Method and apparatus for data storage and retrieval

1. A method for storing a document, comprising:

conducting a search for existing records of a record management system referencing said document;

submitting a request to add said document to said record management system if said search indicates that said document is not referenced in said record management system, said request identifying at least a type of said document;

entering document data in a data entry template, said data entry template directing a user to enter data, said data entry template selected based at least in part on said type of said document; and

associating said data from said data entry template with an image of said document.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

displaying said data entry template to said user.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

forwarding said document data to a document management database, said document management database storing said document data in a document record.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said image of said document is associated with said document record.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said document image is associated with said document record based on a record identifier of said document record.

6. A data storage method, comprising:

identifying a template based on a classification of a document to be stored, said template directing a user to enter data;

receiving document information associated with said document, said document information including said data entered by said user;

generating a pending record containing said document information;

associating said pending record containing said document information with an image of said document;

verifying said document information; and

generating an active record if said verifying is successful, said active record available for searching and retrieval by a user.

7. The data storage method of claim 6 , wherein said template is selected from among a library of available templates.

8. The data storage method of claim 6 , wherein said classification is a document collection classification.

9. The data storage method of claim 6 , further comprising:

determining if said document has previously been stored.

10. The data storage method of claim 6 , wherein said template defines a plurality of data elements required to identify a document according to said classification.

11. The data storage method of claim 10 , further comprising:

receiving document data corresponding to each of said plurality of data elements prior to generating said pending record.

12. The data storage method of claim 6 , wherein said associating includes referencing a document record identifier in both said pending record and said image.

13. The data storage method of claim 6 , further comprising:

associating said active record with an image of said document.

14. The data storage method of claim 6 , wherein said document information includes at least one of: a collection name; a file name; category information; location information; owner information; creator information; cross reference information; status information; history information; geographical information; and archive information.

15. The data storage method of claim 6 , further comprising:

storing said pending record in a document management database; and

storing an indicator with said pending record indicating that it has not yet been approved.

16. The data storage method of claim 15 , further comprising:

modifying said indicator upon approval of said pending record, thereby converting said pending record into said active record.

17. The data storage method of claim 15 , wherein access to said pending records in said document management database is limited to authorized reviewers operating client devices.

18. The data storage method of claim 6 , wherein said receiving document information further comprises:

receiving document information from an external system used to generate said document.

19. The data storage method of claim 6 , further comprising:

displaying said template to said user.

20. A data storage system, comprising:

means for identifying a template based on a classification of a document to be stored, said template directing a user to enter data;

means for receiving from said user document information associated with said document, said document information including said data entered by said user;

means for generating a pending record containing said document information;

means for associating said pending record containing said document information with an electronic representation of said document;

means for verifying said document information; and

means for generating an active record if said verifying is successful, said active record available for searching and retrieval by a user.

21. The data storage system of claim 20 , further comprising:

means for displaying said template to said user.

22. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

identifying a template based on a classification of a document to be stored, said template directing a user to enter data;

receiving from said user document information associated with said document, said document information including said data entered by said user;

generating a pending record containing said document information;

associating said pending record containing said document information with an electronic representation of said document;

verifying said document information; and

generating an active record if said verifying is successful, said active record available for searching and retrieval by a user.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 , wherein the computer-executable instructions are also for:

displaying said template to said user.

24. A data storage apparatus, comprising:

a processor;

a communications device, in communication with said processor, receiving data; and

a memory unit in communication with said processor and storing a program, wherein the processor is operative with the program to:

identify a template based on a classification of a document to be stored, said template directing a user to enter data;

receive from said user document information associated with said document, said document information including said data entered by said user;

generate a pending record containing said document information;

associate said pending record containing said document information with an electronic representation of said document;

verify said document information; and

generate an active record if said verifying is successful, said active record available for searching and retrieval by a user.

25. The data storage system of claim 24 , further comprising:

a display unit;

and wherein said processor is operative with the program and with the display unit to display said template to said user.