Patent Publication Number: US-2007101065-A1

Title: Document storage system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates to a document storage system and related methods. In particular, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a system and method for providing the documents relating to the service history of rented commercial vehicles such as haulage trucks and refrigeration vans.  
      Presently, service documents relating to a vehicle, and in particular commercial vehicles, are generally stored in a paper format and are kept at an office local to the vehicle. These documents are kept to prove that the vehicle is being maintained to at least a minimum standard, showing that the vehicle is both road worthy and conforming to legal requirements. Should the vehicle be rented then the renter must be able to prove that the vehicle is road worthy and will therefore require access to the documents relating to the vehicle that they have rented. It is therefore desirable that these documents are readily available.  
      Vehicles, and commercial vehicles in particular, must be maintained relatively often and therefore documents appertaining to each maintenance must be locatable. The frequency with which the documents are produced increases the burden of keeping track of the necessary documents.  
      Further, it is not unknown for the location of a vehicle to change. For example, the office from which a vehicle is rented may change; it is not uncommon for a vehicle to be rented from a first site and returned to a second site. In such circumstances, the documents must be forwarded to the second site from the first, again increasing the burden to keep the documents in order.  
      A prior art system relating to tracking the service history of a vehicle belonging to a fleet of vehicles is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,120, in the name of Good. This document describes a system where data relating to the service history of a rented vehicle is entered manually—i.e. typed in—to an electronic system, for example on a data entry page on a computer.  
      U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/933,005, in the name of Sasaki discloses a rental car reservation system. Data relating to a car required for hire is typed in to a data entry page. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/900,892, in the name of Tamai, discloses a system for providing the cars of individuals for hire. Again, data relating to a car required for hire is typed in to a data entry page.  
      The prior art discussed here makes no attempt to ease the burden of keeping track of and making available the necessary documents for maintaining a one or more vehicles.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a document storage system comprising: 
          at least one server on which at least one electronic document is held;     document reception means arranged to receive said electronic document and store said electronic document on said server;     quality control means facilitating quality control checks of said electronic document;     access means providing remote access to said server;     search means allowing said electronic document to be located on said server; and     terminal means allowing users to connect to said server using said access means, locate said electronic document using said search means, and receive said electronic document.        

      One advantage of such a system is that it allows copies of documents to be located centrally although the original document may not have been sent to a central location perhaps being located at a test centre, dealers or the like. This reduces the need to physically move documents reducing costs associated with postage and storage. The risk of damaging, losing or delaying the documents en route is also reduced, or possibly eliminated. When compared to an alternative possible system in which electronic documents are stored where the document is created and transmitting a copy to where it is required, the system could have the further advantage of reducing bandwidth requirements and saving time as the system according to the present invention would hold the documents centrally and there would be no need to repeatedly transmit the documents between sites. Further, the quality control means helps to ensure that the electronic document is of good quality and may be used to ensure that the electronic document meets one or more pre-determined criteria, some of which are legal requirements.  
      Further, the use of such a storage system may be advantageous to increase the ease of use for users of the system. It is likely that documents will be quicker and easier to locate. The long term quality of the stored documents may be increased. The costs and time associated with transferring documents to a relevant location may be reduced.  
      Preferably, the system is arranged to store electronic documents relating to vehicles, and most preferably in relation to vehicles that are intended to be hired and/or operated. An advantage of such a system related to vehicles is that, especially those that are hired, is that the physical documents do not need to be moved with the vehicle, as has been the case in the prior art. Trying to move a physical document with a rented vehicle is problematic, especially in environments such as haulage environments, etc., which are not suited for keeping paper documents.  
      The access means may provide access to a network, and in particular a WAN (Wide Area Network). Such an arrangement is convenient because it allows the terminal to be separated from the at least one server by considerable distances. As such it may be relatively easy to transmit a document over these distances, which may be more cost effective than prior art solution.  
      In a particularly advantageous embodiment the access means provides access to the Internet. Access to the Internet is advantageous because it is readily available and allows the electronic documents to be accessed from a large number of locations. In such an arrangement a terminal may be any suitable device for receiving data/information across the Internet. A particular advantage of this embodiment is that the terminal means will not usually have to be supplied with proprietary software to access documents stored on the system since software used to access the Internet is common. As such, the system will be able to be used by a large number of users with no modification to their computers or other Internet access device.  
      The, or each, server may be provided on a local network. The local network may be connected via a firewall to the Internet. Such an arrangement is convenient because it provides the convenience of providing a network of computers (increased speed of data manipulation by allowing access from a number of locations; increased security of data using network access restrictions; and the like.) whilst allowing restricted access to the network to the Internet via the firewall (thus helping to maintain data security).  
      Generally, the system comprises a plurality of servers. It will be appreciated that such an arrangement is advantageous at least because of the following reasons. Having a plurality of servers increases the available bandwidth for the electronic document to be sent to the access means; it increases the security of the electronic document (i.e. if any one server fails there is likely to be documents available from other servers); it reduces the necessary hardware specification for any one of the servers.  
      The document reception means may be capable of receiving faxes using known transmission protocols (for example G1, G2, G3, or G4 protocols). Such a document reception means is convenient because fax transmission is well known and widely available and therefore, the system will be able to receive documents from a large number of sources.  
      The document reception means may be arranged to send documents received thereby to the server without generating a paper, or other hardcopy. Such an arrangement is convenient because it reduces the amount of paper and helps to increase the quality of the electronic document stored on the server. The skilled person will appreciate that the more times a document is printed and converted into an electronic document the lower the quality of the electronic document.  
