Document processing system and method for associating metadata with a physical document while maintaining the integrity of its content
For use with a physical document bearing content visible when illuminated by light in the human visible spectrum, a tag printer, a verifier and a document processing system employing one or both of the printer and the verifier. In one embodiment, the tag printer includes: (1) a processor operable to generate metadata regarding the physical document and (2) a printer associated with the processor and operable to print a tag containing the metadata on a location of the physical document irrespective of locations of the content using an ink substantially invisible in the spectrum.
1. An apparatus for printing metadata that is not visible in a human visible spectrum, said apparatus comprising:
an imaging unit operable to capture an image of a physical document, said physical document comprising content printed via a first ink that is visible in said human visible spectrum;
a processor operable:
to generate said metadata based on an attribute determined from said physical document;
to generate an index corresponding to said metadata, said index associated with said image of said physical document; and
a printer associated with said processor and operable:
to print a tag encoding said metadata on a location of said physical document that overlaps at least a portion of said content, said tag printed using a second ink that is substantially invisible in said human visible spectrum, said tag readable when illuminated with light outside said human visible spectrum, and said tag comprising a start bar field and a tag field, said start field comprising:
a plurality of start field bars, a bar width of each of said plurality of start field bars being equal; and
a plurality of start field spaces, each start field space of the plurality of start field spaces being defined between adjacent start field bars of said plurality of start field bars, a space width of each of said start field spaces being equal, said space width of each of said start field spaces being an integer multiple of said bar width of said plurality of start field bars, such that said plurality of start field bars are spaced equally apart and said space width of each start field space between adjacent start field bars being proportional to said bar width, said tag field comprising:
a plurality of tag field bars having a same bar width as said bar width of said plurality of start field bars; and
said plurality of tag field bars being unequally spaced apart.
2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said tag is a barcode and said start bar field provides a uniform signal in both time and luminance output.
3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said tag field encodes a number in spaces separating said plurality of tag field bars in said tag field.
4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said printer is an inkjet printer.
5. The apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said second ink includes an infrared fluorescent dye.
6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said physical document comprises a check, a deposit slip, a coupon, a lottery ticket, currency, a medical insurance claim form, a medical insurance explanation of benefits statement, a credit application, an architectural drawing, a mechanical drawing, an envelope, a lunch voucher, an airline ticket, a sport event ticket, or an X-ray film.
7. An apparatus for scanning a physical document bearing content visible in a human visible spectrum, said apparatus comprising:
a reader, including:
a first light source defined at a first angle that is acute relative to said physical document and operable to project light upon said physical document;
a second light source defined at a second angle that is acute relative to said physical document and operable to project light upon said physical document, said first angle opposite to said second angle; and
a scanner operable to read a tag comprising metadata generated based on an attribute of said physical document, said tag printed on said physical document with a first ink substantially invisible in said human visible spectrum and overlapping at least a portion of said content printed on said physical document using a second ink that is visible in said human visible spectrum, said scanner comprising a photomultiplier tube that detects a fluorescent signal produced by said first ink to read said tag, said tag comprising a start bar field and a tag field,
said start field comprising:
a plurality of start field bars, a bar width of each of said first plurality of start field bars being equal; and
a plurality of start field spaces, each start field space of the plurality of start field spaces being defined between adjacent start field bars of said plurality of start field bars, a space width of each of said start field spaces being equal, said space width of each of said start field spaces being an integer multiple of said bar width of said plurality of start field bars, such that said plurality of start field bars are spaced equally apart and said space width of each start field space between adjacent start field bars being proportional to said bar width, said tag field comprising:
a plurality of tag field bars having a same bar width as said bar width of said plurality of start field bars; and
said plurality of tag field bars being unequally spaced apart, and
said photomultiplier tube defined between said first light source and said second light source at a perpendicular angle relative to said physical document; and
a processor operable to compare said metadata with an index of an image of said physical document, said index generated based on said metadata, said reader sorting said physical document routing said physical document to a location when said first metadata matches said index.
8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said first light source and said second light source excites said first ink to produce said fluorescent signal.
9. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein first light source and said second light source comprise at least one red light-emitting diode.
10. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein a portion of said fluorescent signal, produced by said start bar field, is uniform in luminance output.
11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said tag field encodes a number in spaces separating the plurality of tag field bars in said tag field.
12. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said first ink includes an infrared fluorescent dye having a polyatomic ion of Iodide.
13. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said physical document comprises a check, a deposit slip, a coupon, a lottery ticket, currency, a medical insurance claim form, a medical insurance explanation of benefits statement, a credit application, an architectural drawing, a mechanical drawing, an envelope, a lunch voucher, an airline ticket, a sport event ticket, or an X-ray film.
