Abstract:
Typical confirmation sheets include a general job status and a reduced image of the first page of the job. This may be sufficient for a job comprising a single service and a single destination or recipient. The confirmation sheet would be more useful if it provided images of each page of a transmission, such as for a multi-service and/or multi-destination job. In various exemplary embodiments, thumbnail images of one more pages of the transmission are included on the confirmation sheet. The pages to be included as thumbnail images on the confirmation sheet can be selected. The range of pages can be selected. Alternatively, individual ones of the pages can be specified. If the selected set of thumbnail images would not fit onto a single page, the user is given the option to use a multi-page confirmation sheet or to re-select the pages to be included on the confirmation sheet.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     This invention is directed to the systems and methods for generating document distribution confirmation sheets. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Confirmation sheets are routinely used to provide status for document distribution jobs. Many existing document distribution systems can distribute documents to multiple destinations and can include multiple services, such as faxing, copying by sending to a printer, scan-to-file and scan-to-repository. Currently, confirmation sheets are presently used that may include an overall general job status. However, the overall job status report does not individually identify which recipients may or may not have received the job if the entire distribution job was not successful. 
     Present confirmation sheets also contain general job parameters such as submittal time and originating user and/or device. Job settings and information about the input document, such as file type, or image specifications, such as resolution, contrast and sharpness, are often on current confirmation sheets. Current job information also often includes length or size of the job and whether it is two-sided. Some existing confirmation sheets also provide a reduced image of the first page of the job. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Currently, typical confirmation sheets include a general job status and a reduced image of the first page of the job. This may be sufficient for a job comprising a single service and a single destination or recipient. The confirmation sheet would be more useful if it provided status information for each service, for each destination or recipient and/or images of each page of a transmission, such as for a multi-service and/or multi-destination job. 
     This invention separately provides systems and methods that generate on the confirmation sheet a thumbnail image of one or more pages of the job. 
     In various exemplary embodiments, thumbnail images of one or more pages of the multi-destination and/or multi-service job are included on the confirmation sheet. In various exemplary embodiments, the pages to be included as thumbnail images on the confirmation sheet can be selected. In various exemplary embodiments, the range of pages can be selected. In various other exemplary embodiments, individual ones of the pages can be specified. In various exemplary embodiments, if the selected set of thumbnail images would not fit onto a single page, the user is given the option to use a multi-page confirmation sheet or to re-select the pages to be included on the confirmation sheet. 
     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 this invention will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates one exemplary embodiment of a confirmation sheet containing multi-destination, multi-service status and thumbnail images of pages; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates in greater detail one exemplary embodiment of a general scan settings and job information portion of a confirmation sheet; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates in greater detail one exemplary embodiment of a multi-destination and/or multi-service portion of a confirmation sheet; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates in greater detail one exemplary embodiment of a thumbnail images portion of a confirmation sheet; 
         FIGS. 5 and 6  are a flowchart outlining one exemplary embodiment of a method for generating confirmation sheets containing multi-destination multi-service status and/or thumbnail images; 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart outlining in greater detail one exemplary embodiment of a method for inputting thumbnail image request information; 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart outlining in greater detail one exemplary embodiment of a method for generating a multi-destination and/or multi-service status portion of a confirmation sheet; 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart outlining in greater detail one exemplary embodiment of a method for generating a thumbnail images portion of a confirmation sheet; and 
         FIG. 10  is a block diagram of one exemplary embodiment of a confirmation sheet-generating device according to this invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the confirmation sheets, systems and methods according to this invention describes the confirmation sheets, systems and methods relative to both multi-destination/multi-service status information and thumbnail images. However, it should be appreciated that the confirmation sheets, systems and methods according to this invention can include or implement only the thumbnail images, independently of the multi-destination/multi-service status information. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates one exemplary embodiment of a confirmation sheet  1000  with multi-destination status and thumbnail images. At the top of each page of the confirmation sheet  1000  is a request information portion  1100 . The request information portion  1100  includes the name or address  1110  of the user/requestor and the time  1120  of the request. A scan settings portion  1200  identifies any specific parameters that were used when one or more documents in the job were input. A job information portion  1300  identifies information unique to the current document distribution job. 