      Conveniently, the document reception means comprises a ZETAFAX™, which may be obtained from Equisys PLC., Equisys House, 32 Southwark, Bridge Rd., London, SE1 9EU.  
      In alternative, or additional, embodiments the document reception means may comprise a scanner, a photocopier, or the like.  
      The system may also comprise a scanner, in communication with said server, arranged to generate an electronic document for storage on said server. Such a system is convenient if a paper copy of the document is available and allows an electronic document to be placed on the server without the need for faxing the document to the system. The skilled person will appreciate that the scanner may be connected across a network to the server, may be connected to the server, may be connected to a computer connected to a network, or the like.  
      The system may also comprise a conversion means arranged to convert the electronic document received by the document reception means into a format suitable, or more suitable, for storing on the or each server. Such an arrangement is convenient because it can reduce, or indeed minimise, the storage requirements for storing the or each electronic document. Further, the conversion means may be arranged to resize any electronic documents which are not of a standard size to the standard size. This can be advantageous as it may reduce the need for specialised equipment for example equipment capable of printing on or copying A3 sized paper to produce or reproduce an A3 service sheet.  
      In one embodiment the conversion means converts the electronic document into Portable Document Format (PDF), which is the skilled person will appreciate is available from the ADOBE™ corporation.  
      In a preferred embodiment the electronic document stored on the or each server is write protected so that it requires a password to alter. Such an arrangement is convenient because it increases the security of the data held on the server. For example in the field of vehicle rental, a renter of a vehicle would be prevented from falsifying the paper or electrical document and as such the system may satisfy legal requirements that monitor use of the system for documents which have legal significance.  
      Conveniently, the quality control means comprises a display means which is arranged to display electronic documents received by the document reception means and/or the scanner.  
      The search means may be arranged to generate a list of electronic documents that are available for a given search input thereto. Such a list is advantageous because it provides a simple yet efficient manner in which to present the data to a user.  
      Further, the search means may be arranged to group the electronic documents within the list into sub-categories. Such an arrangement is convenient because it can speed the retrieval of the desired electronic document from the system.  
      In one embodiment the search means is arranged to have input thereto at least one identifier for a vehicle. The identifier for the vehicle may comprise a registration number associated with the vehicle for which it is desired to obtain the electronic document. This is advantageous as it reduces the information required by a user to access a document to a single item. In prior art systems, the user may have been required to know the location of the document, its date of issue, or other facts.  
      Alternatively, or additionally, the identifier may comprise an alternative indication of the identity of the vehicle, for example the company or fleet to which it belongs. Further, the identifier may include details of the data stored by a particular vehicle. For example it may comprise an indication of the software available on the vehicle. Such software may be provided to provide indication relating to mileage, fuel economy, present location, etc. of a vehicle. Examples of such software include Dynafleet™ and Fleetstar™.  
      The system may be arranged such that one or more passwords or other access restriction means is provided to restrict access to predetermined electronic documents. For example, one password may allow access to the server and a further password may allow access to records to all electronic documents in a predetermined sub set of the documents stored, or indeed each electronic document may be protected. In one embodiment, a sub set of the electronic documents held may be provided for a fleet of vehicles, perhaps relating to a particular company, etc.  
      The system may comprise a diary means arranged to maintain a record of when predetermined events occur. Such an arrangement is convenient because it allows events to be monitored.  
      Conveniently, the diary means is arranged to hold information regarding when machinery must be serviced, tested, and the like. The machinery may include vehicles, as well as components for vehicles such as lift hoists, fridge motors and the like, as well as potentially any other machinery. It will be appreciated that such servicing and testing are legal requirements for vehicles and components thereof such as refrigeration units and tail lift motors and in particular trucks, and as such it is important that such events are not missed. Such a method may be able to provide for greater certainty and user convenience in meeting such legal requirements.  
      The system may comprise at least one database means, which is arranged to record the or each electronic document stored on the system. Such a database means facilitates retrieval of the document and reduces the amount of time taken to locate the electronic document by the search means. The database means may reduce the amount of storage needed to store the electronic document by arranging them in an efficient manner on the or each server.  
      The system may advantageously comprise a plurality if database means. This may be useful when the system is used to control several fleets, categories of vehicle and/or the fleet of several companies. Details of one fleet or company could be contained in its own database. This reduces the need to search through all the documents when it is known that details of a vehicle belonging to a particular fleet, category and/or company are required.  
      The method may provide a web site associated with each database means such that that web site may be accessed to access the data held in that database means. Such an arrangement may make it convenient to provide access to sub sets of the overall data (for example of the vehicles belonging to a particular fleet). In additional, or alternative embodiments two or more web sites may be arranged to access the data held in a single database means.  
      Preferably, the database means and the diary means are interfaced to one another. Interfacing the database and diary means in this manner provides a convenient system to use: data is transferred between the two systems more conveniently; accuracy of the data is improved; the data in the system becomes more accountable and easier to analyse. However, the security of the data may be improved; data within the diary means is separated from that in the database means.  
      Further, interfacing the database means and the diary means may allow feedback when an expected event, such as a service, does not occur by a date held in the diary means (i.e. when a document relating to the expected event is not received within a given time period following the event). An alert or report may then be generated.  
