System and method for converting paper forms to an electronic format

1. A non-transient computer readable medium storing program code which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:

receive an image of a form;

receive form template information for a template associated with an electronic form, the form template information specifying a plurality of input fields corresponding to portions of the image, the form template information including a first input field type selection and first field location information for a first input field of the plurality of input fields wherein the first input field type selection is selected from a plurality of input field types and the first field location information is defined relative to the image;

receive shared field information designating one of the plurality of input fields as a shared field, wherein the shared field information is included within the form template information and the shared field is used in another template including an additional plurality of input fields;

store the form template information within a memory;

wherein the electronic form is configured to be rendered in a form view by superimposing a representation of the first input field over the image of the form.

2. The computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein the the program code further include code which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:

receive user input for one of more of the plurality of input fields presented through a field view wherein in the field view the plurality of input fields are displayed without displaying the image of the form;

switch from the field view to the form view wherein the user input is included in the one or more of the plurality of input fields in the form view and superimposed over the image of the form.

3. The computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein the form template information further specifies a second input field, the form template information further including a second input field type of the second input field and second field location information for the second input field.

4. The computer readable medium of claim 3 wherein the image of the form includes a plurality of fields, the first field location information corresponding to a position of a first of the plurality of fields and the second field location information corresponding to a position of the second input field.

5. The computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of field types include at least one of:

a database field type enabling selection of a stored group of input entities;

an image field type;

a sketch field type through which user-generated image input may be received;

a location field type;

a formula field type disposed to utilize a value associated with at least a second input field to determine, in accordance with a formula, a value associated with the first input field; and

a table field type.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of field types include at least one of:

a text box field type;

a date and/or time field type;

a drop-down menu field type; and

a signature field type.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the program code further causes the processor to communicate the form template information to at least one user in a group of users.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein the program code further include code which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to receive user input relating to a field view template wherein in response to a determination to render the electronic form in the field view the plurality of input fields are displayed without displaying the image of the form, the plurality of input fields being displayed in response to the determination in an order of appearance specified by the field view template wherein the order of appearance is different from an order in which the plurality of input fields are rendered relative to the image of the form.

9. A non-transient computer readable medium storing program code which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:

receive a selection of an electronic form;

select one of a plurality of input fields to receive user input presented through a field view wherein in the field view the plurality of input fields are displayed without displaying the image of a form;

receive user input for the one of the plurality of input fields; and

switch from the field view to the form view wherein the user input is included in the one of the plurality of input fields in the form view and superimposed over the image of the form.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the program code further causes the processor to receive shared field information designating another of the plurality of input fields as a shared field, wherein the shared field information is included within form template information associated with the electronic form and the shared field is used in another template including an additional plurality of input fields.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the program code further include code which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to receive user input relating to a field view template wherein in response to a determination to render the electronic form in the field view the plurality of input fields are displayed without displaying the image of the form, the plurality of input fields being displayed in response to the determination in an order of appearance specified by the field view template wherein the order of appearance is different from an order in which the plurality of input fields are rendered relative to the image of the form.

12. A method, comprising:

sending, to a user device, an image of a form;

sending, to the user device, first form template information specifying at least a first plurality of input fields, the first form template information including first field location information defined relative to the image and shared field information designating another of the first plurality of input fields as a shared field, wherein the shared field information is included within second form template information specifying a second plurality of input fields and wherein the second form template information is sent to another user device;

wherein the user device is configure to render an electronic form by superimposing a representation of a first input field of the plurality of input fields over the image of the form; and

receiving, from the user device, first input data corresponding to the first input field.

13. A method, comprising:

receiving, from a user device, a request for an electronic form template;

sending, to the user device, the electronic form template wherein the electronic form template is useable to generate an electronic form and includes:

first data representing an image of a form;

second data defining a position of at least one input field relative to the image of the form, and

third data representing a first field type associated with the first input field, the first field type being one of a plurality of field types;

wherein the user device is configured to receive user input for the first input field through a field view wherein in the field view a plurality of input fields are displayed without displaying the image of a form and wherein the user device is further configured to switch from the field view to the form view wherein the user input is included in the first input field in the form view and superimposed over the image of the form;

receiving, from the user device, the first input data; and

electronically storing the first input data.

14. A method comprising:

receiving an image of a form;

receiving form template information specifying at least a first input field and first field location information for the first input field wherein the first field location information is defined relative to the image and wherein the first input field is disposed to receive data input;

storing the form template information within a memory of the user device;

receiving user input for the first input field when presented through a field view on a display of the user device wherein in the field view the first input field is displayed without displaying the image of the form; and

switching from the field view to a form view wherein the user input is included in the first input field in the form view and rendered on the display by superimposing a representation of the first input field over the image of the form.