrator may create fields and/or prompts for other categories of information.  
         [0042]     In some embodiments, a selection button or link  608 ,  614 ,  618 ,  622  may correspond to or be associated with information fields  612 ,  616 ,  620 ,  624 ,  628 . For example, field  612  has a respective option button  614  to select a client number, field  616  has a respective option button  618  to select a matter number, and the folder field  620  has a respective option button  622  to select a folder directory. In this way, the user can choose from a list of options from a pop up window such as a customer pop up window  632  as shown in  FIG. 7 . In the embodiment shown, the customer pop up window  632  is generally managed by the local database application  148  or the server database application  124 . The user can complete the information fields by clicking a respective option button or by selecting an item from the pop up windows. In other embodiments, the user can access the options via a pull down menu. For example, the file format field  628  has a respective pull-down menu  630  for selecting the file format type. It should be noted that other types of information fields and field selection processes can also be used with the new profile function. Once the user has selected or entered all of the required profile information, the user can select or click a save button  636  to save the entered information. The user may also select or click a reset button  640  to reset the entered information to their default values.  
         [0043]     If the user has already saved some profiles in the home page  504 , the user can choose to edit a particular profile using the link  516 .  FIG. 8  is a fourth web browser screen display  700  that includes an edit profile page  704 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the edit profile page  704  shows a plurality of fields including a profile name field  708 , a client field  712 , a matter field  716 , a folder field  720 , a description field  724 , and a file format field  728 . The entries will initially display default information or information that was originally associated with the profile name before it is edited. The user may then change any of the entries as described in  FIG. 6 . Once changes are made, the changes can be saved by selecting or clicking a save button  732 . Once the save button  732  is clicked, the coversheet home page  504  ( FIG. 5 ) may be displayed. The user, however, can also use or click a reset button  736  to clear all the changes made in the entries or to reset field values to the original entries. The entries  708 ,  712 ,  716 ,  720 ,  724 ,  728 , are generally provided with options or option buttons such that the user can select from a list provided by the local database application  148  or the server database application  124 . Furthermore, if the user clicks the option buttons as discussed with  FIG. 6 , a corresponding pop-up window may be displayed at the editing profile page  704  ( FIG. 8 ). The user may then click the save button  732  to save the changed profile and to return to the home page  504  ( FIG. 5 ).  
         [0044]     Referring again to  FIG. 5 , in addition to creating a new profile using the link  508  and editing the profile through link  516 , the user can also elect to delete a particular profile via link  520  or copy a profile using link  512 . To copy a profile using the link  512 , the user initially selects a profile to be copied, and then clicks the link  512  to copy the selected profile. Upon doing so, a fifth browser screen display  800  ( FIG. 9 ) appears that includes a second home page  804  populated with an existing profile  808 . Once the user has selected the profile  808  by highlighting the profile  808  and clicked the link  512 , a copy profile page is displayed.  
         [0045]      FIG. 10  shows a sixth browser screen display  820  that includes a copy profile screen or page  824  that can be similar to the edit profile page  704  of  FIG. 8 . For example, the copy profile page  824  includes a profile name field, a client field, a matter field, a folder field, a description field, and a file format field. It should be understood that the copy profile page  824  can include other entries that are configurable by the user. Once the user has made any desired changes to the entries on copy profile page  824 , the user clicks a save button  828  to save the changes, and the home screen  504  ( FIG. 5 ) may be displayed and list a copy of the profile  808 .  
         [0046]      FIG. 11  shows an seventh web browser screen display  832  that shows an edited or second home page  836  that lists the original profile  808  and a copy of the profile  830 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the user may delete a profile using the link  520  on edited home page  836 . In some embodiments, deleting a profile using the link  520  will start a pop-up window to ensure that the user wants to delete a selected profile in a known manner. In this way, the chances of the user accidentally deleting a profile are reduced.  
         [0047]     As described, the second home page  832  shows two profiles  808  and  830 . The user is also given an option to create a coversheet using the link  524  on the second home screen page  836 . The user can create a coversheet by clicking the link  524 . In this way, a batch job or a repetitive job using a selected profile can be performed to improve efficiency and to reduce the time required to enter information for an individual profile. Once the user has highlighted a particular profile for the batch job, the user clicks the link  524  to create a coversheet as discussed in connection with the flowchart shown in  FIG. 3 . In this way, the user can reduce the time needed to individually and manually enter the information for all of the profiles at the MFD  108 .  