      Indeed, the diary means may be arranged to generate reports as to machinery that has not met its servicing requirements. Such an arrangement is advantageous because it can help to alert the owner and/or user of the machinery that machinery may not be legal. Such a diary means may be thought of as providing a closed loop that allows a user of the system to ensure that the machinery that they operate has been fully serviced, perhaps as required by the law.  
      The system may be further arranged to delete and/or archive electronic documents that have reached a predetermined age. The predetermined age may vary according to the content of the electronic document. For example, if a vehicle is serviced every six weeks then the system may be arranged to delete the electronic document after six weeks. The skilled person will appreciate that the electronic document may be a graphical representation of the original document. If this is the case this arrangement is particularly advantageous due the size of the file on the server that is required to hold the electronic document. Deleting the electronic document once it has reached the predetermined age provides the technical advantage of reducing the space required to store the electronic documents. Further, it will be appreciated that as the amount of storage space is reduced, it is likely that search and retrieval times are also reduced.  
      The diary means may be arranged to determine when the electronic document has reached the predetermined age.  
      The database means may be arranged to generate and/or maintain a link to the electronic document stored on the or each server. The system may be arranged to present a user with a list of such links, and further arranged such that activation a link provides the user with the electronic document.  
      Conveniently, the links provide a network address from which the electronic document can be obtained. The server may be arranged to communicate using any known protocol. For example any of the following may be suitable: http, https, ftp, xpath, or the like may all be suitable.  
      The system may be arranged to generate pages viewable on the network in use as the page is required and in particular the system may be arranged to generate html, xml, or the like.  
      The document reception means may be arranged to add the time and/or date at which a document is received by the system either to the database means and/or the document itself. Such a method is convenient because it helps to increase the accountability of the documents held in the database means.  
      According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of storing at least one electronic document, said method comprising receiving said electronic document using a document reception means; checking the quality of the received electronic document using a quality control means; storing said electronic document on at least one server; allowing said electronic document to be located on said server, by users of terminal means connected to said server via an access means and using a search means, provided to facilitate the location of said electronic document.  
      Preferably, the method provides a method of storing documents related to vehicles and in particular to vehicles that may be hired. Alternatively or additionally, the system may relate to any fleet of vehicles such as light and heavy commercial vehicles, cars, heavy plant, buses, coaches, etc.  
      According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a server suitable for use in the invention according to the first aspect of the invention and being arranged to store at least one electronic document thereon; said server being provided with a means to receive said electronic document for storage thereon; said server further comprising access means providing access to said electronic document thereon from a remote source; said server further comprising a search means, or providing access to a search means, which facilitates the location of said electronic document.  
      The server of the third aspect of the invention, or indeed any of the other aspects of the invention, may be arranged to hold details relating to any of the following: light and heavy commercial vehicles; cars; heavy plant; PSV&#39;s or any other vehicle, or machinery that is legislatively required to meet regular test requirements.  
      According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a terminal means suitable for accessing a server according to a third aspect of the invention and receiving electronic documents from said server.  
      According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a system arranged to store at least one document, said system comprising: 
          one or more servers on which at least one electronic document is held;     a document reception means, capable of receiving a facsimile transmission and, arranged to receive said electronic document via a facsimile transmission and store said electronic document on said server     a quality control means facilitating quality control checks of said electronic document;     access means providing remote access to said server;     a search means arranged to facilitate location of said electronic document on said server, said search means locating any electronic documents relating to a vehicle specified to said search means stored on the or each server;     terminal means arranged to connect to said server using said access means, and further arranged to receive a list of electronic documents relating to the vehicle specified to the search means;     selection means allowing a user to select one or more electronic documents said list, and the system further being arranged for said terminal means to display said electronic document selected by said selection means.        

      The system is preferably arranged to store documents relating to one or more vehicles. Such a system may be thought of as providing a tool for managing a vehicle, a generally a fleet of vehicles.  
      According to an sixth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of storing at least one document, said method comprising: 
          receiving an electronic document using a document reception means provided capable of receiving a facsimile transmission;     checking the quality of the received electronic document using a quality control means;     storing said electronic document on one or more servers;     providing a search means to facilitate location of said electronic document on said server, said search means locating any electronic documents relating to a vehicle specified to said search means stored on the or each server;     providing an access means allowing users of terminal means to access said server;     said search means providing a list of electronic documents relating to the vehicle specified to the search means, to the user, such that the user can select one or more documents from the list, to generate one or more selected electronic documents, and receive said selected electronic documents.        

      The method may store documents that relate to one or more vehicles.  
      According to a seventh aspect of the invention there is provided a vehicle document storage and retrieval system arranged to maintain a store of electronic documents relating to a vehicle, said system comprising a memory arranged to hold the electronic documents, a document reception means arranged to receive electronic documents and store them in said memory, access means allowing a user remote access to the memory, search means allowing a user to locate an electronic document and at least one terminal means allowing a user to access the memory using said access means, locate an electronic document using the search means and receive the electronic document on the terminal means.  
      According to a eighth aspect of the invention there is provided a computer program arranged to maintain a database means of electronic documents, receive further electronic documents from a document reception means and store the received documents in the database means, provide a quality control check of the document using a quality control means, provide remote access to the database means and allow users to search the database means to locate electronic documents therein and forward them to the user.  
