User interface identification and service tags for a document processing system

1. A method for processing a document based on information in a user interface tag, comprising the steps of:

scanning the document to produce an image representative of the document;

locating an iconic representation comprised as part of the user interface tag in the image, comprising:

identifying connected components of the image;

searching, in each of the connected components, for a plurality of extreme points that extend furthest in a selected direction;

identifying corner candidates by applying a diagonal length criteria to at least one pair of the extreme points that are diametrically opposed;

analyzing relationships among a plurality of the corner candidates to form one or more border candidates for the iconic representation;

decoding data represented in at least one such border candidate;

associating the data with a service and a user identity; and

performing the specified service on the image representative of the document.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of decoding the data comprises the steps of:

determining a lattice of glyphs represented in the user interface tag;

identifying a seed glyph within the lattice;

finding all glyphs within the lattice;

identifying the rotation of the lattice; and

converting the glyphs to binary data.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of associating the data with a service and a user identity comprises the steps of:

extracting a user identity code from the data; and

accessing a database to determine user identification information associated with the identity code.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the steps of:

extracting a service code from the data; and

accessing a database to determine service information associated with the service code.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of accessing a database to determine service information associated with the identity code.

6. A document service system having a tag-based user interface, comprising:

a scanner adapted to receive a hardcopy document and produce a digitized image of the document;

an action processor adapted to identify an iconic representation comprised as part of a user interface tag image within the digitized image, comprising a connected component identifier to identify connected components of the image; a corner candidate identifier to search, in each of the connected components, for a plurality of extreme points that extend furthest in a selected direction and to identify corner candidates by applying a diagonal length criteria to at least one pair of the extreme points that are diametrically opposed; an analyzer to analyze relationships among a plurality of the corner candidates to form one or more border candidates for the iconic representation; and to decode information represented in at least one such border candidate, said information including information indicating a service to be performed on said hardcopy document; and

a device operated by the action processor responsive to the service information represented in the user interface tag.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the user interface tag bears a machine-readable printed data code, the tag being adapted to be associated with a hardcopy document for scanning by a document processing system, and the data code comprising an identity code representative of a user's identity and a service code specifying a service to be performed on said hardcopy document.

8. The system of claim 6 , comprising:

an identity processor adapted to receive user information and create an identity code;

a user information database associating the user information with the identity code; and

an output device capable of printing the user interface tag bearing a machine-readable printed data code representative of the identity code and a service to be performed on the hardcopy document to which said user interface tag is affixed.