14. An apparatus for processing a physical document bearing content visible in a human visible spectrum and metadata regarding said physical document printed in a first ink substantially invisible in said human visible spectrum, said apparatus comprising:
a reader operable to read a tag comprising said metadata using light outside of said spectrum, said light output from both a first light source and a second light source, said first light source defined at a first angle that is acute relative to said physical document, said second light source defined at a second angle that is acute relative to said physical document, said first angle opposite to said second angle, said tag overlapping at least a portion of said content printed on said physical document using a second ink that is visible in said human visible spectrum, said tag comprising a start bar field and a tag field,
said start field comprising:
a plurality of start field bars, a bar width of each of said first plurality of start field bars being equal; and
a plurality of start field spaces, each start field space of the plurality of start field spaces being defined between adjacent start field bars of said plurality of start field bars, a space width of each of said start field spaces being equal, said space width of each of said start field spaces being an integer multiple of said bar width of said plurality of start field bars, such that said plurality of start field bars are spaced equally apart and said space width of each start field space between adjacent start field bars being proportional to said bar width,
said tag field comprising:
a plurality of tag field bars having a same bar width as said bar width of said plurality of start field bars; and
said second plurality of tag field bars being unequally spaced apart,
said reader defined between said first light source and said second light source at
a perpendicular angle relative to said physical document; and
a processor coupled to said reader and configured to route said physical document to a location based on a comparison between said metadata and an index associate with an image of said physical document, said metadata generated based on an attribute of said physical document and said index generated based on said metadata.
15. The apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein said reader includes a photomultiplier.
16. The apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein said tag is embodied in a barcode.
17. The apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said tag field encodes a number in spaces separating the plurality of tag field bars in said tag field, a respective width of each space of said number of spaces being an integer multiple of a width of an adjacent tag field bar.
18. The apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein said first ink includes an infrared fluorescent dye.
19. The apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein said physical document is selected from a group consisting of: a check, a deposit slip, a coupon, a lottery ticket, currency, a medical insurance claim form, a medical insurance explanation of benefits statement, a credit application, an architectural drawing, a mechanical drawing, an envelope, a lunch voucher, an airline ticket, a sport event ticket, and an X-ray film.
20. A method of processing a physical document bearing content visible in a human visible spectrum and metadata regarding said physical document printed in a first ink substantially invisible in said human visible spectrum, comprising:
illuminating said physical document with a light outside of said human visible spectrum, said light output from both a first light source and a second light source, said first light source defined at a first angle that is acute relative to said physical document, said second light source defined at a second angle that is acute relative to said physical document and said first angle opposite to said second angle;
reading, via a tag reader defined between said first light source and said second light source at a perpendicular angle relative to said physical document, a tag in response to said illumination, said tag overlapping at least a portion of said content printed on said physical document using a second ink that is visible in said human visible spectrum, said tag encoding said metadata generated based on an attribute of said physical document, and said tag comprising a start bar field and a tag field,
said start field comprising:
a plurality of start field bars, a bar width of each of said plurality of start field bars being equal; and
a plurality of start field spaces, each start field space of the plurality of start field spaces being defined between adjacent start field bars of said plurality of start field bars, a space width of each of said start field spaces being equal, said space width of each of said start field spaces being an integer multiple of said bar width of said plurality of start field bars, such that said plurality of start field bars are spaced equally apart and said space width of each start field space between adjacent start field bars being proportional to said bar width,
said tag field comprising:
a plurality of tag field bars having a same bar width as said bar width of said plurality of start field bars; and
said plurality of tag field bars being unequally spaced apart; and
routing said physical document to a location based on a comparison between said metadata and an index associated with an image file containing an image of said physical document, said index generated based on said metadata.
21. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein said reading is carried out with a photomultiplier.
22. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein said tag is embodied in a barcode.
23. The method as recited in claim 22 wherein said tag field encodes a number in spaces separating the plurality of tag field bars in said tag field a respective width of each space of said number of spaces being an integer multiple of a width of an adjacent tag field bar.
24. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein said first ink includes an infrared fluorescent dye.
25. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein said physical document comprises a check, a deposit slip, a coupon, a lottery ticket, currency, a medical insurance claim form, a medical insurance explanation of benefits statement, a credit application, an architectural drawing, a mechanical drawing, an envelope, a lunch voucher, an airline ticket, a sport event ticket, or an X-ray film.
26. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said content is printed on said physical document prior to said physical document being processed by said apparatus.