      According to an ninth aspect of the invention there is provided a computer program providing a vehicle document storage and retrieval system and arranged to maintain a database means of electronic documents, receive further electronic documents from a document reception means and store the received documents in the database means, provide a quality control check of the document using a quality control means, provide remote access to the database means and allow users to search the database means to locate electronic documents therein and forward them to the user.  
      The skilled person will appreciate that any of the features discussed in relation to the first aspect of the invention may be applicable to any of the other aspects of the invention.  
      According to a tenth aspect of the invention there is provided a database comprising a plurality of electronic documents relating to a vehicle, each document being password protected in order to prevent alteration thereof, and the database further comprising a diary means arranged to maintain a record of when predetermined events are due to occur to the vehicle to which the electronic document relates and also maintain a record of when the event actually occurs.  
      Such a database is convenient because the electronic documents may be suitable for satisfying legal requirements since they are unalterable unless a password is used. Further, the diary means may be used in order to check the details of that the predetermined events did actually occur as scheduled. Such checking is useful in order to satisfy legal requirements, which are relevant in fields such as running one or more vehicles.  
      According to a eleventh aspect of the invention there is provided a machine readable medium containing instructions which when read onto a computer cause that computer to provide the system of any of the first, fifth or seventh aspects of the invention.  
      According to a twelfth aspect of the invention there is provided a machine readable medium containing instructions which when read onto a computer cause that computer to perform the method of the second or sixth aspects of the invention.  
      According to a thirteenth aspect of the invention there is provided a machine readable medium containing instructions which when read onto a computer cause that computer to function as the server of the third aspect of the invention.  
      According to a fourteenth aspect of the invention there is provided a machine readable medium containing instructions which when read on a computer cause that computer to function as the terminal of the fourth aspect of the invention.  
      According to a fifteenth aspect of the invention there is provided a machine readable medium containing instructions that provide the program of the eighth of ninth aspects of the invention.  
      According to a sixteenth aspect of the invention there is provided a machine readable medium containing instructions that provide the database of the tenth aspect of the invention.  
      The machine readable medium of any aspect of the invention may be any one or more of the following: a floppy disk; a CDROM/RAM; a DVD ROM/RAM (including +R/RW,−R/RW); any form of magneto optical disk; a hard drive; a transmitted signal (including an internet download, file transfer, or the like); a wire; or any other form of medium. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
      There now follows, by way of example only, a description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the following accompanying drawings, of which:  
       FIG. 1  shows a schematic layout for a typical computer system;  
       FIG. 2  shows a possible arrangement of a server, and access devices to provide the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  shows a schematic diagram of a system suitable for providing an embodiment of the invention;  
       FIGS. 4-6  show flowcharts of operations that may be performed by the system; and  
      FIGS.  7  to  13  show screen shots from one embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      The system of the present invention is intended to be accessed by a user of a personal computer system, or terminal means, such as the system shown in  FIG. 1 . The personal computer  100  comprises a display  102 , processing circuitry  104 , a keyboard  106 , a mouse  108  and a printer  110 . The processing circuitry  104  comprises a display driver  111 , a processing unit  112 , an IP port  113  (which provides an access means), a hard drive  114 , a memory  116 , an I/O subsystem  118  and a system bus  120 . The display driver  111 , processing unit  112 , IP port  113 , hard drive  114 , memory  116  and I/O subsystem  118  communicate with each other via the system bus  120 , which in this embodiment is a PCI bus, in a manner well known in the art.  
      Such processing circuitry  104  may be provided by a number of different computer systems that are currently available. There is the architecture referred to a PC, which historically is based around the X86 range of processors produced by the INTEL™ Corporation. Other computer system such as those produced by APPLE™, or any other suitable system may be used.  
      An arrangement of the system for providing the present invention is shown in  FIG. 2 . A server  200  is provided, but it will be appreciated that a plurality of interconnected servers could also be provided. A remote mass storage device  202  is also provided. The server  200  and the remote mass storage device  202  can be remotely accessed by personal computers  100 . It will be appreciated that the server could be accessed by Personal Digital Assistants (PDA&#39;s), mobile computers, mobile telephones, or the like, but these will not be described further here.  
      The server  200  comprises processing circuitry  204  which comprises a number of sub components: a processor  206 , a display driver  207  (arranged to drive a display means  209  such as a VDU, etc.), system memory  208 , a local mass storage device  210  (in this case an array of hard drives), an IP port  212  and an Input/Output (I/O) controller  214 . The sub components of the processing circuitry communicate with one another via a system bus  216 .  
      The remote mass storage device  202  comprises a Redundant Array of Inexpensive Discs (RAID) array of hard drives  218 , also comprises a server of the system, and which provides the storage for a number of documents, and an IP port  220 .  
      The remote mass storage device  202  and the local mass storage device  210  may be thought of as mass storage devices for information accessible to users accessing the system of the present invention. In this example, the remote mass storage device  202  provides storage for electronic documents and the local storage device  210  provides storage for a database means  608 , and for a diary system, or diary means. A user will access the database means  608  on the server  200  to discover the location of a particular document stored on the remote storage device  202  and can be provided with a network address thereto.  
      Each of the personal computers  100  can connect to the server  200  and to the remote mass storage device  202  using its IP port  113 , the IP port  212  of the server  200 , the IP port  220  of the remote storage device  202  using known TCP/IP connection protocols. The TCP/IP protocols will not be described further, but will be readily appreciated by the person skilled in the art. However, it will be appreciated that the connections are not directly between the computers  100  and the server  200 , but via Internet Service Providers (ISP&#39;s)  222  (although direct connections are technically possible).  