     A flowport glyph  1400  is a pattern that is recognized by a scanner and that identifies the document distribution job. By placing the original confirmation sheet in a scanner, a request for an updated confirmation sheet can be automatically generated by scanning, recognizing and acting on the flowport glyph  1400 . A status update address  1500  is a network address at which an update of the information contained in the confirmation sheet can be viewed, and, in various exemplary embodiments, from which an updated confirmation sheet can be downloaded and/or printed. One exemplary embodiment of this address is a web URL. It should be appreciated that any known or later-developed network addressing system or method can be used when implementing the status update address  1500 . It should be appreciated that only one of the flowport glyph  1400  and the status update address  1500  need be used and then only if one or more of the selected services and/or destinations or recipients was not completed. 
     A multi-destination status portion  1600  provides status information for each service, for each destination and/or for recipient of the document distribution job. It should be appreciated that the multi-destination status portion  1600  may be omitted or reduced if only a single service to a single destination or recipient is used. A thumbnail images portion  1700  provides thumbnail images of one or more requested pages of the document distribution job. It should be appreciated that, if no pages for which thumbnail images are desired are identified, the thumbnail images portion  1700  can be omitted. It should also be appreciated that the confirmation sheet may have multiple pages depending on the number of recipients of the distribution job and/or the number of thumbnail images requested. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates in greater detail one exemplary embodiment of the general scan settings portion  1200  and the job information portion  1300  of the confirmation sheet  1000 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the scan settings portion  1200  identifies any specific parameters used when document distribution job was input. These parameters include an original type  1201 , an auto exposure method  1202 , a lighten/darken level  1203 , a number of sides imaged  1204 , a resolution  1205 , a contrast level  1206 , a sharpness level  1207  and an image size  1208  that were used when scanning the one or more input documents. It should be appreciated that the settings included in the confirmation sheet  1000  can be set as a predetermined set of features or can be selectably determined when a job is submitted or a status is requested. It should also be appreciated that any one or more of the parameters of the scan setting portion  1200  shown in  FIG. 2  may be omitted. It should also be appreciated that any other known or later-developed document input parameter can be included in the scan settings portion  1200 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the job information portion  1300  identifies the information unique to the current document distribution job. This information includes a device name  1301  that the document was input from, a system date  1302  and a system time  1303  that the confirmation sheet  1000  was generated and a submittal time  1304  of the document distribution job. It should be appreciated that one or more of the information items of the job information portion  1300  may be omitted. It should also be appreciated that any other known or later-developed information item can be included in the job information portion  1300 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates in greater detail one exemplary embodiment of the multi-destination status portion  1600  of the confirmation sheet  1000 . The status of each destination and/or recipient of the document distribution job is displayed in a separate area in the confirmation sheet  1000 . Each such area for a particular destination or recipient contains a type of service  1610 , a recipient identification  1620 , which is also referred to as a distribution list, a status  1630 , and a send settings  1640  for the destination and/or recipient identified in that area of the confirmation sheet  100 -. The services  1610  that could be used include, for example, email  1611 , scan to file/repository  1612 , facsimile communications  1613 , internet facsimile (IFAX) communications  1614  and/or scan to print  1615 . It should be appreciated that any one or more of the services shown in  FIG. 3  may be omitted from the multi-destination status portion  1600 . It should also be appreciated that any known or later-developed document distribution service can be included in the multi-destination status portion  1600 . 
     The distribution list  1620  identifies each of the recipients of the job. The scan destinations are identified with an IP address  1621  or a network path name  1622 . Facsimile communications recipients are identified by a phone number  1625 . Email communications and internet facsimile communications recipients are identified by an email address  1624 . Print job destinations are identified by a network path name of the printer  1623 . It should be appreciated that any one or more of the identification formats may be omitted. It should also be appreciated that any other appropriate known or later-developed identification format can be included. 
