INFORMATION PROCESSING METHODOLOGY
An information processing methodology gives rise to an application program interface which includes an automated digitizing unit, such as a scanner, which inputs information from a diversity of hard copy documents and stores information from the hard copy documents into a memory as stored document information. Portions of the stored document information are selected in accordance with content instructions which designate portions of the stored document information required by a particular application program. The selected stored document information is then placed into the transmission format required by a particular application program in accordance with transmission format instructions. After the information has been transmission formatted, the information is transmitted to the application program. In one operational mode, the interface interactively prompts the user to identify, on a display, portions of the hard copy documents containing information used in application programs or for storage.
1 . A method of processing information comprising:
automatically distinguishing from one another at least one area of text and at least one area of non-text information in a hard copy or electronic document; and
transmitting the document as text information and nontext information such that the text and non-text information can be reconstructed at a destination device in a form substantially similar to the appearance of the original document.
2 . The method as recited in claim 1 in which at least a portion of said transmitted information is correctible.
3 . The method as recited in claim 2 in which at least a portion of said transmitted text information is correctible by a creator of the information.
4 . The method as recited in claim 2 in which at least a portion of said transmitted text information is correctible by a sender of the information.
5 . A method of data transmission comprising:
automatically segmenting at least one selected portion of a hard copy or electronic document according to content instructions for transmission to a destination device according to transmission format instructions enabling reconstruction of the document at a destination device in a form substantially similar in appearance to the original document or selected portion thereof.
6 . The method as recited in claim 5 in which said at least a portion of said selected portion is correctible.
7 . The method as recited in claim 6 in which at least a portion of transmitted text information is correctible by a creator of the information.
8 . The method as recited in claim 6 in which at least a portion of transmitted text information is correctible by a sender of the information.
9 . Apparatus for processing information comprising:
automatic means for selecting at least one portion of a hard copy or electronic document; and for performing processing, recognition, and storage of at least said one selected portion of said hard copy or electronic document according to content instructions in such a way as to enable retrieval of the document based on the use of the results of said content instructions.
10 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 further comprising means for storing said at least one selected portion as non-text information.
11 . The apparatus as recited in claim 9 in which at least a portion of selected non-text information is correctible by a creator of the information.
12 . The apparatus as recited in claim 9 in which at least a portion of selected non-text information is correctible by a sender of the information.
13 . Apparatus for processing information comprising:
automatic means for distinguishing from one another at least one area of text and at least one area of non-text information in at least one selected portion of a hard copy or electronic document and for transmitting said at least one selected portion of the document as text information and non-text information such that the text and non-text information can be reconstructed at a destination device in a form substantially similar to the appearance of the original document or selected portion thereof.
14 . The apparatus as recited in claim 13 in which at least a portion of said transmitted information is correctible.
15 . The apparatus as recited in claim 14 in which at least a portion of said transmitted text information is correctible by a creator of the information.
16 . The apparatus as recited in claim 14 in which at least a portion of said text information is correctible by a sender of the information.
17 . Apparatus for data transmission comprising:
means for automatically segmenting at least one selected portion of a hard copy or electronic document according to content instructions for transmission to a destination device according to transmission format instructions, and
means for enabling reconstruction of the document at a destination device in a form substantially similar in appearance to the original document or said selected portion.
18 . The apparatus as recited in claim 17 in which the said at least one selected portion contains information, at least a portion of transmitted information being correctible.
19 . The apparatus as recited in claim 18 in which at least a portion of transmitted text information is correctible by a creator of the information.
20 . The apparatus as recited in claim 18 in which at least a portion of transmitted text information is correctible by a sender of the information.
21 . An application program interface for processing information comprising:
means for automatically distinguishing from one another at least one area of text information and one area of non-text information in at least one selected portion of a hard copy or electronic document; and
means for transmitting at least said selected portion of said document as text information and non-text information such that the text and non-text information can be reconstructed at a destination device in a form substantially similar to the appearance of the original document or selected portion thereof.
22 . The application program interface as recited in claim 21 in which at least a portion of said transmitted information is correctible.
23 . The application program interface as recited in claim 22 in which at least a portion of transmitted text information is correctible by a creator of the information.
24 . The application program interface as recited in claim 22 in which at least a portion of transmitted text information is correctible by a sender of the information.
25 . An application program interface for data transmission comprising:
means for automatically segmenting selected portions of a hard copy or electronic document according to content instructions for transmission to a destination device according to transmission format instructions, and
means for enabling reconstruction of the document at a destination device in a form substantially similar in appearance to the original document.
26 . The application program interface as recited in claim 25 in which the selected portions contain information, at least a portion of transmitted information being correctible.
27 . The application program interface as recited in claim 26 in which at least a portion of said transmitted text information is correctible by a creator of the information.
28 . The application program interface as recited in claim 26 in which at least a portion of said transmitted text information is correctible by a sender of the information.