      The server  200  of  FIG. 2  will be accessed in two main ways under the system. The first is by a system administrator, who will use a ‘front-end’ software application to access, add to or amend data stored on the local  210  and remote  214  mass storage systems. In some embodiments amendments to the database are restricted or prevented to add to the security of the documents and as such once an electronic document is stored on the system it may be unalterable (this may satisfy monitoring bodies that the system may be used to hold legal documents). The system administrator will also maintain the diary system stored on the local storage system  210 , which keeps track of the service history of each vehicle and provides reminders when a service is due. The user, who can make a connection thereto, and request data from the database means  608  held thereon. This connection would typically be through a computer  100  in their own home or office.  
      The database that is held on the local mass storage device  210  is, in this embodiment, provided by Microsoft™ Corporation Access 97™ database.  
      The Microsoft™ Corporation SQL Server 6.5™ provides a database engine. Requests for data stored in the database on the local mass storage device  210  from the user of a computer  100  are ‘translated’ into instructions in Structured Query Language (SQL), which is understood by SQL Server 6.5™. A suitable software application is required on the server  200  to allow the database to be accessed. Upon receiving a request for data, the database engine searches the database for the information required.  
      The data is then transmitted back though the IP port  212  of the server  200  to the IP port  113  of the computer system  100  requesting the data.  
      In one embodiment the diary system is provided by Kerridge Computer Company. However, the skilled person will realise that the diary system may be provided as a portion of the database means  608  or other program running on the processing unit  112 .  
       FIG. 3  shows an example of a system for realising an embodiment of the present invention which will now be described with reference to  FIG. 1  for ease of understanding. The processing unit  112  communicates with a memory via the system bus  120 . As the skilled person will appreciate, the memory may be provided by a variety of physical devices. For example the memory may be provided by a cache memory associated with the processing unit  112 , a RAM memory of the processing circuitry  104 , the hard disk drive  114 , a remote storage connected to the processing circuitry  104  by the I/O subsystem  118  or maybe the IP port  113 . However, in this embodiment the memory is provided by the hard drive  114  and RAM memory  116  of the processing circuitry  104  and may be temporarily cached in a cache memory of the processing unit  112 .  
      A program storage portion  600  of the memory  114 , 116  is allocated to program storage and is used to hold program code that can be used to cause the processor to perform predetermined actions. In this embodiment, the program code includes a conversion means  602 , a quality control means  604 , a search means  606 , a selection means  607  and an access restriction means  609 . The functions of these blocks will be expanded upon hereinafter.  
      A database portion of the memory  114 , 116  is allocated to holding a database and provides a database means  608 . In this embodiment the database includes fields that provide a vehicle identifier  610  and links  612 . Again, the function of these portions of the database means will be expanded upon hereinafter.  
      The memory  114 ,  116  also comprises a diary means  614  and again, the function of the diary means will be expanded upon hereinafter.  
      The processing unit  112  can communicate with devices external to the processing circuitry via network connection means  616 . The skilled person will appreciate that such network connection means  616  can comprise a variety of parts, but in the present embodiment is provided by the I/O subsystem  118  and the I/O port  113 . The network connection means  616  further comprises an access means  618  which allows terminal means  100  to communicate with the processing unit  112 .  
      The network connection means  616  also comprises a document receipt means  618  that is arranged to receive electronic documents thereto. The document receipt means  618  can receive such electronic documents from any source that is suitable for generating the document in the correct format. However, in this embodiment the document receipt means  618  is arranged to receive electronic documents from any of the following: a scanner  620 , a fax machine  622 , a network connection  624  to the processing circuitry  104 .  
      As can also be seen from  FIG. 3  the terminal means  100  is as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
      An example application of the present invention herein described is a system to make service documents relating to commercial rental vehicles readily available to the customers who rent them. However, the invention may have wider applicability and this embodiment is provided by way of example only.  
      The roadworthiness of vehicles used in the commercial vehicle rental industry (like that of all vehicles on the road) is carefully monitored by regulatory authorities. The government requires that every service vehicle has an associated operating licence, generally referred to as an O-licence. Any person wishing to run a fleet of service vehicles, for example refrigeration vans or haulage trucks, should hold an O-licence covering the vehicles in that fleet. The O-licence is originally granted following an inspection of the Vehicle Inspectorate of the resources available for servicing the vehicles of the fleet but may be revoked for failing a later ad-hoc inspection which reveals that the vehicles are not being maintained according to certain minimum standards. These standards may be, for example, that the vehicle holds a valid MOT or that it is serviced at least every six months.  
      When considering rented service vehicles, current legislation requires that a rental vehicle operator obtains an O-licence covering each vehicle in its fleet within twenty eight days of first hiring the vehicle The rental vehicle operator may be the rental company, the customer of that company or some other person. Under present industrial practice, the rental vehicle provider in this context is generally the person or company which supplies the driver of the vehicle.  
      In order to obtain an O-licence the rental vehicle operator may then be required to produce documents relating to the service history of a vehicle they do not own; i.e. the company owning the vehicle may be the company that hires the vehicle to the operator.  
      It is therefore highly beneficial to have immediate access to all documents proving that a vehicle meets statutory requirements. The system of the present invention provides access to the documents in the manner described below.  