     The status column  1630  of any service  1611 - 1615  identifies the present state of the data to be delivered to the identified specific destination and/or recipient. Those recipients from whom a receipt or other form of confirmation has been received are marked as having a success status  1631 . In various exemplary embodiments, if an error message is received indicating a delivery failure and/or if a successful receipt is not received before a defined time limit, a failure status  1633  is reported. If available, a specific error message is, in various exemplary embodiments, included when the status is “failed”. If no information is available regarding the status of a specific recipient, a pending status  1632  is reported. 
     The send settings column  1640  identifies job settings that are set individually for each type of service or, in some cases, for each recipient. In particular, it should be appreciated that some settings are only applicable to specific services. For email and scan to file/repository services  1611  and  1612 , the file type setting  1641  is included as a send setting status. For the scan to file/repository and IFAX services  1612  and  1614 , the user setting  1642  or job requester labeled “from” is shown as a send setting status. For the FAX and print services  1613  and  1615 , the resolution setting  1643  is a send setting. A facsimile protocol setting  1644 , which indicates which protocol is used, such as the “super G3” protocol indicated in the example shown in  FIG. 3 , and a cover sheet status setting  1645 , which indicates whether the cover sheet function is active, are send settings specific to the FAX service  1613 . The priority setting  1646  is shown as a send setting status for the email, FAX and IFAX services  1611 ,  1613  and  1614 . A Quantity setting  1647  and a Collate &amp; Staple on/off setting  1648  are send settings specific to the print service  1615 . 
     It should be appreciated that any one or more of the send settings may be omitted from the multi-destination status portion  1600 . It should also be appreciated that send settings shown in  FIG. 3  for the multi-destination status portion  1600  can be used for services other than or in addition to the services in which they are shown. It should also be appreciated that any other appropriate known or later-developed send settings can be included in the multi-destination status portion  1600 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates in greater detail one exemplary embodiment of the thumbnail images portion  1700  of the confirmation sheet  1000 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , a header  1710  for the thumbnail images portion  1700  includes a total number of pages selected to be sent  1712  and the specific pages  1714  selected for inclusion in the thumbnail images portion  1700 . A thumbnail image  1720  of each selected page of the document distribution job is added to the confirmation page, along with an image identifier  1722 , such as a page number, an alpha-numerical string, or the like, that identifies the corresponding image or page of the complete submitted document distribution job. It should be appreciated that any subset of the pages in the complete submitted document distribution job may be included in the confirmation sheet  1000 . It should also be appreciated that the pages to be included in the confirmation sheet  1000  can be predetermined or can selectably determined when a document distribution job is submitted or a status is requested. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  are a flowchart outlining one exemplary embodiment of a method for generating comprehensive confirmation sheets according to this invention. As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , operation of the method begins in step S 100 , and continues to step S 200 , where a request for a distribution job confirmation sheet or an updated confirmation sheet is input. In various exemplary embodiments, the request is input as a portion of creating a distribution job. In various other exemplary embodiments, the request is input by accessing the network address provided on an earlier confirmation sheet to obtain an updated confirmation sheet. In various other exemplary embodiments, the request is input, and thus the updated confirmation sheet is accessed, by using the flowport glyph as outlined above. 
     In any case, the input confirmation sheet request input in step S 200  identifies the job for which the confirmation sheet is desired, and the type of confirmation sheet, example, a multi-destination-status confirmation sheet, a thumbnail confirmation sheet, a combined confirmation sheet or even no confirmation sheet. Then, in step S 300 , a determination is made whether the confirmation sheet request indicates that the multi-destination status information is to be included in the confirmation sheet. If multi-destination status information was requested, operation continues to step S 400 . Otherwise, operation jumps directly to step S 500 . 
     In step S 400 , a flag is set, indicating multi-destination status information is requested. Then, in step S 500 , a determination is made whether the confirmation sheet request indicates that thumbnail images of the pages in the document distribution job are to be included in the confirmation sheet. If thumbnail images were requested, operation continues to step S 600 . Otherwise, operation jumps directly to step S 700 . In step S 600 , information is input on which pages for which thumbnails in the confirmation sheet is desired. Operation then continues to step S 700 . 