         [0048]      FIG. 12  shows an exemplary coversheet  840  generated by the coversheet process  300 . Coversheet  840  includes identifiers  844  such as the barcode, and other profile information. In other embodiments, the identifiers can include a combination of barcodes, a string of characters, scanner and computer readable or recognizable objects such as patterns and colors or color combinations. As described, the coversheet  840  also includes the profile information inputted or selected by the user. As shown in  FIG. 12 , the profile information includes a name of the user, a client number, a matter number, a description of the profile, a folder, and the format of the document. As previously described with the description of  FIG. 3 , the system  100  can generate a virtual coversheet for use with the MFD  108 .  
         [0049]     Once the user has finished creating the coversheet through link  524 , the user can access the created profile via the touch-screen  132  at the MFD  108 .  FIG. 13  shows a user interface  900  displayed on a touch screen  132  on the MFD  108  of  FIG. 1 . The interface  900  includes buttons for enabling a plurality of MFD functions. The option buttons correspond to a copy function  904 , effect function  908 , an email function  912 , a profile function  916 , a forms function  920 , a database application function  924  and a barcode read function  928 . Other functions can also be offered on the touch screen  132 . In some cases, the touch-screen  132  can also include a sub-screen to display status of the MFD  108 . For example, the touch-screen  132  also includes a display area  932  that shows a status of a tray at the MFD  108 .  
         [0050]     Although the interface  900  is shown on the touch-screen  132 , the interface  900  can also be displayed on a computer that is linked to the MFD  108 . To access the virtually created profile using the web browser application  144 , the user can select the local database application  148  or server database application  124  selecting the server database application function option button  924 . In some embodiments, once the database function option button  924  has been selected, the user will go through a log-in process that may require the user to enter the user ID and/or a respective password.  
         [0051]     Once successfully logged in, the user may view profiles created by the user or to which the user has been authorized to access that have been generated using the coversheet application  120  and the plug-in  144 .  FIG. 14  shows a second user interface  1000  displayed on the touch screen  132  on the MFD  108  of  FIG. 1  after the user has selected tbe desired database application. The second interface  1000  shows a plurality of profile names  1004 . The user may select a particular profile from the list of profile names  1004 , and press “enter” button  940  to continue executing the database application.  
         [0052]     In some embodiments, the user is also provided with the information of the selected profile  1012  so that the user can edit or change the information of the selected profile  1012 .  FIG. 15  shows a third interface  1008  displayed on the touch screen  132  on the MFD  108  of  FIG. 1 . The third interface  1008  lists a plurality of fields that the user can change. Such fields correspond to the profile selected  1012  from the list of profiles displayed on the second interface  1000 . For example, the user may select the profile fields to edit by checking the respective box of each of the profile fields and pressing the enter soft button  940  to continue executing the database application. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 15 , client matter check box  1016 A may be selected in order to modify the value of client matter field  1012 A, class check box  1016 B may be selected in order to allow the user to change the format  1012 B of the scanned document, description check box  1016 C may be selected to allow the user to change the profile description  1012 C, and folder check box  1016 D may be selected to allow the user to change the folder  1012 D into which the document is stored. Once the user has changed the information of the profile for a document to be scanned, the user can start a known scanning process by activating a scan button on the MFD  108 .  
         [0053]     In a case where the coversheet  840  (as shown in  FIG. 12 ) has been generated, the user can stack or place the generated coversheet  840  on top (or as mentioned at another place in the stack of documents) of a document to be scanned and load the MFD  108  with the document and the coversheet  840 . The user may launch the barcode read function by activating or pressing the barcode read function option button  928  of interface  900  at the MFD  108 . The document with the coversheet  840  is then scanned and stored according to the information formed on or contained in the coversheet  840 . In this way, the user can skip manually entering a profile or editing a selected profile as discussed with  FIG. 14  and  FIG. 15 .  
         [0054]     In some embodiments, after the document has been scanned, the scanned document may be submitted to the local database application  148  or the server database application  124  with the profile or the metadata generated previously for storage and/or performance of other functions such as faxing, emailing, copying and printing.  
         [0055]     Thus, the invention provides, among other things, a method and system for managing a scanned document or scanned images. Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.