      A unique identifier identifies each vehicle in the rental company&#39;s fleet and in this embodiment provides the data for the vehicle identifier field  610  of the database means  608 . It is convenient to use the registration number of the vehicle, as displayed on the number-plate of each vehicle. The unique identifier is linked to a list of document locations. These links are held within the link database field  612  of the database means  608 . The document at a particular document location is described by a title and is attributed with the date on which it was issued and, if applicable, an expiry date. The documents are categorised into one of four sub-categories: legal, maintenance, ancillary and other. Documents categorised as ancillary relate to additional, non-standard features of the vehicle, such as a tail lift, a crane or a refrigeration unit mounted thereon. Each document within these categories will generally be a standard document from the list displayed below:  
                                           Document           Category   Type   Description                  Legal   MOT   An annual general road fitness test               certificate.           RFL   Issued as proof of road fund taxation               payment.           V5   Vehicle registration document issued by the               DVLA.           Tachogragh   A 6-yearly test of the tachograph           Calibration   calibration           Tachograph   A 2-yearly recordal of the tachograph           Check   reading           Speed   Issued as proof of calibration and sealing           limiter   after repair work carried out.           Reduced   Issued as proof of engine emissions           Pollution   conformity. Used for road fund taxation           Certificate   rebates.       Maintenance   Intermediate   Safety inspection carried out to Ministry of           Service/in-   Transport requirements to meet operator           spection   licence requirements.           Basic   Engine lubrication and preventative           Service   maintenance checks. Incorporates               intermediate inspection.           Annual   Full lubrication and preventative           Service   maintenance checks. Incorporates               intermediate inspection.       Ancillary:   Weight test   Annual weight test certificate carried out to       Tail lift       meet health and safety requirements.           Service   Bi annual examination record sheet.           Service &amp;   Both annual weight test and bi-annual           Weight test   examination carried out together.       Ancillary:   Weight test   Annual weight test certificate, carried out       crane       to meet health and safety requirements.           Service   Bi-annual examination record sheet.           Service &amp;   Both annual weight test and bi annual           Weight test   examination carried out together.       Ancillary:   Service   Record sheet for fridge maintenance.       Fridge                  
 
      The first stage in providing an embodiment of the invention is for the system administrator to produce indexed electronic documents. A flow chart outlining the procedure for this is shown in  FIG. 4  and comprises carrying out the following steps.  
      A document from the above table will generally be received from a garage that performed the work or from a regional office of the rental company either by electronic facsimile  300 , which provides a document reception means, using a software package such as Zeta Fax™, produced by Equis Plc., or by post  302 . Sending documents by electronic facsimiles comprises the sender sending the facsimile in the usual manner. The facsimile is then received not by a facsimile machine, but by a computer server which stores the electronic document (it will be appreciated that the facsimile provides an electronic document). Of course, other transmission mediums may be applicable, such as email, ftp (file transfer protocol), or any other suitable mechanism. The documents may never exist in paper form.  
      The document will then be checked for legibility and for completeness, step  304  using a quality control means, which in this embodiment comprises a mechanism for displaying the electronic document and an input to the system to indicate whether or not the document is acceptable. Alternatively, or additionally, the system may be arranged to automatically verify the electronic document. For example, it is possible to analyse the electronic document to ensure that it meets predetermined legibility criteria. For example if the document contains more than a predetermined number of incorrectly spelt words, has more than a predetermined percentage of the document that is not plain (i.e. more than a predetermined percentage is covered by ink), then it may be flagged as a document that needs further review or may be rejected.  
      Each document must have certain attributes to meet statutory requirements, some examples of which are shown in the table below.  
                                           Document           Category   Type   Check                  Legal   MOT   Registration No; Expiry date; Signature;               Test Station Number.           RFL   Registration No; Expiry date; Vehicle               description, make and model; Gross               Weight.           V5   Registration No; Registered keeper; Vehicle               description, make and model; Gross Weight           Tachograph   Registration No; Date; Signature; Agency           Calibration   Seal Stamp.           Tachograph   Registration No; Date; Signature; Agency           Check   Seal Stamp.           Speed   Registration no.; date; signature; agency           limiter   seal stamp           Reduced   registration no. date of expiry; signature.           Pollution           Certificate       Maintenance   All Service   Registration No; Date; Signature for           Sheets   service; Signature for defects rectification;               Tacho date; mileage; Dealer stamp; Brake               Test reading, All Check Items       Ancillary   All   Registration No; Date; Signature; All           Ancillary   Check Items           services and           weigh           checks                  
 
      If the document is unclear or if it is incomplete with respect to any of the requirements outlined above, a request will be sent to the garage or regional office that sent the document to the effect that the document should be resent—step  306  and/or re-scanned. It will be appreciated that such a request could be sent electronically (for an example an electronic communication such as an email could be generated by the processing means  206  and sent via the network connection means  212 ), by post or made over the phone. If the document meets all requirements, the diary system that keeps track of the service history of the vehicles will be updated to reflect that the service identified by the document has been carried out—step  308 .  
      Under the system of the present invention, the electronic documents are made available over the Internet. An accepted standard format for documents available on the Internet is Portable Document Format (PDF). Any electronic document may be converted, using a conversion means  602  of the system, into PDF using Acrobat™, a software package produced by Adobe™ and viewable using the Acrobat Reader. If the documents were received via a facsimile, they are simply converted electronically into PDF by the conversion means  602 —step  310 . If they were received by post or in paper form, they must first be scanned by a document scanner  620  to produce an electronic document, which is then converted to PDF—step  312 .  