     In step S 700 , a determination is made whether the request is associated a new distribution job or if the request is for an updated confirmation sheet for a distribution job that was previously started. If the request is associated with a new distribution job, operation continues to step S 800 . Otherwise, operation jumps directly to step S 1000 . In step S 800 , the parameters and settings needed to perform the new distribution job are input. Then, in step S 900 , the one or more distribution services requested in the new distribution job are performed to transmit the data using one or more services and/or to one or more recipients. Operation then continues to step S 1000 . 
     In step S 1000 , the general scan settings for the document distribution job are retrieved and placed on the confirmation sheet. Next, in step S 1100 , the document distribution job information is retrieved and placed on the confirmation sheet. Then in step S 1200 , a determination is made whether the multi-destination status flag was set. If multi-destination status flag was set, operation continues to step S 1300 . Otherwise, operation jumps directly to step S 1400 . 
     In step S 1300 , the multi-destination status portion of the confirmation sheet is generated. Next, in step S 1400 , a determination is made whether thumbnail images request information was input. If thumbnail image request information was input, operation continues to step S 1500 . Otherwise, operation jumps directly to step S 1600 . In step S 1500 , the thumbnail images portion of the confirmation sheet is generated. Then, in step S 1600 , a determination is made whether any requested service is incomplete and/or whether the transmission to any recipient is not complete. If so, operation continues to step S 1700 . Otherwise, operation jumps to step S 1800 . In step S 1700 , the network address and/or the flowport glyph for updated status is generated. Operation then continues to step S 1800 . 
     In step S 1800 , the generated portions of the confirmation sheet are combined into a completed confirmation sheet. Next, in step S 1900 , the completed confirmation sheet is output. Operation then continues to step S 2000 , where operation of the method ends. 
     It should be appreciated that the method outlined in  FIGS. 5 and 6  permits the user to change the information to be included in the confirmation sheet when requesting an updated confirmation sheet. That is, the information that was originally requested to be included in the confirmation sheet when the job distribution request was input can be changed when requesting the updated confirmation sheet. In various other exemplary embodiments, the method outlined in  FIGS. 5 and 6  can be modified to place step S 700  before step S 200 . In this case, if an updated confirmation sheet is requested, steps S 200 -S 600  are skipped in addition to steps S 800  and S 900 . Thus, in this case, the information included in the confirmation sheet cannot be changed when an updated confirmation sheet is requested. 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart outlining in greater detail one exemplary embodiment of the method for inputting thumbnail request information. As shown in  FIG. 7 , operation of the method begins in step S 600 , and continues to step S 610 , where the requester inputs a choice whether a page range or list of pages is to be used. Then, in step S 620 , a determination is made whether requester input a page range. If a page range was input, operation continues to step S 630 . Otherwise, operation jumps to step S 640 . 
     In step S 630 , the requester inputs the range of pages wanted in the thumbnail image portion of the confirmation sheet. Operation then continues to step S 650 . In contrast, in step S 640 , the requester inputs the list of pages wanted in the thumbnail image portion of the confirmation sheet. Then, in step S 650 , a determination is made whether the selected thumbnail images will fit on a one-page confirmation sheet. If the thumbnail images will fit on a single page confirmation sheet, operation jumps to step S 680 . Otherwise, operation continues to step S 660 . 
     In step S 660 , the requester is requested to input a choice of a multiple page confirmation sheet or indicate that the user wants to reselect the thumbnail pages requested and the users selections are input. Then in step S 670 , a determination is made whether a multiple page confirmation sheet was selected. If a multiple page confirmation sheet was not selected, operation returns to step S 610 . Otherwise, operation continues to step S 680 , where operation returns to step S 700 . 
       FIG. 8  is a flowchart outlining in greater detail one exemplary embodiment of the method for generating the multi-destination status portion of the confirmation sheet. As shown in  FIG. 8 , operation of the method begins in step S 1300 , and continues to step S 1310 , where the first or next recipient in the distribution list of the document distribution job is selected. Next, in step S 1320 , the type of service for the selected recipient is retrieved. Then, in step S 1330 , the status of the selected recipient is retrieved. Next, in step S 1340 , the service specific and recipient specific settings are retrieved. Operation then continues to step S 1350 . 
