Patent Application
20050179961
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to multifunction devices such as, but not limited to, devices that integrate facsimile, scanner, copier, and printer function, and more particularly relates to multifunction devices with self-contained scriptability and application integration.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to minimize equipment costs, multifunction devices have begun to replace traditional office printers, copiers, scanners, and fax machines. Currently, multifunction devices may have a direct cable or network connection to a server or desktop computer. Using software residing on the computer or server, the multifunction device is adaptable to many applications. For example, a multifunction device may be used for processing many business related documents such as payroll, contracts, expense accounts, and human resource applications, to name a few. Businesses have invested large amounts of time and resources into systems designed to streamline the examples given. However, the effectiveness of such a centralized business application processing system is reduced when paper is involved.
Previously, for example, a user wanting reimbursement for a business expense would approach a multifunction device, scan in the receipt, send that scanned document to his or her computer, and then submit that scanned document to an expense administrator to be processed. Additionally, many users may share one multifunction device and therefore a user may be required to walk to the other side of the building, scan a document, and return to his or her desk and hope that the document was properly sent. This type of solution is not cost effective. Alternative solutions require a separate server for processing the expense information. For example, the server may be required to identify the user and what the user is trying to accomplish.
Additionally, conventional multifunction devices are generally based upon proprietary device controllers and small touch screen user interfaces. The device controllers are hardwired into the multifunction device and offer little, if any, flexibility or upgradeability for new or improved business applications. The small touch screen user interface creates difficulty when a user desires to send a scanned or copied document to a remote location via fax or email because the touch screen buttons are small and few in number.
What is needed is a process, apparatus, and system for a multifunction device that is modifiable to multiple business applications and has self-contained application integration. Such a process, apparatus, and system would be even more beneficial if provided with a scriptable, integrated user interface.
The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available multifunction devices. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide a process, apparatus, and system that overcome many or all of the above-discussed shortcomings in the art.
The apparatus of the present invention is a standalone multifunction device comprising a user interface module that is modifiable and configured to adapt to a plurality of business application interfaces. A controller module is scriptable and configured to control the operation of the multifunction device and interface with business applications. An input device incorporating a graphical user interface is provided as well as a source interface module configured to receive input data from at least one document data source and a target interface module configured to output processed document data.
In one embodiment, the multifunction device may also comprise a plurality of application integration modules configured to interface with the scriptable multifunction device controller and provide input and output fields to the modifiable user interface module. Additionally, the application integration modules may be configured to interface with a specified business application. In one embodiment of the present invention, the multifunction device may also comprise a scanning device configured to transmit document data to the source interface. Furthermore, the multifunction device may comprise a printing device configured to receive document data from the target interface.
The multifunction device may also comprise a communications module configured to transmit and receive data over a plurality of data communication connections. In certain embodiments, the communications module may be configured to output processed document data as a facsimile or as an e-mail. Alternatively, the communications module may be configured to output processed document data to an external device such as a server or separate fax machine.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a networked system is provided. The network may comprise a server, a multi function device, a multifunction device interface module configured to communicate with a plurality of multifunction devices over a data communications network, a facsimile module configured to send facsimiles, and an e-mail module configured to send e-mails. Additionally, the facsimile module may comprise a facsimile apparatus configured to communicate with the server over a data communications network. Also, the e-mail module may comprise an e-mail server configured to communicate with the server over a data communications network.
The present invention may also comprise a method for document management. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a multifunction device with a scriptable user interface module, identifying a user, accessing a business application interface, receiving user information, inputting document data, confirming information, interfacing with a business application, submitting document data to the business application, and providing a final confirmation to the user. Identifying a user may comprise using an identification card or requiring that the user enter a username and password. In one embodiment, the method further comprises previewing the data to be submitted before interfacing with the chosen business application.
The invention may also comprise a computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable code configured to carry out a process for business document management. In one embodiment, the process may comprise identifying a user, choosing a business application interface, entering user information, inputting document data, interfacing with business application, submitting document data to the business application, and providing final success or failure confirmation to the user.
These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.
In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:
a and 4b are schematic flow chart diagrams illustrating one embodiment of a method of use of the multifunction device in accordance with the present invention; and
Many of the functional units described in this specification have been labeled as modules, in order to more particularly emphasize their implementation independence. For example, a module may be implemented as a hardware circuit comprising custom VLSI circuits or gate arrays, off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or other discrete components. A module may also be implemented in programmable hardware devices such as field programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic, programmable logic devices or the like.
Modules may also be implemented in software for execution by various types of processors. An identified module of executable code may, for instance, comprise one or more physical or logical blocks of computer instructions which may, for instance, be organized as an object, procedure, or function. Nevertheless, the executables of an identified module need not be physically located together, but may comprise disparate instructions stored in different locations which, when joined logically together, comprise the module and achieve the stated purpose for the module.
Indeed, a module of executable code could be a single instruction, or many instructions, and may even be distributed over several different code segments, among different programs, and across several memory devices. Similarly, operational data may be identified and illustrated herein within modules, and may be embodied in any suitable form and organized within any suitable type of data structure. The operational data may be collected as a single data set, or may be distributed over different locations including over different storage devices, and may exist, at least partially, merely as electronic signals on a system or network.
Referring now to
The printer 104 may be coupled separately to the global communications network 107 so that it may be accessed from other document sources, such as additional multifunction devices 101. The MFD controller 102 is also preferably coupled to the computer network 107 and is configured to utilize scanning, printing, copying, and sending capabilities of other multifunction devices 101. The computer network 107 may be a global communications network such as the Internet or a local area network, wide area network, or the like. Additionally, optional services 110, 112 may be available on the computer network 107. The optional services may include, but are not limited to, remote printers 110, e-mail, facsimile, directory, security, and library services and data storage services.