      The electronic document (PDF document)—which is an electronic ‘image’ of the document—is then protected with a password to prevent it being manipulated and is saved on the local mass storage system  210 —step  314 .  
      The database means  608  stored on the local mass storage system  210  is then updated with a document identifier for the document and document attributes—e.g. document category and type—and also with an IP address-step  316 . An IP address uniquely identifies the location of a document or resource available on the Internet. More specifically in this case, the IP address identifies the proposed location of the document.  
      The document is then stored on the remote mass storage system  202  as an internet-based ‘web page’ i.e. an electronic PDF version of the document is sent through the IP port  212  of the server  200  to the IP port  220  of the remote storage device  202  in step  318 . Web pages will be familiar to those skilled in the art but briefly comprise storing the document in a storage location with a known IP address, unique to that document. The address may then be used to locate the document and is stored in the link field  212  of the database means  608 .  
      The updated database means  608  may be compared to the diary system  614  to ensure that the service history as related in both of the diary system  614  and the database means  608  are identical—step  320 . Any discrepancies can then be dealt with on an ad-hoc basis. The discrepancies may be brought to the attention of a user, perhaps via an electronic communication such as email, display on the display means  102 , 209 .  
      A screen shot for the diary means of one embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG. 9 . It can be seen that in this embodiment the diary means is shown within a browser window  900  and contains a table  902 . The table  902  contains a list of vehicles identified by their make  904 , model  906  and registration number  908  (providing a vehicle identifier).  
      Along a top row  910  of the table there is provided a list of week numbers (the visible range in the Figure covering weeks  1  to  27  (i.e. roughly a six month span)). The vehicles monitored by the system shown in  FIG. 9  have three types of service: an inspection, a basic and an annual service. In the Figure the inspections are represented by an “I” and the basic inspections by a “B”. There are no annual inspections shown. It will be seen that each vehicle is scheduled to have an inspection every six weeks, with a basic service every fourth service. Therefore, the diary means  614  keeps a record as to when the vehicle should be serviced.  
      The diary means  614  as can be seen in  FIG. 10  can also be used to record when a vehicle was actually serviced. The table of  FIG. 10  is the same as that of  FIG. 9  except that the table records when the vehicle was actually serviced rather than when it should have been serviced.  
      Therefore, it can be seen that the vehicle with registration KN52HYW was serviced in the 5th 1000 and 11th 1002 weeks.  
      As can be seen from  FIG. 11  the diary means  614  can also be used to generate a comparison as to when the vehicle should have been serviced and when it actually was serviced. This feature can be used to generate what may be termed exception reports; i.e. list vehicles that have not met the servicing requirements, have an outstanding service due, etc. An example of a screen showing this information is shown in  FIG. 12  in which it is stated at  1200  that there are three vehicles with an outstanding service. In this example the service that is outstanding on the three vehicles are basic services and there are no inspections or annual services outstanding. Further, it will be appreciated from the Figure that the diary means allows a user to input a date range over which time the exception reports should be generated. In this example the reports are generated for the period May 12, 2003 to May 19, 2003.  
      A screen such as that shown in  FIG. 13  may allow a user to view whether he/she wishes to see which vehicles are due for a service  1300 ; are overdue a service  1302 ; and to actually see the service history of a vehicle  1304 . The three functions are accessed by pressing the buttons  1306  using the GUI (Graphical User Interface) on which the software is run. The first option (vehicles are due for a service  1300 ) takes a user to  FIG. 9 ; the second option (overdue a service  1302 ) takes a user to the screen shown in  FIG. 10 ; and the third option (service history of a vehicle  1304 ) takes a user to the screen shown in  FIG. 11 .  
      Embodiments of the system are generally arranged such that when a service document is received by the system then the service record for that vehicle is automatically updated by the system.  
      The vehicle identifier field  610  of the database may include a fleet sub set identifier that identifies that particular vehicle as belonging to a subset of the vehicles held in the database means  608 . For example the subset identifier may identify that vehicle as belonging to a fleet of vehicles which may be owned by the same company as one another.  
      In this particular embodiment the database means  608  holds documents relating to vehicles from a plurality of fleets. However, each subset of vehicles (i.e. the vehicles of a particular fleet) are protected by a password  613  which is held in the database. The access restriction means  609  prevents access to the documents for a vehicle from a particular fleet unless the correct password  613  has been supplied.  
      In alternative, or additional, embodiments a separate database may be provided for each of the subsets of vehicles.  
      With reference to  FIG. 5 , a user wishing to access the location of a particular document will have to undergo the following steps.  
      The user uses the IP port  113  of his/her terminal means or computer system  100  to access the database means  608  provided on the server  200 . The processing circuitry  106  will receive inputs from the IP port  212  of the server  200  and will cause the screen  102  to display a data-entry sheet-step  400  (providing an input to the search means  606 ). The user makes an input using the keyboard  106  onto the data-entry sheet—step  402 . The input comprises the registration number of the vehicle for which information is required. This input will be transmitted via the IP port  113  of the computer system  100  to the IP port  212  of the server  200  and the processing circuitry  204  of the server  200  will cause the vehicle identifier field  610  of database means  608  to be accessed by the search means  606  to provide data concerning the vehicle identified by its registration number (providing that the registration number is valid. If this is not the case, an error message  404  will be displayed on the screen  102 ).  
