System and method for completing forms
View Patent ↗The present disclosure relates to a method for completing forms. In one arrangement, the method comprises the steps of receiving location information for user information to be added to a form, retrieving the user information, configuring the user information for merging with the form, and printing a form that contains at least a portion of the user information. This method can be practice, for example, through use of a printing device comprising printing hardware with which hardcopy documents can be generated, a card reader that is adapted to read data from a user data card, a network interface device that is adapted to transmit and receive data via a network, and device memory that stores forms data.
1. A method for completing forms, comprising:
reading a user data card to determine a network location at which user information to be added to a form is stored;
retrieving the user information from the network location;
configuring the user information for merging with the form;
merging the user information into the form by populating form data fields with pieces of the user information; and
printing a hard copy form that contains at least a portion of the user information.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data card is read by a card reader of a printer that prints the hard copy form such that no separate computer is needed to generate the hard copy form.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the location information comprises a universal resource locator (URL).
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network comprises the Internet.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising confirming authorization to access the user information.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein confirming authorization comprises receiving a correct passcode.
7. A system for completing forms, comprising:
means for reading location information from a user data card;
means for retrieving user information from a network location identified in the location information;
means for merging the user information with a form; and
means for printing a hard copy form that contains at least a portion of the user information.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the means for receiving location information comprises a card reader of a printing device, the card reader being adapted to read data from the user data card.
9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the means for retrieving the user information comprises a network interface device.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the network interface device is adapted to transmit and receive data via the Internet.
11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the means for printing a hard copy form comprises a printer.
12. A printing device, comprising:
printing hardware included within the printing device with which hard copy documents can be generated;
a card reader provided on the printing device that is adapted to read location information from a user data card;
a network interface device that is adapted to retrieve user information from a network location identified in the location information;
printing device memory that stores forms; and
a form generation module stored in the printing device memory that merges the user information with a form stored in the device memory for the purpose of printing a hard copy form that is at least partially completed.
13. The printing device of claim 12 , wherein the card reader is adapted to read information from a magnetic strip of the user data card.
14. The printing device of claim 12 , further comprising a network browser.
15. The printing device of claim 14 , wherein the network browser is an Internet browser.
16. The printing device of claim 12 , wherein the printing device comprises a printer.
17. The printing device of claim 12 , wherein the printing device comprises a multifunction peripheral (MFP) device.