Claims
- 1. A method of processing a document that has been imaged after use to create image data, the method comprising the steps of:
retrieving background data used on the document from a background data memory based on a background data identifier on the document; removing the background data from the image data to create a foreground image; and processing using the foreground image.
- 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of recording the background data when generating the document.
- 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the background data identifier includes at least one of: a watermark on the document and text on the document, wherein the background data identifier is indexed relative to the background data.
- 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing step includes archiving the foreground image.
- 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of archiving imaging settings used during imaging of the document.
- 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of verifying the background data by comparing the identified background data to print data used to generate the document.
- 7. A method of processing a document, the method comprising the steps of:
generating the document; recording background data of the document in a background data memory; and inserting a background data identifier on the document that corresponds to the background data.
- 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising conducting the following steps at a document processing system:
imaging the document after use to create image data; retrieving the background data from the background data memory based on the background data identifier on the document; removing the background data from the image data to create a foreground image; and processing using the foreground image.
- 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the processing step includes archiving the foreground image.
- 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of archiving imaging settings with the foreground image.
- 11. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of verifying the background data by comparing the identified background data to print data used to generate the document.
- 12. The method of claim 7, wherein the background data identifier includes at least one of: a watermark on the document and text on the document, wherein the background data identifier is indexed relative to the background data.
- 13. The method of claim 7, wherein the recording step includes determining the background data.
- 14. A system for document processing, the system comprising:
a front-end document generating system including: a printing system for printing a document; a background recorder for recording background data of the document in a background data memory; and a background data identifier inserter for inserting a background data identifier on the document that corresponds to the background data.
- 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the front-end document generating system further includes a front-end access module for making the background data memory accessible to a back-end document processing system.
- 16. The system of claim 14, further comprising a back-end document processing system for processing the document after use, the back-end document processing system comprising:
an imager for imaging the document after use and creating image data thereof, a background data retriever for retrieving the background data from the background data memory based on the background data identifier on the document; and a background remover for removing the background data from the image data to create a foreground image.
- 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the back-end processing system further includes a background data verifier for verifying the background data by comparing the identified background data to print data used to generate the document.
- 18. The system of claim 16, wherein the back-end processing system further comprises an archiver for saving the foreground image.
- 19. The system of claim 14, wherein the background recorder also determines the background data.
- 20. A system for document processing, the system comprising:
a back-end document processing system for processing a document after use including:
an imager for imaging the document after use and creating image data thereof; a background data retriever for retrieving a background data of the document from a background data memory based on a background data identifier on the document; and a background data remover for removing the background data from the image data to create a foreground image.
- 21. The system of claim 20, further comprising:
a front-end document generating system including:
a printing system for generating print data usable for printing a document; a background recorder for saving the background data used on the document in the background data memory; and a background data identifier inserter for inserting a background data identifier on the document.
- 22. The system of claim 21, wherein the front-end document generating system further includes a front-end access module for making the background data memory accessible to the back-end document processing system.
- 23. The system of claim 21, wherein the background recorder also determines the background data.
- 24. The system of claim 20, wherein the back-end processing system further includes a background data verifier for verifying the background data by comparing the identified background image to print data used to generate the document.
- 25. The system of claim 20, wherein the back-end processing system further comprises an archiver for saving the foreground image.
- 26. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for processing a document that has been imaged after use to create image data, the program product comprising:
program code configured to retrieve a background data of the document from a background data memory based on a background data identifier on the document; program code configured to remove the background data from the image data to create a foreground image; and program code configured to conduct processing using the foreground image.
- 27. The program product of claim 26, further comprising:
program code configured to record the background data used on the document in the background data memory; and program code configured to insert a background data identifier on the document.
- 28. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for processing a document, the program product comprising:
program code configured to generate print data usable for printing the document; program code configured to record a background data of the document in a background data memory; and program code configured to insert a background data identifier on the document.
- 29. The program product of claim 28, further comprising:
program code configured to retrieve the background data used on the document from a background data memory based on a background data identifier on the document; program code configured to remove the background data from the image data to create a foreground image; and program code configured to conduct processing using the foreground image.
- 30. The program product of claim 29, further comprising program code configured to archive the foreground image.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This invention is related to co-pending application entitled “Joined Front-end and Back End Document Processing,” U.S. Serial No. ______, filed ______.