ONE BUTTON AUTOMATED DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT PROCESS OVER WIRELESS NETWORKS

PROCEDE DE GESTION AUTOMATIQUE DE DOCUMENTS A L'AIDE D'UNE SEULE TOUCHE VIA UN RESEAU SANS-FIL

English Abstract

The invention, One Button Automated Document Management Processes Using
Wireless
Networks, is a set of new unique processes that allow for the simple user
operation of a
system that manages documents by transmitting or receiving them to and from a
central
server over wireless networks. Today, in the transport industry there is no
standard means
to retrieve "proof of delivery", a signed copy of the invoice, in order to
process invoicing.
Specifically the invention is used for the digitizing of customer signed
documents by the
delivery person, typically a driver of a transport vehicle, and then
transmitting the
digitized document over a wireless network to a central file server. The
additional process
is the remote retrieval of a digital document from a central file server over
a wireless
network and the subsequent printing of that document on a printer in the
transport
vehicle.

Claims

PATENT APPLICATION FOR ONE BUTTON AUTOMATED DOCUMENT
MANAGEMENT PROCESSES USING WIRELESS NETWORKS
THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
The specific creative and intellectual property components are the following:
a) The use of a single button on a document scanner to initiate a complete
document
management process that captures and delivers a digitized document from a
remote location to a central file server, over a wireless network, in a
totally
automated process that requires no further operator intervention.
b) The use of a single button on a document scanner to initiate a complete
document
management process that retrieves a print file from a central file server and
delivers it to a remote printer for printing, over a wireless network, in a
totally
automated process that requires no further operator intervention.
c) The use of a single button as a catalyst for any document management
process
using wireless networks.
page 7

