Patent ID: 7912872

Claim:
A computer implemented method for processing a visual form of data comprising: receiving, by using a computer, data representing a visual form of data, the data received comprising content data and format data, wherein the format data is applied to the content data to produce the visual form of data; generating a template comprising one or more extraction instructions for identifying a portion of the content data included in the visual form of data and for creating one or more tags, wherein said one or more tags are produced using the portion of the content data and are associated with the received data, said one or more extraction instructions including a first extraction instruction that is one of a first type, a second type, a third type or a fourth type, said first type providing for finding said portion of the content data in a particular area having coordinates specified in the first extraction instruction and inserting said portion of the content data found into a tag that is specified in the first extraction instruction, said second type providing for locating said portion of the content data in a direction relative to a selected reference marker and inserting the portion of the content data located into a tag specified in the first extraction instruction, said third type providing for determining whether particular text appears in content data and setting a boolean tag specified in said first extraction instruction in accordance with whether said particular text is found in content data, said fourth type specifying how to determine a derived value from said portion of the content data and inserting said derived value into a tag specified in said first extraction instruction; and storing said template, and wherein said first extraction instruction is said second type and identifies that said selected reference marker is searched for within a defined region having specified coordinates and said first extraction instruction indicates that said selected reference marker is determined with respect to content data which at least intersects said defined region.