Methods and apparatus for enterprise document distribution
View Patent ↗The invention provides, in some aspects, methods for electronic document distribution that permit automatic transmittal of a set of documents to one or more recipients. The set includes documents pre-existing at the time the distribution is specified, as well as at least one that is subsequently created. Such “mixed-mode” distribution can be used, for example, to effect automatic distribution of pre-existing word processing documents (or spreadsheets, etc.), along with a newly scanned document, e.g., a hand-written note. Distribution of the documents is triggered by creation of the latter document—in this example, the scanned hand-written note.
1. A method for automated electronic document distribution, comprising:
receiving, by a processor of a computing device, a routing directive for the one or more document distributions, wherein receiving the routing directive comprises:
receiving, by the processor, a selection from among one or more pre-existing electronic documents for inclusion in one or more document distributions, a selection of one or more recipients for the one or more document distributions, and a selection of a document format individually specified for each recipient, wherein each document format identifies the format of documents to be sent to the respective recipient such that the document format may be different among the recipients;
generating, by the processor, a document distribution workflow comprising an instruction set for performing the one or more document distributions based at least in part on the routing directive;
storing, by the processor, the instruction set;
providing, by the processor, the scan cover sheet, wherein the scan cover sheet identifies the document distribution workflow;
receiving, by the processor, one or more scanned documents and the scan cover sheet from a scanning device;
identifying, by the processor, from the scan cover sheet received from the scanning device, the document distribution workflow;
executing, by the processor, the instruction set associated with the document distribution workflow, wherein executing the instruction set comprises:
transmitting, by the processor, the selected one or more pre-existing electronic documents, the one or more scanned documents and the scan cover sheet to the one or more recipients in accordance with the document distribution workflow, where such distribution is triggered by receipt of the one or more scanned documents.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more pre-existing electronic documents, the one or more scanned documents and the scan cover sheet are transmitted to the one or more recipients upon creation of the one or more scanned documents.
3. The method of claim 1 , where at least one of the one or more pre-existing electronic documents, the one or more scanned documents and the scan cover sheet are transmitted in different formats to at least two of the recipients.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the one or more pre-existing electronic documents are transmitted in any of word processing, spreadsheet, portable document, image, telefax and e-mail formats to the one or more recipients.
5. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
providing, on a graphical user interface, a list of one or more recipients for the document distribution for selection by a user.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the graphical user interface is at least one of (i) patterned after an enterprise e-mail program and (ii) integrated with an enterprise e-mail program.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more pre-existing electronic documents and the scan cover sheet are transmitted to at least one member selected from the group consisting of a printer, e-mail address, telefax, local or network file system folder, and document store.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the routing directive is text or a machine readable code.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the routing directive is a machine readable code and the machine readable code is a bar code.
10. A system for automated electronic document distribution, comprising:
a memory;
a processor configured to process data to provide automated electronic document distribution, wherein the processor is configured to execute instructions to:
receive a routing directive for the one or more document distributions, wherein receiving the routing directive comprises:
receiving a selection from among one or more pre-existing electronic documents for inclusion in one or more document distributions, a selection of one or more recipients for the one or more document distributions, and a selection of a document format individually specified for each recipient, wherein each document format identifies the format of documents to be sent to the respective recipient such that the document format may be different among the said recipients;
generate a document distribution workflow comprising an instruction set for performing the one or more document distributions based at least in part on the routing directive;
store the instruction set;
provide the scan cover sheet, wherein the scan cover sheet identifies the document distribution workflow;
receive one or more scanned documents and the scan cover sheet from a scanning device;
identify, from the scan cover sheet received from the scanning device, the document distribution workflow;
execute the instruction set associated with the document distribution workflow, wherein executing the instruction set comprises:
transmitting the selected one or more pre-existing electronic documents, the one or more scanned documents and the scan cover sheet to the one or more recipient destinations in accordance with the document distribution workflow, where such distribution is triggered by receipt of the one or more scanned documents.
11. The system of claim 10 , where at least one of the pre-existing documents, the one or more scanned documents and the scan cover sheet are transmitted in different formats to at least two of the recipient destinations.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more pre-existing documents, the one or more scanned documents and the scan cover sheet are transmitted in any of word processing, spreadsheet, portable document, image, telefax and e-mail formats to the one or more recipients.
13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to provide, on a graphical user interface, a list of one or more recipients for the document distribution.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the graphical user interface is at least one of (i) patterned after an enterprise e-mail program and (ii) integrated with an enterprise e-mail program.
15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more pre-existing electronic documents and the scan cover sheet are transmitted to any of a printer, e-mail address, telefax, and document store.
16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the routing directive is text or a machine readable code.
17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the routing directive is a machine readable code and the machine readable code is a bar code.