      Once the search means  606  has located a valid vehicle identifier field  610  then an associated link field  612  from the database means  608  is used to locate documents for that vehicle. Initially, the screen  102  will display a list of the four sub-categories. The user will have to identify under which category the document of interest will be stored. The user makes an indication of his/her choice to the selection means  607  by using the mouse  108  to position a pointer on the screen  102  over the chosen category as it is displayed on the screen  102  and by ‘clicking’ a button on the mouse in a manner familiar to those skilled in the art—step  406 . A list of document types will then be displayed and the electronic documents are therefore grouped according to the sub-category in which they have been placed. If there is more than one document of any of the types listed in the above table, the user again makes an indication of his/her choice of document type by using the mouse  108  to position a pointer on the screen  102  over the chosen document type as it is displayed on the screen  102 —step  408 . The user will then be presented with a list of document locations that include the IP address of the desired document  410 . The IP address is generally provided as a link that can be selected by a user—with the IP address then being obtained using name servers, etc. as will be appreciated by the skilled person.  
      Once provided with this list, the user may then access the remote storage device  202  and locate the desired document by activating a link. The procedure followed is outlined in  FIG. 6 , but it will be appreciated by those familiar with the Internet that the list of addresses may be provided as a ‘hyperlink’. The processing circuitry  104  may then be provided with the IP address in the following simple manner. The mouse  108  is used to position a pointer on the screen  102  over the chosen hyperlink as it is displayed on the screen  102 , and a button on the mouse  108  clicked. Alternatively, the IP address may be typed into a ‘web browser’ using the keyboard  106 .  
      Example screens of what may be shown to a user to allow them to access data on the system is shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . At the left hand side of the screen, as shown in the Figure, four links are provided (home  700 ; contact  702 ; reports  704 ; and operator licence packs  706 ). The operator licence packs  706  allows a user to view the licence documents and is the screen shown in  FIG. 7 . The right hand side of the screen shows that for a particular vehicle (having vehicle identifier KN52HYM) there are documents relating to ancillary features  708 , legal documents  710  and also the maintenance record  712 . A search button  714  is provided should a user wish to search for information on another vehicle. The options  708 , 710  and  712  allow a user to view copies of the actual documents for the vehicle.  
      The contact link  702  shows the contact details for contacting the provider of the system.  
      The reports link  704  takes a user to the screen shown in  FIG. 8  which provides an action schedule  800 ; and action history  802  and an action comparator  804 . A detailed and a summary view button is provided for each. The summary view of the action schedule is shown in  FIG. 9 . The summary view for the action history is shown in  FIG. 10  and the summary view for the action comparator is shown in  FIG. 11 .  
      The user connects to the Internet using TCP/IP protocol through its IP port  113 —step  500 . The user then enters the IP address of the desired document (step  502 ) (generally using a www address which corresponds to the network address and as interpreted by a name server) and the processing circuitry  104  requests data from the remote storage means  202  through its IP port  220  which is then sent through the IP port  220  of the remote storage means  202  to the IP port  113  of the user&#39;s computer  100 , step  504 . This is generally referred to as ‘downloading’ the document.  
      The document is then displayed on the screen  102  of the user&#39;s computer-step  506 . The user may decide to produce a paper copy of the document (step  508 ). It may be required to carry documents relating to the vehicle in use of the vehicle. In this case, an input can be made using the mouse  108  or the keyboard  106  to the processing circuitry  104  instructing that the document should be printed using the printer  110 .  
      Although it is advantageous to get the documents on to the system as soon as possible it is conceivable that there may be a delay. In a possible embodiment, the documents are not added to the system as and when they are received but are included in a daily ‘data feed’. The system may be capable of receiving and interpreting data feeds (a data feed comprises a data file with a set format, which may be sent over the Internet or input into the server  200  in some other way.). The data feed need not be daily and could equally be weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or at some other interval.  
      The system is also arranged to generate reports of service histories of all vehicles held on the system. These reports can be generated for any predetermined length of time, but in one embodiment this is annually. Such reports provide a much greater accountability than prior art systems. The reports may highlight discrepancies between the diary means and the database means, or may simply provide analysis of one or both of the diary and database means. This feature is provided by the diary means as described above in relation to FIGS.  9  to  13 .  
      Further, the system allows the service histories to be maintained with the generation of less paper work than prior art systems, and can allow events to be tracked much more readily. Therefore, the system provides greater accountability/traceability.  
      Further, because each servicing performed on a vehicle is detailed within the system, the system makes it easier to comply with legislation in which the system is based. Such legislation includes vehicle safety regulations provided by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and the Vehicles Inspectorate.  
      As storage space on the Internet is at a premium, it may be required that data that is no longer relevant be ‘archived’. Such documents could include an MOT certificate more that a year old or documents relating to vehicles that are no longer on the road. Under the system of the present invention, this comprises removing the electronic document from the remote storage device  202  and removing the associated entry in the database means  608  on the server  200 .  
      The skilled person will appreciate that the frequency with which the archiving system is employed depends in part on the capabilities of the remote mass storage device  202  and the number of documents held. For example, daily, monthly or quarterly archiving may be appropriate. Data back ups of some description are also advisable.  
      Although the system and methods described herein have been described in relation to vehicles and in particular the tracking of documents relating to a vehicle, the system could advantageously be applied to other things. In particular, the system may be advantageously applied to any apparatus that required periodic safety checking. An example of such apparatus is electrical apparatus in a working environment which may have to undergo annual earth leakage tests.