The scanner 106 and printer 104 may be any commercially available devices using industry standard interfaces to the MFD controller 102. In one embodiment, this provides an advantage in that the MFD controller 102 may be easily integrated with scanning and printing devices already in place.
The graphical user interface 108 may be configured as a touch screen LCD (not shown), or alternatively the graphical user interface 108 may be configured with common human interface devices such as a light pen, a keyboard and/or a mouse (not shown). The graphical user interface 108 may be configured to communicate with the MFD controller 102 over the data communication channel 103. Additionally, the graphical user interface 108 maybe configured to communicate user commands to the MFD controller 102. Such commands might include, but are not limited to, user identification, scanning, faxing, emailing, copying, and submitting business related documents.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the MFD controller 102 comprises a user identification module 206, a user input module 208, a plurality of application integrator modules 210, a user interface (UI) definition module 212, a UI toolkit 214, a script engine module 216, and a UI module 218. The user identification module 206 may be configured as an externally coupled identification card reader configured to receive an identification card from a user and compare the user information to a local database (not shown) or remote database 112. Alternatively, the user identification module 206 may comprise, but is not limited to, a retinal scanner, fingerprint biometric system, or badge scanner. In one embodiment, the user identification module 206 may be configured to communicate with the script engine module 216 and cause a login screen to appear on the graphical user interface 108.
In a further embodiment, the user input module 208 may be configured to receive user commands from the graphical user interface 108. In one embodiment, the user input module 208 is further configured to communicate the user commands with the user interface toolkit 214.
One advantage of the present invention is the modifiability of the application integrator modules 210. A user may configure an application integrator 210 to operate as both document data input and output. For example, one application integrator module 210 may be configured as an integrated business expense application, with the ability to communicate with the script engine module 216 and thereby display an appropriate user interface on the graphical user interface 108. Different embodiments of such user interfaces will be explained with greater detail below with reference to
Additionally, the application integrator modules 210 may be configured to receive processed document data from the script engine module 216 and output the processed document data. In one embodiment, an application integrator module 210 may emulate a fax machine and send processed document data to a remote fax server (not shown). Alternatively, the application integrator module 210 may be configured as a communications module to send messages or e-mails over a data communications network such as the global communications network 107 of
In one embodiment, the plurality of application integrators 210 is configurable as upgradeable applications operating within the standalone multifunction device 101. For example, the user may develop proprietary business application interfaces and load these interfaces onto the standalone multifunction device 101 through a management port (not shown). Alternatively, the interfaces may be loaded over data communication channels 103. In a further embodiment, the user may download and install a plurality of application integrators 210 from a global communications network.
One advantage of the present invention is the ability to modify the standalone multifunction device 101 to interface with a specific application. The user may configure the standalone multifunction device 101 by modifying the user interface definition module 212 and the user interface module 218. In one embodiment, the user interface definition module 212 and the user interface module 218 may be configured to receive user defined scripts or programs in order to modify the standalone multifunction device 101. For example, the user definition module 212 may be configured to store a plurality of data objects. These data objects may be proprietary and business application specific. Additionally, the user interface module 218 may be configured to receive, store, and execute programs created in Java, C++, or the like.
In a further embodiment, the user interface toolkit 214 is configured to communicate with the user interface definition module 212 and the user input module 210 in order to communicate user commands into the script engine module 216. Additionally, the user interface module 218 may be configured with user commands, programs, scripts, or the like, in order to modify the functionality of the standalone multifunction device 101.
Referring now to
The standalone multifunction device 101 may now identify 308 a user. In one embodiment, the user is identified 304 as described previously with reference to module 206 of
a and 4b together illustrate one method 400 of user control of the standalone multifunction device 101. First, a user approaches 402 the standalone multifunction device 101, and the user sets 404 the parameters for a particular job. In one embodiment, setting the parameters 404 comprises selecting and setting parameters for one or a plurality of job types. The job types or options that can be selected using the GUI 108 include, but are not limited to, scanning 406, copy/printing 408, faxing 410, e-mailing 412, and accessing a library 414. Additionally, a user may select more than one option while performing a single job. For example, the user may scan 406 a document, as well as print 408, fax 410 and then e-mail 412 the scanned document. Alternatively, the user could select the archive 414 to access a particular form, and subsequently print 408 the selected form.
When selecting scanning 406 or copying/printing 408, the user may further define a number of job parameters, or, alternatively the user may simply use default parameters. The user-settable job parameters include, but are not limited to quality 416, e.g. text or image/text, exposure 418, number of sides 420, number of copies 422, paper tray 424, e.g., letter/legal, and staple options 426. While not specifically indicated in
If the user selects the fax 410, the GUI 108 displays appropriate selection fields where the user may enter 431 a fax number. Alternatively, the user may search 432 a directory database 112 for the fax number, and select 433 a recipient from the search results. The user may then start or cancel 428 the job. Alternatively, if the user selects e-mail 412, the GUI 108 displays appropriate selection fields wherein the user may choose 434 to enter 435 an e-mail address or search 432 as described above. The user may then start or cancel 428 the job. Finally, if the user selects the library 414, the user may select 436 a form from the list of forms maintained by the database 112. The user may then print 408, fax 410, or email 412 the selected form.
In
Referring now to
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