Description

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CA 02583766 2007-03-05
PATENT APPLICATION FOR ONE BUTTON AUTOMATED DOCUMENT
MANAGEMENT PROCESSES USING WIRELESS NETWORKS
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ONE BUTTON AUTOMATED
DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT PROCESSES USING WIRELESS NETWORKS
The main components of the invention is unique manner in which software and
hardware
processes were integrated to provide a simple one button document transmission
and
retrieval solution for the user, who in most cases will be a driver of a
transport vehicle.
(See Figure 1, Process Overview).
i. The hardware sub components include a simple multi-button document scanner,
a
page printer, a processor capable of running automated scripts and a GSMIGPRS
modem.
ii. The software sub components include scanner and printer drivers, processor
operating system and unique automated scripts used to integrate the hardware
and
software to manage the One Button Automated Document Management Processes
Using Wireless Networks.
The document capture and transmission process is detailed below in three
sections,
Standard Document Capture, Standard Document Capture with Multifunction
Capability
and Remote Document Print Process and in the following figures #2, #3 and #4.
March 3 2007 Intellectual Property of David P. Kennedy page 3
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CA 02583766 2007-03-05
PATENT APPLICATION FOR ONE BUTTONAUTOMATED DOCUMENT
MANAGEMENT PROCESSES USING WIRELESS NETWORKS
STANDARD DOCUMENT CAPTURE
The standard document capture process (see Figure 2, Document Capture Process)
starts
when the user, in a location remote from their central office, places the
signed paper
document face down into a document scanner.
i. The digitization and transmission of the signed paper occurs when the user
presses a single button on the scanner.
H. The document is then scanned, digitized and placed in a scratch workspace
on the
processor.
iii. As the document is placed in the scratch workspace, an automated script
is also
started. The automated script then prepares the digital document for
transmission
by adding a specific date and time suffix as well as verifying that a wireless
network is available.
iv. If a preferred WiFi network is not available, the script will then select
the
GSM/GPRS network to provide the Internet connectivity.
v. After the transmission preparation is complete, the script commences a
transmission over the wireless network to a specific central server. The
transmission methodology used leverages the Internet Protocol and a file
transfer
technique called FTP. The specific FTP address and security protocols are
detailed into the automated script.
vi. Once the transmission is complete, the automated script then stores the
prepared
transmission document in local storage as a backup and deletes from the
scratch
workspace.
vii. With the transmission being complete, the server in the central office
can be
accessed to retrieve the digitized version of the original signed document by
IT
applications that handle invoicing and scheduling.
March 3 2007 Intellectual Property of David P. Kennedy page 4
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CA 02583766 2007-03-05
PATENT APPLICATION FOR ONE BU7TONAUTOMATED DOCUMENT
MANAGEMENT PROCESSES USING WIRELESS NETWORKS
STANDARD DOCUMENT CAPTURE WITH MULTIFUNCTION CAPABILITY
The multifunction document capture process (see Figure 3, Document Capture
Process,
Multifunction Capability) is an enhancement to the standard document process.
The
multifunction document process enables the same single button operation but
allows a
choice of document destination or high quality image scanning depending on the
prei'erences designated during initial system configuration. For the purposes
of this
application the capability of selecting different levels of quality during
scanning is
shown.
i. As with the standard process, the Multifunction operation starts when the
user, in
a location remote from their central office, places the signed paper document
face
down into a document scanner.
ii. The digitization and transmission of the signed paper occurs when the user
presses the desired button on the scanner.
iii. Based on the button selection made, the document is then scanned and
digitized
based on preferences configured in the processor.
iv. The digitized document is then placed in a scratch workspace on the
processor.
As the document is placed in the scratch workspace, an automated script is
also
started.
v. The automated script then prepares the digital document for transmission by
adding a specific date and time suffix as well as verifying that a wireless
network
is available.
vi. If a preferred WiFi network is not available, the script will select the
GSM/GPRS
network to provide the Internet connectivity.
vii. After the transmission preparation is complete, the script commences a
transmission over the wireless network to a specific central server. The
transmission methodology used leverages the Internet Protocol and a file
transfer
technique called FTP. The specific FTP address and security protocols are
detailed into the automated script.
vii.i. Once the transmission is complete, the automated script then stores the
prepared
transmission document in local storage as a backup and deletes from the
scratch
workspace.
ix. With the transmission being complete, the server in the central office can
be
accessed to retrieve the digitized version of the original signed document by
IT
applications that handle invoicing and scheduling.
March 3 2007 Intellectual Property of David P. Kennedy page 5
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CA 02583766 2007-03-05
PATENT APPLICATION FOR ONE BUTTON AUTOMATED DOCUMENT
MANAGEMENT PROCESSES USING WIRELESS NETWORKS
REMOTE DOCUMENT PRINT PROCESS
The Remote Document Print Process (see Figure 4, Remote Document Print
Process)
is unique in that it is generated by the remote user with a single button and
delivers a
printed notification if there are no further documents to be printed.
Typically in
remote transport operations it is sometimes required for the vehicle operator
to
receive new instructions to meet revised scheduling operations.
i. Prior to the vehicle operator commencing the Remote Document Print
Process, the TT applications at the central site prepare a document to be
printed.
ii. The document may be single or multi page and is created in PDF mode with a
specific naming convention, for security.
iii. The document is then placed in a pre-determined directory on the central
site
server replacing a prior document that indicates, "Nothing left to print".
iv. When it is convenient for the vehicle operator, the automated remote
printing
process is started with a press of the designated button on the document
scanner.
v. The button initiates a temporary scan that is then placed in a "scratch"
workspace. Once the scan is in the "scratch" workspace an automated process
is started to retrieve the print document from the central site.
vi. The process then determines if the preferred WiFi network is present if
not the
GSM/GPRS network is selected.
vii. After the wireless document reception preparation is complete, the script
conunences a retrieval process over the wireless network from a specific
central server. The reception methodology used, leverages the Internet
Protocol and a file transfer technique called FTP. The specific FTP address
and security protocols are detailed into the automated script.
viii. Once the automated script retrieves the print document from the central
server, over the wireless network, it is then printed on the local page
printer.
ix. Any temporary images of the initial scan and print document are then
deleted.
X. The automated script then signals its completion of the print process by
sending a document back to the central file server. That document has is a
note indicating, "Nothing left to print '.
xi. If the vehicle operator decides at any given time to check for additional
print
documents and if the central IT applications have not generated any addition
print documents, the vehicle operator receives an indication of the lack of
new
documents to print by the receipt of a "nothing to print" document on the page
printer.
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Representative Drawing