     In step S 1350 , the data retrieved for the selected recipient is added to the confirmation sheet. Next, in step S 1360 , a determination is made whether there are any more recipients on the distribution list. If there are more recipients, operation returns to step S 1310 . Otherwise, operation continues to step S 1370 , where operation returns to step S 1400 . 
       FIG. 9  is a flowchart outlining in greater detail one exemplary embodiment of the method for generating the thumbnail images portion of the confirmation sheet. As shown in  FIG. 9 , operation of the method begins in step S 1500 , and continues to step S 1510 , where the first or next page in the in the range of pages or list of pages input in the request is retrieved. Next, in step S 1520 , the retrieved scan image is reduced to thumbnail size. Operation then continues to step S 1530 . 
     In step S 1530 , the thumbnail image is added to the confirmation sheet. Next, in step S 1540 , a determination is made whether there are more pages in the range of pages or list of pages input in the request. If there are more pages operation returns to step S 1510 . Otherwise, operation continues to step S 1550 , where operation returns to step S 1600 . 
       FIG. 10  shows one exemplary embodiment of a confirmation sheet generating system  1800  according to this invention. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the confirmation sheet generating system  1800  includes an input/output interface  1805 , a controller  1810 , a memory  1820 , a recipient and scan information retrieving circuit, routine or application  1830 , a scan image retrieving circuit, routine or application  1840 , a thumbnail image generating circuit, routine or application  1850 , a network address and/or flowport glyph generating circuit, routine or application  1860 , a confirmation sheet generating circuit, routine or application  1870 , each interconnected by one or more control and/or data busses and/or application programming interfaces  1815 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , one or more user input devices  1900 , a document source  2000 , a printer  2100  and one or more networks  2200  are connected to the confirmation sheet generating system  1800  by links  1905 ,  2005 ,  2105  and  2205 , respectively. 
     In general, the document source  2000  shown in  FIG. 10  can be any known or later-developed device that is capable of providing digital scan images of documents and/or electronic files of documents to the confirmation sheet generating system  1800  of this invention. In general, the printer  2100  shown in  FIG. 10  can be any known or later-developed device that is capable of printing the confirmation sheet generated by the confirmation sheet generating system  1800  of this invention. 
     The document source  2000  or the printer  2100  can be integrated with the confirmation sheet generating system  1800 , such as in a general-purpose computer with internal magnetic storage disk. In addition, the confirmation sheet generating system  1800  may be integrated with devices providing additional functions in addition to the document source  2000  or the printer  2100 , such as in a larger system that performs all functions, such as a multi-function printer/scanner/copier. 
     The respective one or more user input devices  1900  may be any combination of one or more input devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, a joy stick, a trackball, a touch pad, a touch screen, a pen-based system, a microphone and associated voice recognition software, or any other known or later-developed device for inputting user commands to the confirmation sheet generating system  1800 . It should be understood that the one or more user input devices  1900 , of  FIG. 10  do not need to be the same type of device. 
     Each of the links  1905 ,  2005 ,  2105  and  2205  connecting the input device(s)  1900 , the document source  2000 , the printer  2100  and the network(s)  2200  to the confirmation sheet generating system  1800  can be a connection device, such as a direct cable connection, a modem, a local area network, a wide area network, a storage area network, an intranet, the Internet, any other distributed processing network, or any other known or later-developed connection device. It should be appreciated that any of these connections may be include wired and/or wireless portions. In general, each of the links  1905 ,  2005 ,  2105  and  2205  can be of any known or later-developed connection system or structure usable to connect the respective devices to the confirmation sheet generating system  1800 . It should be understood that the links  1905 ,  2005 ,  2105  and  2205  do not need to be of the same type. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the memory  1820  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 rewriteable 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. 
     Each of the various elements of the confirmation sheet generating system  1800  can be implemented as software executing on a programmed general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a microprocessor or the like. Alternatively, each of the various elements of the confirmation sheet generating system  1800  can implemented as a routine embedded in a library, or a resource residing on a server, or the like. It should be understood that each of the various elements of the confirmation sheet generating system  1800  do not need to be implemented the same way. Various exemplary embodiments of the confirmation sheet generating system  1800  can be implemented by physically incorporating that device into a software and/or hardware system, such as a speech recognition system or language translation system of a computer or communication device. 
     Thus, it should also be understood that each of the circuits, routines, applications or managers shown in  FIG. 10  can be implemented as portions of a suitably programmed general-purpose computer. Alternatively, each of the circuits, routines, applications or managers shown in  FIG. 10  can be implemented as physically distinct hardware circuits within an ASIC, using a digital signal processor (DSP), using a FPGA, a PLD, a PLA and/or a PAL, or using discrete logic elements or discrete circuit elements. The particular form of the circuits, routines, applications or managers shown in  FIG. 10  will take is a design choice and will be obvious and predictable to those skilled in the art. It should be appreciated that the circuits, routines or managers shown in  FIG. 10  do not need to be of the same design. 
     When operating the confirmation sheet generating system  1800 , the request for conformation sheet and any additional needed information is input from one of the user input devices  1900  over the link  1905  as shown in  FIG. 10 . The input/output interface  1805  inputs the confirmation sheet request, and under the control of the controller  1810 , forwards it to the recipient and scan information retrieving circuit, routine or application  1830 . 
     The recipient and scan information retrieving circuit, routine or application  1830  then retrieves the recipient specific and general scan information from the document source over the link  2005 , under control of the controller  1810 . The recipient specific and general scan information is organized and then, under the control of the controller  1810 , is stored in the recipient and scan information portion  1821  of the memory  1820 , or is handed off directly to the confirmation sheet generation circuit, routine or application  1870 . 
     The scan image retrieving circuit, routine or application  1840  then retrieves the scan images from the document source  2000  over the link  2005 , under control of the controller  1810 . Then, under the control of the controller  1810 , the scan images are stored in the scan image portion  1822  of the memory  1820 , or are handed off directly to the thumbnail image generating circuit, routine or application  1850 . 
     The thumbnail image generating circuit, routine or application  1850 , then retrieves the scan images from the scan image portion  1822  of the memory  1820 , or receives the scan images directly, under control of the controller  1810 , and resizes the received images to thumbnail images. Then, under the control of the controller  1810 , the thumbnail images are stored in the thumbnail image portion  1823  of the memory  1820 , or are handed off directly to the confirmation sheet generating circuit, routine or application  1870 . 
     The network address and flowport glyph generating circuit, routine or application  1860  then generates a network address and/or a flowport glyph if any service is incomplete and/or any transmission to a recipient or destination is incomplete. Then, under the control of the controller  1810 , the network address and/or the flowport glyph are stored in the network address and flowport glyph portion of the memory  1824 , or are handed off directly to the confirmation sheet generating circuit, routine or application  1870 . 
     The confirmation sheet generating circuit, routine or application  1870  then retrieves the recipient specific and general scan information from the recipient and scan information portion  1821 , the thumbnail images from the thumbnail image portion  1823 , and the network address and/or the flowport glyph, if created, from the network address and flowport glyph portion  1824  of the memory  1820 , or receives the information directly, under control of the controller  1810 , and generates a confirmation sheet, such as that shown in  FIG. 1 . Then, under the control of the controller  1810 , the confirmation sheet, is then stored in the confirmation sheet portion  1825  of the memory  1820  or is output directly to the printer  2100 , over the link  2105  and/or is emailed to the requester vial the network  2200  over the link  2205 , under the control of the controller  1810 . 
     The confirmation sheet generating system  1800  shown in  FIG. 10  is, in various exemplary embodiments, implemented on a programmed general-purpose computer. However, the confirmation sheet generating system  1800  can also be implemented on a special purpose computer, a programmed microprocessor or microcontroller and peripheral integrated circuit elements, an ASIC or other integrated circuit, a digital signal processor, a hardwired electronic or logic circuit such as a discrete element circuit, a programmable logic device such as a 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. 5-9 , can be used to implement the confirmation sheet generating system  1800 . 
     While this invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.